Corona & tracking conditions in MV

Switchgear
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"Partial discharge activity has long been accepted as a major cause of failure of
medium voltage switchgear…" Testing Distribution Switchgear for PD in the
Laboratory and Field, IEEE 2008

The advice that all power systems should be operated discharge-free is a very good
one and so in the past 10 years industries worldwide came to the understanding
that this advise is even practicable with the correct type of instrument and form of
inspection. Over the past years the need for corona free maintenance has increased
especially in switchgears due to their elaborated design and the repair limitations
and thus corona camera begun to have a major role in all predictive maintenance
of corona in switchgears.

The medium voltage switchgear is the core "component" of electrical networks and
of industrial users. In catastrophic occurrence, an internal failure may have a
significant impact on power availability to supplied loads in particular, as
restoration time can be long.

While mechanical issues of the switching equipment are often addressed by

manufacturer's prescribed maintenance and related conditions are easier to check;
insulating parts, surface degradation, especially if triggered from environmental or
electrical stresses may become critical in the equipment operating life when aging
phenomena starts and standard maintenance procedure are not likely to prevent
or detect them.

In this article we try to explain the process of corona on switchgears components,

its factors and the importance of corona inspection with a corona camera.
Process

Partial discharge (PD) activity associated to an insulation aging and degradation

process typically increases with the defect's evolution as in a positive loop.
Therefore, PD activity measurement can be used as a diagnostic tool to assess
equipment condition and to locate defect source, enabling selective intervention
to remove aging component prior to complete failure.

Once corona becomes active, it leaves behind a conductive "tracking" (Read more
about "tracking") path on surfaces and also creates a very conductive cloud of air
around itself. A flash-over can occur once a tracking pathway is completed from
phase to phase or phase to ground. It can also occur from the conductive cloud of
surrounding air once it finds a path to ground.

Electrical discharge in the form of corona and tracking has caused many failures in
switchgears with little advanced warning or understanding of the cause. This is
especially frustrating for the end-user when infrared technology is being utilized as
a predictive tool to prevent such occurrences. Corona and tracking conditions are
voltage problems that rarely produce heat thus, usually go undetected during a
typical infrared inspection.
Influencing Factors in Corona Formation

Geometric factors, spatial factors and environmental conditions are the main
reasons for corona formation in switchgear; These 3 main factors have a major
influence on the electrical field intencity. Once the electrical field rise above a
threshold value (usually less than 30kV/cm), corona and tracking may appear. Due
to the design on switchgears, once corona starts in a certain component it begins
feeding of itself, deteriorating the insulation material of the component until
reaches to its core.
1. Geometric factors

Sharp edges on conductors, connections and switchgear cabinet components can

include sharp and squared surfaces, tag ends on conductors, sloppy tape wraps and
corners and other sharp edges on cabinet bracing and support

shelves.

2. Spatial factors

Small air gap spaces between conductors and switchgear cabinet components can be
a reason for corona formation;

o Conductors being tie-wrapped together

o Conductors touching insulators, conduit, and edges of cabinets
o Non-shielded cables in contact with grounded surfaces
o Bus bars in close proximity to insulation board
 3. Environmental conditions

Have a great affect on the presence of corona and tracking. Contamination in the
forms of dust, oils/fluids, and other particulates on conductors and insulators will
create corona. Also, switchgear rooms that are hot because of poor air circulation
and cabinet enclosures that are subject to wet/ humid conditions are more likely of
have corona and tracking activity over those cabinets that are cool and dry.

Corona Inspection

Early stages of corona may not show any visible or thermal signs. Typically,
advanced cases of corona and tracking will be heard, If no noise is heard, it cannot
be concluded that a problem does not exist. The interior geometric design of the
cabinet may attenuate the noise wave and signal. Likewise, mild cases of corona
may have a very weak discharge signal that is not heard until the cabinet is open.

"Attempting to measure and trend levels of observed ultrasonic activity and trying
to relate them to the potential seriousness of surface partial discharge or end of
life is not valid and could potentially lead to misleading conclusion" [Testing
Distribution Switchgear for Partial Discharge in the Laboratory and the Field", by EA
Technology, IEEE2008 ].

By nature the corona camera is most suitable solution for internal switchgear
corona inspection. It can pinpoint the exact location of the problem and give you
an estimation on the severity by counting the UV events. The below corona
evidences, as were captured by Ofil's corona camera, are just few examples to
express Ofil's corona camera added values.

Summary

Condition assessment of MV substation equipment can play a significant role in

supporting asset management decisions and drive maintenance, retrofit or
refurbishment actions. On the long run it can help to limit loss of supply events due
to equipment failures and relevant personnel safety concerns and thus it is
imperative to perform a complete inspection with IR equipment as well as with a
corona camera in order to achieve a full predictive maintenance

Corona activity advancing to the tracking stage on insulation board resting on 13kV bus. Notice the carbon deposits
and light brown discoloration of the insulation board insulation board on the right
Using Corona Cameras as Reliable Tools to
Diagnose Compromised Insulators Prior to
Failure
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Corona discharge is a major threat to the integrity of non-ceramic polymer

insulators (NCI). It produces Ozone, nitric oxides and emits Ultra Violet leading to
erosion and decomposition of the insulators' and affecting their mechanical and
electrical properties.

