Images Detection and Diagnosis of Corona

Discharge on Porcelain Insulators at 22.9kV D/L

Kil-Mok Shong, Member, IEEE, Young-Seok Kim, Member, IEEE,
and Sun-Gu Kim, Non-Member, IEEE
temperature, ultrasonic waves, pressure, vibration and noise
Abstract--This study investigated detection of corona thanks to the development of sensors on the facilities and there
discharge on porcelain insulators at 22.9kV D/L. It carried out an were subsequent diagnosis techniques. The study discussed
experiment and an actual measurement about corona detection the reasons for having corona and the occurrence of
using a UV-camera. It was possible to detect an ultraviolet mechanism accidents. In addition, it quantified corona
(240K320nm) of corona discharge on porcelain insulators before
the infrared generation due to joule's heat or visible ray. The step occurrence i porcelain insulators. In terms of the experiment
of the said inspection standards is applied with 65% method, the ageing device was formed to simulate the case
of humidity, and it is required to apply them a lot more severely that the earth fault near the part of earth connection took place
in the areas where more saturated humidity exists all the time. in porcelain insulators. While voltage was on the increase by
Namely, in case that the UV images detected from the areas with ramping, the ultrasonic waves and UV rays up to the
65% of humidity are used as data and their neighboring occurrence of dielectric breakdown were detected.
environments change and more than 80% of humidity is
saturated, it is very advisable to replace them in the Inspection
step. This experiment and inspection would need to respect the
hev purpoeots study wast prvdedtactha could
prevent accidents from takig place by detecting corona
above criteria. It was required to verify various experimental occurrence of facilities that became one of the main predicting
conditions and on-site inspection afterwards, but it was believed factors in electric accidents and analyzing it. It is expected that
to minimize the measurement error by data-basing research it will be a new inspection technique of distribution line
results in a continuous manner and it was necessary to establish through inspection guide and contribute to the optimization of
diagnosis technologies and standards in various electrical power electric safety in electric facilities.
facilities.
Index Terms--UV-camera, Ultraviolet, Corona discharge, II. CORONA GENERATION AND DETECTION
Inspection standards, Porcelain insulator. One of the characteristics in electromagnetic pulse is that
one cannot observe it with one's naked eye in the entire band,
I. INTRODUCTION but can perceive only part of it. It is estimated that it is
D GENTLY, the inspection technology of electric power possible to perceive it in case of using a current measuring
lXJacilities has tended to change into non-destruction device from 0 to 1023Hz and it is possible to have a larger
technology (NDT) in hot-line condition. With regards to the number of vibration than this range in principle. The scope of
inspection technology in distribution line, the studies that frequency is designated with specific names in accordance
could inspection and manage wide spread areas in certain with a certain range and it is not uniform. The scope of
conditions. It is very important to predict accidents and make possible observation with one's naked eye is from 7.5x 1014Hz
judgment on them after discovering or analyzing accident to 4.3x 1O'4Hz and it has been noted that the scope of
indications ahead of time in most of various techniques for the frequency is not so wide in the overall aspect. The scope of
prevention of electric accidents. Various detection techniques frequency is from 10161Hz to 7.5x 10o41Hz for UV rays.
have been used such as thermal detection, ultrasonic waves, General form of air discharge is developed from streamer
electromagnetic waves, gas detection and UV rays as well as discharge to glow discharge and it is changed into arching
the only measurement and analysis of voltage and electric discharge while electric current is overcrowded and voltage
current. rises for a short term, but falls dramatically. In the electric
As described above, the diagnosis technology for domestic current of some microampere, corona in the range of UV rays
electric power facilities has been changed so as for various rather than the effects by joule's heat takes place. Therefore,
evaluations to be done for the mechanism and neighboring corona discharge occurs when a very small amount of leaked
ageing environments in the step of measuring voltage & electric current flows and it accompanies noise and UV rays.
electric current. Especially, it has been possible to detect the Therefore, in case that UV rays are detected, it is possible to
conditions, in which neighboring influences such as detect the location of accidents before they take place. When a
very small amount of leaked electric current flows, it is not
This work was supported in part by Ministry of Commerce, Industry and visible in the air circuit, but ultrasonic waves or UV rays are
Energy Korea. emitted. There are antennas and amplifiers in the existing
K.M.Shong is with Electrical Safety Research Institute, Korea Electrical
Safety Corporation, 27 Sangcheon Chungpyeong Gapyeong Gyeonggi, 477 corona detection devices as a method of checking parabolic
814, Korea (e-mail: natasderQXkcsco.or.kr). ultrasonic waves. In terms of their demerits, one cannot
Y.S.Kim is with Electrical Safety Research Institute, Korea Electrical accurately analyze the occurrence location of corona for
Safety Corporation, 27 Sangcheon Chungpyeong Gapyeong Gyeonggi, 47 bet7n-nemyfi
odeetcrn n aeta h
814, Korea (e-mail: athlens9gnaver.com).
S.G.Kim is with Electrical Safety Research Institute, Korea Electrical targets are deviated according to inspector's discretion. The
Safety Corporation, 27 Sangcheon Chungpyeong Gapyeong Gyeonggi, 477- corona camera that can be used usefully as a new technology
814, Korea (e-mail: ksk@kesco.or.kr).

