Feature I On-line Partial Discharge Measurement on High Voltage Equipment Using Continuous Mode Transient Earth Voltage (TEV) Technique By Lee Wai Meng J.M. PANG & SEAH (PTE) LTD Introduction Tke measurement of partial discharge has become less expensiv’ easier to use and hence more popular as a means to determine the conditio of she electrical insulation system in high voltage equipment like switcagears and transformers. ‘The most common unit for quantifying partial discharge magnitude is the pico- coulomb (pC), which is the product of vol:age and capacitance. One is most concerned with the maximum value of pC because it will macirmum amount of damage being inflicted on the electrical insulation sysiera, The larger the value of pC the more rapid the rato of doterioration of the electrical insulation system. The actual pC value at the location of the partial discharge cannot be directly measured because the location of the partial discharge is always embedded ins de the electrical insulation system, an¢ hance there will be no direct access for measurement of the actual pC value due to the partial discharge. However IEC 270 has established the calibration method to determine the pC equivalent at the measurable voltage of the phase condtctor of the electrical equipment due to the partial discharge. This will require the injection of a known quentity of pC into the phase conductor and to measure the peak magnitude of the resulting voltage at the phase conductor. ‘The ratio of the known injected pC at the phase cond-ctor is divided by the measured value of low voltage at the phase condvctor to obtain the pC/ millivolts roletionship. This derived value of pC at the phase conductor is called the apparent pC, tly indicate the and is proportional to the actual pC value at the location of the partial discharge. The main disadvantage of the pC method of partial discharge measurement is that the measured equipment do-onergized. For any partial discharge ‘measurement to be widely used, it is crucial for the measurement to be done without any need to de-energize the electrical equipment. The transient earth voltage (TEV) technique will provide this feature. This article will share my experience with the measurement of partial discharge activity using the continuous mode EV technique with equipment from EA Technology of UK. The electrical equipment measured are high voltage airinsulated — switchgears and transformers. electrical need to be ‘Transient Earth Voltage (TEV) Partial discharge activity in any electrical equipment will produce loctromagnotic waves in a vory wide frequency spectrum that will radiate in all directions away from the location of the partial discharge. The higher frequency components of the radiated clectromagnotic waves will be more attentuated by the air medium than the ower frequency components. These ower frequency electromagnetic waves will hit the inner surface of the earthed ‘metal cladding of switchgears. At any available openings, such as joints or air vents, the electromagnetic waves will escape from the switchgear. This will cause a transient rise in the voltage of the earthed metal cladding of the switchgear. This TEV has rise time {in the range of nano seconds with an amplitude in the millivolts range. ‘The magnitude of the TEV is @ function of the amplitude of the partial discharge and the attentuation in the propagation path along the air medium and earthed metal cladding of the switchgear. The TEV is measured using 1 capacitive probe placed at the earthed ‘metal cladding of the switchgear. The measued value of TEV will be Aispaye ind Mosse 0 Whore dB 20 tog, [Mosse TE 7 eam nav ae 3 zi : 3 a 398 Tho detection circuit of the continuous mode ‘TEV measurement set has a wide bandwidth of 70 MHz The measured TEV is from a peak detection circuit, and so only the maximum value of TEV in any ‘measurement period will be recorded Partial discharge activity is often intermittent in nature, This means that the partial discharge may be dormant for long periods and become active when initiated by changes in switching, loading, temperature and humidity. In detect intermittent partial discharge, it is important to monitor over a period of time. A minimum of 24 hours i order to recommended to study the effects due to changes in switching, loading, temperature and humidity. The continuous mode TEV ‘measurement set has 12 channels, of which 8 channels are connected to 8 capacitive probes placed at the earthed metal cladding of the switchgears. ‘These capacitive probes are required te sinner cea 003i Feature for the measurement of the TEV magnitude at different locations. The remaining 4 channels are connected to 4 aorial probes, whose purpose is to detect the presence of interference from extemal electromagnetic source. Figure 1 shows a typical setup. External electromagnetic waves will first trigger the acrial probe before the capacitive probe. This time delay is used to screen out the external interference, The time of the TEV about 7 nanoseconds and so the minimum soparation distance between the aerial probe and the capacitive probe will be the product of the speed of the electromagnetic wave (about 3 x 10" m/s) and the 7 nanoseconds resolution time. This works out to 2100mm, which is good enough to locate the source of the partial discharge to individual switchgear. resolution measurement set is Figure 1 The continuous mode TEV ‘measurement set will provide the following information: © maximum TEV magnitude in dB average TEV magnitude in dB number of pulses number of pulses in any one channel expressed as a percentage of the total number of pulses in the ‘measurement period. © percentage of the time in which the pulses were active during the ‘moasurement period. number of pulses per cycle, short term