Partial Discharge Measurement on

Gas Insulated Switchgears (GIS)

Rustan Villanueva – OMICRON MEA
23 April 2024
 Page 2
Gas Insulated Switchgear & Lines - Overview

© OMICRON Source: siemens.com/energy

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Gas Insulated Switchgear & Lines - Overview
145 kV

420 kV

© OMICRON
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PRO GIS - technical considerations

 dimensions extremely reduced

 installation in places where AIS can´t be placed –

reduced civil works
 modular construction of components,

 possible to install in any environmental conditions

 reduced number of external insulators
 higher reliability

 CON’s: lower access to the components, gas handling,

extensions difficult with other manufacturers

© OMICRON
PD measurement on GIS – when?
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 during factory measurement

quality control
factory acceptance test/type test Measurement of PD in indoor GIS

based on asset and general standards e.g. IEC 62271-200

controlled environment

 during on-site measurement

after HV test on commissioning
Measurement of PD in outdoor GIS
often used during site acceptance testing or after failures
in-service/monitoring
maintenance
troubleshooting
warranty

GIS and test transformer (gas-insulated)

© OMICRON
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In-service Return of Experience

 Failure Statistics on Circuit Breakers in GIS

Others
12.3%

Gas Leak
12.4% Insulation
Failure
57.3%
Mechanical
Trouble
18.1%

Reference: CIGRE TF 23-102, 1998 Electra No. 176. 1998

© OMICRON
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Service Problems

 Dielectric Failures

© OMICRON
What is partial discharge? Page 8

Partial Discharges (PD)

"…local electrical discharges which only
partially bridge the insulation between
electrical conductors ....”
[IEC 60270:2000]
Partial discharge (PD) is a localized
dielectric breakdown of a small portion
of a solid or liquid electrical insulation Void discharges Electrical treeing Surface discharges Corona discharges
system under high voltage stress.
…generate electromagnetic signals/waves
 mV - UHF sensor measurable
…generate acoustic signals
 db - Acoustic sensor

...generate light
 lux - Light sensor

...chemical by products
 Ozone
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What is partial discharge in GIS?
Simplified Cross section of GIS
➢ Homogenous electrical field by design
➢ Electrical field strength below critical field strength

© OMICRON
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What is partial discharge in GIS

Simplified Cross section of GIS

➢ Homogenous electrical field by design
➢ Electrical field strength below critical field strength

© OMICRON
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Inhomogeneous field (Streamer)
plate / plate tip / plate void

- + - +

E convenient ionization E E
PD possible
condition ->
PD inception likely
Ec

U U U

d d d
The area below the curve is equal to the test voltage U = ∫E dx
It is always the same test voltage! U=U=U
© OMICRON
Partial discharge analysis – why?
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Why PD analysis is necessary

 to detect critic defect in the electrical insulation.

 in most of the cases PD phenomena are

the preliminary stage of a complete insulation breakdown.

therefore transformers, generators, instrument

transformers, cable systems, and switchgear have been
checked for PD for many years
Even small particles in GIS can lead to a dramatic reduced
dialectical strength of the insulation especially for lighting
impulses. PD measurement can detect this kind of particles.

© OMICRON
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Evidence of PD effect and PD defect

 Evidence of surface discharges on Power transformer

and on a particle in GIS

Artificial moving particle inside a GIS

Source: „Investigation of the detection of adhesive particles on insulators in gas insulated systems under DC voltage stress”
© OMICRON Maria Hering, Karsten Backhaus, Phillip Arnold, Uwe Riechert and other, Berlin, ETG 2012
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PD measurement methods

 Application of PD measurement

Factory On-Site

➢ routine testing ➢ on-site testing

➢ development and type testing ➢ permenent monitoring in service
➢ temporary monitoring in service

 Methods for PD measurement

⚫ Conventional PD measurement IEC 60270

⚫ Ultra High Frequency UHF CIGRE, IEC 62271-203, IEC 62478
⚫ Acoustic CIGRE, IEC 62271-203, IEC 62478

Source: Tritod Nganpitak et. „Experiences in Nonconventional

Partial Discharge Measurement for Gas-Insulated Substation in
Thailand” ISH 2019 Budapest, Hungarian acc IEC 62271-203

© OMICRON
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PD measurements: Conventional testing (FAT)

 Testing transformer and

 Coupling capacitor for PD measurement
during FAT

 Chemical detection?
SF6 transformer with coupling capacitor
 Optical detection

GIS and test SF6 test transformer

© OMICRON
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CIGRE TB 525 Risk Assessment on Defects in GIS

 Based on PD Diagnostics

Steps for Risk Assessment

© OMICRON
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PD defects in GIS

 Insulation imperfections in GIS may cause dielectric breakdown during commissioning or in service.
Many of these insulation imperfections produce PD activity before a complete breakdown finally
occurs.

