Ionization(CoronaDischarge)Tests

Theionizationtestisusedprimarilyfordetecting
ionization(coronadischarge)andslotdischarge
ingeneratorwindings.Bothionizationandslot
dischargemaycausedeteriorationofinsulation.
Ionizationgenerallyoccursinvoidsinsidethe
insulationwithinthegroundshieldsectionofthecoil.
Someinternalionizationispresentinmosthigher
voltagestatorinsulation.

End winding of generator Partial discharge

Ifitisintenseenough,itproducesdestructionofthe
binderandotherorganiccomponentsbythe

chemicaleffectsoftheozoneandoxidesofnitrogengeneratedbythedischarge(plusmoisture)
andeventuallybydirectelectronicbombardment.Destructionisoftenaggravatedfinallyby
mechanicalvibrationoftheconductorswheretheinsulationhasbeensoftenedbytheother
effects.
Slotdischargeisacapacitancedischargeandoccursacrosspoorcontactpointsbetweenthecoil
surfaceshieldingandthestatoriron.Deteriorationisfromthedestructiveeffectofthisrelatively
concentrateddischarge.Coilswhichfitlooselyintheslotsmaybesubjectedtothistrouble.
Testapparatusforcoronadetectionrequiresmuchhighersensitivitythandetectionofslot
discharge.

TestMethodsforSlotDischarge
AmethodusedfordetectingslotdischargeinACgeneratorwindingsconsistsofenergizingthe
windingfromahighpotentialACtestsetatvoltagesofapproximately50to125percentofnormal
ratedmachinevoltageorrunningtheunitselfexcitedandisolatedfromthesystemandobserving
onanoscilloscopetheresultinginducedpotentialsfromslotdischarges.

Thedetectingapparatusisessentiallyabandpassfilterpassingabandoffrequencies
between1,000and2,000Hztoanoscilloscope.

Thedetectingapparatusiscoupledthroughacondensertotheterminalofthewindingbeing
testedortoaprobewhichisplacedillcontactwiththestatorcoilshielding.Withtheoscilloscope

sweepsetforonehalftheappliedfrequency,thecharacteristichashindicationappearsattwoor
fourplacesalongthesweepsincethedischargeoccursatparticularpartsofthevoltagecycle.
Becausethedetectorcannotdistinguishbetweenhashoriginatinginthewindingandthat
originatinginthepowersource,itisessentialthatthestatorwindingbeenergizedfromagood
highpotentialtestsetoratransformeroperatedwellbelowitsratedvoltage.
Voltageofabout50percent,normalorbelowwhichnocoronaoccurs,isfirstappliedasa
calibrationpointorbase.Thevoltageisgraduallyraiseduntilthereisdistinctchangeinthehash
ontheoscilloscopescreen.
Thisisthepointwhereslotdischargeisconsideredtobegin.Awindingproperlyprotectedfrom
slotdischargeshouldnotproducehashatvoltagesbelowapproximately125percentofnormal.
Experienceandspecialcalibrationapparatusarenecessaryinordertoproperlyinterpretthe
results.