Conference Record of the 1996 IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, June 16-19, 1996

Time Domain Measurements oPi Dielectric Response in Oil-Paper

Insulation Systems
Vahe Der Houhanessian and Walter S. Zaengl
High Voltage Laboratory
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
CH-8092 Zurich / Switzerland

Abstract: Results of dielectric response measurements in tho
time and frequency domain on homogeneous impregnated
pressboard and on series arrangements of pressboard sheets
and oil ducts are presented. A simple equivalent circuit is
proposed to model oil-paper insulation systems for single
impregnated pressboard sheets as well as for multi-layer
arrangements. This equivalent circuit which is derived fromi
relaxation current measurements is then used to calculate
recovery voltages as well as the frequency-dependenl
permittivity. Finally it is shown that the same procedure can be
applied to quantify the dielectric response properties on high
voltage power transformers.
Introduction
In recent years, additional methods to assess insulation
systems have been promoted in addition to the classical
insulation resistance and power frequency loss factor
measurements. This promotion is undoubtedly caused by the
efforts to add new diagnostic tools for the estimation of
insulation quality and for surveillance of new and aged high
voltage equipment in power transmission systems, as, for
instance, power, voltage and current transformers or cables.
The additional methods have been triggered by the proposal
and promotion of a measuring equipment taking advantage of
the effect of "return", "residual", or "recovery voltages"; the
proposal was provided by Hungarian scientists [ 13. However,
the formation of return voltages across a real dielectric
material after polarization with DC voltages is a well known
phenomenon of dielectric relaxation or dielectric response,
the fundamental theory of which has been known since the
beginning of this century [2] and treated in dletail, for
example, in the more recent book of A. K. Jonscher [3].
Recovery voltages are thus directly interlinked with the
fundamental quantities of the dielectric response, which
manifest themselves either in the frequency domain by the
values of the complex susceptibility %'(a)and %"(a) or
complex permittivity &'(CO) and E"(w) or, in the time domain,
by the dielectric response function f(t), in addition to an
intrinsic conductivity 00, which also contributes to the losses
within a dielectric. However, as the authors of [l] proposed a
quite specific procedure in performing return voltage
measurements, the results of which are then displayed as a
so-called "polarization" or "return voltage spectrum", the
fundamental quantities of the dielectric response become
somewhat blurred.
Nevertheless, a "polarization spectrum" as measured on an
oil-impregnated pressboard layer may obviously be used to
identify a certain humidity content and deterioration by-
products as initially demonstrated in [l] and [4]. However,
with such measurements on polyethylene cables [5] the
spectra do not reveal significant features suitable for
characterisation. Therefore, the discussion about the most
effective method to quantify destructive effects of insulation
systems will continue [6], but many recent investigations
show clearly that such effects manifest themselves in a more
pronounced way in the frequency-dependent values of the
complex susceptibi!ity or the losses in the very low frequency
range [7].
Thus this paper is mainly focused on fundamental quantities
of the dielectric response in the low frequency range, which
is accessible either by a direct measurement of the complex
permittivity with a frequency response analyser OK by the
measurement of relaxation currents within adequate time-
scales. It will also be shown, that the results of relaxation
current measurements can be used to calculate the
"polarization spectrum" as gained from the specific
procedure of a recovery voltage measurement mentioned
before.
ModelI ing
The direct measurement of &'(a)and E"(@) for very low
frequences is very time-consuming, if frequencies in the
range of much less than 1 Hz are considered. Therefore, the
measurement of the relaxation (absorption-/desorption;
charging-/discharging; polarization-/depolarization) currents
versus time is obviously more favourable. As is well known,
some algorithms are available to convert such time-
dependent currents into the frequency domain, if the
insulation system has been proven to be a linear one. Also in
recent publications, as e. g. in [8], such algorithms have been
investigated. The basic difficulty of all these methods is
related to the fact that the complete dielectric response
function f(t) as defined by Jonscher [3] and used elsewhere
[6, 91 cannot be measured. By theory, this function would be
proportional to the depolarization current io,,i.(t), if this
current could be measured immediately after a sudden short-
circuit of a test sample, which had previously been polarized

