CONTINUOUS ON-LINE PARTIAL DISCHARGE MONITORING OF

MEDIUM VOLTAGE SUBSTATIONS

By:

Joel Benzing Calvin L Patterson Brian J Cassidy, P.E.

Eaton Corporation Eaton Corporation Bayer Material Science

Igor Blokhintsev Armin H Loesch

Eaton Corporation Eaton Corporation

ABSTRACT

On-Line Continuous Partial Discharge (PD) measurements of medium voltage substations are an
excellent way to determine the overall health of the equipment. Partial discharge measurements can
provide maintenance alerts to allow scheduling of equipment outages based on actual condition data as
opposed to scheduling based on time intervals. PD measurements provide information about the
insulation system that is impossible to extract with other methods. Remote monitoring adds additional
value to continuous monitoring by relieving customers of the burden of data analysis, readily involving
remote experts.

This paper discusses the effectiveness of PD measurements using multiple sensors. Multiple sensors
provide additional noise reduction and the ability to localize PD activity for measurements made in higher
frequency bands. The importance of continuous PD monitoring vs. periodic walk in PD measurements for
switchgear is also discussed. PD activity in switchgear can be unstable and dependent on ambient
conditions. Negative periodic PD tests in switchgear can result in a false sense of security. Case studies
from field experience are presented to support the discussions.

INTRODUCTION

On-line Partial Discharge measurements in industrial environments face three major problems: high noise
in the low frequency range, signal attenuation in the high frequency range and significant variation in PD
activity over time. A measurement system operating within the 1-20 MHz range with multiple PD sensors
distributed throughout the equipment can limit the PD attenuation problem while providing the location of
the PD activity. Microprocessor-based signal processing can significantly reduce the background noise.
PD sensors include Coupling Capacitors (CC) and Radio Frequency Current Transformers (RFCT).
These sensors are used in switchgear line-ups and dry type transformers. Continuous monitoring,
compared to infrequent periodic testing, assures that variable PD activity is captured and its correlation to
operating parameters such as temperature, humidity, and system voltage is established. Adding remote
communication capability to the continuous monitoring system opens the possibility for Remote
Monitoring (RM), featuring automatic alarms, remote data access/storage, and instant analysis by PD
experts without bringing experts on site.

NOISE AND ATTENUATION ISSUES

Industrial noise typically originates from radio communication systems, thyristors firing in exciters and
rectifiers, digital metering systems and electronic transducers. Radio noise is typically found in 0.8-1 MHz
range and can be avoided by signal acquisition in a higher frequency range. Thyristor firing commonly
has pulse widths wider than PD pulses and can be rejected by microprocessor-based signal processing.
Rejecting “digital noise” is the most difficult. This problem is resolved by designing “noise immune”
sensors. Coupling capacitors directly connected to HV conductors are not susceptible to low frequency
noise and “digital noise” commonly does not exist in HV circuits.

A variety of noise pulses commonly seen in industrial environments is shown in Fig. 1.

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 1
1 us/div

2
0.1 ms/div
2 ms/div

3
5 us/div
500 ns/div

4
2 ms/div

RFCT

50 mV/div
5

1 ms/div

50 mV/div
6
2 ms/div

Fig. 1: 1 - 800 kHz radio noise on HV transformer; 2 - 20 kHz noise on motor feeder terminations; 3- 70 kHz noise
in switchgear; 4 – thyristor switching in excitation system; 5 – thyristor pulses higher then PD pulse magnitudes; 6 –
combination of switching pulses and bunches of “digital” noise pulse trains in switchgear.

The selection of a frequency range for signal acquisition is critically important. While noise is the
challenge at the low end of the spectrum, the high end of the frequency range imposes limitations in the
sensitivity of PD sensors. PD pulses also experience attenuation while propagating from the place of
origin to the location of a PD sensor. Attenuation is negligible in low frequencies below hundreds of kHz -
the frequency range of standard off-line test equipment. For higher frequencies the attenuation is
significant. The higher the frequency, the steeper the PD pulse attenuation. Signal attenuation creates
two important consequences:

• The entire switchgear line up cannot be assessed for partial discharges with sensors installed in
one or a few locations.

• Cubicles having partial discharges can be, in most cases, identified based on the signal
magnitude distribution in the sensors along a line up.

The spectrum of response of an 80 pico-farad (pF) coupler to a PD pulse is presented in Fig. 2.

T 40.00p

30.00p
Amplitude [V/Hz]

20.00p

10.00p

0.00
0 50M 100M
Frequency (Hz)

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Fig. 2. Spectrum of response of the PD sensor. (It is evident there is not much pulse energy in the spectrum above
30 MHz.)

