Partial Discharge (PD) Testing

of High Voltage Plant

with Case Study Examples

Elaborado: Dr Lee Renforth

HVPD Ltd, Manchester, UK.
Presentado: Ing John Pizarro
RESEAD SAC

Lima, Peru
7th October 2011
www.hvpd.co.uk

On-line Partial Discharge Detection

What is partial discharge? Why test for partial discharge?

A localised electrical discharge that only partially bridges PD activity is an indication of an incipient
the insulation between conductors and which can or can fault in HV insulation and is widely regarded
not occur adjacent to a conductor as the best early warning indicator of the
IEC60270 Definition deterioration of high voltage insulation.

Damage to substation after 33 kV solid Stator insulation failure on a

insulated switchgear failure and explosion Tracking in 33 kV Bushing 10kV Pump Motor.
HV Plant that can be PD tested

Power Cables, splices and terminations

Switchgear (Air, Solid, Gas Insulated)
Power Transformers and Bushings
Instrument Transformers (Current/Voltage)
Motors and Generators
On-line PD Testing and Monitoring what are the DRIVERS to doing it

Health & Safety(Seguro y Saludable) - most PD test projects are carried out
further to an insulation fault within a clients HV network. The initial requirement
here is to carry out PD spot tests on the sister plant and to instigate a condition-
based asset management plan to minimise the risks of future failures.

To support Reliable Life Extension Projects(Extender la vida del aislamiento)

- the average asset age of in-service HV plant in the UK Electricity Distribution
Utility Sector is around 55 years with network replacement rates as low as 0.1% per
year in many cases (the 1000-year asset management plan!)

To Avoid Unplanned Outages and Downtime(evitar las interrupciones

inesperadas y perdida de tiempo) this is by far the most important Driver for
the Oil & Gas industry with companies very much focussed on the effect of any HV
plant failure downtime on their drilling and processing operations.
There are 7 Main Types of Partial Discharges
Internal PD

Void in Insulation Sharp, Irregular

surface on conductor Tree Growth
in insulation
External PD

Surface
Floating metalwork Corona from sharp Discharges from
Discharges
near conductors objects at high voltage induced voltages onto
sharp points at ground
PD Equivalent Circuits ABC Models

Void/cavity
CA = Bulk insulation capacitance
CB = Capacitance between d
Cb

discharging area and electrodes A Ca

t Cc
Cc = cavity/surface area in which
the partial discharge occurs

Cc
Surface Discharge Corona
Cc

Ca Cb

Cb
 Voltage breakdown of Cavity of Surface Area, Cc

Vb Theoretical
Va
Vc

Actual current pulses

(stochastically occurring)

V+, V- = PD inception voltages,

 PD Detection Methods

Energies Released Detection Methods

Electrical Charge Capacitor/Inductive (HFCT)
PD Electromagnetic Wave TEV, VHF/UHF Couplers
Optical Low-light/UV Cameras
Acoustic Wave Contact/Airborne Acoustic
Gaseous byproducts Dissolved Gas Analysis
Chemical byproducts Visual inspection
(such as white
deposit oxides)
Ozone Smell / Ozone Detector
Off-line vs On-line PD Detection

Off-line, Out of service: Factory or At-site

HV Capacitor for PD detection
Calibrated set-up
Restricted bandwidth (IEC60270)
Different energisation methods: VLF, OWTS, Resonant, 50/60Hz

On-Line, In-service: At-site

Non-intrusive or permanent sensors for PD detection
Wideband, VHF/UHF, acoustic
Spot Test or Continuous Monitoring
Normal working conditions
No Outage

Methods are complimentary

 Typical Off-line Test Circuit

Calibrating capacitor
HV Coupling Capacitor

HV

240V Voltmeter
PD Measurement
Device
LV
Controller

Measurement
Impedance/
HV sample under test Quadrupole
On-line PD Detection Sensor Options

Permanently installed
HV Coupling Capacitor
inside plant

Contact Acoustic
TEV on metal surface
close to vents/gaskets

Airborne Acoustic
over vents
HFCT on Cable
Insulated Gland Earth Strap

HFCT and Capacitor Sensitive to signals that have propagated distances,

e.g. from cables, machine windings
Other sensors sensitive to signals in local plant under test only
Detection with HV Capacitors

Conventional sensor for off-line

Permanent installation for on-
line
Application for rotating
machines/switchgear
Higher capacitance = higher Permanent
Off-line unit unit for on-line
bandwidth = higher sensitivity to
PDs deep in machine winding Installation in rotating machine
Detection with High Frequency Current Transformer (HFCT)

Detect PD in cables AND

connected plant: e.g. machine,
switchgear, transformer
Attach to power cables at
terminations and earthing links
of HV equipment
Wide bandwidh (100kHz
20MHz)
Installation inside or outside of
cable box depending on design
Temporary or permanent
 HFCT Sensor Attachment to Power Cables

