Application Note

Partial discharge measurements under DC test voltage

Author
Dr.-Ing. Kay Rethmeier | kay.rethmeier@omicron.at
Date
Feb, 2009
Related OMICRON Product
MPD 600
Application Area
DC Test Voltage / Polarity Reversal
Version
v2.0
Document ID
ANP_10037_ENU

Content
1

Short Cut ......................................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3

Evaluation of DC PD measurements .............................................................................................. 4

DC PD measurements with the MPD 600........................................................................................ 7

4.1 HV set-up ................................................................................................................................. 7
4.2 Charge calibration..................................................................................................................... 8
4.3 Voltage calibration .................................................................................................................... 9
4.4 Setting primary PD threshold level ...........................................................................................12
4.5 Diagram set-up ........................................................................................................................13
4.6 Advanced data evaluation options ............................................................................................14

Special requirements for polarity reversal tests ...........................................................................15

Please use this note only in combination with the related product manual which contains several important safety
instructions. The user is responsible for every application that makes use of an OMICRON product.
OMICRON electronics GmbH including all international branch offices is henceforth referred to as OMICRON.
OMICRON 2010. All rights reserved. This application note is a publication of OMICRON.
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Reprinting, wholly or in part, is not permitted.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this application note represent the technical
status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this application note is useful, accurate and entirely
reliable. However, OMICRON does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be present.
OMICRON translates this application note from the source language English into a number of other languages. Any
translation of this document is done for local requirements, and in the event of a dispute between the English and a nonEnglish version, the English version of this note shall govern.

Short Cut
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Set up HV PD circuit as shown in IEC 60270, use additional ohmic divider for test voltage
measurement
Choose the "1"-Tab (NOT the DC-Tab) in Large Scope View, calibrate charge
Deactivate auto-gain function during calibration and for the PD measurement
Move PD threshold level clearly above ambient noise level
Activate "Go"-Button in DC-Tab to calibrate voltage measurement with V-Tab, use ohmic divider
Select "Internal Trigger" as voltage trigger source
Set up all diagrams in DC-Tab
Record stream (from the Q-Tab), if required
Export PD pulses to a TXT-File (in the DCTab) for further Excel evaluation, if required

Introduction
Partial discharge analysis is an approved tool in the spectrum of non-destructive diagnostic measurement
methods for all kinds of high voltage apparatus. As the PD pulses are of a highly complex nature, the
gathered PD data needs interpretation. Over the last decades the knowledge about interpretation of
measuring results has improved more and more. A common tool is the evaluation of PD using phaseresolved patterns, showing PD magnitude and quantity over the phase angle of the test voltage (q-n-). The
resulting PD patterns can be analyzed by experts following some rules of interpretation [1].
For DC PD measurements no phase information exists. Therefore the distinction between PD pulses and
external interference is more demanding. As the total number of PD events is mostly lower compared to AC
measurements, it becomes even more important to assign the pulses to their sources. Facing new records
in test voltage levels, as recently demonstrated by testing UHV (Ultra-High-Voltage) DC transformers of a
+/-800kV DC transmission link [2], diagnostic PD measurements become even more important with
higher dielectric field strengths.
Using a highly sophisticated fully digital PD measuring system new evaluation techniques can be realized to
solve the problem of discriminating pulse sources. With the possibility to record even long-term PD
measurements of up to several hours to ensure the generation and accumulation of space charges, an
in-depth analysis of the gathered PD data can be performed after the measurement with different
approaches, allowing a detailed concentration on the short-time period of the polarity reversal from minus to
plus, for instance, or concentrating on the rising edge of a surge voltage shape.

Evaluation of DC PD measurements
With no usable phase information the possibilities of evaluating PD activity under DC test voltage is very
limited. Therefore the main measures are the time dependency of the charge level (charge q over time t)
and the number of PD pulses within a defined time interval (Charge Count Diagram). This kinds of
diagrams can provide an overview over the whole measuring time (as 60 minutes, e.g.) or can spot on
shorter time frames allowing a closer view on short-term PD behavior. A typical diagram is shown in figure 1,
taken from the MPD 600 Expert Mode software.

Figure 1: Time dependency of DC PD behavior

Besides a stable PD activity at about 30 pC, some single pulses with higher charge levels up to 60 pC can
be seen in the upper diagram Q(t). The two lower diagrams in figure 1 show the number of PD pulses
above a specific threshold level, within a certain sliding time interval. Two of these counter diagrams can be
set with different parameters, according to the requirements of international standards, such as IEC 62199
for HV bushings [3], for instance. This standard limits the number of allowed pulses to a maximum of
10 greater than 2000 pC over the last 30 minutes of the withstand voltage test, as well as a maximum of
10 pulses greater than 2000 pC over any gliding 10 minutes window during the polarity reversal test.
In figure 1, the red curve shows the number of PD pulses with more than 1 pC charge level, counted over
the last minute. On the other hand, the second, darker curve in the lower diagram of figure 1, shows the
number of PD pulses higher than 50 pC over the last 5 minutes.
Another statistical method is the evaluation of the density function of the discharge magnitudes [4]. The
resulting diagram (see fig. 2) shows the number of PD events (or if normalized, the charge density, related to
the maximum value or to the sum of all values) over a group of discharge magnitude classes.

