Early Detection of Weak Points in MEEC Distribution System

M. Abdel-Salam1, S. Abdel-Sattar1, Y. Sayed2 and M. Ghally3

1

Electrical Engineering Dept., Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Electrical Engineering Dept., Menia University, Menia, Egypt.
3
Middle Egypt Electricity Company, Menia, Egypt.

Abstract-This paper is aimed at detecting the weak points in the

distribution system of MEEC, "Middle Egypt Electricity
Company". These include loose connections, polluted insulators
and micro-roughness on line conductors and insulator
hardware. The detection methodology is based on measuring
ultrasound emissions from these weak points to warn against
impending failures and subsequent supply interruptions.
Laboratory testing made it possible to discriminate between
loose-connection arcing, polluted-insulator "baby arcs" and
sharp-edge corona according to the sound pattern. However,
there can be occasions where sound pattern may prove
confusing in discrimination between baby arcs and looseconnection arcing. In this case, recording of acoustic signals was
found to be a useful tool for such discrimination.

by a variable gain amplifier to allow for a wide dynamic

signal range. The signal is then heterodyned or translated into
an audible signal. The heterodyne circuit oscillator frequency
is adjusted by the CPU, so that specific frequencies can be
monitored or competing ultrasound can be eliminated. This
adjustment is done with the Sensitivity / Frequency which is
an encoder for the CPU. The Heterodyned signal is then
routed to the audio amplifier to drive the headphones and a
conditioned output suitable for further signal processing,
such as spectrum analysis and signal recording. It is also
routed into a dB Converter to linearize the signal for
digitalization in the CPU. The signal amplitude is displayed
in numeric decibels.

I. INTRODUCTION

HETERODYNE CIRCUIT

AUDIO AMPLIFIER

Not only the pollution of the transmission-line insulators but

also other types of weak points in the distribution system of
MEEC, "Middle Egypt Electricity Company" are
investigated. These include poor connections, loose hardware
with subsequent arcing, polluted insulators with subsequent
tracking "baby arcing" and corona at micro-roughness (sharp
edges) on line conductors and insulator hardware, where air
ionization occurs to form a blue or purple glow.
Measurement of ultrasound emissions from the abovementioned weak points is an avenue to detect serious weak
points in MEEC distribution system such as arcing, tracking
and corona. Thus, these emissions can be utilized to warn of
impending failure, equipment
damage and supply
interruption.
Once the weak points are identified and located, they are easy
to quiet. This is achieved by hot washing of lines and
insulators, short-circuiting the gaps by better bonding or
tightening the connections, and by smoothening the
coronating points to suppress corona activity. This will
reduce the outage time and add incentives to the Revenue
Recovery Program sought by MEEC administration.
II. METHODOLOGY

When electricity "jumps" cross a gap forming an arc or

corona in an electrical connection, it disturbs the air
molecules around it and generates ultrasound.
The tool for such sound measurements is ultraprobe 2000 [1],
which detects ultrasonic frequencies between 20 kHz and 100
kHz and convert them to 100 Hz to 3 kHz audio.
A. Ultraprobe Circuit
The ultrasound is detected by the receiving crystals and
amplified by the preamplifier located in the removable sensor
housing, Fig. 1. It is amplified further inside the instrument

TRANSDUCER
PREAMP

VARIABLE
GAIN
AMPLIFIER

PHONES OUTPUT

OSCILLATOR
20 - 100 KHz

LINE OUTPUT

MIXER
LOW PASS
FILTER
& AMPLIFIER

DB
CONVERTER
DIGITAL I/O

SENSITIVITY/FREQUENCY KNOB
GAIN CONTROL

FREQUENCY
CONTROL

CONVERTER
INPUT

DISPLAY

CPU & DIGITAL CONTROLS

STORE BUTTON

Fig. 1: Block diagram showing structural details of the ultraprobe

B. Recording circuit for acoustic-signal

While it is possible to discriminate among arcing, tracking or
corona by the sound pattern, there can be occasions where it
may prove confusing [2]. Since the Ultraprobe instrument
heterodyne ultrasound down into the audible range, the
headphone jack may be used to observe these sounds in
acoustic signals on an oscilloscope, Fig. 2. To record these
sounds, a personal computer and a printer were used as
shown in Fig. 2.
The components of the system for recording acoustic signals,
Fig. 2, are:
1- Ultraprobe
2- Headphone jack
3- Storage oscilloscope
4- Interface card
5- Cable 132 with two end jacks: 25-pin jack to fit in the
oscilloscope and 9-pin jack to fit in the computer (in
place of mouse)
6- Personal computer
7- Data cable with two 25-pin end jacks for connection
between the computer and printer
8- Printer

