Proceedings of the International Conference on F-03

Electrical Engineering and Informatics

Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia June 17-19, 2007

UHF Sensors for Partial Discharge Diagnostics of Power Transformers

S. Meijer1*, P. Cichecki1, P.D. Agoris1, J.J. Smit1, H.F. Reijnders2
1
Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 4, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands
2
Smit Transformatoren B.V., P.O. Box 9107, 6500 HJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Different diagnostic techniques are currently available for on-line insulation condition assessment of power transformers.
Amongst these techniques, the UHF technique has been recently presented in the field of transformer diagnostics. This paper
describes results from experimental investigations which have been carried out to study the partial discharge phenomena in power
transformer insulation. The UHF technique has been applied to and investigated on two new identical 90 MVA, 150 kV power
transformers. Both transformers are equipped with four external UHF sensors. Installation of external UHF sensors requires
dielectric windows on the transformer tank for the placement of the sensors. On older transformers that have a higher risk of failure
these windows might be added by replacing manhole covers, but that would require draining the oil. Therefore, a sensor which can
be inserted in a transformer from one of its valves, without draining the oil, is studied as well. Both UHF sensor-techniques were
compared during an induced voltage test on a 75 MVA, 50 kV shunt reactor. The practical experiences related in this paper provide
further insight into the application of UHF PD monitoring techniques to power transformers.

1. Introduction
Power transformers form important key components in
the electrical power system. High reliability of these power
transformers is therefore important for the overall reliability
of the electricity grid. Moreover, many of the installed power
transformers are reaching the end of their technical life. In
order to assess the remaining life-time, the condition of the
insulation is an important parameter. It is known, that a
significant number of failures of power transformers occur in
the dielectric system, often due to local insulation defects.
Prior to such a dielectric failure, partial discharge activity
usual occurs due to these defects. So partial discharges can be
used to monitor the condition of the insulation. Although this
partial discharge (PD) measurement itself does not provide
information regarding the remaining life of a transformer, it
does give information about the quality of insulation. As
described by CIGRE, the following PD magnitudes can be
distinguished (1):
• Defect free 10-50 pC
• Normal deterioration <500 pC
• Questionable 500-1000 pC
• Defective condition 1000-2500 pC
• Faulty (Irreversible) >2500 pC
• Critical >100,000-1,000,000 pC
It can be concluded that partial discharge levels of 500 pC
or more are of interest, e.g. coming from (2):
• Voids in the insulation
• De-lamination at insulation interfaces
• Cracking or fissures in brittle insulation
• Contamination in the insulation
• Electric trees in the insulation
• Abnormal electrical stresses areas due to improper
manufacturer or application.
To test the sensitivity of the UHF technique, compare it to
a detection technique according to the IEC 60270 (3),
measuring results obtained on artificial models in laboratory
have been used. As shown before, the UHF technique is
sensitive enough to detect PD levels down to several tens of
* s.meijer@tudelft.nl
Fig. 1. UHF sensors installed on a power transformer:
top figure shows an external sensor against a dielectric
window, bottom figure shows an internal sensor through
an oil drain valve.
pC (4). Therefore we have to be careful not to be too sensitive
as the important levels start at 500 pC.
A comparison in sensitivity between two types of sensors
is described as well: an external UHF sensor fitted against a
dielectric window and an internal UHF sensor inserted into
the transformer tank through a standard 2” oil valve. Finally,
some field measurements are discussed, using one of these
sensor types.
2. UHF PD detection
The UHF measuring technique was first applied on
gas-insulated switchgear (5) and recently also applied to
power transformers (4). In order to apply the UHF technique,
the high-frequency (HF) signals have to be captured by a
sensor. Due to the fact that the transformer is a closed metallic
box, the signals will remain inside and special measures have
to be installed in order to couple these signals out of the
transformer.
Considering new power transformers, a more flexible
approach is possible during the design stage. In this case,
dielectric windows through which the HF signals can
propagate can be installed at desired locations to achieve
maximum sensitivity. The signals are then captured by
externally installed UHF sensors, see figure 1. A second
method is to install additional oil valves in order to slide in
UHF sensor inside the casing of the transformer, see figure 1.
If three or more locations are present, location of the defect

ISBN 978-979-16338-0-2 769

Proceedings of the International Conference on F-03
Electrical Engineering and Informatics
Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia June 17-19, 2007

source might be possible as well by using time-of-flight For comparison purposes, the measured power, which is
measurements (6). proportional to the energy in the frequency spectrum, is
Considering service-aged power in operation, dielectric calculated and plotted for the different distances (see Fig. 3).
windows are not present and the only possibility is to install a Inside Outside
50
UHF sensor through the oil valve, as shown in figure 1.

Measured Power [dB]

40
The measuring circuit is similar for both types of sensors. 30
The sensors are connected via a preamplifier and multiplexer 20
to a spectrum analyzer and digital oscilloscope. A PC is used 10

to control the equipment and to store the data, see figure 2. 0

10 4 0 -5 -10
Sensor depth inside transformer [cm]

Fig. 3: Measuring Energy-indicator measured power for

different penetrating depths of the sensor into the
transformer.

