Zeszyty Problemowe – Maszyny Elektryczne Nr 80/2008 91

Josef Pihera, Oldřich Tureček, Petr Martínek

University of West Bohemia, Pilsen

ANALYSIS OF PARTIAL DISCHARGE DETECTED WITH SENSORS

OF EMITTED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD

ANALIZA WYŁADOWAŃ NIEZUPEŁNYCH WYKRYWANYCH CZUJNIKAMI

POLA ELEKTROMAGNETYCZNEGO

Abstract: Partial discharge measurement and subsequent analyses is one of important and capable test of
electro-technological diagnostics. This test evaluates the properties of electrical insulation system of electrical
machines and devices. There are a lot of partial discharge test methods based on physical or chemical detection
of partial discharge. The detection of electromagnetic field, produced during partial discharge, with capacitive
coupler and subsequent data analysis and representation is one of mentioned diagnostic method. The special
software program was created for measured data evaluation. This program converts data stored by digital os-
cilloscope to more comfortable text formats. The converted data are analyzed by common software Matlab,
Statistica, etc.

1. Introduction
Partial discharges are one of the main degrada- The basic principle of the capacitive detection
tion factors of insulation systems. This fact of partial discharges is given by the equivalent
takes place in aging of electrical machines es- circuit in Fig.1. The locality of partial discharge
pecially. For the high reliability of the electrical is emitting the electromagnetic field. Its electric
machines it is necessary to detect the partial and magnetic part is proportional to the ampli-
discharge magnitude within the insulation sys- tude of the current impulse creating the partial
tem. discharge. The capacitive coupler indicates the
Partial discharges (PD) can be divided in inter- electrical field.
nal partial discharge and external partial dis- The equivalent circuit contains signal source U
charge. Internal discharges occurs in the bulk and the RC part of an amplifier. The whole ca-
insulation. Further diversification of the exter- pacitive coupler consists of component C1.
nal discharges in rotary machines is in separate
study of the slot discharges (between stator core
and insulation) and gliding discharges. Gliding
discharges occur at the ends of winding slots. C0 Cc Rm
Another type of external discharge is corona. U
C2
PD C1 - coupler Um
The main parameters used in the partial dis-
charge measurements are apparent charge, pulse
count, inception voltage, extinction voltage,
phase resolved characteristics, average dis-
charge current, discharge power, quadratic rate U – PD signal
and total charge amount. The other partial dis- CC – coupler capacity
charge measured parameters are pulse repetition C0 – kapacity between coupler and test object
frequency, pulse repetition rate, discharge C2 – amplifier input capacity
power and largest repeatedly occurring PD C1 – total capacity
Rm – amplifier input resisitivity
magnitude.
Um – amplifier input voltage
For the partial discharge measurement, it is
possible to use standardized test methods based Fig. 1. Capacitive coupler equivalent circuit
on coupling impedances [3] or test methods [10]
based on detection of emitted electromagnetic
field. The second mentioned method [4]
employing capacitive sensor was used in
presented research.
92 Zeszyty Problemowe – Maszyny Elektryczne Nr 80/2008
The measuring device that was used is based on
broadband amplification of PD impulses and
their consequential integration for apparent
charge evaluation [9].
The acquired signal has amplitude correspond-
ing to the apparent charge, unifying the shape to
rise time of 2 µs and time of duration of 50 µs.
The amplifier output signal is then brought to
the oscilloscope. So that the obtained data can
be further processed or stored. The fibre optic
cable is possible to use to bring the signal from
the amplifier output to the oscilloscope.
2. Analysis of partial discharges
During tests these PD parameters were meas-
ured apparent charge q and pulse count of par-
tial discharge. The phase resolved characteris-
tics of observed data were analyzed as well.
The model setup for partial discharge charac-
teristics acquisition were flat specimens
(100×100×0,46 mm) of slot insulation (NEN).
These specimens were exposed to the pulse
voltage with parameters:

Voltage ±500 V ,

Frequency 8 kHz,

Rise time 300 ns,
The measurement of PD was realized under 50
Hz ac voltage of 1,8 kV (4 kV/mm). The elec-
trode system presented in Fig. 2 was used for
the measurements of PD. The surface dis-
charges were eliminated using the conductive
rubber electrode (rubber G2 [11]). The elec-
trodes pressure to the specimen is given by the
construction and it was the same for each meas-
urement.
Sensor
PD Metal
F Data for these graphs are obtained from the
Amplifier Electrode Rubber
Electrode
Specimen
OSC
+ Rubber
Metal
PC Electrode
Electrode
Fig. 2. Electrode and measurement system for
partial discharge testing of flat specimens
The time of partial discharge pattern measure-
ment was 16 s (sampling frequency 1 Ms/s,
16 MB of internal memory). The stored data
were subsequently analyzed by special designed
software in the PC [7].
Software program was created for the analysis
of partial discharges within insulation system of
electrical machines which are detected by ca-
pacitive coupler. The detected signal is stored
by digital oscilloscope Agilent Infinium. The
data are stored in *.csv format. Main task of de-
scribed program is conversion of *.csv format
to other more comfortable file formats. These
text format files are then processed by conven-
tional statistical software Matlab, Statistica, etc.
The *.csv data are stored from two oscilloscope
channels. Channel one brings signal of apparent
charge the other channel brings testing voltage
signal. Analyzed data contain information of
apparent charge magnitude and apparent charge
frequency in dependence on phase position of
testing voltage.
Histogram of pulse count, average and maximal
magnitude of apparent charge in dependence on
phase position of testing voltage are analyzed as
well.
The results of software program analysis are
saved in the text file comfortable for subsequent
statistical operations.
3. Results and discussion
Figures 3-5 presents the magnitude of apparent
charge q and pulse count as the phase resolved
characteristics of material NEN aged at ±500 V.
Based on the phase position (cca. 30°-80° and
210°-260°), partial discharge pattern corre-
sponds to internal discharges [4].
The symmetry of partial discharge pattern
(fig. 3, 4) in the positive and negative half of
testing voltage cycle is evident.
software described above. The stored signal
shows some sampling noise. This signal noise
is given due to the oscilloscope bandwidth
(2,5 GHz).
The mentioned noise is evident in figure 3. Fig-
ure 5 presents the 3D partial discharge magni-
tudes plotted above the signal noise level.
 Zeszyty Problemowe – Maszyny Elektryczne Nr 80/2008 93

60 5 80 5
virgin state virgin state
8h 8h
70
50 24 h 4
24 h
32 h
40 h 60 32 h
40 h
40 3 3
Apparent charge q (pC)

50

P u ls e c o u n t
30 40 2

30
1
20 1
20
0
10 10

0 -1
0 -1 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
Phase (°)
Phase (°)

Fig. 3. Apparent charge phase resolved char- Fig. 4. Partial discharge pulse count
acteristics

Virgin state 8h_500V

24h_500V 32h_500V

Fig. 5. 3D interpretation of partial discharge characteristics

94 Zeszyty Problemowe – Maszyny Elektryczne Nr 80/2008

4. Conclusion Measurements on Real Models of Cavity in Solid

Dielectric and Instrument Transformers. In Third
Special software was developed for the partial International Conference on Advances in Process-
discharge study. This program analyzes partial ing, Testing and Application of Dielectric Materials.
discharge measured data obtained by detection Wroclaw, Poland : Oficyna Wydawnicza Politech-
with capacitive coupler. The partial discharge niki Wroclawskiej, 2007. p. 245-249. ISSN 0324-
signal is stored at digital oscilloscope in file 9441.
format *.csv. [6]. IEEE 1434-2000: IEEE Trial-Use Guide to the
The present method of software analysis is at Measurement of Partial Discharges in Rotating Ma-
the very beginning state of solving analysis chinery
[7]. TUREČEK, O.; PIHERA, J. Software for partial
problem. The software program is realized with
discharge analysis from *.csv source file. In Diag-
universal and open code. This allows imple- nostika '07. Plzeň : University of West Bohemia ,
menting other analysis of stored signals method 2007. pp. 393-395. ISBN 978-80-7043-557-1.
in the future. [8]. Hudon, C., Belec, M. “Partial discharge signal
Presented program is able to recognize the interpretation for generator diagnostics” in: IEEE
phase of partial discharge occurrence at sinus Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation,
curve of test voltage with precision of one April 2005, Volume: 12 , Issue: 2, pages: 297-319
phase degree. [9]. Russwum, D. “On-Site Partial Discharge Moni-
The type of partial discharge (internal, external, toring using the differential LEMKE PROBE LDP-5
gliding discharge, corona) is recognized at and its accessories”, HV Testing, Monitoring and
given test setup thanks to that fact. Diagnostic Workshop 2000
[10]. Balogh, J. “Linear and Toroids Inductive Sen-
The experiment proved also the partial dis- sors and its Use in Electrical Engineering”, Diserta-
charge capacitive sensor as sufficient tool for tion Kosice 2001
detection of even small degradation changes in [11]. www.charleswater.co.uk
the insulation. [12]. König, D., Rao, N. “Partial Discharges in
Electrical Power Apparatus”, Berlin, 1993, ISBN 3-
5. Acknowledgment 8007-1760-3
This research was funded by the Ministry of [13]. Fenger, M., Campbell, S.R. Pedersen, J.” Motor
Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Re- Winding Problems: Caused by Inverter Drivers”
public, MSM 4977751310 – Diagnostics of In- IEEE Industry Applications Magazine Volume 9,
Issue 4, July 2003, Pages 22-31
teractive Processes in Electrical Engineering.
The authors are grateful for the support of this
program.
6. References
[1]. MENTLÍK, V.; PIHERA, J.; TRNKA, P.;
TÁBOŘÍK, O. The influence of pulse stress on
main-wall insulation of electrical rotating machines.
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901509-58-5. ISSN 1726-9679.
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[4]. MENTLÍK, V.; PIHERA, J.; TRNKA, P.;
MARTÍNEK, P. Partial discharge potential free test
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0547-5.
[5]. MARTÍNEK, P.; LAURENC, J.; PIHERA, J.
Typical Patterns of Partial Discharges Acquired by