A Three Step Approach To Measure Partial Discharge Measurements at Site

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012
A three step approach to Partial discharge

measurements on site
Alan Wilson
Doble Engineering
1
10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA
3-step HV Asset PD Testing Methods
AGENDA
1 SURVEILLANCE METHODS
2 INVESTIGATIVE DIAGNOSTICS
- ADVANCED SURVEILLANCE
- OFF-LINE TESTING
3 ON-LINE MONITORING
3 RISK
2
1
10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 2

Why not just apply IEC 60279 methods?
Reminder for what is needed for IEC 60270

1. An outage and isolation from the network
2. Good weather/ or cover
3. A power supply capable of applying 1.25- 1.5x working volts
4. A PD free power supply capable of holding volts for time to
allow conditioning of voids
5. Clearances and access, staff HV trained
6. Be able to measure PD over a frequency range 100- 500
kHz.
7. Despite high interference at these frequencies to achieve
sensitivities 5 pC for most plant (500 pC for machines)
3
Why not just apply IEC 60279 methods?
• It can be done
• But more likely to try it during commissioning to check
installation damage
Generally
• Outages too difficult to get
• Costs too high
• PD developed from in-service damage may develop too
quickly for a routine time based programme.
• If you get it wrong then failures will usually be catastrophic
- with safety to man, neighbouring equipment and for the
environment.

3. Fitting on-line monitors with alerts
– DETECT ESCALATION OF
RISK and MANAGE IT.
2. Followed by off-line and

non-invasive investigative
techniques.
1. Apply surveillance based techniques to identify

potential sites of insulation degradation –
DETECT ONSET OF RISK .

Why Start with Surveillance Methods?
• On- line
• No outages
• Non-invasive
• No HV testing/ equipment/ staff training for HV work
• Lowest skill level
• Low Risk
• Equipment at operating temperatures, voltages &
stress distribution
• Do the test any-time at lower cost.
6
PD Diagnostic Surveillance opportunities
DETECT integrated physical changes-

1. Smell Drager tubes for ozone
2. Heat Infra red
3. Chemical Bi-products- eg- DGA
4. Dielectric losses PF Tip-up, Total
energy/cycle
DETECT Pulses from individual PD

1. Light UV/ daylight cameras
2. Radiated EM energy RFI detectors
3. Vibration AE sensors
4. Sound Ultrasonics/ sound level
meters
7
PD Surveillance Methods
1. Infrared
2. UV
3. DGA
4. RFI
5. Conducted EMI
6. TEV
7. Acoustic

PD Surveillance Methods
• These methods wont give you PD measured in
picoCoulombs. But so what! That is only an apparent
charge anyway
– The most successful PD measurement is DGA. Do you
expect that in pC too!
• They are focused to specific failure modes- far more

than an IEC 60270 method. Often can use 2 or more
methods to give a confirmation.
• But they need care to get consistent measurements.
9
1 Infrared - More for
Thermal problems
1. Picked up first with RFI

2. Confirmed with IR
3. Confirmed with DGA
4. Found with inspection

2 UV DayCor Survey
Corona Emission Insulator Discharge

Spectrum

3 Dissolved Gas Analysis of oil
sample
1920s Users were concerned about safety and whether
Buchholz gases were combustible- so used a flame at vent.
Essentially looking for Hydrogen.
1930-50 Able to identify H2, C2H2 and CO in relay gas
1950-60- development of chromatography

Realised better to test the oil rather than relay
gas.
• Able to detect all combustible gases
• Good record of events in past since gases
12
stay in solution
3 Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA)
Chemical Forensic Analysis

Historical Measurements
• Works on the principle that an energetic partial discharge is a
source of thermal energy sufficient to break the carbon bonds
of the constituents of insulating mineral oil and cellulose.
• The presence of hydrogen, is a key indicator of PD activity
• DGA is an integrated measure and slower to identify a rapidly
changing situation.