CALIBRATION OF PD SENSORS

The authors have experience in calibration of PD sensors and investigation of PD pulse propagation
features in switchgear lineups both in the field and on a manufacturer’s test floor [1,2,3]. Propagation
patterns in a switchgear lineup are much simpler than PD pulse propagation in rotating machine windings
[4]. Multiple T-connections of load and incoming breakers drain PD pulse energy, PT connections and
reflections from the bus ends affect the magnitude and shape of PD pulses on the way from the place of
origin to the PD sensor. Cross talk between phases is also significant because long parallel bus runs
couple the signals between phases. As a result, the exact pattern of magnitude distribution along a lineup
can differ significantly from one lineup to another. Feeder connections introduce rather low impedances
for PD pulses. That impedance can be significantly different depending on the type and number of
feeders connected to the bus.

An example of a switchgear lineup with PD sensors installed in different locations is presented in Fig. 3.

RFCT

RFCT RFCT RFCT RFCT

CC

CC

CC

Fig. 3. 13.8 kV switchgear lineup with 3 sets of coupling capacitors on main and tie bus and 5 RFCTs on feeder
shield ground cables.

The two most common types of PD sensors are 80 pF coupling capacitors directly connected to the main
bus or the load side of a breaker and radio frequency current transformers (RFCT) on the feeder cable
shield grounding wire. In the past, the authors have used radio frequency voltage sensors connected to
CT terminations. Doughnut type CTs and especially bar type CTs have significant capacitance to HV bus
bars and can be used as coupling devices to get PD pulses from HV circuits. But in recent times, with the
widespread usage of digital metering electronics, noise introduced by metering becomes an issue for that
technology. That method of sensing is commonly used for walk-in PD measurement and provides good
information especially when used with expert type analyzers with advanced noise rejection features.
Those measurements can be the next step of investigation of PD activity after significant PD activity was
discovered with a continuous PD monitor.

The calibration generator used injects ~3 nano Coulomb (nC) through 100 pF dosing capacitor and has
rise time of ~10 ns and fall time ~15 ns, when loaded by a 50 Ohm impedance. That calibration formally
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complies with widely accepted PD standards [5,6]. However, standards on PD measurements are directly
applicable only to low frequency band PD measurements. “Ultra Wide Band PD Measurements” and
problems (attenuation, calibration) in such measurements have only been touched in new standards. The
formal approach to calibration brings confusion, since calibration data depends on the calibration pulse
shape, the frequency band of the PD analyzer and the switchgear design. Excessive lengths of jumper
cable connected to coupling capacitors or long inductive feeder shield ground conductors can significantly
affect the sensitivity of the sensor in the high frequency band. Those calibration attempts should be
considered qualitative. Despite the qualitative feature of PD measuring system calibration, some simple
numbers can give us a basic idea on sensitivity and pulse propagation in a switchgear lineup.

For the switchgear lineup from Fig.3:

• The average sensitivity of 80 pF coupling capacitors to the calibration signal injected into the
lineup next to the sensor is 1.6±0.5 nC/V
• The average sensitivity of RFCT sensors to the calibration signal injected into the lineup to each
feeder termination is 6±1 nC/V
• Attenuation along the lineup for coupling capacitors ~ 50% per vertical section of the switchgear
lineup
• Attenuation along the lineup for RFCT sensors ~ 30% per vertical section of the switchgear lineup

The lower attenuation for RFCT sensors despite a longer path through a T connection (Main bus =>
breaker => Feeder termination) can be explained by the lower low frequency cutoff of RFCTs compared
with 80 pF couplers. Fig. 4 shows signal distribution along a homogeneous switchgear lineup with
identical vertical sections each equipped with a breaker and load feeder. Voltage sensors connected to
load side CTs, have shown simple attenuation curve with average attenuation of 40% per switchgear line
section. Actually, attenuation is also a function of the travelled distance. High frequency components of a
PD pulse are attenuated faster and a PD pulse depleted of high frequencies tends to attenuate less.

Signal magnitude vs vertical section

700

600
Signal magnitude mV

500

400

300

200

100

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Distance in vertical sections

Fig. 4. Attenuation curve for homogeneous structure of eight vertical sections of the 13.8 kV switchgear lineup.

