F E A T U R E A
The Use of Partial Discharge!
Measurements to Assess the
Condition of Rotating Machine
Insulation
Key Words: Rotating machines, insulation, partial discharges, ageing, sensors, ‘failure detection,
on-line monitoring
by
G.C. STONE
Iris Power Engineering, Mississauga, Ontario
Researchers have expended
considerable effort in the past I5
years t o apply modern measurement
technology to on-line PD tests.
INTRODUCTION
artial discharge (PD) testing has been used for over 50
P years to measure the quality of electrical insulation, and
sometimes, to detect if insulation deterioration has
occurred in high voltage apparatus. In some types of appa-
ratus, the goal of PD measurement is to detect deterioration
while the apparatus is in normal use, i.e., on-line PD testing.
Perhaps the most widespread application of on-line PD
testing is for detecting deterioration in rotating machines.
Over 45 years ago capacitors and RF current transformers
yielded PD signals from operating generators [l].The signals
were measured on limited bandwidth oscilloscopes and
“ R I V meters. Great expertise was needed on the part of the
test operator, in part to distinguish the stator winding PD
signals from the noise. Also, skill was needed to make sense
of the PD itself: i.e., what PD quantities correlated with the
condition of the insulation.
The success of these early efforts to predict winding
condition emboldened many researchers to improve the test
technology to enable development of a practical test that
July/AuguSt 1996-Vol. 12, NO.4 0883-7554/96/$5.0001996
R T I C L E
could be done by non-specialists. Nowadays, on-line PD
testing of high voltage motors and generators is widely used
in the utility industry and is rapidly being applied in indus-
tries such as petroleum, chemical, mining, and pulp and
paper.
However, to make a practical on-line PD test has stretched
the limits of conventional PD metrology. Advancements were
needed in sensors (particularly their bandwidth) and elec-
tronic instrumentation, because differences in the time of
pulse arrival as short as 2 ns can be critical to interpretation.
In addition, the application of sophisticated signal processing
techniques has been needed to make sense of the vast amount
of PD data collected, to determine simple physical effects
such as winding looseness, or thermal ageing of the stator
insulation.
This article reviews some of the recent improvements in
measurement technology that have enabled on-line PD test-
ing to be applied to a signifiant percentage of high voltage
motors and generators in use in North America today.
USERREQUIREMENTS
FOR PID TESTS
It is instructive to consider what the maintenance engineer
in a plant wants from a PD test. In fact, this in itself is too
limiting, since such a person probably does not care that
he/she is measuring PD. The plant maintenance engineer
simply wants to predict the remaining life of a stator winding.
This allows him/her to remove the motor or generator from
service at a convenient time lust before failure, in order to
maximize the capital investment in the old winding, yet avoid
any consequential costs of having an in-service failure. Pre-
dicting remaining winding life is still in the domain of
witchcraft, if for no other reason than the actual time of
winding failure is usually associated with external events
such as lightning strikes, power system disturbances, or
23

Fig. 1 A conventional Pulse Phase Analysis plot from an operating 65 MVA generator. The
red (dark) lines are negative PD pulses and the green (light) lines are positive PD pulses.
(XYZ/Pl/MI-Polyester Mica, 1994; Phase: B, GB, SB 11/10/94 3:43:42PM; 65.00 MW,
6.00 MVar, 13.90KV Temp: 200.00": A (200-3200mV) 5s, Ref. angle: 90 deg.)
270
Fig. 2 A Polar Pulse Density plot of the data in Fig.1. Color indicatesthe pulse repetition rate.
The angle shows where the PD occurs with respect to the ac cycle. The radius from the
center is the pulse magnitude. This plot is the easiest way to distinguish between
phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase (endwinding) PD. (XWPl/Ml -Polyester Mica,
1994; Phase: B, GB, SB 11/10/94 3:43:42PM; 65.00 MW, 6.00 MVar, 13.90Kv, Temp:
200.00"; A (200-3200mV) 5s, Ref. angle: 90 deg.)
operator error. All of these events can break down an
insulation system deteriorated by ageing. Although PD test-
ing is a powerful tool for determining the condition of stator
winding insulation, it should be used in combination with
insulation resistance tests and visual inspections. These three
testsiinspections can then be used to estimate the risk of
failure if a significant external event occurs.