 Typical insulation defects:

Moving particles
Particle on insulation
Protrusions
Floating electrode
Voids

Source: CIGRE TB-662-2016-2

© OMICRON
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PD Measurement: UHF Method

© OMICRON
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UHF PD Measurements

 UHF PD Detection - Sensitivity Verification according to CIGRE

step 1: laboratory step 2: on-site

 Two step procedure: (1) laboratory and (2) on-site

(1) Determination of a pulse generator signal which is equivalent to „5 pC apparent charge“

(2) UHF signal from pulse generator must be detectable at adjacent PD sensor

© OMICRON
UHF PD Measurements
 UHF PD Detection - Sensitivity Verification according to CIGRE

step 1: laboratory
(1) Determination of a pulse generator signal which is equivalent to „5 pC apparent charge“

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UHF PD Measurements

 UHF PD Detection - Sensitivity Verification according to CIGRE

step 2: on-site

(2) UHF signal from pulse generator must be detectable at adjacent PD sensor

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UHF PD Measurements

 UHF PD Detection - Sensitivity Verification according to CIGRE

step 2: on-site

AIM:
- To highlight that the UHF partial discharge measurement system is still capable of detecting an
error between the two sensors at the maximum distance from the measurement sensors.
- Make sure that the sensors are working properly.
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UHF PD Measurements

UHF PD Detection - Sensitivity Verification according CIGRE

Injection of PD Pulse UHF PD measurements

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 Page 24
PD detection methods
HV Component Generator Transformer HV Cable GIS
XLPE
Insulation Mica Paper-oil Epoxy, Gas
Oil
CC CC, UHF HFCT CC UHF,
PD Sensor
HFCT Acoustics UHF Acoustics

Electrical (IEC 60270)

Acoustics (e.g. transformer, GIS)

UHF (150 MHz – 1.5 GHz, GIS, transformer, cable termination)

10 kHz 100 kHz 1MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1GHz 10 GHz

© OMICRON
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PD measurements in UHF range

 Typically used for the measurement in the range from 200MHz to 2GHz
The used Frequency depends on the Device under Test (DUT)
 Signal propagation with electrical waves
Typically no galvanic connection
 DUT with metal enclosures provide good noise shielding

Electrical UHF

10 kHz 100 kHz 1 MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz

© OMICRON
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PD measurement using IEC and UHF setup

I / Qiec E/H

IEC compliant PD measurement UHF PD measurement

IEC measurement UHF measurement

Dispersion Compensation current Electromagnetic field
Coupling Discrete capacitor Antenna
Frequency kHz – some MHz 100 - 2000 MHz
Calibration Small setups, low Magnitude and damping
frequencies depends on position of defect

© OMICRON
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Measurement methods

 Broadband method

 Narrowband method fixed measuring frequencies

 Narrowband method free adjustable measuring frequency

© OMICRON
Sensitivity thru selectivity
> The UHF 800 supports various bandwidths with different measurement modes.
> Wideband Mode: Very simple to use but cannot avoid disturbances if present.
> Medium Band Mode: Measures selectively and ensures a high signal-to-noise ratio
so that extreme sensitive measurements can be performed.
> Signal Spectrum: Visualized in minimum and peak vs. frequency support to find
proper settings.

Filtered
Signal
used for
PRPD

Impulse Peaks
vs. Frequency

Continuous Noise vs.

Frequency

© OMICRON Page 28
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PD signal propagation in UHF-Range

 PD-source emits UHF signals

 Propagation via electro-magnetic waves
No galvanic connection
Propagation path determines signal spectrum
High frequencies limit the propagation distance
 Wave reception with antenna
Special models for every type of DUT

© OMICRON
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PD signal propagation in UHF-Range

 Source
Ultra broadband impulse
 Emission
Due to parasitic inductivity and capacities the
pulse will reduce the frequency range
 Dissipation
Though propagation the impulse loses some
frequency components. Other will transmit
perfectly because of resonances and wave
modes
 Sensor & Measurement
Though the frequency behavior of the sensor and
filters the signal characteristic will changed.
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Signal propagation: Z-Direction

© OMICRON
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PD sensors

UHF sensor
 Sensors are already build in the GIS by the manufacturer
 Only connection to UHF devices needed
Installation can be done online

