J.M.

PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

On-Line Partial Discharge

Measurement on High Voltage
Equipment Using the Continuous
Mode Transient Earth Voltage
(TEV) Technique

Chapter

he measurement of partial discharge has become less expensive, easier to use and hence more
popular as a means to determine the condition of the electrical insulation system in high voltage
equipment like switchgears and transformers.

The most common unit for quantifying partial

discharge magnitude is the pico-coulomb (pC), which is the product of voltage and capacitance. One is
most concerned with the maximum value of pC because it will indicate the maximum amount of damage
being inflicted on the electrical insulation system.

The larger the value of pC the more rapid the rate of

deterioration of the electrical insulation system. The actual pC value at the location of the partial discharge
cannot be directly measured because the location of the partial discharge is always embedded inside the
electrical insulation system, and hence there will be no direct access for measurement of the actual pC value
due to the partial discharge. However IEC 270 has established the calibration method to determine th pC
equivalent at the measurable voltage of the phase conductor of the electrical equipment due to the partial
discharge. This will require the injection of a known quantity of pC into the phase conductor and to
measure the peak magnitude of the resulting voltage at the phase conductor.

The ratio of the known

injected pC at the phase conductor is divided by the measured value of low voltage at the phase conductor
to obtain the pC/millivolts relationship. This derived value of pC at the phase conductor is called the
apparent pC, and is directly proportional to the actual pC value at the location of the partial discharge.
The main disadvantage of the pC method of partial discharge measurement is that the measured
electrical equipment need to be de-energized. For any partial discharge measurement to be widely used, it is
crucial for the measurement to be done without any need to de-energize the electrical equipment.

The

transient earth voltage (TEV) technique will provide this feature. This article will share my experience with
the measurement of partial discharge activity using the continuous mode TEV technique with equipment
from EA Technology of UK. The electrical equipment measured are high voltage air-insulated switchgears
and transformers.

Transient Earth Voltage (TEV)

Partial discharge activity in any electrical equipment will produce electromagnetic waves in a

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

very wide frequency spectrum that will radiate in all directions away from the location of the partial
discharge.

The higher frequency components of the radiated electromagnetic waves will be more

attentuated by the air medium than the lower frequency components.

These lower frequency

electromagnetic waves will hit the inner surface of the earthed metal cladding of switchgears.

At any

available openings, such as joints or air vents, the electromagnetic waves will escape from the switchgear.
This will cause a transient rise in the voltage of the earthed metal cladding of the switchgear. This TEV has
rise time in the range of nano seconds with an amplitude in the millivolts range. The magnitude of the
TEV is a function of the amplitude of the partial discharge and the attentuation in the propagation path
along the air medium and earthed metal cladding of the switchgear. The TEV is measured using a capacitive
probe placed at the earthed metal cladding of the switchgear. The measued value of TEV will be displayed
in dB as explained in the given Equation (1).
Where dB = 20 log10

Measured TEV
1 millivolts

dB

Measured TEV in millivolts

10

52

398

The detection circuit of the continuous mode TEV measurement set has a wide bandwidth of 70
MHz. The measured TEV is from a peak detection circuit, and so only the maximum value of TEV in any
measurement period will be recorded.
Partial discharge activity is often intermittent in nature. This means that the partial discharge may
be dormant for long periods and become active when initiated by changes in switching, loading, temperature
and humidity. In order to detect intermittent partial discharge, it is important to monitor over a period of
time. A minimum of 24 hours is recommended to study the effects due to changes in switching, loading,
temperature and humidity.
The continuous mode TEV measurement set has 12 channels, of which 8 channels are connected to
8 capacitive probes placed at the earthed metal cladding of the switchgears.

These capacitive probes are

required for the measurement of the TEV magnitude at different locations. The remaining 4 channels are
connected to 4 aerial probes, whose purpose is to detect the presence of interference from external
electromagnetic source. Figure 7.1 shows a typical setup. External electromagnetic waves will first trigger
the aerial probe before the capacitive probe. This time delay is used to screen out the external interference.
The resolution time of the TEV measurement set is about 7 nanoseconds and so the minimum separation
distance between the aerial probe and the capacitive probe will be the product of the speed of the

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

electromagnetic wave (about 3 x 108 m/s) and the 7 nanoseconds resolution time.

