For partial discharge of transformer ultrasonic detection method exists positioning accuracy problems, the main reason mostly due to the time delay selected error is analyzed, while the main reason for time delay selected error is due to the transformer PD ultrasonic signal propagation which is extremely complex, the signals received by the ultrasonic sensor are the direct wave, non-direct wave and a mixture of all kinds of noise superimposed, so in order to improve positioning accuracy the correct separation of the direct waves time delay is important, this paper proposes a method of transformer PD direct wave ultrasonic signal separation based on independent component analysis (ICA), by a separate analysis of the direct wave signal, non-direct wave signal and noise characteristics of each principal component, the use of ICA to separate from the mixed signal to extract the direct wave signal and select the time delay, simulation and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the method.