ISSN 10683712, Russian Electrical Engineering, 2012, Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 118120. Allerton Press, Inc., 2012.

Original Russian Text F.R. Ismagilov, D.V. Maksudov, 2012, published in Elektrotekhnika, 2012, No. 2, pp. 6063.

A Method for Estimation of Insulation Residual Operation Capability

of Electrical Equipment
F. R. Ismagilov and D. V. Maksudov
Received January 23, 2012

AbstractA mathematical model of partial discharge evolution during aging of the dielectric is presented.
Experimental data on variation of partial discharge intensity in time are interpreted using the model. This
allows for estimation of the residual capability of dielectric use.
DOI: 10.3103/S1068371212020058

The intensity of partial discharges (PDs) develops

with aging of dielectric insulation in gaseous impuri
ties. The intensity can be a diagnostic indicator of the
insulations condition. However, wellaccepted and
widespread methods of insulation condition monitor
ing of cable lines, for example, are based on PD detec
tion at a voltage six times higher than the nominal
value, according to regulations [1]. This process dam
ages insulation [2].
At the same time, the problem of insulation condi
tion diagnostics is becoming ever more relevant due to
the high level of wear of power transformers and gen
erators in the power system. Determination of insula
tion local defects extension by means of PD measure
ments in normal operating conditions of primary
equipment and subsequent preventive maintenance
cost less than do operations following power equip
ment insulation failure [3, 4].

50 Hz for the inside of the power transformer), the

electric field intensity inside the impurity (accounting
for the ratio of dielectric permeability) reaches the
failure value at a certain point of the halfwave, at
which the electrons of the gas may gain enough energy
at the free span to ionize neutral atoms. This initiates
the collision ionization mechanism and generates an
electron avalanche, which reaches the opposite sur
face of the impurity and entails electromechanical
corrosion. In addition, a spatial electrical charge is
created in the impurity. Its field vector is opposite to
the outer field vector. Therefore, further movement of
the charges inside the impurity is suspended until fur
ther growth of the outer field intensity recreates failure
conditions inside the impurity.
Thus, PD repeats at a certain frequency at a certain
part of each halfwave of the outer field when its inten
sity overreaches the critical value.
The electric field intensity of the dielectric

MATHEMATICAL MODEL
The PD develops in the following steps. The elec
tric field intensity in a gaseous impurity (a cavity
formed by the insulation aging) is generally signifi
cantly higher than in the adjacent dielectric. The ratio
of the electric field intensity inside and outside of the
cavity is proportional to the ratio of the dielectric per
meability of the gas and the insulation dielectric,
d
E g = E
d,
g

E d = U 0 /d,
where U0 is the applied voltage and d is the thickness of
the dielectric (Fig. 1).

(1)

where Eg is the electric field intensity in the impurity,

Ed is the electric field intensity in the dielectric of the
insulation surrounding the gaseous impurity, g is the
gas dielectric permeability, and d is the dielectric per
meability of the insulation. Therefore, the dielectric
strength of the gaseous impurity is lower than in the
surrounding insulation. There is a greater probability
of failure of the impurity in this case. If the outer field
alternates (e.g., according to the industrial frequency
118

U0

UB

Fig. 1. Gaseous impurity in the dielectric.

A METHOD FOR ESTIMATION OF INSULATION RESIDUAL OPERATION CAPABILITY

The potentials difference in the gaseous impurity

according to (1) is

Power, mW
60
50
40
30
20
10

U g = E g ,
where is the impurity dimension in the direction par
allel to the electric field lines, or

U g = d  U 0 .
g d

(2)

It should be noted that Eq. (1) relies on the ratio of

dielectric permeability given by d. If the gaseous
impurity dimensions are comparable to the thickness of
the dielectric insulation, the electric field intensity in
the impurity equals that in the dielectric. This means a
lower value of the field intensity in the impurity.
The voltage of electrical failure and initial PD in
the impurity is the function Ug.bnd() of the impurity
dimensions described with Paschens law. It is applica
ble in the range of dimensions from 1 m to 1 cm at
normal pressure [5]:

0 2000

10000 14000

18000 Time, h

Taking into account impurity voltage (2) and volt

age of failure (3), Eq. (5) for the range 106102 m at
normal pressure becomes
7

4.4 10 p  . (6)
P ( ) = 4fU g CU g.bnd = 4f d  0 g 
ln ( p ) + 12.8
g d

Thus, P() 3.
The product of constants is set as
1
7
const = 4f d  U 0 0 g 4.4 10 p;
g d

(3)

where p is the pressure in atmospheres.

const = 4 10 W/m3.

The power of the PD in the impurity

2

6000

Fig. 2. PD intensity.