The HFCT sensor should be attached to intercept either the conductor PD current (i+) or the earth PD current
(i-)
HFCT on cable with Earth HFCT around cable
HFCT on Earth (i-) brought back through (i+) (i- + i+ = 0)

There must be independent access to either the earth-straps or

cores of the cables.
There must be an insulated gland between the cable earth and
switchgear earth.
Transient Earth Voltage (TEV) Theory

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PD site within Switchgear: Phase Earth Discharge
EM signals radiate from PD site
These signals couple onto metal-clad Switchgear
housing
Signals emerge on the outer surface at openings in
metal housing: vents, seams, gaskets
Detection with TEV

Electromagnetic Radiation
from PD Sites
High frequency >5MHz
Main application: metal
clad AIS and SIS
Sensitive to local (nearby)
PD sites
Also used at cable
terminations, transformers
Acoustic Detection

Sensitive to local PD sites

10kHz 1.2MHz (40kHz common)

Airborne line of sight

Corona
Surface discharge

Contact
Vibration of equipment housing
Internal PD
Surface discharge
 Combined Acoustic and Electromagnetic Detection

Useful for identifying surface

discharges/corona coincident
signals
Outdoor equipment
Air insulated switchgear

Airborne Acoustic
Probe

HFCT
Combined Acoustic and Electromagnetic Detection Across Power Cycle

0.006
0.004
Channel 1 (V)
0.002
HFCT 0
-0.002
-0.004
-0.006

0.6
0.4
Channel 2 (V)

0.2
Airborne 0
Acoustic -0.2
-0.4
-0.6

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time (ms)

Delay due to difference between speed of light and speed of sound

Partial Discharge Sensors Some Examples of Installations

HV Capacitive Coupler PDAs

Portable (Temporary) HFCTs Portable (Temporary) HFCTs

Permanent Rogowski
inside a motor cable box inside a switchgear cable box
Coil Sensors
Insulation Diagnostics Different Maintenance Strategies

Time Based Maintenance

Oldest is in worst condition?

Condition Based Maintenance

Assess health of plant routinely, perform
maintenance on plant in worst condition

Reactive Maintenance
Assess similar/nearby plant after a failure
HVPD Experience in Partial Discharge Testing

HVPD have built-up a wide range of applications knowledge over the

past 15 years through on-line PD test and monitoring projects on all
types high voltage plant (from 3.3 kV to 750 kV).

HVPD have worked with a wide range of utility and industrial

customers from around the world, in a variety of industries but with
increasing focus on the Oil & Gas industry.

Alongside the PD test technology HVPD develop condition-based

asset management systems for our customers, using PD test data
help to minimise the risks of failure and reduce outage costs.
Economics for Oil & Gas High Voltage Networks

The major cost driver is to avoid any unplanned outages as the cost of an
interruption to the process is very much higher than the capital replacement
cost of any machine/cable/plant.

Offshore oil & gas drilling platforms and onshore processing plants have high
very large loss of business costs for unplanned outages.

Interruption costs can run into many millions of $s per day .

Oil & Gas customers have little difficulty in justifying the cost of both PD
diagnostic measurements and complete HV network PD monitoring systems.
 When should PD testing be carried out?

At Commissioning of newly installed cables and plant

- to detect any poor workmanship with particular focus on the cable accessories
made-up on-site (PD test in combination with voltage withstand test (to 1.2U0/1.5 U0)

Test again before the Manufacturers Warranty runs out!

- It is highly recommended that an On-line PD test is carried out before the
manufacturers warranty period expires warranty periods can be as short as only
12 months in some cases (even though the expected service life is 30 years+).

Periodic testing throughout the service life (every 1-2 years)

- To detect whether PD activity has initiated during the service life of the cable/plant
and to support maintenance and operation decisions, by detecting and localising PD in
the HV cables or plant.
 Insulation Diagnostics New Equipment

After manufacture
Quality assurance
Type/Routine tests, e.g. IEEE/IEC
standards
33 kV subsea cables in cable factory
Commissioning
Ensure no damage to assets during
transport
Ensure components have been
assembled correctly at site. e.g.
cable accessories made-up on site
Commissioning tests on 132 kV cables/GIS
International Standards on PD Diagnosis of In-service HV Plant & Cables

CIGRE Task Force April 2003

15.11/33.03.02

This is an important guide and

reference document for PD testing in-
service HV plant including cables,
switchgear, transformers and
information regarding PD testing and
inspections of rotating HV machines

HVPD have utilised data from a

number of independent research
studies published by CIGRE and the
IEEE in the preparation of our
published PD Guideline Levels
Targeting of PD Site
Critical Spot Testing Permanent &
Location Portable PD
Circuits OSM-Longshot
& PDSurveyor Cable Mapping + Monitoring
TOF Location

Carried out in 3 month 3 month 6 month

conjunction timescale timescale timescale
with customer

Iterative process Iterative process

4-Phase PD Asset Management Solution

The 4-Phase PD Asset

Management Solution provides a
flexible and cost-effective approach
to the condition assessment of HV
networks using a decision-tree
process.