© OMICRON
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UHF couplers
INTERNAL UHF COUPLERS

ETG-Fachbericht 119, VDE Verlag, 2009

EXTERNAL UHF COUPLERS FOR USE AT GIS SPACER CASTING INLET

Source: CIGRE TB-662-2016-2

© OMICRON
Principles of PD measurement CIGRE TB 662

 Time domain
and (or just)
 Frequency domain 4

measurement (broad-,
medium- or narrowband

OMICRON -> UHF 800

Configuration > GIS / GIL
Laptop installed
with MPD Suite
software
USB
cable

MCU2

Fiber-optic cable UHF 800 UHF 800

Fiber-optic cable
Optional: Sync
via voltage
from VT
RBP1 RBP1
UPG 620

UHF sensor 1 UHF sensor 2 UHF sensor 3

© OMICRON
UHF 800

 OMICRON offer a complete PD measurement capabilities with MPD 800

according to IEC 60270 and in UHF range
 Highly-sensitive Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) PD measurements from 100 to
2000 MHz.
 Wideband Mode, Medium Band Mode, Spectrum View and UHF Sweep functions
for optimal signal-to-noise ratio.
 Robust and flexible for use in laboratories, testing bays and in the field.
 Supports CIGRE “Application guide for sensitivity verification” (Brochure 654) with
wideband detector support.
 Single-channel or synchronous multi-channel off-line and on-line UHF PD
measurements on GIS/GIL, oil-filled power transformers and HV power cable
terminations.
 Configurable, multi-language user interface for individualized PD testing and
customized reporting.
 Can be used as a stand-alone system or together with MPD 800 (for combined
conventional and UHF PD testing).

Thank you for your attention.

UHF 800 benefits
OUTSTANDING SPECIFICATIONS
> Unaffected by the noise from mains power supply
> Input bandwidth: 100 MHz – 2 GHz
> Input Filter: Medium-Band Mode: 80 MHz (tunable) and
Wideband Mode: 2 GHz
> PD pulse rate: up to 2.8 Mio./s
> PRPD synchronization
via SYNC input or
via UHF: up to 70 mA (rms) for 10mHz... 10kHz

© OMICRON
 38

Assessment
Interpretation of PRPD patterns
PD diagnostics in gas-insulated switchgears with the UHF 800
© OMICRON
Corona discharge – PD pattern
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tip on high-voltage potential

HV V PD inception voltage positive tip Corona

PD inception voltage negative tip

tip on ground potential

HV V

PD inception voltage positive tip

PD inception voltage negative tip

© OMICRON
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Examples 2: Corona discharge

 sharp tip on HV potential

Narrowband Broadband

© OMICRON
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Examples 2: Corona discharge

 sharp tip on HV potential

Sweep 100 MHz to 2 GHz

Corona discharge at 670 MHz

© OMICRON
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Examples 1: Surface discharge

 Surface discharge

Sweep 100 MHz to 2 GHz

Surface discharge at 280 MHz

© OMICRON
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Examples 2: Surface discharge

 Surface discharge

Narrowband Broadband

© OMICRON
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Examples: Particle Moving particle inside a GIS

 Moving particle

 Particle on insulators

Source: „Investigation of the detection of adhesive particles on insulators in gas insulated systems under DC voltage stress”
© OMICRON Maria Hering, Karsten Backhaus, Phillip Arnold, Uwe Riechert and other, Berlin, ETG 2012
 Page 45
Examples: Particle

 Moving Particle

Narrowband Broadband

© OMICRON
Comparison IEC and UHF at GIS

fc = 600 kHz / IEC

Scientific moving particle inside a GIS

fc = 450 MHz / UHF

UHF measurement
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PD Monitoring on GIS
OFFLINE tests: performed at de-energized asset and disconnected from the network
Allows variation of various parameters (test voltage, frequency, ...)
No natural stress conditions for asset
Design depending on the test system used (manufacturer) and operator
"Snapshot" of the operating state
ONLINE tests: performed “live” and providing information about condition of the asset under
operating conditions
Does not allow any/conditional variation of different states
Operating conditions (load, temperature, mechanical stress)
Implementation requires less interaction

Development
PARADIMO at a glance
 A smart edge computing device that provides you with
continuous monitoring and trending of partial discharge (PD)
activity in Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) and Gas-Insulated
Lines (GIL).
 Automatically detects and classifies the type of insulation defect
and sends alerts for reliable risk assessment.
 An alert will be issued if the measured PD level is continuously
above the configured alerting threshold for the specified time
period and the PRPD pattern is classified as a defect.
 Multiple PARADIMO 100 devices can be daisy-chained and
connected via a fiber optical network converter/switch to a PC or
tablet computer using a web browser for remote network access.
Multiple monitoring points facilitate trending, defect detection, and
classification for reliable risk assessment in GIS and GIL.