Maintenance personnel want a method or methods that,
in order of importance:
24
1. Give a warning that the winding has a very hgh risk of failure,
and that the machine should be removed from service if the
unexpected failure of the machine can have significant negative
consequences. For example, a pump motor failure in certain
chemical plant processes can cause chemicalsto corrode, freeze up
or otherwise damage other components in the process. Such
components may require extensivecleaning or replacement before
the process can be restarted.
2. Give a warning that the winding has a very hgh risk of failure,
and thus an immediate maintenance effort or replacement is
needed. Ths avoids an in-service failure, whch can damage the
stator core, and in extreme cases, can damage the rotor, essentially
destroying the entire machne.
3. Give a warning that deterioration is occurring with sufficient
notice that major repairs can be conveniently scheduled, with the
minimum possible outage, yet restore the winding to nearly-new
condition. Often, if deterioration is detected at an early enough
stage, repairs can be made for 1 to 10% of the cost of winding
replacements.
4. If problems are detected, help identify the root cause of any
deterioration, since this will guide the user to the most cost-effective
repair techques.
5. Identify whch machnes are in good condition, and thus
determine the machnes that can remain in operation without
requiring an outage for maintenance. Ths reduces maintenance
costs, since few machmes are in trouble at any one time.
6. Identlfy which older machines have stator windings in good (or
at least stable) condition, thus avoiding premature rewinding.
7.Provide an absolute indication of the insulation condition.
PD tests are a major tool in helping the maintenance
engineer achieve these goals, since such tests are sensitive to
the majority of stator winding insulation failure mechanisms
in machines rated 4 kV or more.
For a PD test to be effective in achieving these goals, it is
useful if the test has the following attributes:
It is trustworthy, i.e., the test rarely identifiesa good winding
as bad, or a bad winding as good. The first aspect is probably
more important, since most windings are in good condition,
and thus even a few false indications that some windings are
in bad condition are liely to occur more frequently than the
relatively rare true indication that a winding is deteriorated.
Once a false indication has occurred, plant managementwill
no longer trust test results and will tend to abandon the test.
It is easy to interpret. Plant personnel are not researchers and
are not concerned with the details of the PD data. They just
want to know whch machnes are bad, what is wrong with
them, and how long it d 1 take until in-service failure occurs.
They are usually not interested in details such as picocou-
lombs, polarity predominance, pseudo-glow discharge, etc.
IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine
 It must be inexpensive.Since PD testing must usually be done
frequently (every six months for machnes rated 6 kV or
more; at least every month for 4 kV machines) [2],the
marginal cost of performing a test must be low. Otherwise
plant management will tend to stop doing the test to reduce
costs, since most machines are considered reliable.
Other aspects would also be nice to have, such as the
ability to locate the site of the PD in the winding and to
distinguish if more than one deterioration process is occur-
ring at a time. Furthermore, if the PD is continuously moni-
tored, an alarm that indicates that a rapidly developing
problem is occurring is desirable. In the latter case, a great
deal of assurance is required that false indications are not
likely.
Unfortunately it is not possible to obtain an absolute
indication of the magnitude of the PD activity in picocou-
lombs. As described in IEC 270 and ASTM D1868, inductive
apparatus such as stator windings cannot be treated as
lumped capacitors. Thus, the standard calibration proce-
dures are not technically valid. Considerable research on
complete windings has verified the wisdom of not attempting
to calibrate stator windings [3]. Fortunately, the inability to
accurately calibrate the PD has not been a problem, since it
is easy to make comparisons among identical machines and
to trend the PD data on a machine over time. Unfortunately,
many researchers are still reporting pC values on complete
windings, giving unwary users a false sense that the PD
activity can be compared among different machines, using
different PD detectors.
COMMONELEMENTS
OF ON-LINE PD TESTS
Researchers have expended considerable effort in the past
15 years to apply modern measurement technology to on-
line PD tests. The measurement system must be able to detect
the PD with reasonable sensitivity. High sensitivity to PD is
not required since virtually all stator windings (both air and
hydrogen cooled) operating above 6 kV have I’D in excess
of 100 pC, and readings up to 100,000 pC are not uncom-
mon. Of perhaps greater importance with on-line PD testing
is the need to somehow reduce the effect of electrical noise,
which can obscure the PD signals [4,5]. Noise elimination is
critical since noise can lead to false indications of winding
problems. Another important requirement in operating ma-
chines is that the sensors/detection system must not impair
the reliability of the machine. Plant personnel are not amused
if a sensor to detect winding failure in itself causes a failure.