1-4244-1 062-2/07/$25.OO ©2007 IEEE 462

of inspection in recent distribution line has the characteristics Iul _Chab r
of detecting the UV rays incurred in initial discharge
phenomena and demonstrating them in a form of image.
Therefore, it is possible to deal with them visually and
effectively and to precisely detect the discharge location, PorceIain linsulAto
compared to the existing detection devices. 123kD
There are various types of corona detection methods and
devices as in the following: an acoustic emission measurement Gon
Gon
Hi9h Volitage Generator System
device that can detect abnormal sound; a thermo-graphic 02OW
image device (non-contact type) and thermo couple (contact-
type) that can check the effects by joule's heat; a method by UltraVio[et Ultrasonic
Eddy current testing; a method of detecting the occurrence of
gas and analyzing it; a method of measuring and detecting
noise or vibration; and a method of detecting the signals of
partial discharge. This study filmed UV rays by using a
camera and compared it with the techniques that measured and 1-
Data Parabola antenna
(Corona gun, Robinson, USA)
judged ultrasonic waves by using the existing parabola storage UV-camera
antennas. (DayCoill, Ofil Ltd. Israel)
Fig. 1. The schematics for corona discharge at porcelain insulator
TABLE I
MERITS AND DEMERITS OF CORONA MEASUREMENT DEVICES IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
| T ~~~Ultrasonic waves, UHF
Classification Detection of UV rays The Characteristics of UV-Corona Images
A.
antennae, etc.
Targets for corona
corona Ultrason-ac
Ultrasonic waves
wavres and Fig. 2 demonstrated the UV images according to each
60. The filming was made from a distance of
Gaintarget
Idetection UV rays
eIectrorllagnetic waves
elcroanei wvs
| voltage
5m out ofin the object. Slight occurrence of UV rays was
Location of targets Wide scope & general Detection of accurate location recognized in 30kv. The dielectric breakdown of porcelain
insulators was implemented in about 84kV. The discharge
|Users' subjective lSecure the oectivity by image I occurred between suspension insulator and socket eye.
Analysis nmethods
interveifon reading
Noise ensitve to nviromentsThere are almiost no noises due to
the UV detection of specific bands
Utilization
Overall electric power Including the effects of electric power
facilities facilities and neighboring facilties
(a) lOkV (b) 30kV
III. FoRmATioN OF EXPERIMENTAL DEVICE
This experiment simulated the insulators in electric power
facilities and checked the possibility of inspection standards
using UV ray corona. Its subject was a suspension insulator
(190mm), one of the facilities that formed the largest parts in
distribution line, and the conditions of up to the point of
dielectric breakdown were detected by each step by raising Fig.2. UVimagesinGain60(5m)
voltage. The temperature and humidity of the lab were 5 X and
65%, respectively. The measurement distances were 5m, 7m, Fig. 3 indicated the detection of UV images in accordance
9m and t Im. The measurement was made at the same time by with each voltage in Gain 120. The occurrence of UV rays
using an ultrasonic wave corona detector (Corona gun, was recognized in 30kV. The dielectric breakdown of
ROBINSON, USA) so as to compare it to the images filmed in insulators was conducted in approx. 84kV.
a UV ray camera (DayCor X, Ofil Ltd., Israel). The UV
images and Gain values were measured while raising the
voltage by 10kV of dielectric breakdown. The scope of Gain
was divided into 6 stages such as 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180.
It enabled one to easily analyze data' 6by copainthe^ sizeof10
were divided into four steps such as recognition, check,__
inspection and change. (a) 10kV (b) 30kV