0-7803-7116-X/01/$10.00 (C) 2001 IEEE

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connection arcing is difficult and the sound pattern becomes

confusing.
This calls for recording the acoustic signal
appeared at the headphone jack of the probe using an
oscilloscope, Fig. 2.
(8)

C. Weak-point discrimination by acoustic signal recording

Fig. 2: Acoustic-signal recording system in a block diagram

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. Accuracy and factors affecting the probe reading:

1- Operating voltage:
The readings increase with the increase of the voltage
applied to the weak points.
2- Distance (from the weak point):
The readings are reduced with the increase of the
distance between the weak point and the probe.
3- Operating frequency of the probe:
The optimum frequency corresponds to the maximum
reading recorded by the probe.
4- Type of weak point and the emitted audible sound.
5- Size of weak point:
The reading depends on the size (as the size of the)
weak point increases, the reading increases and occurs
at a lower voltage and a larger distance).
6- Direction of probe:
Ultraprobe should be directed to the weak point. For
sharp points on transmission lines, this calls for
scanning of line conductors from all directions.
7- Noise in the scanning region:
Any noise received by the ultraprobe can cause
deviation of its reading from the correct value.

Figure 4 shows the acoustic signal seen on the scope with a

sharp-edge as a weak-point. It appears in packets of pulses
with longer time span (20 ms) between the groups. This is
because the positive-polarity corona streamers mainly
generate the audible noise. These streamers occur in packets
on the positive-polarity of every cycle. Each packet has
smaller number of pluses. The intensity of sound and
amplitude of pulses depend on the size of the sharp edge.
Figure 5 shows the acoustic signal observed on the scope with
a polluted insulator as a weak point. The insulator is polluted
by being sprayed by salty water. The signal appears in groups
of pulses with narrow time span (10 ms) between successive
groups. This is because dry-band flashover occurs every halfcycle of the applied voltage. Each group of pluses has large
number of pluses in comparison with that of the sharp-point.
The number of pulses depends on how dense the water spots
on the insulator surface .
Figure 6 show the acoustic signal watched on the scope with
a loose connection as a weak point. As shown, the signal has
different pattern than other signals, and one can easily define
them on spot being large in number, and almost continuous.
Figure 7 show the acoustic signal seen for a combined loose
connection arcing and baby arcs. As shown the signal appears
as almost continuous train of pulses.

B. Weak-point discrimination by sound:

It is considered the main discrimination approach, where each
weak point has different sound radiation. Different weak
points including sharp edges, polluted insulator and loose
connection were simulated in the laboratory, Fig. 3. The
weak points are stressed by 50-Hz HVAC source. Precautions
have been made to make sure that the high-voltage circuit is
free from partial discharges.
Corona occurs at sharp edges [3] and the associated sound is
a steady state buzzing . The next stage is tracking, and this is
where there is a low current pathway to ground across an
insulator. This is a combination of the buzzing sound with
little "popping" sounds (baby arcs) mixed in. These popping
sounds are caused by a slow buildup of charge and a rapid
discharge across the "pollution" on the insulator. The last
stage of discharge before "flashover" is arcing. The sound of
arcing is erratic bursts of discharge without any steady state
buzzing.
These sounds have been recorded on a recorder tap and one
can listen to these sounds to sense the difference. There is a
difference in sound between sharp-edge corona at the one
hand and baby arcs and loose-connection arcing on the other
hand. However, discrimination between baby arcs and loose-

Fig. 3: Laboratory simulation of different weak points

(a) HV conductor with loose connection posted on insulating
supports
Conductor diameter = 1 cm
Conductor height above ground plane = 30 cm
(b) Post-type polluted insulator standing over a ground plane.
Insulator height = 25 cm
Insulator diameter = 10 cm
(c) HV conductor with sharp edge posted on insulating supports.
Conductor diameter = 1 cm
Conductor height above ground plane = 30 cm
Sharp-edge diameter = 1mm.

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D. Weak-points along overhead transmission lines

Transmission-line audible sound has two characteristic
components, namely: (1) broadband component (variously
described as frying, or crackling, or hissing) and (2)pure-tone
components at frequencies of 120 Hz and multiples [4,5]. The
pure tones are superimposed on the broadband component.
The most noticeable tone is the 120-Hz "hum". Fig. 8 shows
an example of the sound-pressure level represented in the
frequency domain, where both the broadband component and
the pure tones are recognizable.
The broadband component is caused by a random sequence
of pulses produced by partial discharges (corona) in the air at
the surface of the conductor. Among the corona modes
produced by an alternating voltage, the most important with
regard to the audible-sound generation is the positive-polarity
streamers. These streamers occur in packets on the positive
polarity of every cycle, Fig. 4, and consequently 60 Hz and
higher harmonic components may be present in the frequency
spectrum. At each point where streamer is produced, a pointsource pressure wave is generated and propagates into the
surrounding space. These waves are produced in different
locations along the conductor and at different times, and the
acoustic energy arriving at any location is randomly
distributed over the entire cycle. The spectrum extends to
frequencies above the sonic range forming the broadband (or
hissing) component of the audible sound. The hum, on the
other hand, is caused by the movement of space charge
surrounding the conductor, which causes reversal of air
pressure twice every half-cycle due to the movement from

and to the conductor surface of positive and negative ions [6].

