INSULATION POWER FACTOR

TEST

BY: JEROME V. ESTRADA

INSULATION POWER FACTOR TEST

• A form of non – destructive test that applies AC voltage at

mains frequency that may vary at approximately ± 5 % of the
mains frequency until the test is finished.
POWER FACTOR

• It is the result of the ratio between real or active power and the
apparent power of a certain electrical equipment or material.

• Mathematically expressed as:

Real or Active Power
cosθ = Power Factor = _______________________
Apparent Power
BASIC DIELECTRIC CIRCUIT
POWER FACTOR VECTOR DIAGRAM
POWER FACTOR FORMULA DERIVATION

• Based from the vector diagram wherein the source voltage is the
reference vector since the dielectric circuit is connected in
parallel:

IR E * IR Watts
cosθ = Power Factor = _______ = ________ = _________________
IT E * IT Volts * Amperes
POWER FACTOR FORMULA DERIVATION

• For AC circuit analysis, always remember that if the equivalent

circuit is connected in series, then the reference vector must
be the current from the voltage source.
SIGNIFICANCE OF INSULATION POWER
FACTOR TEST
• Insulation power factor tests are used to measure dielectric
losses, which relate the wetness, dryness, or deterioration of a
substation electrical equipment or material insulation.

• Both factory and field testing are performed to verify the

insulation integrity of substation current transformers,
potential transformers, power transformers, bus support
insulators, power circuit breakers, etc.
SIGNIFICANCE OF INSULATION POWER
FACTOR TEST
• Insulation power factor test reflects on how efficiently the
dielectric is fulfilling its purpose of maintaining electrical
isolation between points of different potential within an
electrical apparatus.

• If the insulation becomes contaminated to a large enough degree,

the power factor at mains frequency responds in turn by changing
(normally increasing).

• Typically, a smaller power factor (close to zero) represents an

insulation system in better condition.
SIGNIFICANCE OF INSULATION POWER
FACTOR TEST
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
• First, an insulation power factor test instrument generates high
AC voltage (10 kV RMS) through its AC source with its mains
frequency that may vary at approximately ± 5 % of the mains
frequency until the test is finished.

• There are three (3) modes of insulation power factor testing.

The three (3) modes are the following: a.) UST or Ungrounded
Specimen Test, b.) GST or Grounded Specimen Test, and c.) GST –
g or Grounded Specimen Test with Guard.

• All three (3) modes will give the capacitance, exciting current,
no – load power, and the insulation power factor together with
its respective angle.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
• Remember to apply the right amount of AC RMS voltage with
respect to the electrical equipment’s rated voltage.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
EXAMPLE OF TEST RESULT GENERATED BY
THE TEST EQUIPMENT
EXAMPLE OF TEST RESULT GENERATED BY
THE TEST EQUIPMENT
• Cx = Capacitance

•U = RMS Voltage applied

•Φ = Insulation Power Factor Angle

•F = Mains Frequency
EXAMPLE OF TEST RESULT GENERATED BY
THE TEST EQUIPMENT
• IPF = Insulation Power Factor

•I = Exciting Current

•P = Power Loss
FORMULAS FOR INSULATION POWER
FACTOR TEST

• cosθ = IPF

Power Loss, P
• IPF = ____________________________
Total Apparent Power, S

Power Loss, P
•S = ____________________________
IPF
FORMULAS FOR INSULATION POWER
FACTOR TEST

•S = U * I

S
•I = _____________
U

P
•I = _____________
IPF * U
FORMULAS FOR INSULATION POWER
FACTOR TEST
1
• Xc = ________________
2 * π * F * Cx

U
• Xc = _________________
I

Solve for Cx.

INSULATION FACTS

• There is no perfect or ideal insulation because there is always

a minute amount of current that will pass through all insulation
called the leakage current.

• Leakage current is composed of: (a) Resistive Current, and (b)

Capacitive Current.
INSULATION FACTS

• In real life insulating conditions, in addition to the

capacitive current, there appears a resistive (or loss) current
in – phase with the voltage.

• The total current leads the voltage by an angle that is less

than 90 degrees.
TEST MODES FOR ELECTRICAL
SUBSTATION EQUIPMENT
• UST:
a. Power Transformer
b. Power Circuit Breaker (ON Position)

• GSTg:
a. Power Transformer
TEST MODES FOR ELECTRICAL
SUBSTATION EQUIPMENT
• GST:
a. Power Transformer
b. Current Transformer
c. Potential or Voltage Transformer
d. Power Circuit Breaker (OFF Position)
e. Bus Support Insulator
f. Lightning and/or Surge Arrester
g. Disconnect Switch
NEGATIVE POWER FACTOR

• Electrical equipment such as bushings, three winding

transformers, inter phase insulation of rotating machinery may
sometimes exhibit negative power factor due to the surface
leakage current.

• Insulation power factor values cannot be negative. Negative

values are phantom values,

• Negative insulation power factor value is caused when the phase

angle of measuring current surpasses the reference vector, which
is the source voltage, by more than 90 degrees.
NEGATIVE POWER FACTOR
NEGATIVE POWER FACTOR
NEGATIVE POWER FACTOR

• Specimens with low capacitance are more susceptible to this

surface loss current and can yield to negative insulation power
factor values.
REFERENCES

• Chhajer, D. (November 4, 2014). Power Factor Insulation

Diagnosis. Demystifying Standard Practices. Retrieved April 19,
2016 from http://www. cce.umn.edu/documents/cpe-
conferences/mipsycon-
powerpoints/2014/substationpowerfactgorinsulationdiagnosisdemyst
ifingstandardpractices.pdf

• Duarte, E. (2004). Power-Factor Testing of Stator Winding

Insulation: Understanding the Test Technique and Interpretation
of Results. Retrieved April 19, 2016 from http://www.
netaworld.org/sites/default/files/public/neta-
journals/NWsu04Fea-Duarte.pdf
REFERENCES
• Duplessis, J. (January 2012). ANALYZING POWER FACTOR TEST RESULTS.
Retrieved April 19, 2016 from http://www.
omicronenergy.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/papers/Analyzing-Power-
Factor-Test-Results-Paper-ENU.pdf

• Bleyer, J. and Prout, P. (November 1, 2005). THE VALUE OF POWER

FACTOR TESTING. Retrieved April 19, 2016 from http://www.
doble.com/wordpress/wp-
content/uploads/Power_Factor_Testing_Nov2005.pdf

• (August 1, 2010). Insulation Power Factor Testing for Dummies.

Retrieved April 19, 2016 from
http://www.electriciantalk.com/f2/insulation-power-factor-testing-
dummies-15443/