FEV has developed PD-HVX (Partial Discharge – High Voltage X), the world’s first solution for early detection and prevention of partial discharge (PD) in high-voltage electric drive units (EDUs).
PD can cause damage to the insulation in modern EDUs, which in the worst-case scenario can result in a total failure of the vehicle. FEVs PD-HVX uses well established measuring systems with specialized sensors, which are used in EDUs for qualitative measurement. This enables customers to identify partial discharge during the development phase and take the necessary action.
PD is a local electrical sparkover that can occur at high voltages above 600 volts. It is caused by extremely small defects or inhomogeneities in the insulation material or soiled surfaces. If it remains unnoticed within an EDU and occurs repeatedly, PD leads to gradual damage of the insulation and to a premature stop of the vehicle.
PD-HVX uses electromagnetic frequency analysis, one of the most precise and reliable measurement methods for the application field of electrical propulsion systems, to measure the electromagnetic fields around the drive unit to be analyzed. The innovative software then uses the measurement results to determine whether partial discharge occurs within the EDU during operation.
This solution consists of a comprehensive service package for vehicle OEMs and suppliers. The test equipment, which is optimized for EDU operation, filters out drive-related interference signals and therefore enables significantly better measurement results for PD. The customer subsequently receives the data obtained in the tests for evaluation and further interpretation.
