Broadband Ultra-high Frequency Sensor for Multi-condition Partial Discharge Detection in High-voltage Equipment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14500/aro.12846

Keywords:

Broadband sensing, High-voltage system monitoring, Inductor loading, Log-periodic dipole array antenna, Partial discharge

Abstract

Partial discharge (PD) is a localized electrical phenomenon occurring within degraded insulation of high-voltage (HV) equipment, where its discharge mechanisms and radiated electromagnetic characteristics vary significantly across air, oil, and gas-insulated systems. Undetected PD can gradually damage insulation and eventually lead to equipment failure and power outages. Therefore, researchers are urged to develop reliable detection methods that are effective across different insulation media to ensure the safe operation of power systems. In this study, ultra-high frequency electromagnetic signals generated from PD activity are analyzed using an external log-periodic dipole array (LPDA) antenna. This research focuses on broadband sensing and considers the PD activity in various insulation materials, including air, oil, and gas. Moreover, lumped inductors are added to achieve a more compact antenna design without compromising the performance. The proposed LPDA antenna is fabricated on an FR-4 substrate and evaluated using a vector network analyzer. As a result, a reflection coefficient below −10 dB from 0.4 GHz to 2 GHz with a directional gain of 4–6 dBi is obtained, which satisfies the IEC 62478 standard. The results demonstrated that the proposed miniaturized LPDA antenna is effective for PD detection in different insulation environments.

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Author Biographies

Zulbirri Faizol, Wireless Communication Centre, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Zulbirri Faizol is a Master's research student at the Wireless Communication Centre, Faculty of Ele ctrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He got the B.Eng. degree inElectrical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2023. His research interests are in antenna design, partial discharge detection and measurements.

Farid Zubir, Wireless Communication Centre, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Farid Zubir is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Communication Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). He is also a Research Fellow with the Wireless Communication Centre at UTM. He got the B.Eng. degree in Electrical (Telecommunication) from UTM in 2008, the M.Eng. degree in RF and Microwave from UTM in 2010, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Birmingham, U.K., in 2016. He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with The University of British
Columbia (UBCO), Canada, from 2019 to 2021. His research interests are in RF and microwave technologies, power amplifiers, antennas, satellite communication, and microwave devices. Dr. Farid is a member of IEEE.

Salah I. Yahya, Salah I. Yahya, Department of Computer Technology Engineering, College of Technical Engineering, Al-Hadba University, Mosul, Iraq

Salah I. Yahya is a Professor at the the Department of Computer Technology Engineering, College of Technical Engineering, Al-Hadba University, Mosul, Iraq. He received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering, the M.Sc. degree in electronics and communication engineering, and the Ph.D. degree in communication and microwave engineering. He is a Consultant Engineer and a Senior Member of IEEE. His research interests include antenna design, numerical RF dosimetry, MW measurement, and MW components design.

Mohd H. Ahmad, Institute of High Voltage and High Current, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Mohd H. Ahmad is an Associate Professor at the Institute of High Voltage and High Current (IVAT), Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). He got the B.Eng. degree in Electrical Engineering and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from UTM in 2009 and 2013, respectively. His research interests are in high voltage insulation, partial discharge detection and measurements, and plasma processing. Dr. Mohd Hafizi is a member of CIGRE and IET.

Norhafezaidi M. Saman, Institute of High Voltage and High Current, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Norhafezaidi Mat Saman is a Senior Lecturer and a Research Fellow with the Institute of High Voltage and High Current (IVAT), (UTM), Malaysia. He received the B.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He has explored radio frequency plasma and microwave plasma over a few years. He also explores the insulation diagnostic study for medium and high voltage applications, especially partial discharge measurement and breakdown strength for solid, liquid, and gas insulations.

Osman Ayop, Advanced RF and Microwave Research Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Osman Ayop is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Communication Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He got the B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering (Telecommunication), the M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering. His research interests are in Antennas, Microwave and Metamaterials. Dr. Osman is a member of IEEE Society.

Arshad K. Vallappil, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Arshad Karimbu Vallappil is an Assistant Professor at the Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. He got the B.Tech. degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering from University of Calicut, Kerala, India, in 2009, the M.Tech. degree in Electronics Engineering from Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India, in 2013, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2021. His research interests are in RF and Microwave Systems, antenna arrays, and beamforming networks.

Mohamad Z. Abd Aziz, Faculty of Electronics and Computer Technology and Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia

Mohamad Z. Abd Aziz is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Electronics and Computer Technology and Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM). He got the B.Eng. degree in Electrical Engineering, the M.Eng. degree in Electrical Engineering, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2000, 2005, and 2015 respectively. His research interests are in Antennas, RF and Microwave, and Metamaterials. Dr. Zoinol is a Senior Member of IEEE.

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Published

2026-05-10

How to Cite

Faizol, Z. (2026) “Broadband Ultra-high Frequency Sensor for Multi-condition Partial Discharge Detection in High-voltage Equipment”, ARO-THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF KOYA UNIVERSITY, 14(1), pp. 261–273. doi: 10.14500/aro.12846.

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2026): Edition Twenty Six

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Zulbirri Faizol, Farid Zubir, Salah I. Yahya, Mohd H. Ahmad, Norhafezaidi M. Saman, Osman Ayop, Arshad K. Vallappil, Mohamad Z. Abd Aziz

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Received 2026-01-21
Accepted 2026-04-26
Published 2026-05-10

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