In virtually all systems, the following elements are found:
1.Sensors, such as antennae,high voltage capacitorson the machne
terminals, and/or RF current transformers at the machine neutral
or on surge capacitor grounds, are needed to detect the PD. These
sensors are sensitive to the high frequency signals from thc PD yet
are insensitive to the power frequency voltage and its harmonics.
Most sensorshave an inherentlywide range of frequency sensitivity,
usually from a few kilohertz, and sometimes ranging up to 1GHz.
JUly/AUguSt 1996 -Vol. 12, NO.4
2. Electronics to convert the pulse signals from analog form to a
digital form. By far the most common approach is to use pulse
height analyzers, as first employed by Bartnkas [6]. More recently,
pulse phase analyzers also digitally record where the PD pulses
occur with respect to the power frequency ac cycle.
3 . Signal processing techniques to reduce the information to
manageable quantitiesand/or hellp discriminatePD signalsfrom the
winding from electrical noise to ensure more reliable interpretation.
In addition, signal processing can perhaps be used to determine
whch type of insulation failure mechanism is occurring.
All of the existing PD measurement technologies available
today rely on enhancing one or more of the above elements
to implement on-line PD monitoring. The following sections
survey the methods that have been applied.
APPROACHES
FOR ON-LINE MONITORING
Conventional Sensors and Human Observation
Conventional capacitive and RF sensors have been used
for on-line monitoring since Johnson introduced this form
of PD testing [l]. The bandwidth of conventional sensing
techniques is usually from 10 kHz to 5 MHz or so, much
smaller than the true bandwidth of the PD. In the early days,
an expert observed the PD (and noise) signals on an oscillo-
scope or spectrum analyzer. Since PD pulses occurring at
specific parts of the ac phase cycle tended to have resonant
peaks at certain frequencies, which could be calculated [7],
and they “danced” around on the screen in a characteristic
way, an experienced person could often distinguish PD from
other types of electrical interference. Many such specialists
were also able to distinguish different failure processes from
PD patterns, based on polarity effects, load effects, and the
“character” of the pulses. Most machine manufacturers and
a few users still have the capalbility for performing such tests.
However, in this day of personnel “cutbacks,” few organiza-
tions have the patience to wait for the required experience
to be acquired.
4000
3000
2000
1000
-> o 0
-E
-1000
-2000
-3000
-4000
Fig. 3 A Linear Pulse Density plot of the data in Fig. 1. Color indicates the pulse repetition
rate. (XYZ/PI/MI -Polyester Mica, 1994; Pliase: B, GB, SB 1111 0194 3:43:42PM; 65.00
MW, 6.00 MVar, 13.90KV, Temp: 200.00”; A (200-3200mV) 5s, Ref. angle: 90 deg.)
25
Conventional Sensors and Advanced Display Methods
Fortunately, the decline of the availability of technical
specialists has been somewhat ameliorated by the rapid
development of sophisticated data acquisition methods that
allow the permanent display of PD data. This approach was
perhaps first pioneered by Kelen with the introduction of
pulse phase analysis [SI. With the present advanced state of
digital analysis and fast computation speeds, many methods
have been employed, both to distinguish PD from noise and
to separate the different PD mechanisms that may be occur-
ring.
Many researchers use the fact that PD occurs at certain
portions of the ac cycle to help distinguish PD from noise.
Specifically, most PD occurs from 0 to 90 and 180 to 270 of
the ac cycle. Since fast A/D converters now exist, this infor-
mation can be easily digitized and displayed on a wide variety
/ .
I
400
m
ff
/
/
'800
600
10
1200
of graphs (Figs. 1, 2, 3 ) . The trained observer can often
distinguish PD from noise, as well as some of the different
types of deterioration, without having to perform the actual
tests. However, certain types of noise, for example PD from
cable terminations, post insulator defects, or the transformer,
cannot be distinguished in this way, since such patterns are
the same as those expected from stator windings. Also, some
forms of stator winding PD do not have the classic phase
position associated with PD. In particular, electrical tracking
in the endwindings and the early stages of loose windings
gives rise to discharge patterns that are very unlike "conven-
tional" PD [9] (see Figs. 4 and 5). Thus, it is clear that
additional methods are needed if reliable, false-alarm free,
on-line PD testing is to be effective.