This works out to

2100mm, which is good enough to locate the source of the partial discharge to individual switchgear.
The continuous mode TEV measurement set will provide the following information:
x

maximum TEV magnitude in dB

average TEV magnitude in dB

number of pulses

number of pulses in any one channel expressed as a percentage of the total number of pulses in
the measurement period.

percentage of the time in which the pulses were active during the measurement period.

number of pulses per cycle.

short term severity.

maximum short term severity.

long term severity

Short Term Severity
It is defined as (maximum pulse amplitude x number
of pulses per cycle).
Maximum Short Term Severity
It is defined as the maximum value of (pulse
amplitude x number of pulses per cycle) for every
measurement period. The two short term severity numbers
take into consideration the information of how bad and
for how long the damage to the electrical insulation due to
the maximum magnitude of partial discharge.
Long Term Severity
FIGURE 7.1 : Typical Setup

It is defined

as the (average maximum pulse

amplitude x average number of pulses per cycle x duration of when pulses were detected). This number is
more sensitive to detect partial discharge that is continuous or nearly continuous in nature.
Number of Pulses
All pulses detected by the continuous mode TEV measurement set are counted in the total number
of pulses of the summary table, and at the same time allocated to the channel that first detected the pulse.
If the pulse is detected by two channels within the 7 nanoseconds resolution time, then the pulse is deemed

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

to arrive at both channels at the same time, and the associated counter for both channels will count up by
one. In a 5 minutes measurement period, the number of cycles for 50 hertz supply will be (5 x 60 x
50) or 15,000 cycles.
Number
of Passes

Duration in Seconds

Remarks

12

12 passes x 12 channels x 2 seconds = 288

13

13 passes x 12 channels x 2 seconds = 312

Each channel is
measured for 2
seconds

13 passes over the 12 channels is not possible because the 312 seconds will exceed the 5 minutes or 300
seconds measurement period. Hence the maximum number of passes will be 12.
The maximum number of cycles will be

288
300

x 15,000 )

= 14,400 cycles with a

5 minute measurement period. The total number of pulses detected in the 5 minutes period will be divided
by 14,400 cycles to obtain the number of pulses per cycle. Hence if the partial discharge is continuous over
5 minutes, the total number of pulses will be 14,400 if we assume one partial discharge in each cycle. For a
partial discharge of intermittent nature, the number of pulses over the 5 minutes may be less than 14,400.
For example, the number of pulse per cycle for an intermittent partial discharge of 5,000 pulses will be
(5,000 pulse/14,400 cycle) = 0.35 pulse per cycle.
Therefore for an intermittent partial discharge within a 5 minute measurement period, the number
of pulse per cycle will be smaller than 1, and in EA Technology practice, values of activity greater than 0.05
pulse per cycles [1] or 1 pulse per 20 cycle will require further investigation.

Guidelines for Partial Discharge Activity that will require further

investigation [1]
x

short term severity with capacitive probes > 0

or

number of pulses per cycle with capacitive probes > 0.05

Case History for Switchgears

Table 7.1 is a summary of the continuous mode TEV measurement on a 24kV rated air insulated
switchgear with vacuum circuit breaker. The aerial probes were connected to channel 1, 2, 11 and 12. The
capacitive probes were connected to channel 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
We only need to apply the guidelines to the capacitive probes. All the respective short term severity
values are zero and all the respective number of pulses per cycle are zero. It was concluded that
there was no detectable magnitude of partial discharge.

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

LEVEL

NUMBER OF PULSES

Ch

Max
Level
dB

No. of
Pulses per
cycle

Av
Level
dB

Short
Term
Severity

No. of
Pulses

%
Pulses

Max
Pulses
per
cycle

Assoc
Level
dB

%
Time

Long
Term
Severity

Maximum
Short
Term
Severity

28

0.021

1398

58

0.021

28

44

28

0.026

844

35

0.026

28

44

19

0.000

282

12

0.000

38

0.000

0.000

22

0.000

177

0.001

32

0.000

34

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

16

0.000

11

0.000

16

10

0.000

0.000

11

0.000

0.000

12

0.000

0.000

Total number of pulses

2423

Total number of sets of data

282

Capacitive Probes

12 channels connected, 14400 cycles per 5 minutes

Start Time

10/03/2003 14:10:09

Finish Time

11/03/2003 13:35:00

Aerial Probes

Channel 2

Channel 12

Channel
3

Channel
4

Channel
5

Channel
6

Channel
7

Channel
8

Channel
9

Channel
10

24kV
VCB

24kV
VCB

24kV
VCB

24kV
VCB

24kV
VCB

24kV
VCB

24kV
VCB

24kV
VCB

Channel 1

Channel 11

TABLE 7.1 : Summary of Continuous Mode TEV Measurement for Switchgears

Case History for Transformer

Table 7.2 is a summary of the continuous mode TEV measurement on a 22kV/400 volts, 2MVA
cast resin transformer.

