J.M.

PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

The Measurement of Dissipation Factor for the Detection of the Deterioration of Electrical Insulation in Transformers, Motors and Cables

Chapter

3
An ideal

M
insulator.

any failures of electrical equipment like transformers, cables, motors, switchgears are due to the deterioration of the electrical insulation. A large number of these insulation failures can be anticipated by the regular application of nondestructive measurements, one of which is the

measurement of the dissipation factor of the insulation. Figure 3.1 is the equivalent circuit of an electrical

When an AC voltage is applied across an insulator, the current from the source consists of two components, IC, the current through the capacitor and IR, the current through the resistor. insulator will have I = IC, which means that the source voltage is 90 degrees lagging to the source current. A very good electrical insulator will have the angle between the source voltage and source current very close to 90 degrees. Any deterioration of the insulation will result in an angle deviation from the 90 degree angle difference, G, as shown in Figure 3.1. Dissipation factor is defined as the tangent of the angle deviation, G. Another common name for dissipation factor is tangent delta. Dissipation factor = = tan G IR IC = V/R VZC = 1 ZRC An increasing trend in the value of the dissipation factor is an accurate indication of the deterioration of the insulation of the electrical equipment.

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IC

I
Dissipation factor = tan = IR IC = V/R VZ C = 1 Z RC

IC
AC Voltage Source

IR R

V C

C - Capacitance R - Resistance V - Source Voltage I - Source Current

IR

FIGURE 3.1 : Equivalent Circuit of an Electrical Insulator

Temperature Dependence
The dissipation factor is very temperature dependent. Figure 3.2 illustrates the relationship between dissipation factor and the temperature of measurement. Care must be taken not to conclude a deterioration of the electrical insulation because of the high temperature of measurement. Such mistake has occurred when measuring the dissipation factor of cables immediately after the completion of the heat shrink cable termination. The cable must be allowed to cool down to the ambient temperature, otherwise the difference in value of dissipation factor between the hot state and cold state will be very significant. The measurement of dissipation factor at the factory is a routine test for cables, transformers, and motors. For comparison of the values between the factory and site measurement, the temperature of measurement at the factory must be considered to draw an accurate conclusion of the insulation condition of the electrical equipment at the site.
Dissipation factor (%)

0.4

at 80 deg. C

0.1

at 20 deg. C

10

12

Voltage in kV

FIGURE 3.2 : Temperature Dependence

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Voltage Dependence
The measurement of dissipation factor will need the application of AC voltage at power frequency to the measured electrical equipment. If an increasing trend in the value of the dissipation factor should occur below the rated voltage of the electrical equipment, then it is an indication of possible deterioration in the electrical insulation. Figure 3.3 illustrates the tip up of the value of dissipation factor with increasing test voltage. Care must be taken not to apply the test voltage well in excess of the rated voltage of the electrical equipment. A tip up occurring well above the rated voltage of the electrical equipment is not a concern. However if the tip-up occurs below the rated voltage of the electrical equipment then it will be a concern. The measurement of the dissipation factor will have maximum accuracy when the test voltage is close to rated voltage of the electrical equipment. Sometimes this is not possible when the measured electrical equipment has large capacitance value, which will result in an overcurrent trip of the measurement equipment. In such a situation, a lower test voltage shall be used.
Dissipation factor (%)

0.4

u u u u u u u

0.3

0.2

0.1

12

Voltage in kV

FIGURE 3.3 : Tip Up Curve

Applications
The measurement of dissipation factor can be applied to almost all types of electrical equipment. This article shall be confined to transformers, motors and cables. Transformers Figure 3.4 is the equivalent circuit of the insulation of two winding transformers. There are many modes of connection for the measurement of dissipation factor. A common connection is connect the The high voltage terminal of the measurement set to the high voltage winding of the transformer, and to connect the low voltage terminal of the measurement set to the low voltage winding of the transformer. dissipation factor value corresponding to CHE, CHL and (CHE + CHL) will be measured. The measurement is

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repeated with the high voltage terminal of the measurement set connected to the low voltage winding of the transformer, and the low voltage terminal of the measurement set connected to the high voltage winding of the transformer. The dissipation factor value corresponding to CLE, CHL and (CLE + CHL) will be measured. Care must be taken to ensure that the high voltage bushings of the transformers are free of moisture, dust or sand, so as to minimize surface leakage. Any surface leakage will increase the value of dissipation factor. Typical values of dissipation factor measured at site are in Table 3.1. Analysis of the dissipation factor measurement on different combinations of winding can show in which area the problem ties. For example, if a measurement between the two windings has high value of dissipation factor, and the value dissipation factor for each winding to earth is normal, then the problem lies between the windings.

