A new algorithm for mixed Weibull analysis of partial discharge amplitude distributions

In this paper, an heuristic algorithm is presented for the evaluation of th e parameters of additive-Weibull distributions having more than two element ary functions, which is a necessary condition when testing complex insulati ng structures with different partial discharge (PD) sources. The algorithm has, in principle, no limit in the number of component Weibull functions. F urthermore, it should be emphasized that it is not required to have a very close initial guess of the parameters for solution convergence, unlike othe r algorithms used at present. In order to check the validity of the propose d algorithm in finding the elementary components of a mixed Weibull functio n, many PD experimental tests have been performed on some lumped capacitanc e specimens in order to compare the experimental cumulative probability of pulse amplitude distributions (FAD) with the ones obtained from the Weibull analysis. In this aim, the results of the Cramer Von Mises (CVM) test perf ormed on the experimental results are reported. Some considerations are als o given in the case of testing commercial Hv components having complex PAD.