Conventional Sensors With Signal Processing
In the past few years, sophisticated methods to analyze
the PD patterns from both conventional pulse height analysis
plots and pulse phase analysis plots have been developed.
The intention is to help the non-experts replicate with more
reliability the ability of experts to separate PD from noise or
to separate the various deterioration mechanisms. Tanaka
was perhaps the first to research such methods, when he
applied statistical methods to characterize the various PD
pulse phase analysis patterns on the basis of skew and
kurtosis [lo]. Others such as Gulski and Montanari have
continued this effort [ll, 121. The application of such
techniques to machine PD is still too new to draw a conclu-
sion on its effectiveness.
Q

1400 Qv A class of artificial intelligence called Expert Systems has

/
e 1600 also been applied to PD analysis, although so far this has been
1v7
-=
-= 1800 restricted to determining the type of PD deterioration
0 180 360
Phase angle
mechanism occurring, rather than distinguishing PD from
noise. Whotten was perhaps the first user of this pattern
Fig. 4 Pulse phase analysis pattern from endwinding PD, indicating that the PD occurs at
a different portion of the ac cycle
recognition approach [13]. More recently, an expert system
has been developed to recognize certain PD patterns based
on the ratio of positive to negative pulse magnitudes, trend
over time, and machine load effects [14]. To date, no one has
used expert systems to eliminate noise.
Perhaps the most promising recent development is the
application of neural networks to PD pattern recognition. In
most cases, the neural network is trained to characterize
pulse phase analysis plots and to distinguish the different
patterns associated with different types of PD. Once trained,
the neural network, it is hoped, can correctly classify a new
pattern. To date, most applications of neural networks have
been on relatively simple laboratory insulation specimens. It
seems that for correct recognition, an enormous amount of
computer effort is needed, which with most personal com-
puters may involve hours or even days of computation.
0 180 360 Clearly the speed will improve as computation power ad-
Phase Angle vances. Sometime in the future this technology may be
Fig. 5 Pulse phase analysis pattern from the early stages of slot discharge applicable to on-line PD monitoring.

26 IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine

Specialized Sensors and Advanced Display Methods
A completely different way of measuring PD in operating
generators is to use a combination of sensors rather than just
one. The advantage is that noise is separated from stator
winding PD on a pulse-by-pulse basis, before any signal
processing of the types described above is used. The idea is
to eliminate noise at the sensor, rather than by pattern
recognition techniques applied to all signals measured by a
single sensor. The original Krueger bridge type of measure-
ment where pulse currents from two sensors were balanced
to eliminate common mode noise was an early embodiment
of this approach for general laboratory PD measurements.
For hydrogenerators, a method was developed about 20
years ago to separate noise from PD on the basis of pulse
arrival time at two sensors [4]. Noise pulses from two sensors
mounted on the same phase were designed to arrive at an
instrument at the same time. PD pulses from within the
generator arrive at different times. The method uses the fact
that PD pulses are localized at specific parts of the stator
winding, and that it takes time for pulses to travel through
the relatively large winding. After the PD pulses have been
separated from noise on a pulse-by-pulse basis, the PD pulses
can be digitally captured and categorized according to mag-
nitude, number, and phase position in the usual way. Thus
all the signal processing and neural network techniques
described earlier can also be applied to the resulting PD data.
However, the intention of such post-processing is to separate
the different types of PD (i.e., ageing mechanisms) rather
than to reduce the effect of noise.
Alternative pulse-by-pulse noise elimination methods
based on pulse arrival time and/or pulse width have also been
developed to separate PD from noise in operating motors
and turbine generators [5].
These methods have been widely applied within the utility
industry where as many as 2,000 motors and generators have
been equipped with the specialized sensors. The acceptance
of such methods is probably due to the fact that non-experts
can reliably obtain PD data on operating machines. Since the
“expert” is no longer needed for the actual testing, the
marginal testing costs can be reduced to essentially zero. This
is very attractive to plant managers.