© OMICRON Page 8
PARADIMO 100 benefits
 Peace of mind – Benefit from automatic alerts and reliable
insulation assessments to determine risk and eliminate critical
defects to avoid possible failure.
 Straightforward installation – Mount and connect the device to
AC power, a pre-installed UHF sensor, and the existing IT
infrastructure.
 Simple integration into communication networks – via
Modbus/TCP.
 Minimal operator intervention – The system automatically
records, saves, and evaluates the monitoring data after setup
and configuration. Alerts are automatically generated for risk
assessment if defects are detected and classified.
 Highly reliable PD monitoring – Multiple UHF monitoring
modes greatly enhance sensitivity in noisy environments and
optimize data analysis.

© OMICRON Page 8
PARADIMO 100 benefits
 Convenient Web user interface – There is no need to install
additional software on your external PC to access the system.
The Web user interface allows convenient access for configuring
measurement and alert settings and viewing real-time PD data and
recorded trends.
 Built-in PD know-how – You do not have to be an expert to
interpret the results.
The system detects and automatically classifies all PD-related defects for
reliable risk assessment.
 Easy remote system access – Get a complete status overview
of connected devices and view alert status and real-time and
recorded PD trend data via the Web user interface.

© OMICRON Page 8
PARADIMO 100 hardware

Built-in processing,
storage and PD EXPERTISE you
communication can trust
INSIDE

Secure enclosure for

indoor and outdoor use Status LEDs

Plug-and-play AC power UHF sensor

connections: Ethernet
(fiber optics)
© OMICRON Page 52
PARADIMO 100 configuration

LAN (physical or wireless FO cable

connection)
Fiber optical network
converter/switch

Laptop or tablet PC

FO cable FO cable

Pre-installed Pre-installed Pre-installed

UHF sensor UHF sensor UHF sensor

Several PARADIMO 100 devices can be connected via a fiber optical network
converter/switch to a PC or tablet computer using a web browser for remote
network access.
© OMICRON Page 53
System overview
Obtain an Alert Status if the
system detects classified a
Get information about a See a trend overview critical PD event.
selected PARADIMO 100 of PD activity.
device in the network.

View an overview
of real-time PRPD
diagrams of an
identified defect.

See an overview
of all the devices
in the network
and their status.

Access a system overview remotely via the convenient Web interface.

No additional software is required on your PC to access the system.
© OMICRON Page 54
Phase-resolved PD (PRPD) diagram
 An established tool to analyze PD
activity in relation to the phase angle of
the applied voltage.
 Characteristic PRPD patterns
correspond to specific types of defects.
 Used to identify the nature of the PD.

© OMICRON Page 55
Trend page
 Observe the trend behavior of PD
activity.
 Displays PD trend data per year,
month, day, and hour.
 See when alerts were triggered due
to high PD activity levels and
classified PD-related defects.
 Shows PRPD diagram for selected
trend point and monitoring range.
 Evaluate the PRPD diagram in
different UHF monitoring modes
and inspect numerical PD levels
and defect classifications in the
tables below.

© OMICRON Page 56
UHF monitoring modes
Wideband UHF monitoring mode (2GHz)
 PD activity is simultaneously
monitored in four different
frequency ranges using
wideband and medium-band
measurement modes.
 This achieves a high signal-
to-noise ratio even in noisy
environments.

Medium-band UHF monitoring mode (80MHz)

© OMICRON Page 57
Smart alerting algorithm

PD level
PD input* yes PD pattern
> defined
threshold classification
for > t min

no

no PD Defect
recognized

yes

No further Alert
action Issued

*Also considers PD input of neighboring sensors

© OMICRON Page 58
Smart alarming algorithm
 The alerting algorithm
takes the attenuation Sensor I Sensor II Sensor III
between neighboring
sensors into
consideration for the
continuous evaluation of
monitored PD levels.
 This enables critical PD
events that could have Defect
been overlooked to be position
detected.
 To determine the
attenuation between two Level at Level at Level at
neighboring sensors, Sensor I position Sensor II
each PARADIMO 100 of defect
device can optionally
send test pulses using
the built-in Test
Attenuation profile – Linear approximation of the attenuation profile for
Generator.
a PD defect location in the middle of 2 sensors (Cigrè TB 654).
© OMICRON Page 59
Many Thanks! Let us know if we can help or send more information!
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