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THE NORMALIZATION OF THE DIELECTRIC DISSIPATION FACTOR FOR

TRANSFORMER INSULATION

A. SHKOLNIK
Israel Electric Corporation
Israel

SUMMARY

The Dielectric Dissipation Factor (DDF) is a parameter which characterizes insulating

materials and insulating zones of electrical equipment (for example transformers). The
increase of DDF, compared to previous test results (manufacturer data), indicates change of
insulation condition caused by humidity, ageing and pollution. The DDF of solid insulation
may be measured by appropriate standard methods on samples which require transformer
disassembling.
DDF measurement of the transformer's combined insulation zone (for example
impregnated paper insulation and oil) does not allow the estimation of the contribution of
each elementary insulation material separately. It is possible to determine the DDF of
elementary insulation components by experimental-calculation methods [1]. With regards to
these methods, it is possible to calculate the DDF of elementary insulation components and to
estimate their condition on the basis of the DDF and capacitance measurements for insulation
zones on assembled transformers.
As designs of insulating zones of different transformers differ, the contribution of each
elementary insulation material to the overall zone DDF value for each transformer type is
individual. Therefore, it's not correct to use uniform acceptance values of DDF for all
insulation zones. Moreover, as the DDF's dependence on temperature for each kind of
elementary insulating material differs; the insulation temperature has to be taken into
consideration in DDF evaluation. That temperature recalculation with uniform correction
factor [2] for insulation zone, contributes to the uncertainty of overall DDF measurement.
Above mentioned problems often lead to a poor estimate of the insulation condition. This
estimation, in turn, may cause unreasonable decisions, as follows: performing unnecessary
insulation restoration works, including transformer disassembling or, on the other hand,
underestimation of the insulation condition, and thus, abstention from taking corresponding
measures in time.

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KEYWORDS

large power transformer, oil impregnated cellulose insulation, dielectric dissipation factor.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DDF NORMALIZATION

Normalization of insulating parameters of power transformers (in particular, DDF) plays

an important role in the estimation of the insulation condition on the following stages:
- Acceptance tests, to test for conformity with specification requirements for new and repaired
transformers.
- Estimation of insulation condition with the purpose of making a decision regarding the
performance of transformer repair work, including cleaning or replacement of oil and drying
of the active part, for change of operating condition.
The accepted DDF values for new transformer insulation define its quality. Qualitative
materials are necessary for manufacturing insulating details and oil for impregnation of paper
insulation and for filling of the tank with an active part. The observance of technological
conditions of thermo-vacuum processing for maximal removal of water and gases from the
insulation without destruction of cellulose molecules and the maximal impregnation of
cellulose materials gives good values of insulating properties.
DDF is a parameter describing the condition of the insulation. As a rule, increasing
values of DDF at constant temperature testifies to the deterioration of the insulation condition
of whole or separate zones of the transformer.
The insulation zones include a combination of solid and liquid insulation materials, and
consequently, different DDF values can be obtained for different zones. Obviously, the
correct interpretation of DDF measurement results for transformers in operation or for long
term stored units, allows to estimate more precisely the condition of the insulation and to take
the corresponding (optimum) measures.
The insulation condition change may be caused by long overloads of the transformer. It
leads to ageing of insulation and influences its humidity.
The damages caused by deformation of windings and displacement of details are
possible, as a result of external short circuits. Thus, changes in insulating distances can lead to
combustion of solid insulation materials under the influence of partial discharges (PD) and
arcs, and that can increase the value of DDF.
The infringement of the hermetical sealing of the transformer in the conservator area, i.e.
the breakdown of a protective membrane, can promote humidity in the oil and solid
insulation, and to oxidation of the oil. The products of oxidation and water are absorbed by
solid insulation materials and lead to higher values of DDF. The infringement of the
hermetical sealing of the transformer around the output of the windings lead through the
insulator may lead to the penetration of water through a gasket (Fig.1) and to contact of free
water with an active part of the transformer. For example, the following zones of the
insulation may absorb water: winding leads; winding surface; between turn’s insulation;
barrier insulation between windings.
The negative effects of humidity may vary: humidity in the insulation of winding’s leads
can lead to PD generation and local combustion of insulation (Fig.2); water damage in the
inside of a winding may lead to the combustion of the between-turn’s insulation and the
subsequent short circuit between turns and layers of winding (Fig.3); water presence on
wooden pressing rings and plates of windings may lead to their stratification and combustion
(Fig.4).