The aerial probes were connected to channel 1, 2, 11 and 12.

The capacitive

probes were connected to channel 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

In this measurement, the number of pulses per cycle is not zero at channel 3, 8 and 10. This means
that there is partial discharge activity detected at the three channels.

Channel 3 will be of more interest

because of the relatively large 25dB TEV magnitude. During one of the 5 minutes measurement interval,
of which there are 288 such intervals, the total number of pulses detected were (0.02 pulse per cycle x
14,400 cycles)

or 288 pulses. Figure 7.2 shows the dB magnitude of the pulses measured over the

measurement period for Channel 3. Figure 7.3 shows the number of pulses over the same measurement
period for Channel 3. With all these information, we have the following conclusion for the maximum and
intermittent partial discharge activity at channels 3, 6, 8 and 10.
x

Intermittent partial discharge was detected in one of the 5 minutes measurement interval
because the number of pulses per cycle was not zero and equal to 0.02 pulse per cycle.

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

However, only a value greater than 0.05 pulse per cycle [1] will require further investigation.
x

The short term severity of zero indicated that the largest magnitude partial discharge was not
large enough nor this same partial discharge occurred very long enough to cause problem.

In addition, a near continuous partial discharge was measured at channel 6 because of the 90% value
in the % time column. Figures 7.4 and 7.5 show the detailed information. A long term severity value of
zero indicated that this near continuous partial discharge was not large enough to cause problems to the
electrical insulation system.
LEVEL

NUMBER OF PULSES

Ch

Max
Level
dB

No. of
Pulses per
cycle

Av
Level
dB

Short
Term
Severity

No. of
Pulses

%
Pulses

Max
Pulses
per
cycle

Assoc
Level
dB

%
Time

Long
Term
Severity

Maximum
Short Term
Severity

31

0.002

804

11

0.033

13

43

0.000

0.000

25

0.020

324

0.020

25

0.000

73

0.001

20

0.000

43

0.001

13

0.000

780

11

0.004

10

90

10

0.000

71

0.002

16

0.020

1943

26

0.020

16

25

0.000

45

0.002

10

13

0.006

303

0.006

13

28

11

40

0.006

3330

45

0.016

13

33

12

0.000

0.000

Total number of pulses

7351

Total number of sets of data

288

12 channels connected, 14400 cycles per 5 minutes

Start Time

18/03/2003 15:06:00

Finish Time

19/03/2003 14:26:00

Channel 2

Transformer
Inside
Enclosure 1

Aerial Probes

Channel 12

Channel 4

Channel 5

Capacitive Probes

Channel 8

Channel 6

Channel 9

Channel 3

Transformer
Inside
Enclosure 2

Channel 10

Channel 7

Channel 11

Channel 1

TABLE 7.2 : Summary of Continuous Mode TEV Measurement for Transformer

Limitation of the TEV Measurement

x

In general, the partial discharge magnitude in the electrical equipment must be above 100pC [2]
before reliable TEV can be measured.

Lower magnitude partial discharge are better detected

using ultrasonic sensors.

x

TEV measurements are not suitable for gas insulated switchgears (GIS) because the totally
enclosed construction will not allow the escape of any TEV within the GIS to appear at the
outside of the GIS. Again ultrasonic sensors of the contact type will be more suitable for GIS.

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Number of Pulses

150

100

50

Date/Time

FIGURE 7.3 : Number of Pulses for Channel 4

19/03/2003 14:26:00

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Amplitude dB

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

measurement will provide a higher confidence level to detect intermittent partial discharge.

powerful preventive maintenance tool in detecting partial discharges.

Amplitude of pulses arriving first at each channel

30

25

20

15

CH3 Amplitude

10

Date/Time

FIGURE 7.2 : Magnitude of Pulses for Channel 3

Number of pulses arriving first at each channel

350

300

250

200

CH3 Number of Pulses

Conclusion
Compared to any form of snapshot partial discharge measurement, the continuous mode TEV
In addition,

the TEV technique does not need the de-energization of the electrical equipment, or the removal of any

protective cover panel. The on-line and non-intrusive nature of the TEV technique makes this as a very

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Number of Pulses
30

20

10

Date/Tim e

FIGURE 7.5 : Number of Pulses for Channel 6

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Amplitude dB

J.M. PANG & SEAH PTE LTD

Amplitude of pulses arriving first at each channel

14

12

10

CH6 Amplitude

Date/Tim e

FIGURE 7.4 : Magnitude of Pulses for Channel 6

Num ber of pulses arriving first at each channel

60

50

40

CH6 Number of Pulses