VLF cable testing - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/VLF_cable_testing

VLF cable testing

VLF cable testing is a technique for testing of medium and high voltage (MV and HV) cables. VLF systems are
advantageous in that they can be manufactured to be small and lightweight; making them useful – especially for
field testing where transport and space can be issues. Because the inherent capacitance of a power cable needs to
be charged when energised, system frequency voltage sources are much larger, heavier and more expensive than
their lower-frequency alternatives. Traditionally DC hipot testing was used for field testing of cables, but DC
testing has been shown to be ineffective for withstand testing of modern cables with polymer based insulation
(XLPE, EPR). DC testing has also been shown to reduce the remaining life of cables with aged polymer
insulation[1].

VLF testing of cables is supported in IEC 60502 (up to 35 kV) and in IEEE 400.2 (up to 69 kV). As higher voltage
VLF equipment is developed, standards may be adapted to increase the voltage level for application.

The VLF test can be used in a number of ways:

Apply VLF to cables in a simple withstand approach to detect potential failures (faults) in the cable insulation
during a planned outage. The tested cable must withstand an AC voltage for a specified testing time without
flashover. This method yields a "pass/fail" statement. VLF cable testing uses different wave shapes, typically
sine and square and care must be taken when describing the voltage to be used. RMS and peak voltages
have different relationships to each other depending on the wave shape and IEEE 400.2 uses the peak
voltage level to equate the wave shapes. Frequency ranges used are within the range of 0.01 Hz to 0.1 Hz,
where frequency selection depends on the load presented by the cable. Test voltage levels are either
calculated using a multiple of the cable's nominal phase-phase voltage or via tables in IEEE 400.2; typically
they are in the range of 1.5 U0 to 3 U0. The VLF cable testing time varies from 15 to 60 minutes. IEEE 400.2
establishes some suggested test voltages and times. Subsequent work by the CDFI has shown there to be no
significant change in the efficacy of a VLF test conducted over the frequency range 0.1 to 0.01 Hz when the
IEEE 400.2 voltages and times are used[2].
Apply VLF to cables in a monitored withstand approach where a diagnostic measurement is made before and
during the course of the withstand test. Monitoring a diagnostic enables some additional decision making
before the final test voltage is reached. Some cables are not good candidates for withstand testing and a
diagnostic indication obtained at a lower voltage can negate the need to perform withstand testing. During the
test measurement of a diagnostic parameter can be used to optimise test times. Test times can be shortened
for cables with good diagnostic indications or lengthened for cables that show deteriorating diagnostic
measurements during the test.
Apply VLF to measure insulation losses (i.e. the insulation dissipation factor or Tan-delta). In this case, the
IEEE 400.2 establishes the criteria for assessment. The test is typically performed over a range of test
voltages from 0.5 Uo to 2 Uo depending on the standard/guide that is being followed.
Apply VLF in order to detect and measure partial discharge. In this case, the IEEE 400.3 outlines a procedure
for assessment and IEC 60270 provides the background for partial discharge testing of high voltage
apparatus. The test is typically performed over a range of test voltages to identify the different defects and
their inception and extinction voltages.

Contents
VLF Withstand Testing
VLF Tan Delta Testing
VLF Partial Discharge Testing
Comparison with other voltage sources
International standards and guides
See also

1 dari 5 01/11/2019 01.07

VLF cable testing - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLF_cable_testing

References
External links

VLF Withstand Testing

High voltage withstand tests are used in conjunction with partial discharge measurements on solid dielectric cable
and accessories within manufacturing plants to ensure the quality of completed cable system components from MV
to EHV. Thus, it is quite natural for utilities to also use withstand and partial discharge tests as commissioning and
maintenance tests for cable systems in the field. The goal of these tests is the same as in the factory test, namely to
detect any defective components of the cable system before failure. Withstand tests can be conducted using a
variety of voltage sources from DC to 300 Hz and are simple to operate and the equipment may be inexpensive.
Some observations for the VLF withstand test are (Based on CDFI results)[3]:

VLF tests are simple for a utility to perform and do not require specialized services
The on-test failure rates on a cable system are in the range of 0.2 to 4% for 30 min tests performed at the
IEEE 400.2 voltage levels.
IEEE Std. 400.2 provides suggested time and voltage test levels but exact parameters are not possible since
defect growth rates are not known and can vary widely.
VLF tests at IEEE 400.2 test levels do not damage cable systems' 'good' insulation but are used to degrade
existing insulation defects to failure during the test rather than in-service. The reasoning is that the low-energy
failure of the cable under test results in less collateral damage and a reduced likelihood of unplanned outages
due to in-service failure.
Data has been collected using both of the commonly used VLF waveforms, there is little evidence of a
significant difference in failure rate outcomes that can be ascribed to the voltage waveform when the
recommend voltages are used.