Figure 2: Distribution of discharge magnitudes

In this type of diagram, internal PD will show a density maximum at the smallest discharge magnitudes,
while corona discharges will have a maximum at a higher
charge level, decaying to both sides. Besides these statistical approaches, also single pulses can be
analyzed, using an oscilloscope function. Figure 3 shows a single corona pulse recorded by the MPD 600
Time Domain Scope.

Figure 3: Single corona pulse in time domain, 200ns/2mV per

Typical parameters to be analyzed are the polarity, the magnitude, the rise time, the decay time and the
pulse width, respectively. Depending on the position of the measuring impedance, the pulse polarity can be
used to distinguish between external pulses and internal PD activity.
Also in frequency domain, the pulse spectrum can be visualized for further investigation. The FFT behavior
allows discrimination of multiple PD sources and ambient noise, as shown in figure 4.

Figure 4: FFT of PD pulses, statistical view, 0MHz to 20MHz, -

Besides looking on fast moving single curves (the red curve in fig. 4, for instance), multiple curves can be
overlaid by using a statistical FFT visualization tool. A color-coded diagram is formed, where the color
represents the spectral density. As an example, figure 4 shows a minimum of 3 different pulse types (no
ambient noise recorded, as trigger level was set above noise level).
By using 3 PD filters with different center frequencies for PD detection simultaneously, the 3CFRD method
allows a discrimination of different pulse sources [5]. Similar to the 3PARD method (where the 3 axes of the
diagram represent the 3 phases, 120 phase-shifted) the 3 Center Frequency Relation Diagram plots the PD
results of each filter to the belonging axis. The forming clusters represent single PD mechanisms, which can
be analyzed independently, also during the PD measurement in real-time.

Figure 5: PD from multiple sources, visualized in 3CFRD

While the red and the blue circle in figure 5 represent PD activity, the green ellipsis represents external
interference. These interference pulses can be ignored for further PD evaluation of the test sample.

DC PD measurements with the MPD 600

The MPD 600 is can perform DC PD measurements as well as PD measurements under AC test voltage, or
even both at the same time (if two or more MPD acquisition units are connected). Only a few differences
in the HV hardware set-up and in the software set-up are required [6]. DC PD measurements are only
supported in the software's "Expert Mode".

4.1

HV set-up
The PD measurement circuit itself is similar for DC and AC. It consists of a test sample, a coupling capacitor
and a measuring impedance (quadripole). General information is given in the IEC 60270 [7]. As one major
difference, the coupling capacitor cannot be used to divide the test voltage. Therefore the V-output of the
quadripole must not be connected to the MPD's V-input port. A second high-voltage path is needed,
consisting of a high-voltage resistor and the MPD's input resistor of the V-input port. Figure 6 provides a
schematic overview of the test set-up.

Figure 6: HV circuit for DC PD measurements

If the measuring impedance is placed in the earth path of the test sample (instead of being placed in the
earth path of the coupling capacitor), also the polarity of the detected pulses can be taken into account to
distinguish between external noise and internal PD.

4.2

Charge calibration
To calibrate the charge acquisition a charge injector or calibrator has to be set to the desired value, as
100 pC, for instance. The two calibrator wires have to be connected to the leads of the test sample. In the
PD-Tab of the software the "Auto gain" function should be selected in order to choose an optimal
preamplifier setting.
The calibration pulses shall be visible in the Small Scope View (oscilloscope) and in the Large Scope View
(PRPD pattern) then. The PD filter settings have to be set in accordance with the valid standards, ensuring a
maximal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). When a filter setting is chosen, the calibrator's charge value has to
be entered into the related text field "Q IEC (target)" of the software's Q-Tab (see fig. 7).

Figure 7: Charge calibration tab

After pressing the "Compute" button (see also fig. 7, red arrow), the displayed measured charge level shall
be identical to the one injected. Figure 8 shows the Large Scope View after a successful calibration process.
The numeric QIEC value shall show the desired charge value, the PD events (vertical light blue lines) shall be
drawn up to the related grid line. In this case, the calibrator CAL 542 with a pulse repetition rate
of 300 Hz leads to 6 equidistant pulses (marked with 6 red arrows in figure 8) for a line frequency of 50 Hz.