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 Fig.1 Top part of winding lead Fig.2 Bottom part of winding lead

Fig.3 Short circuit between turns Fig.4 Pressing plate of winding

The humidity of separate sites of insulation zones cannot always be revealed by DDF
measurement under traditional schemes, or will lead to increase DDF that will be sufficient
for an estimation of the problem [3]. The increased water content and dissolved gases in oil
needs DDF measurement for as many elementary zones as possible, if measurements under
traditional schemes do not provide an estimation of the insulation condition with sufficient
certainty.
The measured DDF value for new transformer insulation, as a rule, should not exceed 1%
at 20 ºC. In view of the past experience, some customers include stronger requirements in the
specifications and limit DDF value to 0.5%. Some utilities establish requirements for DDF
values according to rated voltage and power of in service transformers.

THE TEMPERATURE DEPENDANCE OF DDF

Considering that:
1. DDF of elementary insulation zones is defined by means of DDF insulating materials
present in the given zone and their relative density in general DDF for given zones.
2. DDF of these materials depends on different factors influencing them (humidity,
temperature, acidity, pollution).
From this follows that DDF dependences on temperature for different zones of insulation
will vary. The DDF dependences on temperature are defined by a condition of solid insulation
and oil. The DDF of the humidity solid insulation in a greater degree depends on its

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temperature in comparison with DDF of dry insulation (Fig. 5÷8). The DDF of oils strongly
depends on temperature (Fig. 5÷8), but for oil in good condition, its DDF is much lower than
DDF of solid insulation and its contribution to DDF of the insulation zone of the transformer,
as a rule, is insignificant (Fig. 5, 7). For oil in poor condition, its contribution to DDF of the
insulation zone of the transformer, as a rule, is significant (Fig. 6, 8).
The graphs (Fig. 5÷8) of DDF dependence on temperature show the influence of the
relative density of DDF for solid insulation (factor K1 from [1]).
DDF,% DDF, %
2.5
0.4
OIP OIP
2
0.3 OIL OIL
K1=0.3 1.5 K1=0.3
0.2 K1=0.5 K1=0.5
1
K1=0.7 K1=0.7
0.1 0.5

0 0
o
0 20 40 60 80 T, C 0 20 40 60 80 T,oC

Fig.5 DDF of good OIP and good OIL Fig.6 DDF of good OIP and poor OIL

DDF,%
DDF,%
1.5
2.5
OIP OIP
OIL 2 OIL
1 K1=0.3
K1=0.3
1.5
K1=0.5 K1=0.5
K1=0.7 1 K1=0.7
0.5
0.5
0 0
o
0 20 40 60 80 T, C
0 20 40 60 80 T,oC

Fig.7 DDF of poor OIP and good OIL Fig.8 DDF of poor OIP and poor OIL

In case the DDF is measured at a temperature different from 20 ºC or is measured on site,

at temperatures differing from factory specifications, the DDF values are recalculated
according to the correction factor [2].
The graphs (Fig. 9÷12) of DDF dependence on temperature for K1=0.5, show the
recalculation of DDF values with increasing of temperature from base DDF at 20 ºC and with
decreasing of temperature from base DDF at 60 ºC, for different conditions of solid insulation
and oil. The tolerances between the recalculated DDF values on the relevant graphs are
considerable.

