CMD 2008, China

2008, April 21 24


Paper Title:
Experiences in On-site Partial Discharge Measurements
and Prospects for PD Monitoring


Authors:
Dr. K. Rethmeier

Dr. M. Krger

Dr. A. Kraetge
Dr. R. Plath

Dr. W. Koltunowicz

A. Obralic

Prof. W. Kalkner


1
AbstractWith four case studies (dry-type transformer, power
transformer, GIS, generator) this paper describes the principle of
synchronous multi-channel PD measurements and its benefits for
PD data evaluation. With respect to monitoring the tracing of a
charge value as Q
IEC
over the measuring time is not sufficient to
assess the PD activity of an HV apparatus. With state-of-the-art
PD evaluation techniques as 3PARD and 3CFRD a simple and
fast (all calculations during the PD measurements are carried out
in real-time) tool is available to separate PD from noise.
Separated PD sources can easily be back-transformed to phase-
resolved patterns or pulse sequence patterns, for instance, to be
evaluated automatically by computerized PD expert systems or by
experienced human experts.

Index TermsPartial Discharge, PD, offline, online,
monitoring, diagnosis, noise suppression, pulse-waveform
analysis, synchronous acquisition, multi-channel acquisition

I. INTRODUCTION
HE measurement of Partial Discharges (PD) is a
worldwide accepted tool for quality control of high
voltage (HV) apparatus [1]. PD signals are very often
superposed by noise pulses, a fact that makes a PD data
analysis more difficult for human experts and for software
expert systems, respectively. With the ongoing development of
permanently installed PD monitoring systems the PD data
analysis needs to become more effective to be done
automatically. Using synchronous multi-channel PD
acquisition it is possible to gain de-noised PD data from
separated PD sources in order to make PD measurements more
reliable.
II. PD DATA EVALUATION
PD measurements are often performed under noisy
conditions. The PD signal is superposed by stochastic noise
pulses or even multiple PD sources, which will lead to a
complex phase resolved PD pattern that is not easy to analyze.
Conventional frequency filters are not able to eliminate these
pulse-shaped disturbances. PD experts and atomized computer
expert systems will have difficulties with the superposition of
multiple PD faults and noise. Some well-known evaluation
techniques as pulse-sequence-analyses will even fail with non-
correlated PD pulses to be compared. The PD source
separation must be the first step to de-noise PD data. In the
future this will become even more important with the rising
numbers of automated PD monitoring systems installed at
critical network points.

A. 3-Phase-Amplitude-Relation-Diagram (3PARD)
The synchronous acquisition of PD data for all three phases
of an HV apparatus allows a pulse-per-pulse amplitude
comparison.







Voltage signals of a single PD pulse
measured in all 3 phases
3PARD
Fig. 1. Creating 3PARD from PD voltage signals

The amplitude relations of acquired pulse triples are
constant for different PD sources and for different noise
sources due to their unique propagation path from PD fault
location to PD decoupling location. So the first step of a PD
location is a PD source separation. The creation of the diagram
as well as the back-transformation of 3PARD clusters can be
done during the PD measurement in real-time.
The 3PARD source separation has been in practical use
now for seven years with reliable results as described in
several scientific publications [2,3,4]. Finally it found its way
into university textbooks for students' education [5].
It has to be pointed out that synchronous PD data
acquisition is an absolute must for 3PARD data evaluation.
Due to their sequential measuring procedure three-channel
multiplex systems are only able to deliver uncorrelated PD
pulses instead of pulse triples.
Dr. K. Rethmeier
1*
, Dr. M. Krger
1
, Dr. A. Kraetge, Dr. R. Plath
2
, Dr. W. Koltunowicz
2
,
A. Obralic
3
, Prof. W. Kalkner
3
1
Omicron electronics, Klaus, Austria
2
Omicron electronics, Berlin, Germany
3
Technische Universitt Berlin, Germany

*E-mail : kay.rethmeier@omicron.at

Experiences in On-site Partial Discharge
Measurements and Prospects for PD Monitoring
T
2
More detailed information about a PD measuring device
suitable for synchronous PD data acquisition is given in [6].

B. 3-Center-Frequency-Relation-Diagram (3CFRD)
The 3PARD method requires PD pulse triples. Three PD
amplitudes are compared and plotted into a single diagram to
form separable clusters. However, in principle this type of
diagram can be created by any synchronously gained pulse
triples. Even for a single phase or a single PD decoupling
position pulse triples can be gained by using three different PD
filter settings, for instance. So the signal output of three filters
with different center frequencies or bandwidths allows a pulse-
waveform-analysis. This refers to the fact that, due to the
discharge physics, different PD types or noise pulses have
different but characteristic energy spectrums. A separation of
different PD sources and different noise sources is possible by
focusing on single 3CFRD clusters. A real-time back-
transformation will result in clear and de-noised phase
resolved patterns.