3 Detecting the onset of abnormality- 765
kV SRs
400
350
300
100 250
DGA Score
200
90
150
80
100
Percentage combustible gas
70 50
60 31/01/93 01/02/95 01/02/97 02/02/99 02/02/01 03/02/03 03/02/05

Date
50
40
30
20
10
0
26/7/93 22/4/99 24/10/02 16/5/05 26/1/06
Date
CO H2 CH4 C2H4 C2H6 C2H2
14
4 Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
RFI
propagation
discharge
source
Discharge RFI pulse propagation

A partial discharge, occurring in a dielectric, emits an
impulsive electromagnetic wave that travels in the
surrounding media.
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
RFI spectrum from a discharge

source
• Spectrums
(frequency
indicate sweep mode) frequency nature of PD
the broadband
events – a typical characteristic.
• The resultant current pulse shape is dependent on the PD fault
mechanism and on the maturity of fault.
PDS100: Routine Survey Procedure
Establish baseline scan outside of
1 Baseline
substation.
Do additional survey scans at
planned locations inside the
substation. 2 7 8 13
Overlay survey scans and baseline

using the PDS Viewer software.
Look for broadband increases in RF 3 6 9 12
energy.
Return to survey locations that show
elevated readings. Approach other 4 5 10 11
equipment in the area to see if
readings intensify
17
5 Acoustic Emissions
Acoustic Method
FEATURES:
• Good sensitivity to detection of
number of different defects
• Immunity to external noise
• Defects may be localized
• Defects may be recognized
• Risk assessment based on source
characterization
• Short detection range
18
Longitudinal
Transverse
Discharge acoustic pulse propagation

• The acoustic survey of the OLTC shows increasing acoustic

amplitude as the sensor was moved from point #1 towards point
#6.
• The acoustic characterization obtained by a phase synchronized
plot indicates the type of flaw to be a floating potential.
5 AE Field Experience
A “clean” GIS with no electrical or mechanical
problems should acoustically be silent, i.e. it should
not show acoustic signals that deviate from the so-
called background noise.
The background noise is basically noise generated by

amplifiers/electronics in the acoustic detection system
and defines the sensitivity level
The ambient noise in the substation is normally

insignificant.

5 AE Findings

AE-CASE 1: Protrution at the enclosure
- 275 kV busbar
The figure shows the acoustic signature (phase plot)

from a partial discharge due to a scratch (protrusion)
at the enclosure of a 275 kV busbar.

AE-CASE 2: Electrically floating shield
– 500 kV disconnector
Utility had experienced flashover in disconnector and

checked the rest of the similar ones.

AE- CASE 3: Partial discharges on
insulating supports - 500 kV GIS
A utility had earlier experienced two failures in a 500 kV GIS, and

recently they had smelled the odor of rotten eggs.
Acoustic measurements pinpointed around 20 locations with
partial discharges.

Case A4 Test Points in Relation to
Breaker Parts
Doble and NG used AE

testing on several ABB
breakers in NY state.
ABB PME362-50-30 SF6

FILLED DEAD TANK CIRCUIT
BREAKER
26
Pole 2 Inspection
Set Screw Causing Erosion and

Shavings of Conductive
Material
27

STEP 2 ON-LINE INVESTIGATIVE METHODS
These can often be used in combination. This

category covers sensors fitted temporarily.
But first- The methods

1. Conducted EMI
2. Transient earth voltages
3. UHF transformer probes
4. AE sensor arrays

1 Conducted EMI
Using conducted EMI to provide

further assistance in verifying
and localisation of a suspected
source of insulation
degradation.
Deploying a 300MHz
Radio Frequency Current
Transformer (RFCT)
2 Transient Earth Voltage (TEV)
Joint
Metal Cladding
HV Busbar
EM Wave EM Wave
PD
TEV Probe
EM Wave
PD Surveyor
Far-Field
Propagation
Graphic Showing Transient Earth Deployment of a

Voltage Detection of Partial TEV probe
Discharge Activity.
2 Transient Earth Voltage (TEV)
circa 50MHz
circa 150MHz
circa 200MHz
Time Resolved Traces at Selected TEV Spot Frequencies.

Observed pulse behaviour from a TEV sensor located on
circuit breaker (CB) enclosure shows the presence of
surface discharge activity.
3 UHF Oil valve probesMp U V W
OLTC
PD Smart
Stufen- Sensor 2
schalter
Sensor 1
Phase Resolved Measurements

Use of Preinstalled Sensors

3 Oil valve probe use with PD Smart
Four units same utility in different cities
City 1
The measurements
on both valves
showed PD activity
from inside the
110/225 kV
transformer.
Left drain valves Right drain valves

In city 2, city 3
and city 4.
No critical PD
levels above the
detection
sensitivity have
been measured
33
Case Study 1 – 11kV Switchboard
Front Rear
Reyrolle 11kV 400A Oil-Insulated Circuit Breakers

Peak RFI Measurements at Rear of
Switchboard
800MHz
40dB uplift
at 800MHz
The source of RFI can be localised to one particular circuit

breaker by comparing the uplift in higher frequencies.
Time Resolved Traces at Selected RFI Spot
Frequencies.
circa 50MHz
circa 150MHz
circa 200MHz
The observed discharge pattern is:

Strongly correlated to the power cycle
Repeatable in behaviour and having symmetry over both ½
cycles.
Multiple pulses exhibiting a high discharge rate.
Consistent across the frequency bands
Placement of HFCT to aid location
Cable Earth Strap Adjacent Circuit Breaker

Peak HFCT Measurements on Cable and Circuit
Breaker Earth Straps
80MHz 200MHz
Uplift reduces significantly as the placement of HFCT is

moved away from the suspect circuit breaker.