Attenuation limits the zone (number of vertical sections) that can be reliably assessed by one PD sensor.
As a rule, placing one set of coupling capacitors in every third vertical section is sufficient to service
sections between the sensors. Such a design allows for approximate localization of a PD source to focus

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maintenance efforts to one or two sections and significantly reduce maintenance costs. Localization
based on pulse attenuation is more simple and reliable compared to time of arrival technology [7]. Time
of arrival methods need to measure a very high frequency band to achieve reasonable accuracy, while
very high attenuation and reflections from impedance mismatches (bus ends, T-connections) make such
measurements even more problematic.

To summarize, the multiple PD sensor system circumvents the signal attenuation problems by closer
localizing of PD activity. This often equals the difference between a local repair as opposed to replacing
or rebuilding of the whole insulation system.

BEST UNIT OF MEASURE FOR PD

Since PD measurements in high frequency ranges (ultra-wide-band instruments) were not addressed in
PD standards, scientists had to develop their own unique approaches. The main challenge comes
directly from the high attenuation of PD signals at high frequencies. This means that quantities are not
absolute – but rather relative in nature. Another issue is that PD magnitude cannot be used as the only
value to build an analysis on. The damaging effect of PD is proportional to the charge of a single
discharge, as well as to the discharge repetition rate and applied voltage. The best value to be used for
PD analysis is Partial Discharge Intensity (PDI), or “partial discharge apparent power loss” defined in the
ASTM D1868 standard [6]. PDI is still relative, but being directly proportional to the damaging effect of
PD activity, it has a definite physical meaning and can be expressed in milliwatts (mW). Furthermore, this
quantity also allows meaningful calibration of a PD measuring system, particularly a sensor’s sensitivity to
a PD event and quantification of signal attenuation in an object. Comparing different PD measuring
instruments in identical conditions would allow for correlation between LF and HF measurements thus
increasing confidence in PD diagnostics as a whole.

CONTINUOUS MONITORING VS PERIODIC TESTING

PD diagnostics is best implemented using continuous on-line monitoring. A simple example in Fig. 5
shows how conclusions can differ when based on periodic PD test data as opposed to continuous
monitoring data.

Fig. 5. - Low PD activity conclusion;

- High PD activity conclusion;
- Strong upward trend conclusion.

Actual test data shows a strong step change of the PD activity in the switchgear lineup measured by an
RFCT sensor on a short cable to the motor. Several motors with high PD activity were connected to the
bus and switched on and off producing changes that can be interpreted incorrectly by periodic testing and
result in bad maintenance decisions. Comparing the detected PD activity with the switching schedule
clearly assigns the detected PD activity to the external source. This prevents initiating a costly
maintenance outage. Continuous monitoring also excludes human induced errors in the measurement
process. Maintenance activity and operating conditions of an assembly are clearly reflected in the

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continuous PD data trend that reveals the entire history of the equipment. This facilitates a very practical
and effective approach to planned maintenance as demonstrated by the following case study examples.

CASE STUDIES

These case studies present compelling situations that emphasize the value of continuous partial
discharge monitoring and the advantages of using multiple sensors.

Case 1. Blown space heater fuse in 13.8 kV outdoor switchgear

The PD monitor installed in an outdoor 13.8kV switch went into an alarm state. This switch is located in a
harsh environment at a waste water treatment plant in Indiana. The data is being remotely monitored
using a cell modem attached to the PD monitor. The cell modem ties into the supplier’s remote
monitoring service using a secure VPN. Analysis of the accumulated data showed that PD activity started
suddenly and developed quickly. (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6. Rapid PD activity increase

The site engineer was notified through the remote monitoring service that the unit was in alarm and
should be scheduled for investigation in the next few weeks. After scheduling an outage to determine the
nature of the problem, electricians discovered a blown fuse in the space heater circuit. The PD activity
was isolated to an air gap between an insulating barrier and a bus bolt. The additional moisture in the
cabinet accelerated the tracking and triggered the alarm. (Fig. 7)

Fig. 7. Tracking in an outdoor 13.8kV switch

Case 2. Potential Transformer in 34.5 kV substation

RFCTs on molded-in stress shield grounds were installed in every breaker cubicle along the bus.
Intermittent but increasing PD activity was found in two sections (#7 and #9) around PT cabinet.
Subsequent inspection revealed surface tracking around HV terminal of phase A potential transformer.

