DIELECTRIC LOSS

ABSTRACTThe quality of power transformer insulation systemis evaluated on a routine basis by measurement of the dielectricdissipation factor and capacitance of the insulation system. Theuse of dielectric dissipation factor measurements at the end ofthe production cycle not only assures that the quality of thetransformer meets the specified levels but also provides insightinto the subtleties of the manufacturing process. This tool is usedfor many years for diagnosing the health of electrical apparatus.It is a routine test conducted at site to know the dryness ofinsulation in transformers. This paper highlights our experienceon the measurement of dissipation factor using GST & Guardmode techniques of earthing systems other than dryness ofinsulation in transformers. All our experiences are presented inthis paper.

to thebreakdown of high voltage equipments is the insulation failure. Insulation in power transformer & reactor is tested by two methods 1. Insulation resistance with polarization index & 2. Dielectric insulation factor test (Tan ) measurement.

ELECTRICAL properties of insulation changes due to age & continuous stress. The main contributor

Dissipation factor (Tan ) is one of the most powerfuloff-line non-destructive diagnostic tools to monitor thecondition of solid insulation of various high voltage equipment. It should be noted that Dissipation Factor is ameasure of insulation dielectric power loss, and is not a directmeasure of dielectric strength. The DF measurements should be regarded as a diagnostictest helping to evaluate the condition of insulation. Values ofDF exceeding acceptance criteria should be investigated.However there are many factors contributing to aboveabnormality. It is not necessary that excessive moisture orincomplete of dry-out process can be identified by DFmeasurements. Dielectric insulation factor is nothing but lossangle which is related to dielectric losses in insulation underinfluence of AC voltage(as shown in Fig.1). Dielectric dissipation factor (Tan delta) is one of the most important diagnostic tools to monitor the condition of solid/liquid insulation. Periodical measurement of Tan delta gives rate of deterioration of the health of insulation Tan delta is the cotangent of the angle between the applied voltage & current, is directly obtained on capacitance tan delta bridge(Refer Fig. 1). Tan delta is a measure of insulation dielectric loss and not dielectric strength. Tan delta of insulation depending on water content & impurities. Dissipation factor Tan delta also conveniently termed as Tan delta as well as insulation factor.

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Fig. 1

Dielectric Loss: Loss:

General-Measurable
dielectric losses occur in all solid and liquid insulating materials, and in general, good insulating materials shave low losses. Increased losses are usually caused by deterioration factors such as mentioned in Ionization.

Ionization-Dielectric

losses in gaseous insulations are insignificant unless the applied voltage stress reaches or exceeds the critical value at which ionization of the gas is initiated. A possible source of ionization losses occurs in nominally solid insulation structures due to inadvertent gas inclusions in the structure.

Polarization-A

substantial portion of the normal dielectric losses in solid and liquid materials under alternating voltage stress is due to polarization processes. The effect of the frequency of the applied voltage on the loss factor (product of dissipation factor and dielectric constant) is illustrated in the lower section.

loss under alternating stress is always greater than under direct stress because of polarization losses and also because deteriorated areas of insulation which may not provide the continuous path necessary for a direct leakage current can reflect losses into an alternating voltage measurement through capacitive coupling.

Alternating Stress-The

Measurement-Losses

under alternating voltage stress may be measured by use of a wattmeter, although for low-loss materials (power factor less than 0.5 %) good wattmeter accuracy is difficult to obtain. Losses may be calculated as the product of the applied voltage and the in-phase component of the resulting current (component separation method). Losses may also be calculated from measurements of capacitance and dissipation factor, or power factor, as found by bridge techniques.

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Power Factor, Dissipation Factor: Factor:

General-Power factor and dissipationfactor are dimensionless and can be used tocompare the loss
characteristics of insulationstructure regardless of their geometry or size.All measurements used for comparisons shouldbe made with test voltages having the same frequency, and for power apparatus insulation test it is preferable to use a frequency at or near the power frequency.

Definition-The power factor and dissipation factor are the cosine and cotangent,respectively, of the
phase angle between theapplied test voltage and the resulting currentthrough the insulation. Correspondence betweenthese factors may be found by referenceto trigonometric tables. For most insulationthese factors fall in the range of 0 to 0.1 (or0 to 10 %). In this range the two factorsare often used interchangeably, since they differby less than 0.005 (0.5 %). factor, or dissipationfactor, is the most widely used alternatingcurrentcharacteristics for assessing the conditionof insulation. The interpretation of insulationcondition primarily depends on comparisonof a measured value with a previously establishednormal value. Exceptions are insulatingstructures of very low capacitance, such asrods or tubes, where surface losses can have anexorbitant effect on the measured powerfactor.

Interpretation-Power

Measurement-Power

factor or dissipationfactor can be obtained directly from manytypes of bridges. For test instruments that readout in terms of volts, current, and watts loss,power factor may be calculated using the followingformula: Power factor watts = (volts) / (amperes)

Insulation powerpower-factor tests: tests:

Insulation power factor is the ratio of the power dissipated in the insulation in watts to the product of the effective voltage and current in voltamperes when tested under a sinusoidal voltage and prescribed conditions.The methods described in this standard are applicable to distribution and power transformers of present-daydesign that are immersed in an insulating liquid.

Preparation for tests

The test specimen shall have the following: a) All windings immersed in insulating liquid, b) All windings short-circuited, c) All bushings in place, d) Temperature of windings and insulating liquid near the reference temperature of 20 C.

Instrumentation- The measurement of insulation capacitance and dissipation factor or power

factor (tan ) is carried out using a capacitancebridge. A transformer ratio arm bridge or a Schearing
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bridge Circuits or by the voltampere-watt voltampere methodcan be used for this purpose. . Theaccuracy Theaccura of measurement should be within 0.25% insulation power factor, and the measurement should bemade at or near a frequency of 60 Hz.

