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An Introduction to On-line
Partial Discharge Surveys
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PARTIAL DISCHARGE

When high voltage insulating material

breaks down Partial Discharges are
created, measured in units of charge
known as pico-Coulombs or millivolts.
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WHAT IS PARTIAL
DISCHARGE?
• Electrical discharges occurring inside medium and
high voltage insulation (flaws, cracks, voids,
irregularities).

• These imperfections create voltage stresses and

cause eventual failure of the insulation.

• Insulation failures begin with and are characterized

by small but detectable releases of energy or Partial
Discharge.
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Services

TESTING USED FOR QUALITY

ASSURANCE
• For many years partial discharge testing has been
an IEEE/ANSI standard to identify insulation
problems in electrical apparatus before it leaves
the factory floor.
• Many U.S. and International standards have been
developed for partial discharge testing.
• Until recently Partial Discharge testing was
limited to testing at manufacturer’s laboratories.
• Now computers and sophisticated equipment can
isolate and detect Partial Discharge occurrences in
the field.
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NO OUTAGE EVALUATION
These proven technologies exist today to evaluate medium or
high voltage systems while the system is energized.

1. Oil testing/DGA – limited to oil transformers

2. Infrared testing – visible loose connections only
3. Visual inspections – problems may not be visible
4. Power Quality – cannot detect insulation failures
5. Vibration – limited to motors and transformers
6. Partial Discharge Testing – single best all-around test
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PARTIAL DISCHARGE
VS. INFRARED

How are Partial Discharge Inspections

different from Infrared Inspections?
• Infrared identifies electrical current problems (loose
connections) that result in heat. The specimen must be
visible to the naked eye for the infrared camera to detect a
problem.

• Partial Discharge identifies voltage problems that result in

insulation breakdown and generation of Partial Discharges.
The specimen does not need to be visible for Partial
Discharges to be detected.
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INSULATION BREAKDOWN

Why should we be concerned with insulation

breakdown and Partial Discharges?
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INSULATION BREAKDOWN

• NFPA 70B states that insulation breakdown

is the number one cause of electrical
failures.

• In medium and high voltage equipment,

partial discharges are the first indication of
insulation breakdown.
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Total Failures due to Insulation

Breakdown
Component Percentage of insulation failure

Transformers 84%
Circuit Breakers 21%
Disconnect Switches 15%
Insulated Switchgear Bus 95%
Bus duct 90%
Cable 89%
Cable Joints (splices) 91%
Cable Terminations 87%

Based on IEEE Gold Book Table 36

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WHAT TYPE OF FACILITES

ARE AFFECTED?
• INDUSTRIAL - Large Manufacturing,
Cogeneration
• COMMERCIAL - Research Parks, High Rises
• INSTITUTIONAL - Campuses, Hospitals
• GOVERNMENTAL - Military Bases, Large
Office Complexes
• UTILITY - Investor Owned, Municipalities
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WHERE DO PARTIAL
DISCHARGES OCCUR?
• Electrical Systems > 600V (2.4KV, 4.16 KV,
12KV, etc.)
• Types of Equipment Subject to Partial
Discharge
-Cables -Transformers
-Circuit Breakers - Instrument Transformers
-Switchgear (CT’s, PT’s)
-Insulators - Bushings
-Generators - Motors
-Surge Arrestors - Capacitors
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ADVANTAGES OF PARTIAL
DISCHARGE SURVEYS
• PREDICTIVE - failures can be prevented.
• NO OUTAGE NECESSARY - does not interrupt
operations.
• NON-DESTRUCTIVE - no damage to electrical
system.
• TRENDING - comparison to previous tests
possible
• PRIORITIZE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES -
determine which equipment to service first.
• PLANNING - allows time to schedule repairs.
• FINANCIAL CONTROL – repairs can be budgeted.
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TYPICAL MEDIUM VOLTAGE

POWER CABLE
CONSTRUCTION
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TYPICAL HIGH VOLTAGE

UNDERGROUND CABLE
SYSTEM
Source Load
Switchgear Unit Substation

Visible Cable Visible Cable

Terminations Terminations

Ground Level

Underground Cable in Conduit (not visible)