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Fig. 8. Surfface tracking frrom HV electro
ode of the PT and correspond
ding phase reso
olved PD distrib
butions

The trans sformer was replaced,

r PD activity went down, but sshortly after tthe repair hig gh PD activityy with
level abovve Alarm leve el was detecteed. This time, the wire fromm HV electro ode of the PT
T came into coontact
with fiberg
glass barrier creating
c inten
nsive partial discharge activvity (Fig. 9).

a)

Wire to baarrier sparking

PT replaced

b)

Fig. 9. a)- Partial Discharrge Intensity tre

end in two secttions around P
PT cabinet; b) - magnitude disstribution in PD
sensors aloong the bus

No signific
cant PD activ
vity was detec
cted in the sub
bstation after changing PT
T connections.

Case 3. Fiberglass
F suupports’ trac
cking in 34.5 kV switchge ear.
Intermittent PD activity
y was detected
d only in the incoming
i buss section.

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 Repairedd

Fig. 10. Ma
aximum PD ma
agnitude trend on C phase co
oupling capacito
or in incoming bus section.

Inspectionn revealed multiple

m signs of tracking on supportin g fiberglass boards (Fig 11). All fiberrglass
boards we ere replaced. New pieces were cut and coated with a clear sealin
ng paint. All w
water was drie
ed out
and the inncoming bus duct was sea aled to preve
ent water pen
netration. No PD activity w was detected since
repair (Fig
g 12).

Fig. 11. Crreeping discharrge on fiberglas

ss supports.

a) before re
epair b) after rep
pair

Fig. 12. Ph
hase resolved PD
P distributions
s from coupling
g capacitors in incoming bus ssection before and after repa
air

ntermittent PD
Case 4. In P activity inn 13.8 kV swiitchgear line up
PD monittor was deteccting “random
m” PD activity
y above alarmm levels. Closse analysis o
of the accumu
ulated
data reve
ealed “strange
e” pattern: PD
D activity was detected mmostly aroundd Noon only, reference Fig
g. 13,
zoomed area.
a

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 Zoomed arrea from abovee

Fig. 13. PD
D activity trend
d in incoming bus
b section wiith zoomed are
ea showing qu
uasi-periodical spikes in PD a
activity
around nooon.

Humidity and temperatture sensors were located d in air-condittioned substa

ation building and did not rreflect
outdoor conditions.
c Muultiple sensorr system poin
nted to the mmain incoming g bus sectionn fed from ouutdoor
step-downn transformerr and bus runn. During insp
pection bad ggasket and wa ater penetrattion in outdoo
or part
of the bus
s duct was fou
und.

Fig.14. Sig
gns of PD activiity in bus suppo
orting insulation.

Midday Sun was heating bus enclosure and vap porizing accum mulated wate
er, creating high humidity tthat in
turn switched on PD ac ctivity – that was
w the causee of “lunch tim
me PD phenoomena” (Fig. 14). No PD a activity
was deteccted in the substation since e repair.

Case 5. Bad
B contact in i CT second dary connections.
High maggnitude (~0.7V
V) sparking was
w observed d on phase B coupling ca apacitor in ve
ertical section
n #23.
Phase res
solved PD pattern was not typical for PD
D in insulation
n (Fig. 15).

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Fig. 15. Ph
hase resolved PD
P distribution
n and PD Intens
sity trend refleccting disappea
arance and retu
urning of bad ccontact
sparking.

Inspectionn revealed no oise coming from

f the CT. A loose screw w on the CT terminal wass found. Tighttening
of the screew eliminated d this sparking. Sometime later, the scrrew was loose e again and tthe final repair was
postponed d until a full outage
o opporrtunity. It is not
n a typical a application off a PD monittor, however it can
prevent trripping of the breaker and loosing
l a prodduction line.

Case 6. Typical
T issuees in 13.8 kV switchgear.
New bus was installe ed on 13.8 kVk switchgear lineup, but the PD monitor has shown unstable e and
increasingg PD activity well correlate
ed to change
es in tempera
ature and hum
midity measured by the m
monitor
(Fig 16).

Fig. 16. Se
easonal variatio
ons of PD activ
vity and Humidiity in the substa
ation.

Humidity and tempera ature dependence points to surface d discharges ass opposed too discharges in air
bubbles inn solid insula
ation. Similar PD activity was
w found alll over the buus. Inspection
n revealed sig
gns of
corona tracking along g fiberglass supports
s and deteriorationn of rubber inserts betweeen bus barss and
fiberglass
s plates wheree the main bus passes thro ough a cubicle
e wall.

Fig. 17. Co
orona powder on
o fiberglass bu
us separator

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Air gaps between bus pports are th e common p
s bars and fiiberglass sup places for PD
D activity (Fig
g 17).
Chemical contaminatio
on and high humidity
h can accelerate s urface trackin
ng and lead to phase to pphase
flash overr.

s is a good
Fiberglass d insulator until contamin nated by ab sorbed wate er and chem micals. In a harsh
environmeent such supports are thee typical place entual failure. Air gaps bettween
es for PD acttivity and eve
rubber ins
serts and bus bars create PD
P activity ass well.