VLF Tan Delta Testing

Medium voltage distribution cables and their accessories form a critical part of power delivery systems. The
systems employ insulation materials that have a low permittivity and loss. The permittivity and the loss are
dielectric properties of the insulation material. As the systems age, these dielectric properties can change. The
dielectric loss can be assessed since it can increase several orders of magnitude during the service life of the
systems. This approach correlates well some lossy growths in aged polymeric insulation such as water trees.

Tan delta measurement constitutes a cable diagnostic technique that assesses the general condition of the cable
system insulation, which can be represented in a simplified equivalent circuit that consists of two elements; a
resistor and a capacitor. When voltage is applied to the system, the total current is the result of the contributions
from the capacitor current and the resistor current. The tan delta is defined as the ratio between the resistive
current and the capacitive current. The measurements are carried out offline.

In practice, it is convenient to measure the dielectric properties at a VLF of 0.1 Hz.[4] This both reduces the size
and power requirements of the energizing source and increases the resolution of the resistive component (near DC
component) of dielectric loss (not the capacitive component).

Using the IEEE 400.2, three different criteria are applied for diagnosing a cable insulation system using the Tan δ
value. One criterion uses the magnitude of the Tan δ value as a tool for diagnostics while the other uses the
difference in Tan δ values for particular electrical stresses or voltage levels. The latter is commonly known as the
“Tip-Up” of the Tan δ value.[5] The results for both criteria are often interpreted using recommendations given in
the guide. The guide provides a hierarchical level that evaluates the cable insulation system. The major caveats
with this approach are:

2 dari 5 01/11/2019 01.07

VLF cable testing - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLF_cable_testing

The source of the losses may need further testing in order to be located.
For longer cables the loss contributions from damaged portions may be diluted in the measurement.
Some insulation defects are not associated with losses.

VLF Partial Discharge Testing

A VLF source can be used to energise insulation and initiate partial discharges from defects within the insulation.
As the test is offline, the test voltage can be varied in order to measure the inception and extinction voltages of the
partial discharge. TDR techniques can be used to localise the source of the discharge and a reference measurement
can be made with a calibrator in order to present the measured pd in pC.

VLF PD measurements have the same benefits and limitations as other PD measurements and the data that is
obtained using different voltage sources has the same uncertainties.

It must be noted that different defects may exhibit different characteristics dependent upon the environment and
the excitation source. The impact of this on the final decision is likely insignificant. Even at higher voltages the
criteria for detection (e.g. in Cigre WG B1.28) and severity calculation are not defined and not dependent on the
measured properties of the PD. Therefore, the detection of PD sources is currently more important than the
characterisation of the defects.

Detection of defects is especially useful for new cables where the severity analysis is perhaps less important to the
decision that is made. Any defects in new installations should be corrected. For aged systems the PD severity can
be assessed by consideration of the various PD characteristics. Unfortunately there is no independent guide that
can be used to classify the severity after a single measurement. A trend can be established from repeat
measurements and it is therefore important that measurement conditions are carefully controlled and repeated so
that the comparison of repeated measurements is valid.

Typical characteristics of PD that can contribute to severity analysis include:

Inception and extinction voltages

PD type classification (Internal, surface, corona)
PD Magnitude (in mV/pC)
PD repetition rate
Location of defect

Comparison with other voltage sources

There is some industry debate (much of it commercially driven) over the use of different voltage sources to
energise cables and on the benefits of the different diagnostic techniques when used in conjunction with the
different sources.

