ENGINEERING DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

(EEEM 513)
Young Zaidey bin Yang Ghazali Technical Expert (Transformer Performance & Diagnostic) Engineering Department TNB Distribution Division
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8 & 9 September 2007

Transformer Advanced Off-Line Diagnostic Testing

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Most of the techniques, whether chemical or electrical methods, or destructive or non-destructive methods, only provide partial information about the state of the insulation condition of power transformers. More advanced condition monitoring or condition assessment techniques have been developed and are now starting to come into more general use. They have been developed in response to the need for new materials assessment methods. However, in some advanced diagnotics tools are still in the developmental stage, either in the technical development or, more likely, in the methods of analysis and interpretation of the test data.
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Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Recovery Voltage Measurement (RVM) Polarization and Depolarization Current Measurement (PDC) Frequency Domain Dielectric Spectroscopy (FDS) Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) Partial Discharge (PD) Measurement RVM, PDC & FDS are based on the used of the dielectric response of insulating materials to the application of electric fields Conductivity, Polarization & Dielectric Response

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Recovery Voltage Measurement (RVM)
When a dielectric material with polar molecular structure is subjected to a DC voltage, the electric dipoles are oriented within the material in response to the applied electric field. There is thus a polarization charge induced by the dipole movement and realignment and this will effectively give a voltage across the capacitance. When the dielectric is short circuited, the stored charge in the dielectric capacitance is dissipated by a current discharge with a time constant determined by the effective intrinsic resistance and capacitance. During the short circuit the voltage across the dielectric is zero, but when the short circuit is removed before total charge to equilibrium occurs, then a voltage will appear across the dielectric. This measured voltage is known as the recovery voltage.
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Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Recovery Voltage Measurement (RVM)

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Recovery Voltage Measurement (RVM) - TETTEX 5461

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Polarization & Depolarization Current (PDC)
A dielectric material becomes polarized when exposed to an electric field. Polarization is proportional to the intensity of the electric field and by measuring the current, polarization process can be observed. The current density is the sum of the conduction current and the displacement current. When the insulating material is exposed to a step voltage, polarization current is obtained. If the step voltage is removed, a reverse polarity current known as depolarization current is obtained. These two currents can be used to determine the response function and the conductivity of the dielectric material. The PDC is a DC testing method which determining the polarization spectrum in time constant domain between 10e-3 10e3 seconds in which the interface polarization phenomena of long time constant are active. The range of polarization is strongly influenced by the absorbed moisture and the deterioration by product content of the paper insulation. It applies a 500V step of DC voltage to the high or low voltage winding insulations of transformers. Time of voltage application is typically up to 10000 seconds. Both the polarization and depolarization times are performed for the same period of time.

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Polarization & Depolarization Current (PDC)
The polarization current pulse has a peak magnitude, a final steady state level and a time constant and duration that are determined by the quality of the oil including both the moisture level and the electrical conductivity. In genera the electrical conductivity affects the peak current in the first 100 seconds or so of the current pulse. The moisture in the insulation affects the longer term polarization current level after about 1000 seconds. [Figure 8.6] Polarization and depolarization current measurement method gives general information about the state of insulation condition. This technique is proved to be a useful testing method in predicting of moisture and development of ageing phenomena.

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Polarization & Depolarization Current (PDC)
Effect of moisture in oil and cellulose paper on the polarization depolarization current measurement

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Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Frequency Dielectric Spectroscopy Measurement (FDS)
In the FDS technique, a known sinusoidal voltage is applied and measured together with the current passing across the insulation material. The measurement is repeated for several frequency sweeps from high frequency to low frequency for minimizing the memory effects. Advantage - the complete diagnostic on the property change in the material can be discerned By dividing the current by the voltage and comparing the phase difference, both the capacitance and the loss at the particular frequency and amplitude can be calculated.

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Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Frequency Dielectric Spectroscopy Measurement (FDS)
The advantage of an analysis of the dissipation factor frequency as compare at fixed frequency:
Behaviour of insulation caused by moisture affects can be evaluated. At higher frequencies the pressboard and the oil volume determine the dielectric loss, at medium frequencies the oil conductivity is the dominant factor and the lower frequency range is dominated by the pressboard dielectric loss.