Time Resolved Traces at Selected
Conducted EMI Spot Frequencies.
circa 50MHz
circa 150MHz
circa 200MHz
Observed pulse behaviour confirms those obtained from

RFI measurements.

Deployment of Transient Earth Voltage
(TEV) Sensors
Cable end box Main breaker tank

Peak TEV Measurements on Main Tank and
Cable End Box
100MHz
• Peak TEV measurement on the main tank reaches 0dBm at

100MHz.
• Comparative measurements on the cable end box reduced by
20dB.
• Source of discharge most likely in the vicinity of the primary
connection spout area.
Time Resolved Traces at Selected TEV Spot
Frequencies.
circa 50MHz
circa 150MHz
circa 200MHz
• Observed pulse behaviour consistent with those

obtained from RFI and HFCT measurements.
• Greater sensitivity is exhibited by the TEV sensor.

Reyrolle 11kV 400A Oil-Insulated CB
Discharge
Sites
Shutter
Cover
Racked out Main Tank Spout and Protection CT

Assembly

Case Study 2- DGA and EMI
400/132/13kV 288MVA Autotransformer
• The transformer in question was suspected of

suffering from a thermal fault in the main tank
(ethylene in the oil)
• The installed on-line multi-gas monitor detected a
sudden large increase in ethylene to above 250 ppm.
• The transformer was removed from service for
electrical tests, but these were inconclusive.
• The transformer was returned to service with further
on-line monitoring.

UHF and RFCT Probes.
• RFCT clamped around the
Neutral Earth point and
monitored using an RFI
UHF Detector.
Probe
• To compliment, a UHF partial
discharge probe was inserted
into the transformer via the
drain valve and monitored with
RFCT a PD Smart .
• Spot tests using the UHF
probe showed only background
activity – fault not active at the
time of measurement.
• Longer term logging using the
RFCT was performed.
• Logging of discharge activity
using the RFCT every 10mins
for 10 days.
• Activity is observed to
increase and diminish to levels
close to background traces.
• Confirms fault is not active at
all times.
DGA analysis trends (first period)
• Detected variation correlates
well with increasing and
decreasing levels of
Hydrogen.
• Unit tripped and Forensic
concluded the failure of
caused by an inter-turn fault in
the C phase common winding. Corresponding RFI Activity measured
on RFCT
Case Study 3
Online PD Monitoring – UHF and H2
Mp U V W
H2 concentration / ppm
Current / A
Stufen- Hydran
schalter
UHF Sensor
8 – 12 am 12 – 8 pm
47
Case Study 4 - UHF PD Measurements
0,008
UHF 2 0,006
UHF 1 0,004
0,002
Amplitude / V
0,000
-0,002
-0,004
-0,006
-0,008
-0,010
-0,012
-100 -50 0 50 100

Time / ns
0,02
0,01
UHF 3
Amplitude / V
0,00
-0,01
Positions of UHF sensors -0,02
-0,03
1,6
-0,04
1,4
-100 -50 0 50 100

1,2 0,015
Time / ns
1,0
Amplitude / Vs
0,010
0,8
0,005
Amplitude / V
0,6
0,000
0,4
0,2 -0,005
0,0 UHF PRPD -0,010

0 1 2 3
Frequency / GHz
-0,015
-100 -50 0 50 100
FFT of UHF 2 Zeit (ns)
Single UHF Signals48

Case Study 4 - Acoustic Measurements
A1 A2 A3 A4
A5
A6
Positions of Acoustic
sensors Acoustic Measurement System
 150 kHz resonance frequency
 60 dB amplification
 Averaged signals (triggered
with UHF signals
49
Case Study 4
Localization: UHF & Acoustic
PD
y
x
Positions of PD  Vicinity of Tap changer
X / cm Y / cm Z / cm
1 691 300 75
2 701 299 115
3 719 299 115
4 720 266 93
5 717 300 116
Localization Deviation: 40 cm
50
Case Study 4 - Conclusion
Conclusion
 Repair procedure
 New Paper
 New Commissioning Test
passed
 Same Measuring
Equipment
 Back into Service
Deteriorated Paper near the Tap Changer