41
with a constant DC voltage for an infinitely long time. As
these currents are very large just after the short-circuit and
decay to extremely low values for very large times, f(t) can
only be measured within a limited time scale.
The start of our relaxation current measurements was always
after about 1 s after the step voltage or the short-circuit
application; this means that even power frequencies (50 Hz)
are not included. Therefore, a well known equivalent circuit
representing the insulation system was adopted, which is
shown in Fig. 1. It is also commonly known, that dielectrics
with alternating layers of oil and paper can be simulated with
this model [lo]. The basic idea in applying this simple model
is to facilitate performing all further calculations with respect
to the frequency domain or even the calculation of a
"polarization spectrum" belonging to the special procedure of
return voltage measurements.
Fig. 1: Equivalent circuit to model a linear dielectric
For this model, all circuit parameters have their origin in
measured quantities, such as the polarization and
depolarization currents, ipfli,(t) and i ~ e p o l , ( t ) ,and the
capacitance C50 H~ as determined in conventional C-
measurements with power frequency (50 ...60 Hz) or even
some higher frequencies (e. g. 1 kHz), which usually give
quite similar values of C. The DC resistance Ro is calculated
from the applied step voltage U, and the difference between
polarization and depolarization currents for the highest
available time values. The individual elements Ri, Ci with the
corresponding time constants T~ = Ri . Ci can then be
determined by fitting the depolarization current with the
equation
where
A; = U,[1- exp(-t,/~~)]/R; for i = l . . . n . (2)
t, is the duration of the time during which the sample was
charged. No additional hints are provided how all further
quantities are computed. Fundamental network theory can be
applied to find &'(U) and &"(U) from the impedance of the
model and simple differential equations can be solved to find
recovery voltages for any specific procedure applied.
48
Test samples
For the test results as displayed in Figs. 2 to 12 the following
test samples have been used:
Pressboard samules: A parallel-plate test cell with stainless
steel electrodes (diameter of guarded electrode: 113 mm) is
used to perform the measurements on oil-impregnated
pressboard samples (2 mm thick; Weidinann Transformer-
board Type T I V , impregnated with Techno1 US 3000
mineral oil). The electrode arrangement is contained in an
oil-filled glass vessel which is placed in a grounded metallic
oven to control temperature and other environmental
conditions.
The test cell permits placing either impregnated samples
directly between the electrodes (homogeneous test sample) or
building up a multi-layer arrangement with pressboard
samples and oil ducts in series.
The results presented refer to either aged board or to virgin
board with a moisture content of 0.2% or 1.0%, impregnated
with degassed and dry oil with a moisture content of 5 ppm.
Samples from each series have also been aged for 90 days in
a hermetically closed stainless steel vessel at a constant
temperature of 120 "C (weight ratio oil to pressboard: 8.4).
The ageing process increased the moisture content of the
pressboard as measured by a Karl Fischer equipment from
0.2 to 0.5% and from 1.0 to 2.0%, respectively. The moisture
content of the oil increased to 9 ppm and 19 ppm,
respectively. The degree of depolymerisation (DP-value)
during ageing changed from an initial value of 950 to 479
and 195, respectively.
High voltatre transformer: A single-phase 50 kV testing
transformer, 500 kVA, manufactured in 1991, was used as a
typical larger test sample. This transformer had not
undergone any significant ageing process since manu-
facturing.
Instrumentation
The measurement of relaxation currents is performed with a
laboratory setup using a stabilized high voltage DC source
and a Keithley 617 electrometer.
For recovery voltage and polarization spectrum
measurements, a Tettex Recovery Voltage Meter [ 11] was
used.
The measurements in the frequency domain have been
performed with a dielectric spectrometer manufactured by
Dielectric Instrumentation [ 121.
Results an
All tests have been made at a constant temperatures of 20 "c,
or 21 Oc9 as indicated in the
a. Homo!?eneous test Object: Figures and show the
polarization (ipol) and depolarization (iDepol) currents for an
applied charging voltage U, of 2.0 kV and a duration tc of
20000s, for the impregnated board with low (Fig. 2) and 1E-8
----Ti
higher (Fig. 3) moisture content, before and after ageing. The:
relaxation currents of the pressboard with low moisture:
1E-9
content are obviously less affected by the ageing process than
those with high moisture content. The results demonstrate the W 3
sensitivity of relaxation currents to the change of material U
8 1E-10
properties.
IE-8 U
5
IE-11
'Depol
LE-9