Space charge is created by ionization of air and this is
generated by the same partial discharges causing the
broadband (hissing) component. However, not all the corona
modes create hissing and hum in the same proportions. As
already mentioned, hissing is mainly generated by positivepolarity streamers [3] while Trichel pulses, for instance, can
produce intense ionization, and consequently a strong hum,
with a much lower level of hissing.
As the sound power is proportional to the square of the sound
pressure [6]:

P
P2

dB
20
log
=
P2
P0
0

Sound-pressure level in dB = 10 log

where P is the sound-pressure level being measured and P0 is

the reference sound pressure of 0.0002 bar, which is the
minimum level that an "average" person can detect at
1000Hz, Fig. 8.
Reflections from objects close to the point of measurements
may be significant. Especially important are the reflections
taking place at the ground. This calls for addition of indicant
and reflected power density. Addition of different sounds
follows different rules, depending on whether or not they are
random in nature. Random hissings are combined is such a
way that their power densities add linearly and, therefore, the
pressure levels are equal to the square root of the sum of the
squares of the pressure levels of the individual hissing.
Different hums combine in a way depending on their phase.

Fig. 4: Acoustic-signal recorded for sound emission from a sharp-edge weak point.

Fig. 5: Acoustic-signal recorded for sound emission from a polluted insulator as a weak point.

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Fig. 6: Acoustic-signal recorded for sound emission from a loose-connection as a weak point.

Fig. 7: Acoustic-signal recorded for sound emission from a combined loose-connection arcing and baby-arcs on polluted insulators.

Fig. 9: Typical lateral profile of 3-phase transmission-line audible

sound

Fig. 8: Spectral density of sound pressure level (dB above 0.0002

bar, 1/10 octave bandwidth).

If the two hums are in phase, the pressure levels add and if
they are in opposition of phase, the resultant pressure level is
the difference between the two. Thus, the audible sound from
3 phases of a transmission line combine in a substantially
different way for hissing and for hum. This is evident in the
"lateral profile" shown in Figure 9. The figure shows how the
measurements of the hum critically depend on the position,
resulting in very high values when all the 3 phase hums arrive
with small phase differences at the measuring point [6]. This

has been depicted by preliminary tests in the field and

confirmed by laboratory testing.
The sound-level meter can detect the overall sound-pressure
level. However, human perception of sound is greatly
frequency-dependent and such measurement would have little
meaning. More useful values are obtained by weighting the
different components of the pressure. The sound-level meters
are thus provided with a set of "frequency weighting
networks", the most commonly used is the weighting network

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A and the sound-pressure level is often expressed in dB (A),

Figs. 8 and 9. Network A characterizes only the random noise
(hissing) of transmission lines [6].
IV. CONCLUSIONS
1- The sound emission from weak points in electric power
distribution networks proved to be a useful tool for early
detection of these points. Not only detection of weak
points, but also
discrimination between loose
connections, polluted insulators and sharp edges is made
possible.
2- Whenever there is a confusion in discrimination by
sound pattern, recording of acoustic signals received
from weak points
becomes another tool for
discrimination between "baby arcs" on polluted
insulators and loose-connection arcing.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge the support they received from MEEC,
"Middle Egypt Electricity Company", to conduct such a research project in
the HV laboratory of Assiut University in Egypt and in the field along
MEEC 11, 33- and 66- kV distribution networks.

REFERENCES
[1] Ultraprobe-2000, A product manufactured by UE Systems, New York,
USA
[2] M. Goodman, UE Systems, New York, USA, Private Communication,
2001.
[3] M. Khalifa and M. Abdel-Salam, The Corona Discharge in "High
Voltage Engineering Theory and Practice", eds. M. Abdel-Salam, et. al.,
Marcel Dekker, New York, USA, 2000
[4] W. Weeks, Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Energy, Harper
and Row publishers, New York, USA, 1981.
[5] J. C. Anderson et al., "Ultra high voltage transmission" Proc. IEEE, Vol.
59, pp. 1548-1559, 1971.
[6] EPRI, "Transmission Line Reference Book-345 kV and Above", published
by Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, Calif., USA, 1975.

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