51

Multi AE sensor use
This case concentrate on a
particle in one of the
compartments.
• A bouncing particle will not
create PD unless the physical
size and the voltage is high
enough.
• The acoustic sound from a
bouncing particle will be
overwhelming compared to
RFI and easily recognizable
with the DFA500

Bouncing particles in GIS
53
Using UHF Couplers on GIS
Using a UHF coupler on a GIS

Substation.

Example of a Detected GIS Defect
Frequency trace for a

floating particle
Time resolved trace @ 871 MHz;

-repetition rate 1 s-1
UHF signal @ 2.5 GSs-1

STEP 2B OFF-LINE
INVESTIGATIVE DIAGNOSTICS
56
Conventional PD Measurement (Off-Line)
 IEC60270 Standard (Updated Standard imminent)

 Measures integrated PD current pulse to provide a
measure of charge involved in a PD
 PD magnitude normally quoted in pico Coulombs (pC)
 Determination of severity and fault type.

Site HV PD testing does not reproduce
service condition when testing windings
• Both of these tests are energising the whole winding to

the same voltage to earth- not service condition
• The winding is at ambient temperature
• It can take 30-60 minutes for the voids to condition and
the PD levels to stabilise in machines.
Off line tests on

transformer and
motor
58
Site testing at transmission voltages
Getting the volts on site is the

big issue. Doble-UK at work
Back energisation, here

300kV unit brought in
Resonant test sets 650kV/3A, on pure

capacitive load only- here winding to E.

Test Procedure & Instrumentation for Commissioning
Tests for HV Cables
PD Sensing PD Instrumentation ‘HV Test Setup’

PD Current PDM-System LDS-6/UHF Reactor, Loading
Sensor (Zero-Span-Mode-Measurement) Capacitor, Blocking
Impedance, Connection to
the
Test 400kV Cable under Test
Procedure

An example of a failed test
Measuring Results – PRPD Pattern
GIS A+
Phase resolved PD
pattern recorded at
199 KV test voltage.
Clearly assigned PD
phenomena.

An example of a failed test
Defect due to improper termination assembly
Tracking path as reason for partial discharges caused by

foreign matter in the high voltage insulation system

1. Machines
2. GIS
3. Transformers
4. Cables
63
Why machines?- the man said follow the
money!
Marsh data Generator loss
General Loss Experience - Property is the biggest.
Fire and Boiler & Machinery LG Gas
Turbines
Transformers
28% second.
Generators Transformer
16% 10%
Other
4%
Steam Turbines Aero Gas

13% Boilers Turbines
18% 11%
64
Why machine interest- FORCED
OUTAGE TIMES
Examples
• Part Stator Rewind – 54 DAYS
• Full Stator Rewind - 84 DAYS
• Without parts – 102 DAYS
• Water Cooled Stator Rewind – 121 DAYS
• Stator – LO 120 – HI 210 DAYS
• Rotor Rewind – 90 DAYS

• Rotor Forging lead time Low 18 - High 23 MONTHS

Two Examples –Partial and full
windings lost
MARSH data GT Stator Partial Full Rewind ST
Rewind Gen. 14 weeks
Property damage $1.6 M $6.1 M
Business 8 weeks $ 17M 12 weeks $32M

interruption
The total
Deductible for 4 weeks 4 weeks cost is
business always>>
interruption repair cost
Total loss $24M $28M
66
So say it again -why be interested in
generator testing?
The huge business interruption costs, let alone safety, will ensure
that companies invest in diagnostics that will avoid failures at
unwanted times.
The priority is the in-service test
• Generators mainly
• Key motors, eg oil rigs, gas
circulators in nuclear stations
• On-line ideally
• Off-line As part of a full
condition assessment
during a planned outage
67
System Components
Permanent PD testing with PD-Smart on machines
68
Permanent Installation of Couplers
The choice of capacitor value is matched to the detection
frequency.
Earlier systems have used short Later systems detect
cable lengths at the terminals, or 50-500kHz and so can
high frequency detection detect PD throughout
capacitors, and aerials in slots in the winding and
order to detect PD eliminate interference
Gas Turbine, Seabank, Bristol, UK
69
PD Monitoring on Generators - Application Layout
3 Generators
3 or 4
Capacitive
Couplers
per Generator
Monitoring
Devices Data Acquisition and
Evaluation Server
with Control and
Monitoring Software
(e.g. in control room)
Fiber Optic LAN
LAN / WAN / Internet:
Ethernet Hub
Computer for Remote Control
70
On-site Interference Suppression of
Converter Commutator Pulses- using gating
71
Transformer testing with UHF Mp U V W
OLTC
Stufen- Sensor 2
schalter
Sensor 1 Placement of Probes
Installation of the UHF Probe in the Drain Valves