Continuous On-Line PD Monitoring
A final measurement method is to automatically and
continuously measure the PD in operating machines. To date,
this approach has only been used where noise has been
separated from PD on a pulse-by-pulse method [U]. An
assured means of noise elimination is required to ensure that
the results from such a system are not compromised with
plant management because of a false indication of winding
problems.
CONCLUSIONS
PD measurement technology has advanced rapidly in the
past few years as a result of advancements in sensor technol-
July/AuguSt 1996 -Vol. 12, NO. 4
ogy, computation speed, ancl advances in signal processing
methods. All these technologies have been successfully im-
plemented to ensure the reliable measurement of PD in
operating motor and generator stator windings. The result
has been that users of motors and generators can predict with
more confidence the condition of the insulation, enabling
predictive maintenance of such machines.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This article is based on a presentation to the 1996 IEEE
International Symposium on Electrical Insulation.
GREGSTONEobtained h s B.A. Sc. and Ph.D. in
electrical engleering from the University of Wa-
terloo, Canada. From 1975 to 1990 he worked
in the Research Division of OntarioHydro, where
he helped to develop on-line partial discharge
tests. Since 1990 he has been director of research
for Iris Power Engineering, Inc., a company that
manufactures instruments and softwarefor motor
and generator winding condition assessment. He is past president
of the DEIS and is very active in the development of IEEE and IEC
standards. He maybe reached at Iris Power Engineering, Inc., 6380
Tomken Road, Unit #1, Mssissauga, Ontario, Canada U T 1Y4.
REFERENCES
1. J. Johnson and M. Warren, “Detection of Slot Discharges in High Voltage
Stator Windings During Operation,” ‘FansAIEE, Part 11, 1951, p. 1993.
2. G.C. Stone, S.R. Campbell, and H.G. Sedding, ‘Applicability of PD Testing
for 4kV Motor and Generator Stator Windings,” IEEE Electrical Insulation
Conference,September 1995, p. 665.
3 . H. Shu and I.J. Kemp, “Pulse Propagation in Rotating Machines and its
Relationship to I’D Measurements, IE;EE ISEI, Baltimore, June 1992.
4. J.F. Lyles et al., “Using Diagnostic Technology for Identifying Generator
Winding Maintenance Needs,” Hydro Review, June 1993, p. 58.
5. G.C. Stone, H.G. Sedding, and M.J. Costello, ‘Application of PD Testing to
Motor and Generator Stator Winding Maintenance,” IEEE Trans IAS, March
1996, p. 459.
6. R. Bartnikas and J.H. Levi, ‘ASiimple Pulse Height Analyzer for Partial
Discharge Rate Measurements,” IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and
Measurement, IM-18,1969, pp. 403-7.
7. J.E. Timperly and E.K. Chambers, “Locating Defects in Large Rotating
Machines and Associated Systems Through EM1 Diagnosis,” Paper 11-311,
CIGRE, September 1Y92.
8. A. Kelen, “The Functional Testing of HV Generator Stator Insulation,”
CIGRE Paper 15-03. 3976.
9. G.C. Stone et al., “Unusual PD Pulse Phase Distributions in Operating
Rotating Machines,” IEEE Funs DEI, August 1995, p. 567.
10. T. Okamoto and T. Tanaka, novel Partial Discharge Measurement
Computer-Aided Systems,” IEEE Tru,czsactionson Electrical Insulation, EI-21,
1986, p. 1015.
11. E. Gulslu, and A. Krivda, “Neural Networks as a Tool for Recognition of
PD,” IEEE Funs. El, October 1993,p 984.
12. M. Cacciari, A. Contin, and G.C. Montanari, “Use of a Mixed Weibull
Distribution for the Identification of PD Phenomena,” IEEE Trans. DEI,
December 1995, p. 1166.
13. R.E. Wootten, ‘‘AnExpert System for High Voltage Discharge Tests,” IEEE
CEIDP, October 1987, p. 65.
14. B.A. Lloyd, G.C. Stone, J. Stein, “Development of an Expert System to
Diagnose Motor Insulation Conditiomn,” Proc. IEEE 01s Conference, Detroit,
September 1991, p. 87.
15. G.C. Stone, et al., “Development of a Practical Continuous On-Line PD
Monitor for Generators and Motors,” IEEE ISEI, June 1996.
27