Theoretical Approach

The cable is subject to operational stresses at the system voltage and frequency and voltage sources that are
different (in magnitude, waveshape or frequency) will provide different stresses to the cable than those
experienced under operational conditions. Defects and damage may also respond differently and the diagnostic
indications may be different depending upon the types of defects. Proponents of this approach will argue that these
differences detract from the commercial benefits offered by the competing voltage sources.

Practical Approach

Electrical equipment has a failure rate which is the inverse of its reliability. Test techniques have the intention of

3 dari 5 01/11/2019 01.07

VLF cable testing - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLF_cable_testing

improving the reliability of the insulation system and an analysis of the impact of the testing on the reliability of
the network under test is evidence of the efficacy of the test technique; irrespective of the differences from
operational stresses.

Probability

Insulation failure is a stochastic process and it is erroneous to identify single events and attribute this to a
particular source. Failure of an insulation system after a good diagnostic indication (or vice versa) is to be expected
for any test using any voltage source. Better tests will be better predictors of condition but no tests should be
considered infallible.

International standards and guides

DIN VDE 0276 (after laying tests on new cables)
IEC 60502-2:2014 (http://webstore.iec.ch/webstore/webstore.nsf/ArtNum_PK/49265?OpenDocument) Cables
for rated voltages from 6 kV (Um = 7,2 kV) up to 30 kV (Um = 36 kV) (after laying tests on new cables)
IEEE 400-2012 (https://standards.ieee.org/standard/400-2012.html) Guide for Field Testing and Evaluation of
the Insulation of Shielded Power Cable Systems Rated 5 kV and Above
IEEE 400.2-2013 (https://standards.ieee.org/standard/400_2-2013.html) Guide for Field Testing of Shielded
Power Cable Systems Using Very Low Frequency (VLF)
CENELEC HD620 S1 (after laying tests on new cables)

See also
Short circuit
Hipot
Dielectric withstand test
Dissipation factor
Partial discharge

References
1. Srinivas, N.N; Duffy, E.K.; Starrett, W. (January 1993). "Effect of dc testing on extruded cross-linked
polyethylene insulated cables". EPRI. OSTI 6688245 (https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6688245).
2. Hampton, N.; Hernandez-Mejia, J.C.; Kuntsevich, M.; Perkel, J.; Tomer, V. "Estimating the Impact of VLF
Frequency on Effectiveness of VLF Withstand Diagnostics" (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281295
293). NEETRAC, Atlanta, USA.
3. Hampton, R.N; Hernandez, J.C.; Perkel, J.; Begovic, M.; Hans, J.; Riley, R.; Tyschenko, P.; Doherty, F.;
Myrray, G.; Hong, L.; Pearman, M.G.; Fletcher, C.L.; Linte, G.C. "Experience of withstand testing of cable
systems in the USA" (http://www.neetrac.gatech.edu/publications/CIGRE_2010_B1-303.pdf) (PDF). CIGRE
2010.
4. Eager, G.S.; Katz, C.; Fryszczyn, B.; Densley, J.; Bernstein, B.S. (Apr 1997). "High voltage VLF testing of
power cables". IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. 12 (2): 565–570. doi:10.1109/61.584323 (https://doi.org/
10.1109%2F61.584323).
5. "IEEE 400.2:2013, Guide for Field Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems Using Very Low Frequency
(VLF)" (https://standards.ieee.org/standard/400_2-2013.html). IEEE-SA.

External links
VLF High Voltage Insulation Testing - LinkedIn discussion group (http://www.linkedin.com/groups/4848531/)
Cable Diagnostic Focused Initiative Phase 1 Final Report (http://www.neetrac.gatech.edu/publications/CDFI_P

4 dari 5 01/11/2019 01.07

VLF cable testing - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLF_cable_testing

hase_1_Final-Report.pdf)
First Practical Utility Implementations of Monitored Withstand Diagnostics in the USA (http://www.neetrac.gate
ch.edu/publications/JJicable11_0009_final.pdf)
Cable testing excerpt from Prysmian's Wire and Cable Engineering Guide (https://na.prysmiangroup.com/sites
/default/files/atoms/files/Cable%20Testing%20Rev%201.pdf)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=VLF_cable_testing&oldid=909284340"

This page was last edited on 4 August 2019, at 11:53 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By
using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

5 dari 5 01/11/2019 01.07