Figure 8: Large Scope View after successful calibration

For DC PD measurements typically a low PD repetition rate (down to only a few pulses per hour) is
expected. Therefore the "Auto gain" function from the PD-Tab of the software has to be deactivated
ALLREADY DURING THE CALIBRATION PROCESS, as to be shown in figure 9.

Figure 9: Deactivate "Auto gain" during calibration and for the PD

The slider of the pre-amplifier then remains at a fix position for the whole measuring time. This ensures that
PD pulses of the expected charge level are measured correctly at any time. With the "Auto gain" function
activated (as usually when measuring PD at AC test voltage) the pre-amplifier would try to improve the SNR
by switching to a higher slider position if no PD pulses were detected over the last few seconds. As a
consequence it is not possible to measure the first following PD pulse (after a period without PD activity)
with the correct charge level as the input of the preamplifier is over driven. With only a few pulses
expected for the whole PD testing time it is of highest importance to measure every single PD pulse with the
correct charge value. After the calibration process the calibrator has to be turned off and removed.

4.3

Voltage calibration
The MPD 600 can acquire the test voltage level for AC and for DC, respectively. As the high voltage has to
be attenuated to match the maximum voltage level of 60 V at the V-input port of the MPD, a voltage divider
has to be used. While for AC PD measurements the coupling capacitor can be used as the high voltage
component of the divider, for DC a high-ohmic resistor is required. Together with the MPD's built-in low
voltage resister of 10 M_ it will act as an ohmic voltage divider, capable to divide DC voltages.
Note: if only a limited assortment of high-voltage resistors is available, additional low-voltage resistors can
be connected in parallel to the MPD 600 V-input port to reduce the maximum voltage at this point.
Figure 10 shows a simple set-up. Of cause, the power rating of this resistor has to be taken into
account.

Figure 10: Reducing the input impedance of the V-input port by

As the MPD normally shows the peak and RMS value of the applied test voltage, the software has to be
switched to the DC mode by pressing the "Go!" button in the DC-Tab (see figure 11).

Figure 11: Activating the MPD's DC mode

As a result the voltage display of the Measured Quantities Display switches to DC, as to be seen in
figure 12.

Figure 12: Voltage display changed to DC mode

The VDC display will show the uncalibrated value. With the known ratio of the ohmic divider, this numeric
value can be entered in the belonging "Divider Factor" text field of the V-Tab (see fig. 13). The "Enter" button
of the keyboard has to be pressed to update the divider factor finally.

Figure 13: Entering the ratio of the voltage divider

Now DC test voltage should be applied to the test circuit in a way, that no breakdown or partial discharges
are expected. The reading of a certified calibrated instrument has to be compared with the MPD's reading
(fig. 12). Normally, the calibration has to be adjusted in steps as long as the displayed DC voltage value
differs from the applied voltage value. Therefore the numeric value of the text field "Divider Factor" in the
V-Tab (fig. 12) has to be changed manually, as the automatic "Compute" function of the V-Tab does not
work in DC mode.
The voltage calibration is finished when the required precision is reached. Finally, the voltage trigger source
should be changed to "internal trigger" with 50 Hz internal trigger frequency, for instance (see figure 14).
This will prevent the MPD software from determining the not existing test voltage phase.

Figure 14: Voltage trigger source set to internal trigger

4.4

Setting primary PD threshold level

As already known from MPD's AC PD measurements, the charge threshold value "PD threshold" from the
QTab defines which PD pulses are taken into account for further evaluation (see figure 15). Pulses with a
charge value below this threshold are not considered by the MPD acquisition unit and therefore not
transferred to the operator's computer and also not stored in MPD
stream files.
In contrast to AC PD measurements where the ambient noise level acts as an orientation line in the PRPD
diagrams, for DC PD measurements the PD threshold value has to be set clearly above the ambient noise
level. This is due to the fact that for DC PD measurements mostly pulse-count algorithms are used for PD
data evaluation. Therefore it has to be ensured, that no ambient noise pulses are taken into account, as
these pulses are not related to the PD activity of the test object.
Before starting the DC PD measurement, the primary PD threshold level from the Q-Tab has to be set on a
sufficiently high level, that no pulses are detected by the MPD.

Figure 15: Setting the primary PD threshold level

4.5

Diagram set-up
Besides the trend-diagrams of the Small Scope View also available for AC PD measurements (f PD(t), PD
frequency over time, for example), the PD software allows the usage of two additional special
types of DC diagrams during the DC PD measurement, available through the DC-Tab (see fig. 16).