1E-12
Ir, = 20. ."C. . . . . .....I I . . . .... . . . . ..
1E+O lE+l 1E+2 1E+3 1E+4

Time (s)
Fig. 4: Relaxation currents of an aged pressboard sample as a
function of charging voltage.

example how significant the depolarization currents will

change with charging time tc, measured values of such
1E+O 1E+1 I E+2 1E+3 1E+4 1E+5 currents are displayed in Fig. 5. For this sample, two
equivalent circuits (see Fig. 1) were quantified by fitting the
Time (s)
relaxation currents for charging times of 2000 and 20000 s,
Fig. 2: Relaxation currents of a pressboard sample with an initial respectively. Subsequently, the depolarization currents for
moisture content of 0.2%,before and after ageing. shorter charging time values have been calculated from the
1E-8 I
previously determined equivalent circuits; the results are also
'Pol. displayed in Fig. 5. The comparison shows good agreement
'Depol except at long discharge times for which the measured
1E-9
currents are somewhat higher than the calculated ones. The
n cause of this deviation, considering the low offset current in
4 1E-10
c-)
the measurement setup (0.3 PA), may be due to the influence
8 of previous measurements or the activation of some electro-
1E-11 chemical processes generating a persistent current in the
U sample. The coincidence of the two calculated depolarization
1E-12 currents for each &-value is also an additional proof of good
1tc --20000s applicability of the model to this sample.
1E-8

1E+O 1Et1 1E+2 1Et3 1E 4 1E+5

1E-9
Time (s)
Fig. 3: Relaxation currents of a pressboard sample with an initial
moisture content of 1.0%,before and after ageing. 4 1510
U

8
The results of figures 4 to 7 are from tests performed on an 1E-11
aged pressboard with a moisture content after ageing of 2.0% U
(see Fig. 3). 1E-12
The application of our model needs a test to check the
linearity of the insulation system. Fig. 4 shows the result of 1E-13
this test for which the charging voltage was changed and for
1E+O 1E+1 1E+2 1E+3 1Et4 1E+5
which a charging time of only 2000 s was used. The linearity
is confirmed by the equidistant amplitudes of the relaxation Time (s)
currents plotted on a logarithmic scale. Fig. 5 : Relaxation currents as a function of charging time of an
A Recovery Voltage Meter (RVM) changes the charging time aged pressboard sample, and depolarization currents for 5, 50 and
usually from 20 ms up to 2000 s in steps of 1:2:5. To give an 500 s charging time as calculated from equivalent circuits obtained
from relaxation currents at 2000 and 20000 s charging time.

49
 1EM
~ calculated (k = 2000 s)
--- calculated (tc = 20000 5
* measured T=20"C

1E-1 :

1E-2 7

1E-3 I . ".'..'I . ."".'I . ..'.-

1E-4 1E-3 1E-2 1E-1 1E+O

-U, = 2.0 kV o calculated (tc = 2000 s) Frequency (Hz)

n :k : ts =2.0 0 calculated (tc = 20000 S) Fig. 7: Measured tan 6 values of an aged pressboard sample and
t - T = 20 "C * measured calculated tan 6 curves from equivalent circuits obtained from
relaxation currents at 2000 s and 20000 s charging time.