Ongoing research is performed by utilities and high voltage laboratories to

investigate the endurance of insulators to various environmental conditions and to
their aging patterns. One of the studies conducted in Mexico aimed at correlating
between findings by a corona camera which is nondestructive optical device and
an E-filed measurement equipment. The use of corona camera can alleviate the
task of preventive maintenance and streamline the maintenance processes
provided its output is indeed reliable.

A study was performed in Mexico on 230kV transmission line NCI insulators that
lasted 3 years. During the study 3 types of insulators (A, B, C) were monitored with
a DayCor® II corona camera and a partial discharge measuring technique. The
following results were noted:

2003 inspection – initial state:

 No corona detected on any of the insulators
 E-field measurements did not detect any defective insulator
 Insulators were in good shape and operation conditions
 A bare eye inspection of insulator type "A" (8 years in service) detected small signs of
erosions on the surface (1.5 cm long and 1.0mm deep) the result of an earlier dry
band arcing activity
 It was concluded that degradation was not risky and periodic monitor is
recommended

2004 inspection – a year later

  Corona activity was observed on the energized end of all insulators
 E-field values closer to the grounded end were slightly higher
 E-field values closer to the energized end stayed the same as last year
 The erosion signs of insulator type "A" grew (2 cm long 1.5 mm deep)
 It was concluded that degradation was still not risky and periodic monitoring is
recommended

2006 inspection – three years later:

 High corona activity was observed around the energized end of all insulators
 The E-field presented major distortions along the insulator strings resulted from
severe damage of the insulators
 A bare eye inspection on all 3 insulators showed severe degradation
 On insulators type "B" and "C" after 6 years of operation the rods were exposed near
the energized ends
 Insulator type "A", after 10 years of operation showed severe erosion of the sheath
close to the energized end
 It was concluded that all 3 types of insulators reached their end of life and were
removed and replaced

The study lead investigators to conclude that there was a true match between
findings by e-field measurements and corona camera readings, hence both
techniques revealed degradations such as cracking erosion or tracking on
insulators. This particular study was conducted in a polluted area where the
lifetime of polymeric insulators is diminished due to the sever conditions. In such
areas using corona cameras to periodically test the conditions of insulators is of
high importance in order to maintain the reliability of the power line.

The study verified that daytime corona cameras should be used as predictive
maintenance tools and their return on investment is clear since they reduce the
cost of maintaining the lines and the number of maintenance works that would
have been performed otherwise.
Home / Technical Articles / Degradation of Insulation in Switchgear (What’s Really Happening)

Partial Discharge (PD)

Electrical insulation is subjected to electrical and mechanical stress, elevated temperature and
temperature variations, and environmental conditions especially for outdoor applications.

In addition to normal operating conditions, there are a host of other factors that may
trigger accelerated aging or deterioration of insulation.

Degradation of Insulation in Switchgear (why you should take it seriously); photo credit: Schneider
Electric

Switching and lightning surges can start ionization in an already stressed area. Mechanical
strikes during breaker operation can cause micro cracks and voids. Excessive moisture or
chemical contamination of the surface can cause tracking. Any defects in design and manufacturing
are also worth mentioning.

Both normal and accelerated aging of insulation produce the same phenomenon in common

– Partial Discharge (PD).

 Partial discharge
activity on MV cables insulation (photo credit: eatechnology.com)

PD is a localized electrical discharge that does not completely bridge the electrodes. PD is a
leading indicator of an insulation problem. Quickly accelerating PD activity can result in a complete
insulation failure.

PD mechanism can be different depending on how and where the sparking occurs:

 Voids and cavities are filled with air in poorly cast current transformers, voltage
transformers and epoxy spacers. Since air has lower permittivity than insulation material, an
enhanced electric field forces the voids to flashover, causing PD. Energy dissipated during
repetitive PD will carbonize and weaken the insulation.
 Contaminants or moisture on the insulation induce the electrical tracking or surface PD.
Continuous tracking will grow into a complete surface flashover.
 Corona discharge from sharp edge of a HV conductor is another type of PD. It produces
ozone that aggressively attacks insulation and also facilitates flashover during periods of
overvoltage.
Features of partial discharge activity, such as intensity, maximum magnitude, pulse
rate, long-term trend, are important indications of the insulation’s condition.

Healthy switchgear has very little or no PD activity. If PD activity is significant, it will eventually
deteriorate insulation to a complete failure. Higher voltages produce higher intensity partial
discharges, thus PD detection in gear with higher voltages (13.8 kV and up) is more critical.
 Partial disharge
on busbars

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Photos above show damages resulting from partial discharge activity. Complete failure of the
insulation in these examples can be prevented by partial discharge monitoring.

Possible locations of partial discharge in switchgear:

1. Main bus insulation

2. Circuit breaker insulation
3. Current transformers
4. Voltage transformers
5. Cable terminations
6. Support insulators
7. Non-shielded cables in contact with other phases or ground
Usually in insulation, the deterioration process is relatively slow and the problem can be detected,
located and fixed