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DFR ITC Megger Good PDF
DFR ITC Megger Good PDF
With an aging power component population, today’s electrical utility industry faces a tough challenge as failures and consequent repair
and revenue loss may inflict major costs. Transformers have become one of the most mission critical components in the electrical grid. The
need for reliable diagnostic methods drives the world’s leading experts to evaluate new technologies that improve reliability and optimise
the use of the power network.
Fig. 1: Typical power factor temperature corrections. Fig. 2: DFR/FDS test setup.
Fig. 4: Parameters that effects the dissipation Fig. 6: MODS analysis for two transformers with
factor at various frequencies. different oil quality and moisture content.
shown in Fig. 2 and typical DFR results from insulation plotted against frequency shows by IEEE 6 – 1995 as “warning/alert” status
measurement on transformers in different a typical inverted S-shaped curve. With calling for “investigation”. The investigation
conditions in Fig. 3. increasing temperature the curve shifts is done as moisture analysis using MODS.
towards higher frequencies. Moisture
Moisture assessment The two transformers are ver y different
influences mainly the low and the high
frequency areas. The middle section of and maintenance measures for the two
The capability of DFR to measure dissipation would also be different. Transformer 1 has
factor as function of frequency, gives the the curve with the steep gradient reflects
oil conductivity. Fig. 4 describes parameter good oil but needs drying. Transformer 2
user a powerful tool for diagnostic testing. has low moisture but needs oil change or
Moisture assessment is one example. High influence on the master curve.
regeneration.
moisture levels in transformers is a serious Using DFR for moisture determination
issue since it limits the maximum loading is based on a comparison of the Bushing diagnostics
capacity (IEEE Std C57.91 – 1995) and the transformers dielectric response to a A g i n g / d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f h i g h -v o l t a g e
aging process is accelerated. Accurate modelled dielectric response (master bushings is a growing problem and
knowledge of the actual moisture content curve). A matching algorithm rearranges manufacturers as well as utilities and
is necessary in order to make decisions the modelled dielectric response and
test system providers are suggesting and
on corrective actions, replacement/ delivers a new cur ve that reflects the
testing various methods for detecting
scrapping or relocation to a different site measured transformer. The moisture
bushing problems before they turn
in the network with reduced loading. content along with the oil conductivity for
into catastrophic failures. This includes
the master curve is presented. Only the
Using DFR for determining moisture content on-line monitoring as well as off-line
insulation temperature (top oil temperature
in the oil-paper insulation inside an oil- diagnostic measurements [6,7]. Traditional
and/or winding temperature) needs to be
immersed power transformer has been 50/60 Hz dissipation/power factor testing
entered as a fixed parameter.
described in detail in several papers may give an indication of aging/high
and articles elsewhere [3,4,5], and is Two different transformers are shown in moisture content, especially if performed
only briefly summarised in this paper. Fig. 6. The two units have the same 0,7%, at various temperatures as shown in
The dissipation factor for an oil/cellulose 50/60 Hz dissipation factor, characterised Fig. 7, [8] and Fig. 8, [10]. As seen in
Fig. 7: Dissipation factor (%) vs temperature Fig. 8: Power factor (%) vs temperature (°C) for “good”
for OIP bushings with various moisture content [6]. and “bad” bushings, [10].
Fig. 10: Relationship between power factor values at different Fig. 12: Power factor as function of temperature (ºC) for four
frequencies taken at different temperatures. different transformers [11].
Fig. 7, dissipation factor values at lower is to per form DFR measurements and Fig. 11. Two bushings, “OK” and “bad” are
temperatures are quite similar from convert the results to dissipation factor at compared with manufacturer's values from
very low to moderate moisture content. 50/60 Hz as a function of temperature. Fig 7, [6]. The “bad” bushing is estimated
A significant change is not seen until This technique has major advantages in to have about 4% moisture and should be
measuring at about 50°C. measurement simplicity. Instead of time considered “at risk”.
consuming heating/cooling of the bushing
The “ bad ” bushing in Fig. 8 can be Temperature correction tables such as
and doing several measurements at various
compared with bushing data in Fig. 7. in IEEE/C57.12.90 give average values
temperatures, one DFR measurement is
Estimated moisture content is about 4%. assuming “average” conditions and are
performed and the results are converted
not correct for an individual transformer
Increased dissipation factor at higher to 50/60 Hz tan delta values as a function
or bushing. This was confirmed in field
temperatures is a good indicator of of temperature. A result of the technique
experiments and some utilities tr y to
bushing problems. Catastrophic bushing is shown and compared with the classical
avoid applying temperature correction by
failures (explosions) are often caused by results presented by Blodget [9] in Fig. 9.
recommending performing measurements
what is called “thermal runaway ”. A high The method is based on the fact that a within a narrow temperature range [11].
dissipation factor at higher temperatures certain power factor measurement at
result in an increased heating of the Examples are shown in Figs. 12 and 13.