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Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Frequency Dielectric Spectroscopy Measurement (FDS)
Example on how moisture affects the dissipation factor of kraft paper at 20C

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Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Frequency Dielectric Spectroscopy Measurement (FDS)
Measurement results of the insulation between primary and secondary to tertiary windings on a power transformer.

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Advanced Diagnostic Testing

Frequency Dielectric Spectroscopy Measurement (FDS)
PROGRAMMA IDA 200

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Frequency Response Analysis

How do you know whether you can energize A TRANSFORMER after transportation to site or after a protection trip? Check Mechanical Integrity

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Frequency Response Analysis

When does Mechanical Integrity matter?
Re-location Short Circuit Lightning Tap-changer fault

Transportation damage can occur if the clamping and restraints are inadequate; such damage may lead to core and winding movement. Radial buckling or axial deformation may occur due to excessive short circuit forces while in service.
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Frequency Response Analysis

What you can identify by checking mechanical integrity? Core Movement Winding Deformation Faulty Core Grounds Partial Winding Collapse Hoop Buckling Broken or Loosened Clamping Structures Shorted Turns and Open Windings

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Frequency Response Analysis

What Test can be Done? Frequency response analysis (FRA) using a low voltage AC wave of varying frequency to identify changes in natural resonance

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Frequency Response Analysis

Why FRA?
FRA Technique: The technique covers the full dynamic range and maintains the same energy level for each frequency, providing results that are repeatable and accurate. Impulse Technique: This technique requires high sampling rates and high resolution to obtain a valid measurement. The applied impulse does not produce constant energy across the specified frequency, which can cause poor repeatability that is influenced by the non-linear properties of the test specimen.

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Frequency Response Analysis

What is FRA ? FRA is a tool that can give an indication of core or winding movement in transformers. This is done by performing a measurement to look at how well a transformer winding transmits a low voltage signal that varies in frequency. Transformer does this in relation to its impedance, the capacitive and inductive elements which are intimately related to the physical construction of the transformer. Changes in frequency response as measured by FRA techniques may indicate a physical change inside the transformer, the cause of which then needs to be identified and investigated.
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Frequency Response Analysis

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Frequency Response Analysis

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Frequency Response Analysis

Test Equipment

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Frequency Response Analysis

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Frequency Response Analysis

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Frequency Response Analysis

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Frequency Response Analysis

What is the frequency range? The measured frequency range is normally very large, which can be from 5Hz up to 10MHz This frequency range covers the most important diagnostic areas: Core and Magnetic Properties Winding Movement and Deformation Interconnections-Leads and Load Tap Changer
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Frequency Response Analysis

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Frequency Response Analysis

The magnitude and the angle of the complex transfer function can be obtained using a network-analyzer The resulting amplitude of the measurement can be expressed as,
H (dB) = 20 log10 [(ZS)/(ZS+ZT)]

The resulting phase is defined by

H () = tan-1 [(ZS)/(ZS+ZT)]

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Frequency Response Analysis

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Frequency Response Analysis

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Frequency Response Analysis

What are the ANALYZING TECHNIQUES?

Signature Difference Transfer Function Statistical

FRA Signatures are analyzed based on 3 band methods
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Frequency Response Analysis

What do the 3 Bands mean?

5Hz up to 10KHz defect in core and magnetic circuit 10KHz up to 600KHz deformation in winding geometry 600KHz up to 10MHz abnormalities in the inter-connection and test system

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Frequency Response Analysis

SIGNATURE TECHNIQUE

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Frequency Response Analysis

SIGNATURE TECHNIQUE

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Frequency Response Analysis

SIGNATURE TECHNIQUE

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Frequency Response Analysis

DIFFERENCE TECHNIQUE (Phase A before)

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Frequency Response Analysis

DIFFERENCE TECHNIQUE (Phase A after)

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Frequency Response Analysis

DIFFERENCE TECHNIQUE
This technique can analyze the windings phase by phase, which is not possible in the signature technique