463
 40
GAIN 060
E
E 30

>20
0

(c) 5OkV (d) 70kV 0310

Fig. 3. UV images in Gain 120(5m) E

Fig. 4 showed the detection of UV images according to 0D 25 50 75 100

each voltage in Gain 180. When comparing it to the UV Intensity, /o
images in Gain 120, it had similar tendency to the voltage of 25C (a) Gain 60
approx. 50kV.
E 200-
E
U150

0.-1o00

E50 I

(a) lOkV (b) 30kV 00 25 50 75 100

Intensity, %
500
(b) Gain 120
_ I 1 | I~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
E 400
E
'~300-
E
(c) 50kV (d) 70kV D 200
Fig. 4. UV images in Gain 180(5m)
B. Comparison with Breakdown and UVDiameter E 1oo
Fig. 5 indicated the UV diameter measured when Gain was
60, 120 and 180. The temperature and humidity in the lab 0 25 50 75 100
were approx. 5X and 65%, respectively. Fig. 5(a) marked the Intensity,
1
parts of UV rays emitted as a circle (o) and measured their Fig. 5. Breakdown voltage vs. UV images of diameter
diameter to analyze the size of corona occurred in porcelain
insulators quantitatively in Gain 60. The fully converted value
standards of breakdown diagnosis of suspension insulators,
of the implementation process of dielectric breakdown was which was the core of this study. Fig. 6 compares the diameter
represented as intensity up to the point of dielectric breakdown.
of the images of UV rays. It checked each of Gain points that
In case that intensity reached about 25%, the UV rays by could be checked by finding the point when the images of UV
corona was emitted. If the diameter of UV images exceeded rays were detected in the figure. This signified that it reached
approx. 30mm, it has been found that there were risks of about 4000 at the time of dielectric breakdown, and it turned
dielectric breakdown. Fig. 5(b) shows the UV diameter out to be about 32kV in case that the voltage of dielectric
measured when Gain is 120. In case intensity reached about breakdown was about 80kV (23kV porcelain insulator). This
25%, it has been noted that the UV rays by corona were meant that most of porcelain insulators were in normal
emitted. When the diameter of UV images was between about conditions so that it was believed to be easy to detect the most
150 to 200mm, it has been found that there were risks of vulnerable parts in insulators. In this regard, this scope was
dielectric breakdown. Fig. 5(c) indicated the image detected classified as recognition. This was the scope that could be
by a UV camera in Gain 180. If intensity reached about 25%, checked in every range from Gain 30 to Gain 180. The
it has been demonstrated that the UV rays by corona were diameter of the image of UV rays was approx. 10mm in Gain
radiated. It has been noted that there were risks of dielectric
30 and 50mm in Gain 180. Subsequently, the scope of about
breakdown in case that the diameter of UV images was 60% in the rate of dielectric breakdown intensity was
between about 250 to 400mm. classified as the scope that was required for confirmation or
check in terms of ordinary inspection. It is crucial to conduct
continuous monitorig and it iS requred to observe and wash
After analyzing UV images, it has been confirmed that the it continuously at the time when there are a large amount of
size of images was determined in proportion to the distance. humidity and dust. The scope of about 60 to 7000O in the rate of
Therefore, the study performed an analysis on the diameter of dielectric breakdown intensity is designated as Inspection, in
each of detection images of UV rays so as to establish the which it was required to precisely inspect the facilities. This
step is higher than management and observation and the

464
supply of electric energy should be suspended and the stability ..2on x0;
of facilities should be maintained through replacement, E
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~so E,._
1s0
washing or correction by means of their inspections. E .60 . . .E. .
Lastly, in case that the rate of dielectric breakdown 40
intensity exceeds 80% of the scope in the diameter of UV 5

images, it should be replace without delay. This signifies that 20 0 0

the risks of dielectric breakdown are imminent so that the best 00 IO0dB 0902,d
91 0 1

way is to replace them with new ones. The step of the said (a) recognition (b) check
inspection standards is applied with 65% of humidity, and it 400700%1 j890%
is required to apply them a lot more severely in the areas ISO El
where more saturated humidity exists all the time. Namely, in030 i100 >llli >ro iiiliilliii ,11112
250|||||lii
case that the UV images detected from the areas with 65% of />200
humidity are used as data and their neighboring environments Y V1000

change and more than 80% of humidity is saturated, it is very n SO

advisable to replace them in the Inspection step. 0 30 60 90120150180 0 30 690120150180
Gain, dB Gain, dB
(c) inspection (d) change
350 Fig. 7. UV diameters according to diagnosis steps
gainO3O;-+-- gainO6O;-i- gainO9O--,
300 galn120: gain15K0- gaini8o
300 gain12O~---, ainl5O-, gaiOChang-- believed that there should be experiments and analyses that .
- . . .

