igre 112, boulevard Haussmann 19008 Pe 1990 Session 26th August — 1st September 15/: ° 93-12 PARTIAL DISCHARGE PATTERN RECOGNITION - A TOOL, FOR DIAGNOSIS AND MONITORING OF AGEING B. FRUTH* by J.FUHR [Asea Brown Boveri Corporate Research cc abstract For the reliable verification of the quality of both, new and aged insulating systems, hot only the correct detection of Significant internal partial discharges but also. an exact localization and physical Interpretation of the measured PD-signals is required. This report describes PD~ heasurements performed on different high Voltage apparatus and models of insulating Systens using 2 computer controlled phase Resolving partial discharge analyzer (PRPDA), Some typical results (PD-pattern) obteined in GIS, generators and naturally and artificially aged stator bar models are presented and discussed in terms of Practical applicability for the diagnosis and monitoring of the aging processes in Insulating systens. Keywords: insulating systems, aging pro- Cesses, acing diagnosis and monitoring, par~ tial discharge measurements, partial dis charges pattern-recognition. 1 Introduction Aging and final breakdown of insulating Systems are. basically influenced by electrical, mechanical, thermal end chemical processes during the operation. These processes are inhomogeneously distributed in an insulating system. Each of these processes cause a change (generally fecrease) of the dielectric strength of the {nsulating materials i.e, increase of the electrical field in localized regions of the {neulating system. In such electrically Qverstressed. regions like in voids and Cavities within the material, at the interface between different insulating materials, or between conductor and an {hsulating layer, internal partial discharges (PD) oseur. Generally, internal partial. discharges deteriorate the [houlating material by plasmachemical reactions causing again chemical and thermal aging, Corresponding to this fact, the {fzetine of an inovlating system is strongly * CH -5405 Baden ertand) attected by the amount and intensity of internal partial discharges during operation. "A correct measurement of Significant internal partial discharge and an exact localization and physical Ineerpretation of the measured PD-signals will theoretically identity the condition of the electrical properties i.e. aging process of the tested insulating system. Despite of the growing number of applications of PD tests te high voltage Wav), and in recént time also on low voltage (ty)' apparatus and components, the question how measured partial discharge quantities Zelate to the 1ifetime of 2 specific test ‘object rerains open. the tasks which can be defined for future PD measuring ‘systems as a tool for diagnosis and monitoring of aging processes are the following: a) to. detect reliably any Significant internal partial discharge in an insulating system, b) to locate the PD defect ragion In an apparatus, c) to explain the physical nature of detected PD with the aim to predict the lifetine of a specific ingulating system by the identification of critical defects. A step forward in this Givection is realized with digital data acquisition and further processing of Gonventionaliy measured PD signals (4, 5, 6], Digital data processing technique is not only a necessary tool for statistical Shalysis and iueid presentation of Pb-tests Fesults, but it is also useful for further Snalysis of the measured PD-signals to Gdentify the type and the nature of the PD~ gource based on a pattern recognition process [8] i.e. comparison of field and Yaboratory PD measurements. This paper deals with the technical Geseription of computer controlled phase resolving partial discharge analyzer (PRPDA) Bnd its successful application to different fest objects in the laboratory and in field tests. Both the reeults of the laboratory measurements on models with the artificial Pb-defects andthe results of field easements are compared and discussed inA312 ee terms of applicability for the diagnosis and monitoring of the aging processes in insulating systems. 2.2D Menaurenent System A block diagram of the phase resolving partial discharge analyzes including PD measuring circuit 1 shown in Figure 1 iL Ee z |—»| ame. |——+] arp COMPUTER |4—»| MCA Eigure 1: Block diagram of the PRPDA system. ‘he PRPDA measuring system consists of a coupling or measuring impedance &, wide band pulse-shaping amplifier AMP’, analog Gigital converter a/D (with sample and hold Circuit), two. dimensional multichannel analyzer MCA (one axis corresponds to phase angie, second axis corresponds to peak value of the apparent charge) and personal computer including software for data storage and data processing. ‘The PRPDA performs a "quasi-integration" in the frequency domain [1]. The band-pass characteristic of the system is variable (depending on the selectable chaping time constant of the amplifier). For a sheping time constant of 1” 8, the lover and upper frequencies are 50 iz and 300 Kitz (centre frequency = 100 ki). The measurable current impulses, i(t), in the PD measuring circuit (coupling capacitor Ck parallel to test object Ct) are picked up by the measuring impedance 2 (resonance fzequency 100 kHz) and fed into PRPDA-amplitier AMP... The @isplacement current (50 or 60 fz) ia the fost circuit 19 ouppressed by the measuring impedance. The peak amplitude of the damped oscillatory output voltage of the shaping amplifier ("wide band” amplifier) is proportional to the integrated PD current, i.e. equal to the apparent charge om (2]- The peak amplitude of this apparent charge is sampled, held and digitized by analog digital converter a/D (14 bit resolution) and stored together with its phase angle (max. 14 bit) in the corresponding channel of a two dinensional multichannel analyzer MCR/COMPUTER. The pulse height analysis (PHA) and phas angle analysis (PAA) can be performed separately. The synchronization of the PREDA with the ac voltage applied to the test object is provided by a special synchronizing unit which {s part of the measuring system. For each experimental set up, a calibrat.on Procedure is carried out using a battery- operated calibration generator. The calibration pulses with < “haree qo are fed into the test object Ct (see Figure 1). According to the discriminator settings, a specific channel number on the PREDA screen corresponds to the value ao. PREDA monitors partial discharge (PD) activity of @ test object during @ given Runber of cycles of the applied ac voltage, or during a fixed time, The detected PD- signals ere displayed as a three dimensional Pb-pattern including PO-level, phase angle and the nunber of PD pulses at each level during the measuring tine. 3. PD Meaourementa in Gas Insulated ‘Systems (GIs). 