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Frequency Response Analysis

Historical data or Baseline Reference are, undoubtedly, the best reference to be used for FRA analysis However, it is not practically easy to get historical data due to constraints of outages Criteria to choose reference FRA measurements in the absence of historical data or baseline reference

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Frequency Response Analysis

CATEGORY Twin Sister Peer

KV RATIO Same Same Same

MVA RATING Same Same Same

MANUFACTURER Same Same Different

S/S LOCATION Same Different Different

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Partial Discharge
What is PD Electric discharge that do not completely bridge the electrodes Discharge magnitude is usually small but can cause progressive deterioration and lead to failure
Overeating of dielectric boundary Charges trapped in the surface Attack by ultraviolet rays & soft X-rays Formation of chemicals such as nitric acid & ozone

Therefore presence of PD need to be detected in a non-destructive test

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Partial Discharge
PD Classification

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Partial Discharge
PD Classification

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Partial Discharge
Occurrence of PD Inception Voltage

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Partial Discharge
Occurrence of PD Inception Voltage

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Partial Discharge
Occurrence & Recognition Detection Measurement Location Evaluation

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Partial Discharge
Evaluation

Amplitude in dB Energy or charge in pC Duration in ms

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Partial Discharge
On-line acoustic PD Detection - Physical Acoustic DISP-24

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Frequency Response Analysis

Why SFRA in a factory environment?

Quality assurance

Baseline reference Relocation and commissioning preparation

Manufacturers are using SFRA as part of their quality program to ensure transformer production is identical between units in a batch

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Frequency Response Analysis

Why SFRA in a field environment?

Relocation and commissioning validation

Post incident: lightning, fault, short circuit, seismic event etc
Once a transformer arrives on site after relocation it must be tested immediately, to gain confidence in the mechanical integrity of the unit prior to commissioning

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Frequency Response Analysis

Frequency Response Analysis is a very effective tool for diagnosing transformer mechanical integrity both in the factory and in the field, which cannot always be detected using other means The best way to obtain baseline reference results is, undoubtedly, on completion of the manufacturing process at the factory However, in the absence of baseline reference the proposed criterion of twin, sister, and peer transformers can be used as references with reasonable degree of accuracy
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Transformer Maintenance (Dry Type)

Electrical Tests Perform insulation-resistance tests winding-to-winding and each winding-to-ground Perform turns ratio tests at the designated tap position Perform power-factor or dissipation-factor tests Measure the resistance of each winding at the designated tap position Measure core insulation-resistance at 500 volts dc if core is insulated
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Insulator Maintenance
Inspection - look for cracks, dirt etc., tracking, copper wash, mechanical damage Cleaning - Wash, dry wipe Repairs - Usually replace except special cases Testing - Megger & Power Factor test Do not climb on or use for personal support!

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Transformer Maintenance (Liquid filled)

Visual inspection

Inspect physical condition for evidence of moisture and corona Verify operation of cooling fans Verify operation of temperature and level indicators, pressure relief device, and gas relay Verify correct liquid level in all tanks and bushings Verify correct equipment grounding Verify the presence of transformer surge arresters Test load tap-changer Inspect all bolted electrical connections for high resistance using one of the following methods: 1. Use of low-resistance ohmmeter 2. Perform thermographic survey
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Transformer Maintenance (Liquid filled)

Electrical Tests

Perform turns ratio tests at all tap positions Perform power-factor or dissipation-factor tests Measure the resistance of each winding at all tap positions Perform insulation-resistance tests winding-to-winding and each winding-to-ground If core ground strap is accessible, measure core insulation resistance at 500 volts dc Remove a sample of insulating liquid in accordance with ASTM D923 Test for Oil Quality, DGA and Furan
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Conclusion
Diagnostic Testing provides a powerful tool for the complete and economic assessment of the transformer condition There is nevertheless still a lack on how to integrate the information obtained by the on-line monitoring into the actions taken onto the service of the transformer The supplementary information obtained by the off-line diagnostic after the detection of an abnormal condition is a worth-full information to be integrated into future on-line monitoring systems
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