250 could make clear judgment by effectively selecting and

E
,,200 c I #E ,0 ............
_inspection J f ~removing
the noises that might be shown in humidity,
Inpetontemperature change and other conditions in the future.
E 150
X Check
~~~~~~~C:heck
1zo Zv J
ZTABLE H
ecogition COMPARISON WITH DIAMETERS OF GAINS AND DIAGNOSIS
100
Good |ll

5 _Wl ]F-|m 10 1 Xt/ IDiameter, mm

Step
o G30 G60 G90 G120 G150 G180
0 20 40 60 80 100
Intensity, % 1 Recognition(good) 7.8±1.1 14.0±45 17.9±0.3 26.8±0.3 44.1±3.4 63.1±157
Fig. 6. Correlation between Breakdown intensity vs. UV diameters
2 Check 11.2±0.3 19.0±34 268±67 43.0±4.5 80.5±7.8 132.4±11.2
Fig. 7 indicated the Recognition step and showed UV l
diameter during the four steps of Check, Inspection and 3 Inspection 16.2±1.1 23.5±1.1 41.9±5.6 65.9±7.8 152.6±3.4 171.4±67
Change including Recognition. In the recognition step,
14.0mm of the average diameter of UV images was found in 4 Change(danger) 21.2±2.2 31.3±0.3 98.4+20.1 17838±12.3 230.2±16.8 323.0+35.8
Gain 60. In Gain 120, about 26.8mm of the average diameter
of UV images was found. The scope of diameter was varied in V. CONCLUSION
Gain 180 and it has been found that the average size was about In order to establish a method that can diagnose through the
63.1mm. Fig. 7(b) showed the Check step when one could detection of the ultraviolet images of a UV camera, this study
discover about 19.0mm of the average diameter of UV images . . . .
ma in in Gin n0. 120
Te
dameer o abut 4.0m
Theaerage sieOf dam wa foud o tI designated the objects suspension
inGn 180 largest parts among 22.9kV facilities, insulator,
for a one of the
and conducted an
a

average in Gain 120. The average size of diameter in Gain 180 exeiet
waswas 32.mm.Fig.
pprx. 132.4mm.
approx. 7(c) showed the Inspection step experiment.
Fig.7cshowedtheIp It is required to verify various experimental conditions and
when one could identify the diameter of about 23.5mm UV
on-site inspections in the future, but it.....is believed . to minimize
images on the average in Gain 60. The diameter of approx. the measurement error by data-basing research results
65.9mm UV images was found on the average in Gain 120. continuously; and it is necessary to establish diagnosis
The size of average diameter in Gain 180 was approx.
171.4mm. Fig. 7(d) demonstrated the Change step when one falit
technologies and standards in various electrical power
UV images onon tthe facilities.
could find
Gaint60.The
find the diameter of about
diameter of a31.3mm
average in Gain 60. The diameter of approx. 178.8mm be
averae 1 pprox.13mmUV
m (1) It was possible
images in the entire Gain (30, 60, 90, recognition
to check the step of the
120, 150, 180) with UV
images was found on the average insefi t Gain 18 was scope of ca. 250 to 300 during the dielectric breakdown.
323t0mm that the average size of diameter in Gain 18 was
(2) The diameter of UV images at the time when dielectric
Therefore, the organized inspectlon standards by step 2 breakdown i was likely 3 to bn take place was as nbelow: It ot was about
through the analysis of the correlation curve and measured 130mm in Gain 90, about 150 to 200mm in Gain 120, about
images above could be briefly summarized as in the following 20 to 27m inGi.5'n bu 20t 0m nGi
tables. It has been assumed that it would be insufficient to 180
explain them only with said measured data and it has been (38h0tpo.bot40 rmtepon fdeeti
breakdown was designated as recognition and the scope of up

465
to about 60% was considered to be the step of confirmation or Young-Seok Kim was born in Korea, on April 27, 1974. He graduated from
check in ordinary inspection and continuous monitoring was Gyeongsang National University, Korea, with B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degree of
required. Meanwhile, it is needed to observe and wash t electrical engineering in 1996, 1999, and 2004, respectively. From 2001 to
2002, he was a visiting researcher at the Yamaguchi University. He is