Figure 16: Setting up DC diagrams

These diagrams will be shown in the Large Scope View when selecting the DC-Tab there (see figure 1).
The charge-trend diagram Q(t), showing the development of the PD level over time, can be set in a
similar way as already known from the AC mode. The additional text field "Threshold" was introduced as the
only new parameter defining the threshold of pulses considered in the resulting diagram. This threshold
value is independent from the main threshold value in the Q-Tab and should be set higher. When replaying
MPD data streams this value can be altered afterwards, as well as all values in the DC-Tab.
Two charge count diagrams can be set up independently, selectable from a pull-down menu in the DC-Tab.
These diagrams count PD pulses higher than a specified reference value over a freely selectable
gliding time window.
As a typical application, these diagrams can be used to monitor the PD activity over the last 30 minutes of a
DC withstand voltage test.
For all three diagrams the time base can be chosen independently.

4.6

Advanced data evaluation options

To allow a user-defined handling of the DC PD data, an export function can be used. All PD events with
charge values above the primary PD threshold level (set in the Q-Tab) can be stored as a semicolonseparated table of time values and charge values. Therefore the export checkbox has to be checked (see
figure 17).

Figure 17: Exporting PD pulses to a text file

As the export function can be activated on-line during the measurement, it is recommended to activate the
text-file export when replaying a recorded data stream.
Example diagrams are shown in figures 23 to 25 of the following chapter.

Special requirements for polarity reversal tests

Because of the accumulation of space charges after longer times of unipolar DC pre-stress, polarity
reversals of HV DC equipment are most critical, possibly leading to partial discharge inception initiating
total breakdown processes. Therefore some international PD standards demand these kinds of tests,
limiting the PD activity during the short defined reversal time period.
The OMICRON MPD system can handle these PD measurements, as well as AC and DC PD
measurements. Therefore the MPD software has to be used in the AC mode, allowing the use of the test
voltage oscilloscope to visualize the reversal process. Figure 18 shows a screenshot of the MPD measuring
software taken during a polarity reversal period of some seconds after 60 minutes of unipolar pre-stress.

Figure 18: PD measurement during polarity reversal

The Large Scope View shows the test voltage curve (red) going from plus to minus. During this negative
slope single PD pulses from the test object can also be seen in this diagram, represented by single blue
dots. During the longer lasting DC plateaus (60 minutes of positive pre-stress, 60 minutes of negative test
voltage after polarity reversal phase; not shown in this diagram) no PD activity could be detected.
As the whole PD measurement can be recorded as an MPD data stream, all relevant diagrams can be
generated afterwards within the MPD software when replaying the stream file. As a second measuring
example, figure 19 shows a total overview of all PD data recorded during a DC PD measurement of more
than 150 minutes, including a polarity reversal after about 90 minutes.

Figure 19: Complete recording of polarity reversal PD test

The blue curve shows major PD activity of more than 70 pC after about 90 minutes (see red mark) which
exactly matches the polarity reversal start of the test voltage. As the main focus lies on the PD activity within
this short time interval, the replay-software allows zooming into the relevant time region, as shown in
figure 20.

Figure 20: Zoom to short time period of polarity reversal

It can be seen that the PD activity (smoothed blue curve) occurs in two local maximums, representing the
two steps of the test voltage's polarity change process from minus to zero (zone A) and from zero to plus
(zone B). Limiting the PD data to this time frame (black arrow between time cursors in figure 20) allows
generating DC evaluation diagrams out of the relevant PD data only. So the number of pulses exciting a
certain discharge level could be counted easily. Figure 21 shows the charge trend diagram and the two
pulse count diagrams.

Figure 21: DC evaluation diagrams, generated after the

The optional text file export ensures an easy access to the PD pulse data, allowing a further post-processing
in MS Excel, for instance (see fig. 22).

Figure 22: TXT-file export of DC PD data

As an example, some curves generated with the exported PD data by Excel are shown in the next
figures.

Figure 23: Charge trend, generated by exported PD data

Figure 25: Time differences of consecutive PD pulses, generated

Figure 24: Charge density distribution, generated by exported PD

List of Literature
[1] CIGRE Working Group 21.03: "Recognition of discharges", Electra. v11. 61-98, 1969
[2] B. Ehmann :"Stromrichtertransformatoren fr die leistungsstrksten und lngsten
Energiebertragungsstrecken der Welt", Netzpraxis, Jg. 48,2009, p. 14ff
[3] IEC 62199, "Bushings for d.c. application", Version 2004, 1st Edition
[4] U. Fromm: "Interpretation of Partial Discharges at dc Voltages", IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics
and Electrical Insulation, Vol. 2 No. 5, October 1995
[5] K. Rethmeier: "Separation of Superposed PD Faults and Noise by Synchronous Multi-Channel
PD Data Acquisition", 17th Biennial IEEE International Symposium on Electrical Insulation,
Vancouver, Canada, 2008
[6] Omicron electronics GmbH: "MPD600 Product Manual", Austria, 2008
[7] IEC 60270, High-voltage test techniques Partial discharge measurement, Version 2000,
3rd Edition

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