‘1012020 ‘The Basics of VLF Te The Basics of VLF Testing orl a. 19 |HV TECHNOLOGIES, Ine. osrronore- 14:30 (able Tesng and Diagnostics ‘Very lw frequency (VLA withstand testing isthe application of an AC sinusoil waveform, generally at 0.07 0. He to assess the quality of electrical insulation in igh capacive loads, sue a5 cables, During the test ables are subjected toa test voltage signicantly higher thon what they experience during normal operating ‘ondiions. The higher test vokage allows fer weak points or predamaged areas within the cable Co breakdown during the test, rater than while chey ae in servic. Essencally, the VLE withstand testis 20 or no-go" test, otherwise known a a“passfall tes. What are the advantages of VLF over power frequency? ‘good basic equation to knows: ? = 2c? pled test frequency, C= apactance of the test object, and ¥= applied test voage ‘Nready from this equation itcan be seen that dcreasng the aplid tes frequency will decrease the power requires to apply avltage, and since P= W where ‘utren te amount of curren required to apply a voltage i aso loneres, From the above relationship, when comparing VL 0.1 Heo power frequency (60 Ha thre is 2 600x ower power and current requirement when tesng 3 cable atthe same test voltage This has the aed bene thatthe size of the testinsttument can be sigiiantyrediced to allow fra very portable high vokoge tester. ‘an example of whichis he Frida (https/shvtechnologes.conhwsequlpment/cablestesting dlagnosties/very lowsfrequencyecable-testing/rida) VUF Tester, lc can generate test vokages upto 24 Way OF 34 Mga and weighs only 2248 Ios}. Frida (ntpszmcechnologies cor ‘quipmenveabe-testing ‘dagnostisiverylowtrequenc-cable testing) WF Tester Due tothe sinusoidal wavetorm, VLF can alo be use for tan delta diagnostics (https://hvtechnologies.com/hy-equi ‘eltandiagnostcs) and partial discharge diagnostics (httpsi/hvtechnologies.com/hv-equipment/cabe-testng-diagn What are the causes of cable fllure during # VLF withstand test? Wher a cable is subjected toa considerably higher test voltage than what typically sees inservice, any defects in the cable wil ee higher stress levels that may {2700 within the insulation, This is 8 phenomenon known as “teeing” and these trees aise a stess ennancemenss where there are voids, protrusions, ‘contaminants, oF water ees The term Weeing stems frm thei brane ke structure resembing ae, Electrical tees are channels of carbonization that arse fram parsal discharge atvty within the insubtion, Once an electra re grows big enough and bridges the electrodes of the cable system, a breakdown af the cable insulation i created, Water tees are teeke structures that form from the electrochemical Inceracion of the electric eld and water Ingress within the cable, Their growth i extremely slow, but cey ac as stress enhancements, whieh can help to niate an electrical re. Belew sa photograpn ofa water tree growing into an electrel irae hitps:hwtechnologies.comvblogfbasics-ittestng 13‘1012020 ‘The Basics of VLF Testing | HV TECHNOLOGIES, Inc. ‘water te that growing into an eecicl ee. What are the recommended test voltage lavels and testing times? ‘The IEE St 4002-2013: EEE Guide fr Field Testing of Shielded Power Cale ystems Using Very Low Frequency (FI (ess thon 1 H2} was introduced to ge an <225y te interpret guide for conducting VIF withstand ess on shielded power cables rated 5~ 69 kV. Selow san overview f the recommended voage levels that should be applied curing instalation, acceprance, and maintenance testing of mecium voltage distribution cables depending onthe able system rating (phase to ‘hase voltage). General, VF withstard testing calls for testing the eables upto 3Us, where Up isthe raed phase to ground voltage VLE testing times should last between 15 and 69 minutes, depending on the age ofthe crc and what type of testis conducted. For example, @ minimum test time of 30 minutes is recommended for aged cable Creu. Excending he tme to 6 minutes should be considered fer partclarly important crcus, such as feeder cuts. For installation andlor acceptance tests, the minimum recommended time s 60 minutes. “Te times recommended for VLF withstand testing stern fom studies conducted an tee growch rate an patil ccharge defects in XLPE cable systems, According ‘a I= Std 400: EEE Gude for Field Tesong and £vsluation ofthe Insulation of Shielded Power Cable Systems, dferencescan be seen inthe channel tee grweh rate between power frequency, VLFsiuscidal, and VIF cosine-rectangular and the fastest tee gromth rat is achieved ty apalyng VLF sinusoidal. A channel tree arom rate with 2 3Uy test voltage at 01 He VLF sinusoidal on fielt-aged XLPE cables is 108 - 12.6 mm per hour mm/h. Atypical 15 KV medium votage cable in USK has an insltionehekness of 0.2" (5.6 mm), and therefore, during a VLF test time of 30 minutes al defects within the eable should grow care, When ‘comparing ths igure to power Feequency AC or 0.1 H VLE Cos-Rectangular the tee growth at Is only 22-59 and 3.1 ~7.8 mmnh, respectively AS aesu, 1 ‘Hz VF sinusoidal isthe ideal frequency and waveform for ctle witnstand testing. Potential falures should happen during the actual est so tat repars can ‘be made immeciately Falures in the cable during service resultin higher costs forthe utes and area nuisance forthe power consumer cam ncen | Comment | Grttagane | wreaks Why s withstand testing with DC voltage not recommended? Testing of cables was traditionally concuted with DC voltages in the post, which was also krown 2s DC hipotng. Once polymeric cables (KLE, EPR, etc) were Invroduced ino the electric grid ane realy lng ested with DC 9 considerable rise in premature falies occured. These failures were being atibutes 0 ‘rapped space charge within the defects of the insulation due to enhanced charge migration in one alection (OC elect). Once testing was completed and AC ower equency was reapplied in sence a significant fla enhancement could cccur at these datecs leading to a fartgrowing elecrncal tre and subsequent falure. An ilustation of the space charge fect atte DC testing aXLPE cable is shown below. hitps:hwtechnologies.comvblogfbasics-ittestng 28‘1012020 ‘The Basics of VLF Te ing | HV TECHNOLOGIES, Inc. Space Charge n XLPE, a cewromarg sheet or betes igo vote“ ‘Space charges created in vids of ober ables during OC testing vr Range of VLE Testers: PHG 80 Portable Frida Viola (https://hvtechnologies.com/hy- (https://hvtechnologies.com/hv-(https://hvtechnologies.com/hv- equipment/cable-testing- ‘equipment/cable-testing- equipment/cable-testing- diagnostics/very-low- diagnostics/very-low- diagnostics/very-low- frequency-cable-testing/phg- frequency-cable-testing/frida) frequency-cable-testing/viola) + Votages upto 24K¥as 5 del for testing veka cs cables up to 207 + ideal formamenance testngof 251 cable ontems + Weer only 224g (8) 80-portable) + Vohages upto Haus 5 ea or esting vonage css cables upto3BKY + Vorages upt057 Was + tea for mamenancetesingof 46 KVeable + Iealfr esting vote das cables upto 4 KY systems + Canbe placed on wheels or meuntedina van + Zpart design for enhances portbilty | Ee A) viola Fe Vaasa LSE Le Sa cortacinv equipment quote request) (oxepsunmnsacebookcomitvtechnologiesin!) _(htpsshuwulinkedin conveompary!t 77696? trkotyankerkinforclckedVericalsAcornpany2Cclicked neta NSA17116969.2du9:3A2-1-292Ctar 9381461507 185260K2CrasSAHVAZOTecmnolgies) ‘extps//mnyoutude.comfusermechnologies) Hv TECAMOLOGES. 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