Partial Discharge Detection by TEV Sensors

and Signal Propagation Analysis in Transformer

Model

著者 Itose Akihiko, Tai Yuki, Kozako Masahiro,

Hikita Masayuki
journal or The 19th International Symposium on High
publication title Voltage Engineering, Pilsen, Czech Republic,
August, 23 28, 2015
number 567
year 2015-08-23
URL http://hdl.handle.net/10228/5566
 The 19th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, Pilsen, Czech Republic, August, 23 – 28, 2015

PARTIAL DISCHARGE DETECTION BY TEV SENSORS AND SIGNAL

PROPAGATION ANALYSIS IN TRANSFORMER MODEL
1* 1 1 1
Akihiko Itose , Yuki Tai , Masahiro Kozako , Masayuki Hikita
1
Kyushu Institute of technology, Kitakyushu, Japan
*Email: <[email protected]>

Abstract: This paper deals with a detailed study on partial discharge (PD) generated in
transformers using transient earth voltage (TEV) detection method. Experiment and
numerical analysis are carried out using an iron box model which simulates a tank of an
actual transformer. In the test model, propagation properties of TEV signal caused by PD
occurring inside and outside of the transformer model are examined. Results reveal that
the electromagnetic waves generated by PD in the model can leak from the opening
window, having special frequency determined by the size of the opening window. It is also
found that TEV sensor placed on the surface of the tank detects a TEV signal originating
from the leaked electromagnetic wave. On the other hand, TEV signal by electromagnetic
waves generated by an external PD source is found to have a wider frequency band than
that by leaked electromagnetic wave. In addition, electromagnetic field and surface
current analysis are performed using finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and
simulated results are compared with experimental ones. As a result, it is shown that
leaked electromagnetic wave excites a surface current on the outer tank wall of the
transformer model. It is also found that there exists difference in the time required for TEV
signal to arrive at the inside and outside sensors. The results indicate that PD emitting
electromagnetic waves leaked from the dielectric discontinuities can be detected by the
TEV method. Furthermore, these results suggest a combination of the detected waveform
and its frequency band could lead to highly reliable diagnosis of the apparatus by TEV
detection method.

1 INTRODUCTION impedance is ignored [1]. Although Li et al also

discuss on TEV detection method of the study on
In general, small-amplitude abnormal discharges the actual equipment has not been made [2].
can occur locally in high voltage electric power Characteristics of TEV-based PD and pulse
equipment, namely, partial discharges (PD) as pre- recognition methods are rarely discussed.
breakdown phenomena. Partial discharge obtained
by a variety of techniques is an index of diagnosis From these points of view, this paper deals with
of the equipment. Application of PD detection PD characteristics occurring in the power
technology to condition monitoring and diagnosis equipment by TEV method using a transformer
of electrical insulation in the equipment has grown model tank. Electromagnetic field and surface
drastically. The technology has been widely current analysis are also performed using FDTD
accepted for many kinds of electric power method to demonstrate the usefulness of TEV
apparatus. A coupling capacitor method has been method.
widely applied as a conventional measurement
method. Since, these methods must be conducted 2 PRINCIPLE OF TRANSIENT EARTH
temporarily off-line, there are not well suited to VOLTAGE (TEV) METHOD
online PD measurement. So, easier installation of
the measuring system is required. Since TEV Figure 1 illustrates mechanism of generation and
detection sensor is non-intrusive sensor, it can be detection of TEV for PD occurring in a metal wall.
placed on the outside surface of a metal tank and When PD occurs in power equipment such as a
wall. So, the TEV method is suitable for on-line transformer, electromagnetic (EM) waves are
insulation diagnosis and has the potential to be emitted. The EM waves escape from dielectric
widely employed in practical applications. While discontinuities (joint, isolated area, bushing, etc.) in
TEV method has been put into practical use in the metal tank of the transformer and then
some apparatus, there remain issues regarding the propagate on the external surface of the metal tank
propagation path and detection principle of wall. Then, the surface current generated by EM
transient earth voltage (TEV) signal for electric waves is excited, and flows to the ground. Such
power equipment. Luo et al have studied PD propagating electromagnetic waves can be
detection and analysis based on the TEV principle, obtained by capacitive sensor and recorded as
formulated TEV signal and compared analysed TEV signals [2, 3].
results with measured ones. In the mathematical
derivation, various losses due to surface
 Figure 3: Experimental system to detect PD
occurring outside of a transformer model tank