of dielectric response measurements are taken from a sample

consisting of a 2-layer-arrangement of 2 mm oil gap and
2 mm pressboard placed between the parallel-plate
0 electrodes. The pressboard and the oil used are aged ones
0
with final moisture contents of 2.0% and 19 ppm,
0
respectively. Fig. 8 shows the measured relaxation currents
1E+1 I . . . .....I . .......I ........ ..... under the same conditions as used for the results of Fig. 5.
1E+O 1E+1 1E+2 1E+3 1E+4 The calculated depolarization currents are again based on the
Charging time (s) equivalent circuits as derived from relaxation currents for
2000 and 20000 s charging time. The deviation of calculated
Fig. 6: Measured and calculated polarization spectra of an aged
pressboard sample. Calculation based on equivalent circuits curves from the measured values at short times could be
obtained from relaxation currents at 2000 s and 20000 s charging explained by memory effect or a non-restoration of initial
time. condition of the sample, preceding the measurements of
relaxation currents at 2000 and 20000 s charging time. These
Fig. 7 shows the measured values of t a n 6 in the low effects also manifest themselves by lack of coincidence of
frequency range as gained by the dielectric spectrometer and polarization currents.
two calculated curves determined from the frequency .-,
response of equivalent circuits. Obviously the deviation of
the measured values from the calculated ones at "high" ---------
frequencies (> 0.1 Hz) is due to the limited high frequency 1E-10
information as obtained from relaxation current measure-
ments commencing only after 1 s. At low frequencies the
3
U

calculated curve of tan 6 from the equivalent circuit fitted 8 1E-11

with relaxation currents for 2000 s charging time is E
U
marginally higher than that from the equivalent circuit fitted
1E-12
with relaxation currents for 20000 s charging time. This
behaviour can be explained by the limited accuracy for the . .- - - -.
calculated (tc
-. = 2000 sp>
\,,E =5 s
calculated (tc = 20000 s)
determination of the DC component Ro in the equivalent 1E-13 .. ......I ........ . . ......, . . ......, . . ..-
I

circuit, as the polarization current may not yet have reached 1E+O 1E+1 1E+2 1E+3 1E 4 1E+5
its steady-state value with only 2000 s charging time.
b. Multi-layer test obiect; The main insulation system of Time (s)
power transformers is composed of a multi-layer arrangement Fig. 8: Relaxation currents as a function of charging time of an
consisting of pressboard barriers and oil gaps, hence it is of aged multi-layer sample, and calculated depolarization curves for 5,
practical interest to perform dielectric response 50 and 500 s charging time from equivalent circuits obtained from
measurements on multi-layer samples. The following results relaxation currents at 2000 and 20000 s charging time.

50
A difference in slope between these relaxation currents and 1E-6
= 2.0 kv
coincidence of the
those of a homogeneous sample (Fig. 5 ) can be noticed. The oolarization currents tc = 1, 10,2000
difference between the samples is more pronounced for the 1E-7
losses in the frequency domain (see Fig. 9). Once more, the
calculated tan 6 curve is in good agreement with the
measured quantities for this 2-layer sample. For comparison, sU
158

the measured tan 6 values for the homogeneous sample 8 1E-9

(Fig. 7) are also plotted. This comparison shows that for the E
U 1E-10
2-layer sample the loss factor decreases more rapidly with
increasing frequency and its magnitude becomes significantly
smaller. This effect can be explained by the changing field- lE-11
stress distribution within the two layers together with the
.__._----
calculated (tc = 2000 S)
_-- calculated (tc = 20000 s)
\k3 '
much higher specific losses within the board in coinparison 1E-12 I .. "."'I - . .""'I .. '..'..I - * """I ' " ..
to those within the oil. The ]polarization spectra also become 1E+O 1E+1 1E+2 1E+3 1E+4 1E+5
somewhat different between the homogeneous and layered
Time (s)
sample, which is not shown here.
Fig. 10: The relaxation currents as a function of charging time of a
1E+O
h. v. transformer and calculated depolarization currents for 1 and
10 s charging time from equivalent circuits obtained from
relaxation currents at 2000 and 20000 s charging time.
1E-1