This is achieved through PD

screening of large numbers of
assets in the network (Phases 1 & 2
).

Focused PD monitoring is carried

out only on the plant and cables
which exhibit significant levels of PD
activity (Phases 3 & 4 ).
PD Detection and Monitoring Systems

Simple Handheld Test Unit

PD Spot Test Devices

Diagnostic PD Test Unit

Portable PD Monitor

Continuous, Extended
PD Monitoring Devices
Permanent PD Monitor
The PDS Air *NEW for 2011* the PDS Air is an enhanced version of the
PDSurveyor unit which includes all 3x sensors plus a
Parabolic Acoustic Receiver extension unit.

The unit is supplied with headphones and a built-in sound

demodulator to enable the user to listen to airborne PD activity.

Suitable for on-line PD surveying of indoor substations,

outdoor switchyards and overhead MV and HV assets.
supplied with a Parabolic
Receiver extension unit to
increase the range of
detection of airborne
discharges to up to 10 m+

The PDS Air is supplied with a Parabolic Receiver

extension unit to increase the range of detection of
airborne discharges to up to 10 m+
www.hvpd.co.uk

Handheld PD Surveying Device

PD Level Guide

LED 1 Green (Plant OK)

LED 2 & 3 Yellow (Moderate PD Monitor)

LED 4 & 5 Orange (Moderate to High PD Investigate Source of PD)

LED 6 & 7 RED (High PD Test & Restrict Access)

Notes:
It should be noted that the PD levels & actions recommended
are Guideline Levels Only.

HVPD strongly recommend that any high levels of PD detected

by the handheld are investigated further using diagnostic PD
test technology in Phase 2 of the process.
 www.hvpd.co.uk

Handheld PD Surveying Device Switchgear and Cable PD Testing

Applications

HFCT on Cable Earth

Strap
Airborne Acoustic Over Grill

TEV on the outside of

metalclad switchgear
www.hvpd.co.uk

HVPD PDSurveyor
How To Use Switchgear

Very High Level Local PD Activity >48dB (Panel 006)

Further Investigation Recommended
HVPD PD Diagnostic Test Technique

Integrated into the HVPD-Longshot unit

Advanced PD and noise separation
Wideband capture (100-500 MS/s)
Analysis of PD and noise wave shapes
 Varying Waveforms from a Single Power Cycle
A v ailable Wav ef orm Dis play
When analysed at a high resolution pulse
0.035
0.03
0.025
0.02
wave shapes are distinguishable
0.015
0.01 A vailable Wavef orm Display

0.005
Chan 1

0 0.012

-0.005 0.008
-0.01
0.004
-0.015

Chan 1
0
-0.02
-0.025 -0.004

-0.03 -0.008

-0.035 -0.012

-0.016
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
Time (mSec) Time (mSec)

Chan 1 A vailable Wavef orm Display

Curs 1 Curs 2
Chan 1 Curs 1 Curs 2
0.016
0.012
A vailable Wavef orm Display
0.008
0.012 0.004
0
0.008

Chan 1
-0.004

0.004 -0.008
-0.012
Chan 1

0 -0.016

-0.02
-0.004
-0.024

-0.008 -0.028

-0.012 Time (mSec)

Chan 1 Curs 1 Curs 2

Time (mSec)

Chan 1 Curs 1 Curs 2 A vailable Wavef orm Display

A vailable Wavef orm Display
0.028
0.032
0.024
0.028
0.024 0.02
0.02 0.016
0.016 0.012
0.012
0.008
0.008
Chan 1
Chan 1

0.004 0.004
0 0
-0.004 -0.004
-0.008
-0.008
-0.012
-0.016 -0.012
-0.02 -0.016
-0.024 -0.02
-0.028

Time (mSec) Time (mSec)

Chan 1 Curs 1 Curs 2 Chan 1 Curs 1 Curs 2

Recording PD using the HVPD Wideband PD Test method

A complete power cycle is recorded at one time

Data is captured at a high sample rate 100MS/s 500 MS/s
Up to 4 channels are recorded together
PD counts (pulses per cycle) and magnitudes are processed
separately to waveforms
Waveforms of individual pulses saved
Capture Power
Cycle of Data
from all Sensors

Extract PD Data Store PD Data

Next Cycle
PD Event Recognition PD Data Extraction
Event Event
Start End

Look for the largest pulses in 0.015

each power cycle 0.01

0.005

Calculate the characteristics

V (mV)
0
-0.005

of these pulses -0.01

-0.015

Rise times, Fall-times, widths, 0 1

Time (s)
2 3

frequency content etc.