C. 3-Phase-Time-Relatio- Diagram (3PTRD)
A third method using the 3PARD principle is the evaluation
of the pulse time delays of acquired PD triples. Similar to the
well-known TDR method for PD fault location on HV cables
every pulse source has a characteristic fingerprint of time
differences due to the pulse propagation to the three locations
of PD decoupling. Figure 2 shows two typical PD pulse triples
caused by different PD sources.


PD fault location 1 PD fault location 2
Fig. 2. Typical time differences for PD fault location

III. CASE STUDIES
The evaluation of synchronously gained PD data is neither
limited to online or offline PD measurements nor to a certain
type of HV apparatus [7,8,9]. In the following several case
studies for PD measurements are shown to demonstrate the
principle, the versatility and the benefits of multi-channel PD
data acquisition.
A. GIS Substation
A PD monitoring device for synchronous 4-channel data
acquisition [10] was temporarily installed at the cable/GIS
interface of a 110 kV substation as to be seen in figure 3.

Fig. 3. Temporarily installed PD monitoring device

To observe the PD activity of the GIS cable termination and
the power transformer connected by a short length of a 110 kV
XLPE cable a charge trend recording was performed for three
phases. Figure 4 shows a one hour timeframe of the acquired
PD data of all three phases.
PD over Time
0,0E+00
1,0E-05
2,0E-05
3,0E-05
4,0E-05
5,0E-05
6,0E-05
7,0E-05
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[
C
]
channel 1 PD level (C)
channel 2 PD level (C)
channel 3 PD level (C)

Fig. 4. Excerpt of PD trend curve

It can be seen that the recorded PD charge level is altering
rapidly in time. A look on four of the automatically generated
sets of phase resolved patterns (see fig. 5, channel 4 for PD
decoupling at neutral or star point not connected) explains
these unstable curves.
Fig. 5. Timed PD histogram acquisition
3

Beside the PD activity (black marks in channel 2 of all sets
of PD histograms) a lot of noise and pulse disturbances were
recorded and flew in the finally stored Q
IEC
value. In this case
the simple PD trend recording does not represent the PD
activity of the HV apparatus. Due to the synchronicity of all
four PD acquisition channels of this monitoring device a real-
time 3PARD clustering can be performed to focus on PD
activity correlated to a single phase.
B. Power Transformer
After repair works a 3 phased synchronous PD measure-
ment on a 30 MVA 115 kV/11.3 kV transformer (see fig. 6)
was performed to ensure the quality of the undertaken
maintenance work. The PDs were decoupled at the measuring
taps of the transformers' bushings.
Figure 7 shows the recorded PRPD pattern of phase L1.
The pattern shows three different discharge structures.
Statistically distributed noise pulses not related to the test
voltage frequency generated a band at the bottom of the
diagram (base noise level of 5 pC). Two phase-stable clusters
due to the power generator (voltage source for the induced
voltage test) are noticeable at a discharge level of ca. 20 pC.
As a third structure the partial discharge pattern can bee seen
with a discharge magnitude of about 100 pC.

Fig. 6. PD test on transformer, 30 MVA 115 kV


Fig. 7. PRPD pattern of phase L1

By the use of 3PARD all this structures can be separated and
real-time re-calculated into cleaned-up PRPD patterns, as
shown in figure 8.
With 3PARD clustering a pulse source separation could be
done by comparing the amplitudes of PD and its cross-talk to
the neighbor phases. In this way the PD pattern could be
clearly separated from noise and other non-PD pulses.
As PD activity is located very close to the axes of the
3PARD diagram this information can be used to specify an
additional filter option to be used for automated data
evaluation at online PD-monitoring.
3PARD PRPD
C
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r

1


P
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f
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Fig. 8. 3PARD and PRPD pattern separated by discharge type

C. Dry-Type Transformer
In a heavily disturbed industrial environment of a
transformer manufacturer's workshop a 500 kVA
240 V/10.5 kV dry-type transformer was tested according to
IEC 60076-11 with 1.8 times of nominal voltage and 1.3 times
of nominal voltage, respectively. Figure 9 shows the HV set up
with transformer, coupling capacitor, measuring impedance,
MPD 600 PD acquisition unit and battery for potential-free
power supply.


Fig. 9. PD measuring set up

Figure 10 shows the recorded test voltage (red curve scaled
MPD600
24 kV Coupling
Capacitor
Transformer
100 kV Coupling
Capacitor
Measuring
Impedance
Battery



4
in kV) and the referring PD level (green curve scaled in nC)
versus time.


Fig. 10. Test voltage level and PD charge versus time

At 18.9 kV test voltage level heavy pulse activity (multiple
PD sources and noise pulses) with more than 1000 pC could
be recorded as to be seen in the trend curve (fig. 10). After
lowering the test voltage to 14 kV and finally 13 kV a PD level
of ca. 260 pC was still present. For a deeper investigation
figure 11 shows a summary of the performed real-time 3CFRD
analysis with measuring frequencies of 1.4MHz (unit 1.1),
2.0MHz (unit 1.2) and 2.4MHz (unit 1.3).