For this large test object, too, the recovery voltage and the
polarization spectrum can be calculated from the equivalent
circuit. Fig. 11 shows the values of polarization spectrum as
measured with the usual procedure of the RVM and the
calculated (6: = 20000 s) values calculated by means of the equivalent circuits.
*o measured
measured (pressboard)
(pressboard + oil duct)
1E+3
.U, = 2.0kV o calculated (tc = 2000 s)
.tc : ts = 2.0 calculated (t= 20000 s)
1E-4
1E-4 1E-3 1E-2 1E-1 1E+O
.T= 21 "C * measured
Ffi:quency (Hz)
Fig. 9: Measured tan 6 values of aged multi-layer and homogeneous
samples. Calculated tan 6 curve for multi-layer sample from
equivalent circuit obtained from relaxation current at 20000 s
charging time.

c. High voltage transformer: Dielectric response rneasure-

ments have also been carried out on a high voltage
transformer, the insulation of which can be well described by 1E+O IE+1 1E+2 1E+3 1E+4
a linear model. Fig. 10 shows some relaxation currents in
Charging time (s)
function of conditions, which1 are indicated within the figure.
The initially predominantly exponential decay of polarization Fig. 11: Measured and calculated polarization spectra of a h. v.
and depolarization currents and the pronounced increase of transformer. Calculation based on equivalent circuits obtained from
the relaxation currents at 2000 and 20000 s charging time.
amplitude of depolarization currents for short charging time
are due to the interfacial polarization in the: series
Finally, Fig. 12 shows the measured values of tan 6 obtained
arrangement of larger oil gaps and pressboard barriers in the
with the dielectric spectrometer and two calculated curves of
main insulation of the transformer. Additional calculated
tan 6 vs. frequency from cquivalent circuits. The good
curves are presented for 1 s and 10 s charging time from
agreement between the measured values and the calculated
equivalent circuits determined from relaxation currents at
curves at even higher frequencies (> 0.1 Hz) is due to the
2000 and 20000 s charging time. The deviations between the
good reproduction of the initial main exponential decay in
calculated and measured values for long times can mainly be
the depolarization current.
explained by an offset current of about 7 pA existing in the
large measurement setup.
 ~ calculated (k = 2000 s)
_ _ - calculated (t, = 20000 s)
* measured T = 21 "C
1E-4 1E-3 1E-2 1E-1 1E+O 1E+1
Frequency (Hz)
Fig. 12: Measured tan 6 values of a h. v. transformer and calculated
tan 6 curves from equivalent circuits obtained from relaxation
currents at 2000 s and 20000 s charging time.
Conclusions
In this paper we have shown that the consecutive
measurement of the polarization and depolarization currents
of an oil-paper insulation system is well suited to quantify its
dielectric response, especially in the low frequency domain,
where it is quite sensitive to ageing phenomena. The
proposed procedure is easy to apply for small and large test
objects.
The presented results, which are only samples taken from
extensive experimental data, are also evidence for the fact,
that the dielectric response quantities will depend on the
composition of the insulation system, when this comprises
different dielectric materials and geometrical arrangements.
Hence, for a test object containing an insulation system with
unknown details of its geometrical layout, the total response
quantities in both the time and frequency domains are not
only dependent on the individual dielectric response
quantities of the components, but also on the time- or
frequency-dependent electrical field distribution within the
system [13]. A "polarization spectrum" as quantified by the
specific measuring procedure of a RVM shall, therefore, not
be used to qualify e. g. the moisture content of the pressboard
within a power transformer of unknown construction, as the
dielectric response quantities of the board are only a portion
of the overall response. Confusing results of RVM-
measurements as recently published by [ 141 may thus well be
understood by our investigations.
Acknowledgements
We wish to acknowledge the financial support from "Projekt-
und Studienfonds der Elektrizitatswirtschaft" (PSEL) and the
technical support from Weidmann AG, Rapperswil,
52
performing the ageing procedures and the former Tettex
Instruments AG, Zurich, providing the RVM.
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