0 UHF External
-10 Internal parallel

(dB)
[dBm]
-20 Internal facing
-30

Energy
-40

Amplitude
-50

Fig. 2: UHF measuring setup on 450 MVA power
transformer.
3. Sensitivity external vs. internal sensor
To investigate the sensitivity of the sensors, several tests
were performed. First, the detection sensitivity of the internal
sensor was tested. Results of the external sensors have been
presented before, e.g. in (4, 6). For that purpose, a 200 MVA
power transformer was used in the laboratory. A pulse
generator (of 45V output) was used to generate the pulses in
order to simulate a discharging defect of 30-50 pC (4). It was
connected via a BNC cable to an internal sensor (identical to
the detection sensor) dived in the oil through a bushing gap on
the top of the transformer. The internal sensor used as a
receiver was inserted through the 2-inch oil valve; then its
depth inside the valve was varied and the frequency spectra of
the detected signals at each position were recorded using the
spectrum analyzer.
At first, the sensor is completely inside the transformer
(10cm depth). Then it is pulled back in several steps: first
only 4 cm left inside, then 0 cm inside and 5 and 10 cm inside
the valve. As expected, it was observed that as long as some
part of the sensor is inside the tank, the sensor detects the
artificial pulses without any problem. However, as soon as the
sensor is outside the transformer (but still inside the oil
valve), it is shielded from the signals inside the transformer.
Signal
-60
-70
-80
-90
300 500 700 900 1100 1300
Frequency (Hz)
[MHz]
Fig. 4: The frequency response (300MHz – 1.3GHz) of
the UHF external and VHF\UHF internal sensors.
Considering these five positions of the oil valve sensor
and their corresponding obtained spectra energies it is
observed that the sensitivity of the sensor has a step change
from the 0cm position to the 4 cm deepness. The measured
energy reduces drastically as soon as the sensor is “outside”
the inner part of the transformer. However it is interesting that
lower than 0 cm depth positions, still give very similar spectra
results. This can be explained due to the fact that the sensor is
picking up the signal parts that propagate within the tube of
the oil-valve and reflect on the tube walls. Diffraction at UHF
frequencies is minimal and thus only reflection components
are picked-up.
Secondly, the frequency response of both sensors have
been measured and compared. Using a Network Analyser the
frequency response of the antennas could be measured by
placing a pair of them 50 cm opposite each other. The
obtained frequency responses (in the range of 300 MHz and
1.3 GHz) are shown in Fig. 4. It seems that the internal sensor
has higher sensitivity up to almost 700MHz and then on the
external sensor seems takes over. The external sensor’s
response is also more stable along the frequency band; in the
case of the internal changing the alignment between the pair
seems to smoothen out the response. In any case, inside the
transformer tank, the signal is arriving from different angles,
due to reflections on the tank walls, and thus the alignment is
not so important.
Thirdly, a comparison was made between the measuring
results obtained with the internal and external UHF sensor.
The measuring results are shown in figure 5. Based on the

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Proceedings of the International Conference on F-03
Electrical Engineering and Informatics
Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia June 17-19, 2007

measurements it is clear that both sensoring techniques are be very similar, which is confirmed by the propagation
capable of detecting partial discharge levels of several nC matrices.
without any problem. It means that critical insulation defects As can be seen, the propagation matrices are scaled to
can be detected both ways. Secondly it can be seen that the sensor 4, which is assigned 100%. In the actual
relation between the discharge magnitude measured in [nC] measurements, sensor 4 indeed obtained the highest value,
and the energy in the UHF spectra is not one-to-one. however, in case of transformer 1, this value was 10.34 dB, in
Depending on the situation, the internal sensor is slightly case of transformer 2 it was 8.46 dB. Probably, since the
more sensitive compared to the external sensor. measurements of the signal spectra were not performed
simultaneously at all sensors and there was external noise
fluctuating over time, some variance in the signal
measurements (and thus the propagation matrices) is
unavoidable. Considering a transformer as a resonance
cavity, also the smallest internal difference will influence the
UHF signals: difference in core position, in sensor position,
etc. More investigations will be performed to understand the
observed differences. The main conclusion that can be drawn
here is that the relative attenuation is similar for both
transformers.
Detection
Sensor 1 Sensor 2 Sensor 3 Sensor 4
Sensor 1 10% 1% 1%
Sensor 2 4% 16% 38%
Fig. 5: Measuring results as obtained using an internal Sensor 3 5% 11% 23%
and external UHF sensor for two types of defects. Sensor 4 100% 49% 5%