REMOTE MONITORIN
NG

Remote monitoring
m adds additional value to con ntinuous mon nitoring by relieving custom mers of the burden
of data analysis,
a dily involving remote experts. Such ssystems continually superrvise the loca
read al PD
monitors for adverse conditions an nd automatic cally send ale erts and notiifications to p plant personn nel or
directly to
o the PD support engineers. Since PD D alarms are predictors of future failurre, plant perssonnel
can sched dule outages for conveniennt times to inv
vestigate andd repair defeccts. PD suppo ort engineerss have
experienc ce in reading PD patterns s and have an a excellent understandin ng of electriccal equipmen nt that
allows theem to recommmend the timinng for an outaage as well ass the likely loccation of the p
problem.

Modern Ethernet
E based monitoring systems offer o speed aand security as well as unparalleled data
transmisssion rates. Where
W it becom
mes difficult or ell modems can be
o expensive to run Etherrnet cable, ce
used to tie ystems using a secure VPN
e monitors intto Ethernet sy N (Fig 18).

Fig. 18. Re
emote Monitorin
ng Scheme Us
sing Cell Modem
ms to Eliminate
e Wiring

Use of Viirtual Private Networks (VVPN) and Virttual Local Arrea Networkss (VLAN) offe er safe and ssecure
connectioons acceptable to most IT profession nals today. AAutomated reemote monito oring systemss can
identify alarm condition
ns, downloadd data, notify necessary peersonnel and initiate analyysis. Such sysstems
should be e of robust and
a scalable
e design and d always incllude self-monnitoring provision (heart beat).
Periodic reports of diifferent levels
s can be co ncluded into a service co
onveniently in ontract elimin
nating
additional expense of bringing
b an ex
xpert to the siite.

CONCLUSION

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Continuous PD monitoring using multiple sensors is an indispensable tool for assessment of insulation
conditions in MV and HV equipment. This technology can be easily applied to switchgear, dry type
transformers and rotating machines. Such systems make it possible to capture and ultimately correlate
the changes in PD levels to specific operating conditions as well as repair activities. The level of
understanding we get from continuous monitoring is impossible to match using periodic measurements.
Continuous PD measurements assist equipment owners and operators in making informed decisions
about effectiveness of maintenance procedures performed on their assets by simple “measured-
inspected-confirmed-repaired” steps. Furthermore, remote monitoring adds significant value to asset
management by providing accurate and instant feedback on assets performance. The collected data can
also be very helpful to designers, manufactures and repair shops to improve their service quality and
reliability. Finally, the collected data will aid in filling the remaining gaps in understanding the physics of
partial discharge and its impact on insulation life expectancy.

REFERENCES

[1] Z.Berler, I.Blokhintsev,..”Partial Discharge On-Line

Monitoring in Switchgear and Bus ducts of Nuclear Power
Plants”, Proceedings of 8th International Conference on
Nuclear Engineering, April 2-6, 2000, Baltimore, MD.
[2] A. Golubev, G. Paoletti,..”On-Line Partial Discharge
Applications to MV Electrical Switchgear” EIC
Cincinnati, OH, USA, Oct. 15-18, 2001.
[3] G. Paoletti,..”On-Line Condition Assessment of MV
Electrical Switchgear and Ancillary Equipment via Partial
Discharge Technology”, EPRI 9th Substation Diagnostics
Conference, Feb.18-21, 2001, New Orleans
[4] A. Bohori,.., ”Electro-Coupling Effect on the Transient
Voltage Distribution in PWM Motor Winding”,
Proceedings of the 28th EIC, October 2007, Nashville, TN
[5] IEC 60270 and IEEE PC37.301 "High-Voltage Test
Techniques - Partial Discharge Measurements"
[6] ASTM D 1868 “Standard test Method for Detection and
Measurement of Partial Discharge(Corona) Pulses…”
[7] C.Kane, I.Blokhintsev,. “Measurement and Analysis of
Partial Discharge in Switchgear and Bus Duct”,
EIC, Indianapolis, IN, USA Oct. 2005.
[8] I.Blokhintsev, C Patterson, B Cassidy…
“Advantage of On-Line Partial Discharge
Continuous Monitoring of Medium Voltage
Substation”
EIC, Montreal Canada May 2009

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