44 10 p
U g.bnd ( ) =  ,
ln ( p ) + 12.8

119

P = nC ( U g.bnd U e ),

(4)

The final expression of the PD power as a function

of the geometrical dimensions of the impurity is
3

P ( ) = const 
 .
ln ( p ) + 12.8

where Ue is the voltage of PD extinguishing inside the

impurity and n is the number of PDs per time unity,

(7)

Equation (7) indicates rapid growth of the PD

power in the impurity as the geometrical dimensions
increase.

Ug Ue
n = 4f 
;
U g.bnd U e
C is the capacity of the impurity,
0 S
C = 
;

S is the area of the impurity in the direction perpen

dicular to the electric field lines.
Equation (4) can be simplified, assuming that the
following is the case.
(1) The PD extinguishing voltage is far less than the
voltage of failure Ue Ug.bnd.
(2) The area of the impurity in the direction per
pendicular to the electric field lines is proportional to
the square of its dimensions in the parallel direction
S 2.
Then, the power of the PD in the impurity
Ug
S 2
P = 4f 
 0 g U g.bnd = 4fU g 0 g U g.bnd .
U g.bnd

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EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES AND ANALYSIS

Depletion of the studied insulation was modeled
using the thermal aging method. The PD was measured
after every aging cycle corresponding to 2000 h of oper
ation. The thickness of the insulation d = 5 mm; the
applied voltage U0 = 10 kV. All studied samples were of
identical geometrical dimensions and chemical com
position [6].
The average diagram of the PD intensity for all
studied insulation samples is presented in Fig. 2.
The following features are typical for the PD power
curves of all studied samples. During the extended
period (approximately 12000 h), the PD intensity
grows. Then, a decrease in the intensity and subse
quent growth are observed up to insulation failure.
When the insulation fails, the gaseous impurity
dimensions are comparable to the thickness of the
insulation. One may observe in Fig. 2 that the PD
power before the intensity decrease differs from the

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ISMAGILOV, MAKSUDOV

failure values by less than 1.5 times. Equation (7) indi

cates that the PD intensity is proportional to the third
power of the linear dimensions of the impurities inside
the insulation. Hence, the parameters change by no
more than 20% in the time span from the beginning of
the decrease until failure. As indicated above, the ratio
of dielectric permeability d/g (which is equal to 3.5
for the given type of insulation) determines Eq. (6)
only in case of d. At the same time, it has been
shown that the impurity dimensions at the beginning
of the PD intensity decrease are close to the dimen
sions of the insulation failure. This makes the given
condition void.
CONCLUSIONS
(1) The mathematical model developed of PD evo
lution during insulation aging is used in particular for
determination of the precise dependence of discharge
intensity as a function of the dimensions of the gaseous
impurities in the dielectric. It is also suitable for the
analysis and the explanation of the experimental stud
ies, which display a decrease in the PD intensity before
consequent growth until failure.
(2) It is shown that PD intensity decrease indicates
that the impurities dimensions are already compara
ble to the thickness of the insulation. This is a warning
that insulation degradation has arrived at the prefail
ure stage.
(3) The mathematical model and a possible model
based interpretation of the experimental data are used
in prediction of the remaining operating time of the
dielectric. The prediction is based on analysis of peri
odic measurements of the PD intensity in power

equipment insulation under normal operation. This is

an advantage of the method of residual operation
capability of the electrotechnical equipment in com
parison to the methods prescribed in regulations [1],
which imply checking of insulation by applying multi
ples of the nominal voltage and PD detection. The lat
ter is damaging to the insulation [2].
REFERENCES
1. RD (Guiding Document) no. 34.4551.30097: Volume
and Norms for Testing an Electric Equipment, Novosi
birsk: Sibirskoe univ. izd., 2008.
2. Bikmurzin, A.S., Check up of Cable Lines by Means of
Partial Discharges Recording, in Materialy Vserossi
iskoi konferentsii s elementami nauchnoi shkoly dlya
molodezhi Nauchnoissledovatelskie problemy v
oblasti energetiki i energosberezheniya (Proc. AllRus
sian Conf. with Scientific School Elements for Young
ScientificResearch Problems in Energetics and
Energy Saving), Ufa: Izd. UGATU, 2010, pp. 251
253.
3. Ismagilov, F.R. and Maksudov, D.V., Dielektriki v elek
tricheskom pole (Dielectrics in Electric Field), Ufa: Izd
UGATU, 2009.
4. Ismagilov, F.R. and Maksudov, D.V., Razryadnye prot
sessy v dielektrikakh v elektricheskikh i magnitnykh poly
akh (Discharge Processes in Dielectrics Being in Elec
tric and Magnetic Fields), Moscow: Mashinostroenie,
2010.
5. GOST (State Standard) no. 151697: AC Electric Equip
ment and Plants for Voltage of 3kV and Higher. General
Test Methods for Electric Insulation, 1997.
6. Fedosov, E.M., Partial Discharges in the Elements of
Electrotechnical Complexes, Cand. Sci. (Eng.) Disser
tation, Ufa: Ufimskii GATU, 2009.

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