4. Measuring results Detection

4.1 External sensors on 90 MVA power transformer Sensor 1 Sensor 2 Sensor 3 Sensor 4
One example in which external sensors were installed Sensor 1 8% 1% 2%
and applied during the acceptance test is on two new 90 Sensor 2 5% 15% 33%
MVA, 150 kV power transformers, see fig. 6. Both Sensor 3 5% 8% 18%
transformers are equipped with four dielectric windows, Sensor 4 100% 52% 6%
against which external UHF sensors are mounted. To test the
sensitivity of the sensor configuration, injection Fig. 7: Propagation matrices of both power transformers.
measurements were performed. In this way, the effects
experienced by UHF signals when propagating through the 4.2 Internal sensor on 150 MVA power transformer
transformer can be investigated. It is summarised in a Based on the laboratory experiments a field test was set
transformer specific propagation matrix. These propagation up. In this test, three single phase 150 MVA power
matrices are of importance for locating PD sources. transformers of 40 years old were tested, see figure 8.
The propagation matrix is calculated and shown in fig. Despite the fact that the three transformers are rather old,
7. Since both transformer designs are identical it was no partial discharge activity was observed. Figure 9 shows the
expected the signal attenuation within the two transformers to frequency spectra as have been obtained during the test. As

Fig. 6: One of the two 90 MVA power transformers as Fig. 8: Three single-phase 150 MVA, 380 kV power
equipped with four UHF sensors for PD measurements. transformers used for the PD test using an internal sensor.

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Proceedings of the International Conference on
Electrical Engineering and Informatics
Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia June 17-19, 2007
can be seen, only spectral activity was observed in the low
frequency range up to 200 MHz and some small peaks at
higher frequencies. Comparing these spectra with the spectra
obtained in the laboratory, we would expect that PD activity
inside the transformer has spectral content up to 1 GHz.
Moreover, further investigation of the selected centre
frequencies showed mainly corona-activity from the
surrounding lines.
As a result, it can be concluded that no detectable internal
partial activity was present in these power transformers.
However, the field application of the internal sensor through
C e n tre
Phase S ig n a l-to - n o is e
fre q u e n c ie s
112 M Hz
4
380 M Hz
70 M Hz
8
248 M Hz
70 M Hz
12 248 M Hz
380 M Hz
Fig. 9: Frequency spectra as obtained at the three
transformers.
the oil-valve showed to be very effective and easy to handle.
Further experiments will focus on transformers with
deviating DGA-results.
4.3 Internal sensor on 75 MVAr reactor coil
As a third example, the results of a sensitivity check of a
75 MVAr reactor coil is described. It was used to show that
the UHF technique can detect partial discharge levels as low
as 100 pC, before the actual PD measurements during voltage
application to the reactor at up to 140% of its nominal voltage
are performed. During this test, four external sensors were
mounted against dielectric windows and one internal sensor
through the oil-valve was used, see figure 10.
In Figure 11 the final results of the sensitivity check are
displayed in a matrix format. Using the recorded pulse with
Fig. 10: 75 MVAr reactor coil, equipped with four external
sensors and one oil-valve sensor.
ISBN 978-979-16338-0-2
F-03
Fig. 11: Sensitivity matrix obtained from injecting a 45V
pulse in one sensor and measuring at the others.
the highest spectral energy as reference (assumed 100%
energy of original signal), the other signal energies were
normalized and the matrix of Figure 11 was calculated.
Signals with energy content between 50% and 100% are
clearly detectable; signals with energy 25% to 50% are highly
attenuated but still recognizable and thus detectable; any
signals with lower than 25% energy content are negligible
and barely detectable. It can be concluded that signals
injected on sensor W1, W3 and W4 propagating through the
transformer are smallest and difficult to detect on sensor W2
and vice versa (red colour). For pulses injected on the other
sensors, clearer signals could be detected (orange and green
colours). As a result, a sensitivity of 50 pC between all
couplers has been confirmed. So any discharging defect
giving a PD magnitude of about 25 pC, which is located in the
transformer between the sensors will be detected by at least
one of the sensors.
6. Summary and conclusions
Based on the investigations described in this contribution
the following can be concluded:
1) The internal sensor is sensitive enough to be used at
on-line measurements.
2) Both external and internal sensors show to be
sensitive enough to detect around 25 pC of PD
activity, depending on its location.
3) In general, for further measurements, it is suggested
to select suspicious power transformers with
deviating DGA results in order to test the sensors
with partial discharge activity.
References
(1) CIGRE A2.18, Life Management Techniques for Power Transformers,
CIGRE Brochure 227, January 2003
(2) B. H. Ward, A survey of new techniques in insulation monitoring of
power transformer, IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, Volume: 17,
No.3, pp. 16-23, May/June 2001
(3) IEC Publication 60270, Partial Discharge Measurements, 2nd Edition,
1981.
(4) S. Meijer, P.D. Agoris and J.J. Smit, UHF PD Sensitivity Check on
Power Transformers, International Symposium on High-Voltage
Engineering (ISH), Beijing, China, 2005
(5) B.F. Hampton, R.J. Meats, “Diagnostic measurements at UHF in gas
insulated substations”, IEE Proceedings, Vol. 135, Pt. C, No. 2, pp.
137-144, 1988.
(6) S. Meijer, P.D. Agoris, J.J. Smit, M.D. Judd, L. Yang, Application of
UHF Diagnostics to Detect PD During Power Transformer Acceptance
Tests, Conf. Proc. ISEI, Toronto, 2006
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