Voltage to be applied- The voltage to be applied for measuring insulation power factor shall not
exceed half of the low-frequencytest frequencytest voltage given in Table 4 of IEEE Std C57.12.00-1993 C57.12.00 for any part of the winding or 10 000 V, whicheveris lower.

ProcedureIn atwo-winding winding transformer, there are three measurements of capacitance: (1) HV to ground, (2) LV toground, and (3) HV to LV. These values of capacitance and their respective values of insulation dissipationfactor (tan ) are to be measured. For performing these tests, the following connections are made. All HV line terminals are connectedtogether and labelled (H); all LV line terminals are connected together and labelled (L); and aconnectionis made to a ground terminal, usually a connection to the transformer tank, which is labelled (G). Leadsfrom the measuring instrument or bridge are connected to one or both terminals termi and ground. Eithergrounded specimen measurements or guarded measurements are possible, so that all capacitance valuesand dissipation-factor factor values can be determined. Fig.2shows shows the measurement of capacitance anddissipation factor of the HV-to-LV HV capacitance, itance, using guarded measurements. Fig.3is for the low to ground capacitance. These measurements are usually made at voltages of 10 kV or less, at or nearpower frequency. In substations and factory test floors, interference control circuits may be required d toachieve the desired sensitivity at balance.

Fig.2Measurement Measurement of C and DFDF high to low.

Fig.3 Measurement of C and DF-low to ground.

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Insulation power-factor tests shall be made from windings to ground and between windings as shown inTable 1.

Table 1Measurements to be made in insulation power-factor tests

Method I a Test without guard circuit Two-winding transformers High to low and ground Low to high and ground High and low to ground Three-winding transformers
b b

Method II a Test with guard circuit Two-winding transformers High to low and ground High to ground, guard on low Low to high and ground Low to ground, guard on high Three-winding transformers
b b

High to low, tertiary, and ground Low to high, tertiary, and ground Tertiary to high, low, and ground High and low to tertiary and ground High and tertiary to low and ground Low and tertiary to high and ground High, low, and tertiary to ground

High to low and ground, guard on tertiary High to ground, guard on low and tertiary Low to tertiary and ground, guard on high Low to ground, guard on high and tertiary Tertiary to high and ground, guard on low Tertiary to ground, guard on high and low High and low to tertiary and ground High and tertiary to low and ground

NOTE 1while the real significance that can be attached to the power factor of liquid-immersed transformers is still a matter of opinion, experience has shown that power factor is helpful in assessing the probable condition of the insulation when good judgment is used. NOTE 2In interpreting the results of power-factor test values, the comparative values of tests taken at periodic intervals are useful in identifying potential problems rather than an absolute value of power factor. NOTE 3A factory power-factor test will be of value for comparison with field power-factor measurements to assess the probable condition of the insulation. It has not been feasible to establish standard power-factor values for liquid-immersed transformers for the following reasons: a) Experience has indicated that little or no relation exists between power factor and the ability of the transformer to withstand the prescribed dielectric tests. b) Experience has shown that the variation in power factor with temperature is substantial and erratic so that no single correction curve will fit all cases. c) The various liquids and insulating materials used in transformers result in large variations in insulation power-factor values. aIn this table the term guard signifies one or more conducting elements arranged and connected on an electricalinstrument or measuring circuit to divert unwanted currents from the measuring means. bPermanently connected windings, such as in autotransformers and regulators, shall be considered as one winding.

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Temperature correction factors

Temperature correction factors for the insulation power factor depend upon the insulating materials and their structure, moisture content, etc. Values of correction factor K listed in Table 2 are typical and are satisfactory for practical purposes for use in Equation (1).

Fp20 = Fpt K------- (1)

Where Fp20 is the power factor corrected to 20 C, Fpt is the power factor measured at T, T is the test temperature (C), K is the correction factor. Insulation temperature may be considered to be that of the average liquid temperature. When insulation power factor is measured at a relatively high temperature and the corrected values are unusually high, the transformer should be allowed to cool; and the measurements should be repeated at or near 20 C.
Table 2Temperature correction factors for insulation power factorsTest temperature T
(C) 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 Correction factor K 0.80 0.90 1.00 1.12 1.25 1.40 1.55 1.75 1.95 2.18 2.42 2.70 3.00

NOTEThe correction factors listed above are based on insulatingsystems using mineral oil as an insulating
liquid. Otherinsulation liquids may have different correction factors.

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Table 3 Power factor and capacitance limits

Type of construction Resin-impregnated Paper-insulated Oil-impregnated Paperinsulated

Power factor Capacitance a b Limit % Acceptable change % Acceptable change % 0.85 +0.04 +1.0 1.0 0.04 0.50 +0.02 +1.0 0.06 1.0

a The arithmetic difference in power factors (expressed in %) measured at 10 kV or at the rated maximum line-to-ground voltage before and after dielectric withstand voltage test shall be within the specified limit. For example, if the power factor of the oil-impregnated, paper-insulated bushing was 0.30% before the withstand test, the maximum acceptable power factor after the test would be 0.32%. b The % change in capacitance after the dielectric withstand voltage test based on the initial value shall be within the specified limit. The measurements are to be made at 10 kV or at the rated maximum lineto-ground voltage. If the bushing has more than 100 conductive layers, the accepted percentage change in capacitance will be (1/No. of Layers) 100. cCorrected to 20 C.

BEFORE TESTING CHECKS: CHECKS:

1. Earthing system includes:
Any loose connection Open Connection Wrong connection Check for all earthing connection.

2. Check power supplies Phase Neutral Neutral Earth Frequency 3. Before conducting the DC test. The Dielectric test should be done. These are the things may be to get the different unknown variable values.

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