4 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Figures 4 and 5 show example of waveform

Figure 1: Mechanism of generation and detection detected with the two TEV sensors TEV_in and
TEV_out for the internal and external PD sources,
of transient earth voltage (TEV)
respectively. Figures 6 and 7 show FFT of the
results given in Figures 4 and 5 for internal and
3 EXPERIMENTAL SET UP
external PD with the charge 955 and 722 pC,
respectively. It is obvious from Figure 4 that peak
Experiments of PD detection were conducted to
value of TEV_in and TEV_out is 170 and 43 mV,
investigate transient earth voltage signal
respectively. It should be noticed in Figure 5 that
propagation in a model transformer tank.
TEV_in hardly detects TEV signal for the external
PD, while TEV_out for the internal PD detects TEV
Figures 2 and 3 show experimental circuit for a PD signal. It is also found in Figure 6 for the internal
source located inside and outside of a model PD that FFT spectrum of both TEV_in and
transformer tank, respectively. The electrode used TEV_out signal intensity maxina appear at 300,
in this experiment consists of a rod electrode with
420, 590, 660 and 840 MHz. On the other hand,
tip diameter of 1 mm and plane electrode of 50 mm
as shown in Figure 7 for the external PD, no such
in diameter made by brass. PD inception voltage
clear maxima in the FFT appears.
(PDIV) of the electrode system was 1.6 kV. Then,
AC voltage 2.0kV was applied to the electrode to
generate PD of the charge of the order of 500 pC. 50 TEV_in
0
The metal tank was made of iron with the thickness
-50
of 5mm and the size 500 mm × 500 mm × 500 mm,
Voltage [mV]

and had a bushing in the upper part of the tank 50 TEV_out

wall. One of the side walls of the cubic tank can be 0
opened. Two TEV sensors (HVPD: CC-SG1, 1 – -50
300
50 MHz) were attached on the inner and outer 200 CT
surface of the tank wall. HFCT (ETS-LINDGRN: 100
0
94430 - 1, 10 kHz – 250 MHz) was also used to -100
detect PD pulse current which was used as a -200
0 50 100 150
trigger of an oscilloscope (Tektronix: DPO7254, 2.5 Time [ns]
GHz, 10 GS/s).
Figure 4: Detected waveform of internal PD

40
20 TEV_in
0
-20
-40
Voltage [mV]

40 TEV_out
20
0
-20
-40
300
200 CT
100
0
-100
-200
Figure 2: Experimental system to detect PD 0 50 100 150
occurring in transformer model tank Time [ns]
Figure 5: Detected waveform of external PD
 -60 with inside and outside diameter 8 and 10 mm,
TEV_in
respectively, εr 5.9 on the top of the model
Signal intensity [dBm]
-80
-100 transformer tank. Figure 8 shows distribution of
-60
calculated surface current density when
electromagnetic waves have leaked from the
-80 TEV_out
bushing to excite the surface current flowing
-100
through the outer wall of the tank. Figure 9 shows
-40
waveforms of the inner and outer surface current in
-60
CT analysis. As can be seen in Figure 9, the surface
-80
-100
current excited in the outer wall is the order of
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1 × 10−6 times as much as that for the inner
Frequency [MHz] surface current. In other words, the surface current
can be excited to the outer tank wall although it is
Figure 6: FFT analysis of detected waveform
very small. Luo et al also have conducted a similar
given in Fig.4 for internal PD
experiment as the present one. Since the
propagation loss in the outer wall is ignored, there
-60
is almost no difference in the waveform of TEV
-80 TEV_in
signal detected by TEV sensors attached onto the
Signal intensity [dBm]