Make a decision about the
Peak
90% 90%
Rise Fall
10% 10%

pulse type: 0.015

Rise Fall

Cable PD 0.01
0.005

Local PD V (mV)
0
-0.005

Noise -0.01
-0.015

0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6 0.65
Time (s)
 PD Analysis Using the HVPD Longshot
Event recognition of PD pulses
Impulsive events extracted and categorised by PDGold software at data capture time
Optimises data saved redundant data in between impulsive events not saved.
Even amongst noise pulses, PD data can still be extracted

20 ms
Available Waveform Display

0.015
0.01
One power 0.005
cycle of raw Chan 1 0
data from -0.005

HFCT sensor -0.01

-0.015

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Time (mSec)

Chan 1 Curs 1 Curs 2

15 us
Segment Waveform Segment Waveform Segment Waveform
Ch 1 Ch 1 Ch 1
15 15 4
10 10
2

Volts (mV)
5
Volts (mV)

5
0 0 0

-5 -5 -2
-10 -10
-4
-15 -15
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Time uSec Time uSec Time uSec

Cable PD Pulse: 16mV, 1160pC Local PD Pulse: 15mV, 24dB Noise Pulse: 6mV
 PD Analysis Using the HVPD Longshot
Analysis of all PDs Available Waveform Display

All PD events are extracted and

0.015

One power
0.01

0.005

classified based on wave shape

Chan 1
cycle of raw 0

data from
-0.005
-0.01

HFCT sensor -0.015

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Time (mSec)

Chan 1 Curs 1 Curs 2

Local Equipment PD Noise Events

Cable PD
6

Noise Magnitude (mV)

20 5

PD Magnitude (dB)
1,000
PD Magnitude (pC)

Extracted PD 800 15 4

3
data against 600 10
2
phase
400
5
1
200
0 0
0 0 90 180 270 360 0 90 180 270 360
0 90 180 270 360 Phase of Pow er Cycle (deg) Phase of Pow er Cycle (deg)
Phase of Pow er Cycle (deg)

Summary values for cable Peak = 1160 pC Peak = 24 dB Peak = 6 mV

PD, local PD and noise Count = 12 Count = 11 Count = 37
Activity = 5200 pC/Cycle Activity = 100 mV/Cycle Activity = 200 mV/Cycle

Peak PD = magnitude of largest event in power cycle

Number/count = number of PDs in power cycle
Cumulative Activity = Sum of all PD pulse magnitudes
Typical Waveform Differences for PD types (Cable/Local) & Noise
Segment Waveforms
0.005
0.004
0.003
0.002
0.001

Noise from Exciter pulse 0

-0.001
-0.002
-0.003
-0.004

35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
Time (uSec)

Main segment
Main Waveform

0.006

0.004

0.002

Local PD from switchgear

Chan 1
0

-0.002

-0.004

-0.006

0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45

Time (uSec)

Segment Waveforms

0.03
Cable PD from paper insulated cable 0.02
0.01

Main segment
0
-0.01
-0.02
-0.03

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Time (uSec)
Servicio de Pruebas

Muestra: Reconectador
27kV-630A
45 pC
15.58kV(1.05*Vmax f-t)
 Servicio de Pruebas

Muestra: Generador
Muestra: Pararrayo Vc
9.75MVA, 6.6 kV
10.2kV, 10kA
1784 pC 7.9kV (1.2*Vn)
4.5 pC 10.7kV(1.05*Vc)
Servicio de Pruebas
Conclusions I

On-line PD testing has been widely adopted for testing

all types of HV plant including:
power cables, switchgear, transformers and rotating machines

Equipment is tested under normal working conditions

without the need for an outage with minimal disruption to
network.

On-line technologies allow PD to be detected, located

and monitored without the need to de-energise plant.

On-line PD testing is an essential tool for condition-

based asset management to enable quick assessment of
the health of HV plant with minimal disruption and cost.
Conclusions II

The regular use of simple, handheld PD test units can assist in the early
detection of switchgear and stator insulation deterioration from PD activity.

The use of simple-to-use handheld test units complements annual diagnostic

PD tests by specialist test companies

Carrying out frequent (monthly) PD tests with a handheld test unit greatly
increases the chances of the early detection of increasing PD levels and
intermittent PD activity caused by changing atmospheric conditions.

The recognition of the cause of the PD activity is only the first part of the
diagnostic process. The most important part of the diagnostic process is the on-
going trending of data to observe any increase of PD activity over time.
 End of Presentation
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