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3 STAGES OF CABLE
INSULATION FAILURE
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STAGE 1
No problems, minor voids therefore minor partial discharges

Jacket, Shield, Semi-conducting shield

INSULATION Imperfections
and voids

/ / / /CONDUCTOR / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
voids
INSULATION

Jacket, Shield, Semi-conducting shield

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STAGE 2
Tracking begins

Jacket, Shield, Semi-conducting shield

INSULATION

/ / / /CONDUCTOR / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

INSULATION

Jacket, Shield, Semi-conducting shield

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STAGE 3
CABLE FAILURE!

Jacket, Shield, Semi-conducting shield

INSULATION Blow-up
Phase-to-ground
/ / / /CONDUCTOR / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

INSULATION

Jacket, Shield, Semi-conducting shield

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HOW CAN PARTIAL

DISCHARGES BE DETECTED?
Discharges are detected by special signal processing equipment designed to
eliminate outside interference.
Capacitive Methods - For Unshielded Components
- Dry Type Transformers
- Instrument Transformers
- Switchgear
Inductive Methods - metal enclosed components
- Shielded Cables and Components
- Oil Filled Transformers
- Rotating Apparatus
Acoustic Emission Methods
- Dry & Oil Transformers
- Switchgear
- Unshielded Cables
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Test Equipment & Sensors

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Partial Discharge detection of a flaw

in a dry type transformer using
capacitive coupling

Transformer Coil

flaw
Detector

Capacitive
sensor
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Propagation of Transient Earth

Voltages (TEV) in Switchgear
High Voltage Bus

Metallic Switchgear
Partial discharge cover (signal detected
site (inside) outside)
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Measurements
using
Capacitive PD
sensors
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Switchgear failure due to internal tracking
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Tracking on epoxy resin busbar

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Start of tracking on insulation

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Failed Switchgear Insulation

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Detecting PD Using Airborne

Acoustic (Ultrasonic) Sensors

Busbar

Sensor
Insulator
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Airborne Acoustic Sensor

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Insulator Failure Prevented

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Partial Discharge detection of a void in a

shielded cable using inductive coupling.
Insulation
Conductor

Shield (grounded)
Void

+
Detector

Inductive Sensor
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High Frequency Current Transformer Used to Test Cable in

High Voltage Substation
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Failing Terminations
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Molded Cable Accessory Failure

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Splice Void
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Shield Delamination Causing

Partial Discharge
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Poor Workmanship Causing

Partial Discharge
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Case Study

Testing 15kV cables

On-line testing of cables PD damage to termination

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Identifying & Prioritising Circuits Most at Risk

Using On-Line PD Survey

L IV E L IN E P A R T IA L D IS C H A R G E S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
O F 629 HV FE E D E RS
1000

900

800

700
m V D i s c h a rg e

600

500

400

300

A C TIO N
200

100 CONCE RN

0
105

126

147

168

190

211

232

253

274

295

316

337

358

379

400

421

442

463

484

505

526

547

568

589

610
21

42

63

84
1

FEEDERS
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PD Survey - Worst 30 Results

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PERFORMING A PARTIAL
DISCHARGE SURVEY
• Analyze the single line drawing to develop plan
• Onsite Measurement
– Removal of equipment covers.
– Record field data.
– Obtain signatures of atypical components.
• Offsite Data Analysis
– Correlate measurements to single line drawing.
– Compare atypical results to like insulation from database.
– Analyze signatures.
– Trend Results.
• Report Generation
– Recognize immediate failure possibilities.
– Recommend possible repairs.
– Recommend possible resurvey frequency.
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SUMMARY
• Electric Insulation will fail.
• Predicting failures is now possible through
Partial Discharge Analysis.
• No outage is required to survey the
equipment.
• Results can be prioritized and trended.
• Partial Discharge Surveys should be
performed annually.
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We apologize to every electrical professional for taking 252 years

to prevent your failures.

Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity

in 1752. This year we launched an easy
to use, cost effective “no-outage” electrical
inspection technology that detects
medium and high voltage equipment
problems before they fail!