3CFRD PRPD
A
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l

D
a
t
a


S
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3


P
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D
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Fig. 11. Synchronous PD data evaluation

From the original PD data, as to be recorded with any kind
of commercial PD measuring instrument, no significant result
can be obtained from the phase-resolved PD pattern due to
heavy noise (s. row "All Data" in fig. 11). By performing a
pulse-waveform-analysis the 3CFRD visualization shows
different separable clusters due to differences in pulse shape of
different pulse types. A real-time back-transformation allows
viewing the cleared PRPD patterns.
Cluster 1 is representing statistical noise; cluster 2 is
showing a single burst of pulses (probably resulting from a
switching operation close to the HV set up). Cluster 3 finally
shows the transformer's PD activity, formerly hidden behind
other pulses. A PD fault with ca. 200 pC charge level could be
confirmed with this evaluation method. By concentrating only
on cluster 3 the PD extinction voltage (PDEV) could be
recognized at 13.5 kV.

As a consequence for PD monitoring this example
demonstrates that a simple PD charge level tracing will not
show the PD activity but only disturbances not related to the
test object.


D. Hydro Generator
After maintenance works on a 12 MVA 16.8 kV hydro
generator a single phase offline PD measurement was
performed to compare the results with previous PD
measurements on this machine. The results showed typical
phase resolved PD patterns for rotating machines and are not
to be discussed in this paper.
To demonstrate the power of the 3CFRD algorithm three
PD acquisition units were connected to one phase (see fig. 12).


Fig. 12. Measuring set up, 3 MPD measuring with different frequency settings

A pulse calibrator was connected to the HV bus bar to
simulate PD activity from the generator winding. Figure 13
shows the 3CFRD date evaluation.
5


3CFRD PRPD
A
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D
a
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a


S
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6
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b
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C
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P
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Fig. 13. Synchronous PD data evaluation

The 3CFRD showed three separable clusters representing
three pulse sources with different energy spectrums. The real-
time back-transformation delivered the correlated PRPD
patterns. The calibrator pulses, represented by cluster 3, could
be made visible even with present noise of higher charge
levels.

IV. SUMMARY AND PROSPECTS FOR PD MONITORING
PD measurements are performed to evaluate the insulation
condition of all types of HV apparatus. These measurements
are possible under offline and online conditions, respectively.
Important and critical components will be more and more
permanently monitored in the future. Beside PD monitoring
hardware this will require sophisticated concepts to handle the
measured data [11,12]. With the exponential increase of
computer calculation power several de-noising methods are
applicable in real-time to gain relevant PD data from a
disturbed set of PD data. As a robust and available tool PD
instruments with synchronous multi-channel PD data
acquisition deliver reliable results due to advanced PD data
evaluation techniques. Their variable system concept allows
offline measurements and permanent PD monitoring for all
kinds of applications.

V. REFERENCES

[1] Smit: "Trends in PD-diagnostics for Asset Management of Aging HV
Infrastructures" -14th International Symposium on High Voltage
Engineering, Bejing/P.R.China, 25-29th August 2005

[2] K.-D.Plath, R.Plath, Emanuel and Kalkner: "Synchrone dreiphasige
Teilentladungsmessung an Leistungstransformatoren vor Ort und im
Labor", ETG conference on Diagnosic, Berlin, Germany, 2002

[3] Weissenberg, Farid, Plath, Rethmeier, Kalkner: "On-Site PD Detection
at Cross-Bonding Links of HV Cables", CIGRE Session 2004 - Paris,
France, 2004

[4] Kalkner, Obralic, Plath, Kaufhold, Betghe: "Synchronous 3-Phase
Partial Discharge Detection on Rotating Machines", CIGRE Session
2006 - Paris, France, 2006

[5] Kchler: "High Voltage Engineering basics, technology, application",
Springer Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg, Germany, 2005

[6] Omicron electronics: "MPD600 - Product brief and specification"

[7] Schaper, Kalkner, Plath.: "Synchronous multi-terminal on-site PD
measurements on power transformers", 14th International Symposium
on High Voltage Engineering, Bejing/P.R.China, 2005

[8] Obralic, Kalkner et al.: Verbesserte Zustandsbewertung durch neue
Auswerteverfahren bei der Synchronen Mehrstellen-TE-Messung an
Hochspannungsmaschinen, ETG conference on Diagnosic, Kassel,
Germany, 2006

[9] Weissenberg, Farid, Plath, Rethmeier, Kalkner: "On-Site PD Detection
at Cross-Bonding Links of HV Cables", CIGRE Session 2004 - Paris,
France, 2004

[10] Omicron electronics: "MPD402- Product brief and specification"

[11] Plath: "System Concept for Partial Discharge Monitoring on HV/EHV
Cable Systems", CMD International Conference on Condition
Monitoring and Diagnosis, Changwon, Korea, 2006

[12] Neumann et al.: "The Impact of Insulation Monitoring and Diagnostics
on Reliability and Exploitation of Service Life", CIGRE Session 2006 -
Paris, France, 2006