frequently at the time when it gets damp and dust is currently working as a researcher in Electrical Safety Research Institute,
accumulated to a great extent. subsidiary of Korea Electrical Safety Corporation. His interests include
*4) Vlhen dielectricbreakdown
(4) When dielectric 600% to 70
reaches about 60%to
breakdown reachesabout 7000O,
electrical facilities, electrical safety and electrical insulation.

it is noted that the relevant facilities are required to be Sun-Gu Kim was born in Korea, on Feb 25, 1961. He graduated from
accurately inspected as the step of Inspection. Therefore, it is Hanyang University, Korea, with B.S. degree of electrical engineering in
necessary to halt the supply of high-level of electric energy 1985. He is currently working as a group leader in Electrical Safety Research
rather than their maintenance
maintenance and to .maintain Institute, subsidiary of Korea Electrical Safety Corporation. His interests
rather than their and observation
observation ad
the stability of facilities through replacement, washing or
and to mamtam include electrical facilities, electrical safety and law of electrical and standard.

correction by means of their inspections.

(5) In case that dielectric breakdown is over 80%, the
facilities should be replace without any delay. This signifies
that the risks of dielectric breakdown are imminent so that the
best way is to replace them with new ones.
VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of
MOCIE (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy) of
Korea.
VII. REFERENCES
[1] Kil-Mok Shong, Hyang-Kon Kim, Chung-Seog Choi and Hee-Ro Kwak,
"A Study on the Electrical Fire Analysis of PVC Insulateds Flexible
Cord by Over-Current", KIEE 2003spring conference, pp.13 1133, 2003
[2] Babrauskas, V., "Fires due to Electric Arcing: Can 'Cause' Beads Be
Distinguished from 'Victim' Beads by Physical or Chemical Testing?",
Fire and Materials, pp.189-201, 2003
[3] Kil-Mok Shong, Chung-Seog Choi, Hyung-Rae Kim, Dong-Woo Kim,
Hee-Ro Kwak, "A Study on the Electric Fire Analysis of Insulating
Materials Due to the Tracking Deterioration", 2002 ACED & K-J
Symposium, pp.606-609, 2002
[4] EPRI, "Guide to Corona and Arcing Inspection of Substations", 2002
[5] EPRI, "Guide to Corona and Arcing Inspection of Overhead
Transmission Lines", 2002
[6] Su-Won Jang, Se-Jun Son, DoEok Kim, Dae-Hyuk Kwon, Sung-Hoon
Kim, Young-Hyun Lee, and Shin-Won Kang, "UV-Sensitive
Photofunctional Device Using Evanescent Field Absorption Between
SU-8 Polymer Optical Waveguide and Photochromic Dye, IEEEPhoto.
Tech., VOL. 18, NO. 1, pp.82-84 JAN. 1, 2006
[7] Kohji Hohkawa, "Study on Photo-induced Acoustic Charge Transport
Effect in GaN Film", IEEE 0-7803-8846-1/05, pp.421l424, 2005
[8] Robert P. Lucht, "Absorption based UV-Sensors for Combustion
Processes", Slcon '01, pp.300302, NOV. 2001
[9] IEEE task force on electrical testing of polymer insulators for hot line
installation, "Electrical test methods for non-ceramic insulators used for
live line replacement," IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 12, no. 2, pp.
965-970, April 1997.
[10] G. H. Vaillancourt, J. P. Bellerive, M. St-Jean, and C. Jean, "New live
line tester for porcelain suspension insulators on high voltage power
lines," IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 208-219, Jan.
1994.
[11] G. H. Vaillancourt, S. Carignan, and C. Jean, "Experience with the
detection of faulty composite insulators on high voltage power lines by
the electric field measurement method," IEEE Trans. Power Delivery,
vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 661-666, Apr. 1998.

VIII. BIOGRAPHIES

Kil-Mok Shong was born in Korea, on March 27, 1967. He graduated from
Soongsil University, Korea, with B.S., M.S. degree of electrical engineering
in 1994, 2003, respectively. He is currently working as a senior researcher in
Electrical Safety Research Institute, subsidiary of Korea Electrical Safety
Corporation. His interests include electrical facilities, electrical safety and
high voltage.

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