DDF,% DDF,%
0.50 1.20

basic 1.00 basic

0.40
>T >T
0.80 <T
0.30 <T
0.60
0.20
0.40

0.10 0.20
o
0 20 40 60 80 T,oC 0 20 40 60 80 T, C

Fig.9 Temperature correction of DDF Fig.10 Temperature correction of DDF

for good OIP and good OIL for good OIP and poor OIL

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 DDF,% DDF,%
1.00 1.80
basic basic
0.80 1.40
>T >T
<T <T
0.60 1.00

0.40 0.60

0.20 0.20
o
0 20 40 60 80 T, C 0 20 40 60 80
o
T, C

Fig.11 Temperature correction of DDF Fig.12 Temperature correction of DDF

for poor OIP and good OIL for poor OIP and poor OIL

The dependence of the DDF values on temperature measured during the manufacturing
process for the different insulating zones of a power transformer rated 123 MVA, 215 kV are
given in Table. The measurement results recalculated to a temperature of 20 ºC of DDF are
obtained with a considerable tolerance.

scheme DDF DDF DDF Err. DDF DDF Err. DDF DDF Err.
20ºC 52ºC Corr. % 41ºC Corr. % 31ºC Corr. %
H-L+T 0.15 0.17 0.09 43 0.16 0.10 32 0.15 0.12 23
H-T 0.16 0.19 0.10 41 0.18 0.12 28 0.17 0.13 18
H-L 0.14 0.15 0.08 46 0.14 0.09 36 0.14 0.11 23
L-H+T 0.15 0.15 0.08 50 0.15 0.10 36 0.15 0.12 23
L-T 0.15 0.16 0.08 47 0.16 0.10 32 0.15 0.12 23

NORMALIZATION OF DDF VALUES

From the results follows that the uniform limits established for all insulating zones of the
transformer do not provide sufficient estimation accuracy of the condition of the insulation.
The recalculation of the measured DDF values at a given temperature relative to the base
temperature results in a significant error in relation to DDF values measured at the base
temperature.
A small increase of DDF value may be caused by a significant increase of DDF for a solid
insulation material in an insulating zone with small relative density of DDF for solid
insulation.
Therefore, for normalization of DDF values for transformer insulation, the values of DDF
for oil and solid insulation may have uniform limits.
The measurement methods and the normalization of DDF for oil are known [4] and DDF
for solid insulation may be obtained by calculations based on the measured values of DDF for
the transformer's insulating zone and the use of relative density factors of DDF materials
present in this zone.
For new transformers, the limits of DDF for oil impregnated press board and paper are
0.6% and for laminated wood - 1 % may be recommended at temperature 20 ºC. For
transformers in operation, the corresponding limits of DDF depending on rated voltage (1%

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and 1.5% for voltage up to 110 kV; 0.8 % and 1.3% up to 170 kV; 0.7% and 1.2% above 170
kV) may be recommended.
The excess of calculated values of DDF for solid insulation above the limits or significant
differences between them for different insulating zones of the transformer must lead to a
search of the reasons of these changes.
The estimation of humidity of solid insulation may be performed by a method based on
the definition of the relative humidity of oil [5]. This method can be applied to de-energized
and to operating transformers. Thus, even in an operating transformer it is possible to estimate
the humidity of the insulation for the different temperature zones of the transformer.
The cases of increased humidity in some insulating zones (for example, caused by the
penetration of water into the transformer) can be successfully detected by a method based on
DDF measurement of elementary insulating zones and the calculation of DDF for the solid
insulation for each zone.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The use of traditional methods for the estimation of the insulation condition of a
transformer by means of DDF measurement for insulating zones and their recalculation
to given temperature leads to significant errors.
2. For an estimation of the insulation condition is recommended to determine DDF values
for solid insulation in each elementary zone of the transformer and to compare it to
recommended limits of DDF.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] A. Shkolnik. "The Dielectric Dissipation Factor Method for Transformer Diagnosis".
(D1-205, CIGRE 2006).
[2] IEEE Std C57.12.90-1999. IEEE Standard Test Code for Liquid-Immersed Distribution,
Power, and Regulating Transformers.
[3] J. Bleyer, P. Prout. "The Value of Power Factor Testing". (Transmission and Distribution
Word, 2005, November).
[4] IEC 60422-2005. Mineral insulating oils in electrical equipment. Supervision and
maintenance guidance.
[5] A. Shkolnik. "Determination of Water Content in Transformer Insulation". (ICDL 2002).

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