severity. ‘maximum short term severity. long term severity ‘Number of Passes Measured TEV in millivolts Remarks 12 12 passes x 12 channels x 2 seconds = 288 | Bach channel is measured for 2 a 14 pastos x 12 channels x 2 seconds = 312 ae Short Term Severity It is defined as (maximum pulse amplitude x number of pulses per cycle). Maximum Short Term Severity It is defined as the maximum value of (pulse amplitude x number of pulses per cycle) for every measurement period The two severity numbers take into consideration the information of “how bad” and “for how long” the damage to the electrical insulation due to magnitude of partial dischargo. short term the maximum Long Term Severity It is defined as the maximum pulse amplitude x average (average number of pulses per cycle x duration when pulses were detected). ‘This number is more sensitive to detect partial discharge that is continuous or nearly coi uous in nature. Number of Pulses detected by the continuous mode TEV measurement set are counted in the “total number of pulses” of the summary table, and at the same time allocated to the channel that first detected the pulse. Ifthe pulse is detected by two channels within the 7 nanoseconds resolution time, then the pulse is deemed to arrive at both channels at the same time, and the associated counter for both channels All pulses will count up by one. In a 5 minutes measurement period, the number of cycles for 50 hortz. supply will be (5 x 60 x 50) or 15,000 cycles. The measurement set will scan all 12 channels in sequential manner and each channel is scanned for 2 seconds. One pass is defined as the completion of the scanning for 12 channels. 13. passes over the 12 channels is not possible because the 312 seconds will exceed the 5 minutes or 300 seconds period. maximum mumber of passes will be 12, ‘The maximum number of cycles will ve (28 300 with a § minute measurement period. ‘The total number of pulses detected in the 5 minutes period will be divided by 14,400 cycles to obtain the number of pulses per cycle. If we assume one partial discharge im each cycle, and continuous over the 5 minutes ‘moasurement period, the total number of pulses will be 14,400. The number of pulses per cycle will be (14,400 pulse/14,400 cycles) = 1 pulse per cycle. For a measurement Hence the x 15,00 ) = 14400 exces partial discharge of intermittent nature, the number of pulses over the 5 minutes will be less than 14,400. For example, the number of pulse per cycle for an intermittent partial discharge of 5,000 pulses will be (6,000 pulse/ 14,400 cycle) = 0.35 pulse per cycle. ‘Therefore for an intermittent partial discharge within a 5 minuto moasurement period, the number of pulse per cycle will be smaller than 1. The recommendation from EA ‘Technology of UK is that activity greater than 0.05 pulse per cycles or 1 pulse per 20 cyclo will require Further investigation [1] Guidelines for Partial Discharge Activity that will require further investigation [1] ‘short term severity with capacitive probes > 0 and * number of pulses per cycle with capacitive probes > 0.05Feature I number of pulses per cycle is not zero sles bere a at channel 3, 6 and 10, There was ia | coe | ot | ate a |e partial discharge activity detected. at 4 | 3) on £ 4 2 a “ o 4 the three channels, Channel 3 will be of af foe fT = afer more interest because of the relatively a 7 oS lange 254B TEV magnitude, During one =| 2 | cco + c 7 7 0001 7 = o o of the 5 minutes measurement interval, eo [emo ef fem [eT fe [2 || the total number of pulses detected rf feos [eee Pe fom fe Pe Te wore (0.02 pulse por eycle x 14,400 of ee 1] cietes) or 288 pulses. Figure 2 shows wpe pimp ee) the db magnitude of the pulses babe = = . s = -_- # # Co zt measured over the measurement period a 2 9 | 9 | ooo “ oto = for Channel 3. Figure 3 shows the Tel narer of ss ofa 2 © copsive Proves umber of pues: Oed the as 2 enannals soonected, 16400 eyes per makes (A Peta Proves ee ee eee ‘Start Time 1003/2003 14:10:09 - Z Sa following conclusion for the maximum and intermittent partial discharge ‘A cama cae activity at channels 3, 8 and 10. Channel Channel Charme! Channel Channel Chatael_ Channel Channe! ® intermittent partial discharge: waa ee ema ay pees detected in one of the § minutes measurement interval because the of o_¢@ © @ © @ o number of pulses per cycle was not ves | we | ves | we | ves | wee | wee | veo zero and equal to 0.02 pulse per cycle. However only a value greater A clonal tome 1 A than 0.05 pulse per cycle [1] will amr require further investigation Case History for Switchgears 7 ere Table 1 is a summary of the oe ase Bz) "ax" |) auree continuous mode TEV meesurement on a $pete ‘a 24kV rated air insulated switchgear geal one oa pe ea a with vacuum cixcuit breaker, The aerial ee foarte probes were connected to channel 1, 2, s 7 e | tee x z = 2 = . = 141 and 12. The capacitive probes were spot eee a fe efet et connected to channel 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 e | | com 1 ° co 6 = v o sn. oo set ‘We only need to apply the guidelines eet te sett to the capacitive probes. All the aa ieee s = aaa £ 2. 2. 2 See RLMneseie a Ttanbe oso aa = 288 © copactvePrtes ‘12 channels connected 1 4400 cyeles per 5 mutes iA Aerial Probes: pulses per cycle are zero. It was eaTTaS Faia AROEN concluded that there was a0 detectable = aa eae magnitude of partial discharge. A channel 2 Case History for Transformer Cael cas Table 2 is a summary of the @ 2 ’ rane carers continuous mode TEV measurement | MS qj Innis | gy Clase Chew? qy tte jggchmo 10 on a 22kV/ 400 volts, 2MVA cast resin transformer. The corial probes © e were connected to chanel 1, 2, 11 aot — and 12. The capacitive probes were conseced to chanel 3,45, 6,7, 8,0 .— coe and 10. In this measurement, the Table2 esse tabew tts asta GQ)