a certain frequency and temperature
bushing which in turn increases the Power factor was measured at 10 kV on
corresponds to a measurement made
losses causing additional heating which four transformers and three bushings of
at a different temperature at a different
different age, condition and at various
increases the losses even further and the frequency. The conversion calculations
temperatures. Temperature dependence
bushing finally explodes. are based on Arrhenius' law/equation,
is very different for the transformers and
describing how the insulation properties
Individual temperature correction (ITC) bushings and using standard temperature
are changing over temperature. The
correction tables will not give correct
DFR measurements and analysis together relationship is depicted for three different
values for the 20°C reference value.
with modelling of the insulation system activation energies in Fig. 10. Applying this
i n c l u d e s t e m p e r a t u r e d e p e n d e n c e. technique on real-world DFR measurements With DFR and the technique for converting
A new methodology (patent pending) on bushings gives results as shown in data to temperature dependence, it
Fig. 13: Power factor as function of temperature (ºC) Fig. 14: Standard temperature correction compared with individual
for three different bushings [11]. temperature correction for samples of GE Type U bushings.
Fig. 15: Temperature correction for transformers in various conditions. Fig. 17: Tan delta at 50 Hz for dry Kraft paper
as function of temperature.
Fig. 16: Dissipation factor as function of Fig. 18: DFR measurements and moisture analysis
frequency for dry Kraft paper. results at different temperatures.
is possible to do accurate, individual As seen in the figure, each transformer transformer at various temperatures are
temperature compensation. For a “good” has its individual temperature correction. shown in Fig. 18. As expected the moisture
component, the temperature dependence New units have a “negative” correction analysis (moisture in paper insulation) show
is weak. When the component gets older for slightly elevated temperatures and the same values independent of insulation
and/or deteriorated, the temperature will show dramatically different results temperature (insulation temperature
correction factor becomes much if the standard table are used. Aged was estimated as winding temperature,
larger, i.e. the temperature correction transformers show the same behaviour measured as winding resistance).
is a function of aging status. This is in as the standard tables but with a much
stronger temperature dependence Oil and paper insulation must be treated
line with several projects and studies separately when modeling a transformer
[8,10]. Examples of individual temperature compared to the average IEEE values.
to estimate temperature dependence.
correction for bushings are shown in Fig. 14. This is described in Fig. 18. Combining
Experimental results
Manufacturer's table data is only valid for the modeling results and converting to
as-new bushings. As soon as the bushing Oil impregnated Kraft paper temperature dependence gives the
starts to show deterioration, the temperature temperature curves in Fig. 20. Also for this
Samples of Kraft paper with various
dependence increases. “Bad” bushings insulation system containing two different
moisture contents was measured at
have a very large temperature correction. temperature dependent materials, the
different temperatures [13]. Results for dry
Individual temperature correction for paper, moisture content <0,5% is shown conversion gives results very close to the
in Fig. 16 actual measured tan delta values.
transformers is more complex compared
to “single-material ” components e.g. Using DFR technique to estimate Bushings
bushings. The oil-paper insulation activation temperature dependence based on
energy constant Wa in Arrhenius' law, for An Asea/ABB GOB OIP bushing, used but
measurements at one temperature only,
oil impregnated paper is typically expected to be in good condition, has
gives the results shown in Fig. 17. As seen in
0,9 – 1 eV, while for transformer oil Wa is been measured at different temperatures.
the diagram, the calculated temperature
typically around 0,4 – 0,5 eV Tan Delta and DFR measurements were
dependence matches very closely to the
performed at three temperatures; Indoor
Individual temperature corrections for actually measured dissipation factors.
at 22°C, outdoor at -8°C and in a heated
transformers of various ages are shown in Transformers chamber at 42°C. Results are shown in
Fig. 15. transformer data is summarised Table 3.
in Table 2. DFR measurements on a distribution
Calculated temperature corrections using
DFR results are presented together with
Manufacturer Year Moisture Power rating Status the manufacturer's average temperature
Pauwels 2005 0,4% 80 MVA New, at factory correction data in Fig. 20.
Pauwels 2000 0,3% 20 MVA New, at utility Fo r t h e s p e c i f i c b u s h i n g, i n d i v i d u a l
Westinghouse 1985 1,5% 40 MVA Used, spare at utility temperature correction (ITC) both at 22°C
and 42°C fits very well with manufacturer's
Yorkshire 1977 4,5% 10 MVA Used and scrapped
data, indicating a bushing in normal
Table 2: Transformer data. condition.
Fig. 19: Dissipation factor as function of Fig. 21: Temperature correction curves
frequency for oil and cellulose insulation. for ABB/ASEA GOB bushing .
Insulation
Measured Power Factor
Temperature, °C
@ 200 V @ 1-10 kV Comments
Voltage dependent
-8 0,86 1,04 – 1,14
at low temperatures
22 0,46 0,46
42 0,34 0,32