HV windings

LV windings

C HE - capacitance between HV windings to earth C LE - capacitance between LV windings to earth

C HL

C HL - capacitance between HV & LV windings

C HE

C LE

FIGURE 3.4 : Equivalent Circuit of the Electrical Insulation of Two Winding Transformer

Motors The measurement of the dissipation factor for motors relates to the insulation health of the stator windings with respect to earth. frequency AC voltage is applied. are in Table 3.2. Cables The measurement for single core cables is similar to that of motors, where a single lumped capacitance to earth will represent the electrical insulation of the cable. The measurement for multi core cables will be more complicated. Figure 3.5 illustrates the various capacitance of a multi core cables. There will be six values of dissipation factors associated with the relevant capacitance. However, a more practical and common measurement is to short together all the phase conductors and to apply a power All terminals of the stator windings are shorted together and a power A single lumped capacitance to earth will represent the electrical

insulation of the stator windings with respect to earth. Typical values of dissipation factor measured at site

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frequency AC voltage to the shorted phase conductors. A single lumped capacitance of the shorted phase conductors will represent the electrical insulation of the phase conductors with respect to earth. method of connection is only valid for cables with individual earth screen for each phase conductor. Care must be taken to ensure the cable ends are properly terminated before any measurement of the dissipation factor. The cable end terminations will create an uniform stress distribution at the interface of the cable insulation and cable shield. measurement of the dissipation factor. The absence of such cable end terminations will affect the This

CRE
Re d

CRB

CBE
Blu e

CRE, CYE, CBE - capacitance between conductor to earth CRY, CYB, CRB - capacitance between conductors

CRY
Yell ow

CYB

CYE

FIGURE 3.5 : Equivalent Circuit of the Electrical Insulation of Multi-Core Cables

MVA 0.0 15.0 12.5 10.0 6.3 4.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.2 1.0

Age New New 3.5 Years 3 Years New 3 Years 3 Years New New 4 Years 4 Years

Voltage (kV) 22/6.6 22/6.9 22/6.6 22/6.6 22/6.9 22/6.6 6.6/415V 6.6/415V 22/433V 6.6/415V 6.6/400V

Vender Meiden Toshiba Toshiba ABB Tira Thai ABB Toshiba Tira Thai May & Christe Meiden ABB

Test Voltage in KV 10 12 10 5 10 5 5 4 10 4 4

Dissipation Factor (%) Dissipation Factor (%) for CH for CL 0.13 0.19 0.34 0.3 0.19 0.4 0.56 0.43 0.1 0.4 1.85 0.21 0.29 0.11 0.3 0.29 0.23 0.05 0.30 0.6 0.39 1.55

Dissipation Factor (%) for CHL 0.15 0.20 0.17 0.31 0.20 0.37 0.13 0.30 0.21 0.4 1.85

225

New

230/66

ABB

7.5 5 2.5

0.16 0.16 0.16

0.13 0.13 0.13

0.13 0.13 0.13

TABLE 3.1 : Typical Values of Dissipation Factor for Transformers Measured at Site

Why Measure Dissipation Factor ?

In the measurement of dissipation factor for AC electrical equipment, the test voltage and the operating voltage of the measured electrical equipment are both the same in AC. It is a more representative measure of the insulation health than when the test voltage is DC and the operating voltage is AC, as in the

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case of a megger on AC electrical equipment.

The use of values of dissipation factor to detect the

deterioration of electrical insulation is most powerful on a comparative basis. For example, comparing site values with factory values, comparing values with other identical equipment, or comparing with past historical values. An increasing trend in values of dissipation factor over time or in the form of the tipup curve is an accurate indication of the deterioration in electrical insulation.

Limitations
Size (kW) 3150 1390 370 230 230 200 180 Age 4 Years 4 Years New 4 Years 4 Years 4 Years 4 Years Voltage (kV) 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 Vendor Fuji Fuji Toshiba Hitachi Meiden Meiden Meiden Test Voltage in KV 2.5 2 2.5 4 4 4 4 Dissipation Factor (%) 0.42 0.83 0.23 0.34 0.21 0.19 0.31

1. The value of dissipation factor provides the averaged value of the total health of the electrical insulation. Hence, it is possible for a localized area of deteriorated electrical insulation to be averaged out by the electrical insulation of other healthy areas. Furthermore,

TABLE 3.2 : Typical Values of Dissipation Factor for Motors Measured at Site

the increase in values of dissipation factor may not be large enough to alert the user. Therefore, partial discharge measurement will be more suitable for the detection of localized area of deteriorated insulation. 2. The measurement of dissipation factor will require the de-energization of the measured electrical equipment. 3. The large capacitance of some electrical equipment, like long length of cables, will require input current in excess of the rating of the measurement set. Although this problem can often be solved by using a lower test voltage, there will be a loss in accuracy in the measurement of the dissipation factor.

Conclusions
1. The measurement of dissipation factor is a routine nondestructive test at the factory for transformers, motors and cables. Hence the site measurement and comparison with factory measurement will provide the means for a safer first time energization of transformers, motors and cables. 2. The trending of the values of dissipation factor either in the form of the tip-up curve or over a period of time is a powerful tool for preventive maintenance. -- END --