UHF PD-Transformer Testing
Pulse
Generator
LDC-7/UHF
73
Common way of working with installed
monitoring
1 NORMAL
OPERATION Increasing
Auto-Alarming information depth
Hn/s vs. Charge (HQ- from “Status Quo
Diagram) changed” to
“failure patterns”
2 ENQUIRY
Trending
3 ENQUIRY
Pattern Analysis
74
On-line gas analysers
75
Closing Remarks
 A routine survey can quickly identify the
deteriorating equipment among the large
number of equipments in a substation.
 On line measurement, offers ease in monitoring
equipments in a very large substation area,
which otherwise will require more time and
effort.
 And further assessment offline can confirm the
fault before replacement.

APPENDIX
Doble Solutions
77
Doble’s Survey tools
PDS 100
Survey DFA 100
Instrument
Vibration sensing
Performs
Identify and locate
frequency scan 50 PD, particles,
MHz to 1000 MHz mechanical defects
78
Doble’s Investigation PD Products
LDA6
PDS100 PD SMART DFA 500 Acoustic Locator
Transformers Only)
79

DFA500
Gas-Insulated Substation Analyzer
80
DFA500
• Portable instrument for Insulation Analysis
• In-service analyzer for Gas Insulated Substations
– Find faults without outages
– Pinpoint failure location/type, using acoustic characteristics
– Manage risks
– Monitor changes in insulation conditions
– Log or monitor one critical part
• Provides real time measurement on 4 acoustic channels
and 1 UHF, simultaneously
• Wired or wireless synchronization to the power cycle of
the utility provides real time phase-resolved plots for
thorough analysis/diagnosis
81
Rotating Machines Testing/Monitoring
Periodic
testing with
PD-Smart
+
Permanent
monitoring
with PD-Guard
Sensors + Connection
Box
82

System Components
Permanent PD testing with PD-Smart on machines
83

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10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012

A three step approach to Partial discharge

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 2

Reminder for what is needed for IEC 60270

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 4

2. Followed by off-line and

1. Apply surveillance based techniques to identify

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 5

DETECT integrated physical changes-

DETECT Pulses from individual PD

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 8

• They are focused to specific failure modes- far more

• But they need care to get consistent measurements.

1. Picked up first with RFI

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 10

Corona Emission Insulator Discharge

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 11

1930-50 Able to identify H2, C2H2 and CO in relay gas

1950-60- development of chromatography

Chemical Forensic Analysis

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 13

60 31/01/93 01/02/95 01/02/97 02/02/99 02/02/01 03/02/03 03/02/05

CO H2 CH4 C2H4 C2H6 C2H2

Discharge RFI pulse propagation

RFI spectrum from a discharge

Overlay survey scans and baseline

Discharge acoustic pulse propagation

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 19

• The acoustic survey of the OLTC shows increasing acoustic

The background noise is basically noise generated by

The ambient noise in the substation is normally

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA

The figure shows the acoustic signature (phase plot)

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA

Utility had experienced flashover in disconnector and

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA

A utility had earlier experienced two failures in a 500 kV GIS, and

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA

Doble and NG used AE

ABB PME362-50-30 SF6

Set Screw Causing Erosion and

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA

STEP 2 ON-LINE INVESTIGATIVE METHODS

These can often be used in combination. This

But first- The methods

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 28

Using conducted EMI to provide

Graphic Showing Transient Earth Deployment of a

Time Resolved Traces at Selected TEV Spot Frequencies.

Phase Resolved Measurements

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 32

Left drain valves Right drain valves

Reyrolle 11kV 400A Oil-Insulated Circuit Breakers

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 34

The source of RFI can be localised to one particular circuit

The observed discharge pattern is:

Cable Earth Strap Adjacent Circuit Breaker

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 37

Uplift reduces significantly as the placement of HFCT is

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 38

Observed pulse behaviour confirms those obtained from

10th IndiaDoble Power Forum, 2012, Vadodara, Gujarat, INDIA 39