3.1, Laboratory Measurements In gas insulated systens email disturbances, Such as metallic particles, or electrode Surface protrusions, cannot. be avoided. Such disturbances, particularly if sharply pointed, nay Create local field enhancerents exceeding the value of the critical field strength of the gas, and hence cause local ionization (PD-source). To identity such Pb-sources in GIS system more accurately a specific experiment was set up. Figure 2 shows typical PD-fingerprints of GIS post-type spacers containing artificial defects (the samples were characterized by Elguxe 2: Artificial pp-defects in GIs spacers.A) spherical void connected to the HV-electrode (7 pc), B) void in the centre of the spacer (2 pC), ¢) bad adhesion at the-HV electrode caused by @ form release agent (4,5pC), counts " in arbitrary units, values in brackets are reading of the conventional FD peak detector. PREDA before introduction into the longterm ageing test of the EPRY project 2659). The Reasurenents were performed at 350kV/S0 Hz. The measured PD-pattern reveal an obvious difference in shape and in the position of the PD-pulees on the sine wave of the test Voltage, PD-pattern of the voids near electrodes (see fig.2 A) is similar to the PD-pattern of low frequency internal partial discharges (PD-pulses in zero crossings of the test voltage). PD-pattern of the voids apart from electrode (see fig 2B) shows PO- Dulses distributed over the whole sine vave of the test voltage. PD-pattern of the badadhesion at the electrode (see fig.2 ©) correspond to a very igh number of internal partial discharges: 3.2. Bield Measnrenents ‘The PRPDA system was used for reference PD- Pigure 2: Pp measurements in three phase GIS fayeten (a/b,¢,) one phase tested, two phases en ground. measurements on a three phase gas insulated systen. The results of these measurements fare presented in figure 3. Prom the phage relationship of the Pn pulses the source of PD-activity 1s an internal PD, probable in the spacer (PD-pulses in zero Erossings of the test voltage). Corresponding to the laboratory measurements the PD pattern is similar to the PO-pattern Of the volde near electrode (see fig. 2 A). Gn the real GIS system the PD-defect 4s not as exactly known as in 2 laboratory experiments. This fact is probably the Eeason for the difference in the shape of both PD-pattern. The comparison of the results by differant test voltage levels Genonstrates the importance of the digital Db data processing technique. In this case the maximum amplitude decreases with the Increasing test voltage (fron 12 pc to § pC). With the help of statistical analysis SE iieasured PD-eignals the trus PD-activity by ‘teat voltage of 200 kV is correctly detected, The nunber of small amplitude PD- Signals increases rapidly (from 8570 by 75 ky to 20783 by 200 kV) and the shape of PD- pattern by 200 kV identifies clearly the Gnereased PO-activity at this test voltage. Further an artificial defect was introduced Into Gis to prove the reliability of the P= pattern recognition. In figure 4 the PD= pattern of free metal particle at the ground potential are ehown. Beside the very high Pb-level (30 pc) the PD-pulses are Gistributed over the vhole phase of the test Voltage. Thie PD-pattern should be compared With the result of the experiment with voids apart from electrode { see fia. 2B). 18/3312 Eigure_4: PO-fingerprint of a free metal particle on ground potential 4, BD-Measurements on Generators 4.1, Laboratory Measurements The insulation of roteting machines is subjected to several operational stresses (thermal, electrical, mechanical, etc.). Today, the estination of the ageing’ state of the insulating systen and the remaining Lifetine of a machine is based on experience ‘and. empirical laws found by extensive Eesting and dielectric measurements on machines in off-line condition and on model Insulators. To define the most relevant ageing mechanisms caused by PD in the real Generators, extended studies on differently Stressed stator bar models are being performed. As the ageing of a model Insulator depends on a variety of parameters only one example is given in this paper. Figure 5 shows the developnent of the PD- fingerprint at different tines of a 500 Hz endurance test at a electrical field of 13 kv/mm (peak value) at room temperature. The PD defects were induced by a previous thermal prestress at 160 degc and by constant electrical field over @ period of three months. such induced PD defects are mainly a result of the high temperature Deing above the glass transition of the Spoxy resin. It causes posteure reactions Ieading to an increased brittleness and a mechanical relaxation generating gaps in the laminar structure of the mica, glassfibre, epoxy composite [10]. For this defect the Influence of the electrical field is not as significant as temperature, The decrease of the width of the distribution of PD-pulses over the phase angle of the test voltage is Felated to an increase of the inception voltage of the individual discharges. The Secrease of the PD-magnitudes may be associated to a pressure decrease in the internal defects caused by plasma reactions and the low diffusion constant of cases in epoxy resin.