-100 inside and outside of a tank near a dielectric

-60 discontinuity [1]. Conversely in our experiment, the
-80 TEV out two TEV sensors were attached inside and outside
-100 of the model tank away from the dielectric
-40 discontinuity (bushing), giving rise to difference in
-60 CT
the detection sensitivity and arriving time for TEV
-80 signals detected with inner and outer sensors.
-100 Namely, experimentally obtained arriving time
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 difference 3.40 ns for the two TEV sensors almost
Frequency [MHz] agree with 3.12 ns derived from the simulation.
Figure 7: FFT analysis of detected waveform The surface current caused by electromagnetic
given in Fig.5 for external PD waves leaking from the bushing contributes to
generation of TEV signal. As a result, the obtained
5 DISCUSSION knowledge suggests usefulness of TEV detection
method in detecting and monitoring PD.
As is shown in Figure 6, specific frequencies giving Table 1: Resonance frequency of the transformer
the maxima appear. These frequencies arise from model
resonant frequency determined by the size of the [MHz]
rectangular-shape tank playing as a rectangular m=0 m=1 m=2
cavity resonator. When electromagnetic waves are m=0 300 600
fed to a closed hollow box made of perfect m=1 300 424.3 670.8
conductor, the electromagnetic energy is stored in
the box. Then, the resonance of electromagnetic m=2 600 670.3 848.5
waves occurs at specific frequencies. Resonant
frequency fc of the rectangular cavity resonator is
given by:

𝐶𝑜 2 2 2
𝑓𝑐 = √( 𝑚 ) + ( 𝑛 ) + ( 𝑝 ) (1)
2𝜋√𝜀𝑟 𝑊 𝐻 𝐷

where, W, H and D is width, height and depth of

the cavity resonator, respectively, and m, n and p
are natural number. c0 is the speed of light in
vacuum, εr is the relative permittivity. Table 1 lists
thus calculated resonant frequency for the model
transformer tank. Note that calculated fc and
experimentally obtained one reasonably agree.
Electromagnetic analysis software (MAGNA /
TDM) was used for the model transformer tank. A
Gaussian pulse with the center frequency 1.2 GHz
was used as an excitation source. Mesh size of 10
mm ×10 mm was adopted in the FDTD
computation to meet Courant conditions. A Figure 8: Analysis of surface current density in
bushing tank was simulated as porcelain insulator simulated transformer surface
 1000 Current_in
500
0
Current[

-500
-1000
0.0010 Current_out

0.0000

-0.0010

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Time[ns]

Figure 9: Calculated surface current waveform of

analysis model

6 CONCLUSIONS

This paper deals with a detailed study on PD

generated in transformers using TEV method.
Experiment and analysis are carried out using an
iron box model which simulates a tank of an actual
transformer. The conclusions are summarized as
follows: specific frequencies giving the maxima
appear which arises from resonant frequency
determined the size of the rectangular-shape tank.
The resonance of electromagnetic waves occurs at
specific frequencies and could detect as TEV
signal. Experimentally obtained arriving time
difference for the two TEV sensors installed on the
inside and outside of the transformer model tank
wall was found to be caused by the propagation
path of TEV signal. It was confirmed that the
surface current caused by electromagnetic waves
leaking from the bushing contributes to generation
of TEV signal.

REFERENCES
[1] Luo Guomin. Transient Earth Voltage (TEV)
based partial discharge detection and analysis,
March 2013. Available from
http://repository.ntu.edu.sg/handle/10356/5486
5, last accessed April 24, 2015.
[2] Y. Li, Y. Wang, G. Lu, J. Wang, and J. Xiong,
"Simulation of transient earth voltages aroused
by partial discharge in switchgears," in
International Conference on High Voltage
Engineering and Application (ICHVE), pp. 309-
312, 2010
[3] Liuhuo Wang, Haijing Wang, Lijun Wang, Hong
Lu, Wenjun Ning, Shenli Jia, Ji Wu:
“Experimental investigation of Transient Earth
Voltage and Acoustic Emission Measurements
of Partial Discharge Signals in Medium-voltage
Switchgears”, International Conference on
Electric Power Equipment (ICEPE),1-a-Q-3,
2013