502

TECHNICAL BROCHURE
WG
High-Voltage On-Site Testing with D1.33
Partial Discharge Measurement

Members
Groupe d’Action 05
R. Pietsch, Convenor (DE): 2007-2010,
W. Hauschild, Convenor (DE): 2004-2007,
J. Blackett (AU), R. Bodega (NL), A. Claudi (DE), M. Gamlin (CH),
B. Finlay (AU), E. Gockenbach (DE), E. Gulski (NL), R.A. Jongen (CH),
Th. Leibfried (DE), E. Lemke (DE), S. Meijer (NL), P. Mohaupt (AT),
M. Muhr (AT), F. Petzold (DE), E. Pultrum (NL), G. Rizzi (IT),
Th. Strehl (DE), C. Sumereder (AT),
S. Tenbohlen (DE), P. Werle (DE)

During the life cycle of high voltage (HV) apparatus
or systems (Fig. 1), many tests and measurements are
performed to characterize the insulation condition.
The results of these tests and measurements should
be compiled in a “life data record”, which supplies
information on trends of diagnostic indicator values.
The HV on-site test with PD measurement has an
intermediate position between routine tests and
in-service monitoring measurements (on-line or
off-line):
In addition to type and routine testing, HV on-site
testing is an important part of quality assurance.
On-site tests are applied:
• as a part of commissioning of equipment on hand may have caused the sometimes quite different
site to demonstrate that the transport from
manufacture to site and erection on-site have
not caused any critical defects, which lower the
dielectric withstand voltage of the insulation
below coordination withstand level Ucw ;
• after repair on site to demonstrate that the
equipment has been successfully repaired;
• for diagnostic purposes in the framework of
the asset management program by providing
reference values of diagnostic indicators
(e.g. partial discharge values and dielectric
parameters) for later trending of test results. On
site tests are normally applied after a warning
is received from the condition monitoring
program.
Furthermore it has to be considered that depending
on the particular condition of the HV component:
• the expectations from testing depend on the
test procedure as selected for the particular
component;
• some degradation and breakdown risks may be
related to the level and the duration of withstand
voltage stresses as applied during on-site testing;
• voltage withstand testing at the selected voltage
level gives go/no-go information for this test
voltage level and requires confirmation by
methods such as PD measurement of possible
field strength effects on the insulation system.
The different aims of HV testing on the one hand
and insulation diagnostics/monitoring on the other
philosophies (Table 1). But the common physical
background of the measured phenomena is the
behaviour of dielectrics in the electric field. Therefore,
the tests and measurements in the factory and on-site
(off-line or in-service) should be harmonized. This
offers an improvement of on-site test procedures
supported by PD measurement.
PD measurements play an important role in both
quality assurance tests and monitoring for condition
assessment. In contrast to diagnostics of integral
dielectric parameters, such as tan δ, εr and dielectric
response, which are characteristics of the whole dielectric
volume, partial discharges are related to local insulation
defects. Such “weak-points”, are a part of the insulation
system, where under certain stress circumstances of e.g.
mechanical, chemical, thermal or electrical character a
severe PD activity prior breakdown may occur. 

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D1.33

Fig. 1: Data sampling and recording during the life cycle of HV

apparatus

In case of new insulation, critical defects are the result
of assembling failures which can be found by a routine
test consisting of the HV withstand test combined
with PD measurement. In case of the insulation of HV
equipment in service (which has been tested successfully
and which operates for years) a critical defect might be
caused by high electrical, thermal or mechanical stresses
or by the “aging” of the insulation itself. This means the
partial discharges are symptoms and sometimes also
the results of this “integral” process in the volume of
the insulation, which causes – over a more or less long
period – the previous mentioned “weak point”. In other
words, partial discharges indicate the non-reversible
destruction of solid or mixed insulation. This is
important for both the detection of production faults
by means of quality assurance test and the recognition
of weak points/defects caused by aging during service
by means of diagnostic tests. Consequently, all HV
withstand tests, also if performed on site, should be
combined with PD measurement.
During the HV dielectric withstand test, the 

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Figure 2:
Life time characteristic of a solid insulation
insulation is stressed with the specified test voltage (ut)
for a specified time duration (tt), see Figure 1. This test
is successful if the insulation withstands the applied
stress. If a disruptive discharge occurs, the insulation
fails the withstand test, which means the result delivers
a clear answer which does not require any further
interpretation. Therefore the withstand test is a direct
test, which is intended to destroy a defective insulation
whereas healthy insulation should pass the test.
During an indirect test other parameters, such as the
apparent PD is measured. The insulation passes the test
when the measured parameter value remains below
a predefined limit during the test. The limit value is
derived from laboratory and field experience, computer
simulation based on physical models or simply from
an agreement between the utility and manufacturer.
The certainty of the interpretation of the on-site test
results is very much dependent on how the limit value is
originally determined. On-site voltage levels and the test
duration should also to be taken into account. In most
cases, the certainty of the interpretation from indirect
tests is very much lower than those of direct tests.
Additionally it is necessary to consider the life time
consumption of a withstand test. Each electrical stress
consumes life time, depending on parameters such as
voltage level, test duration and test frequency. A healthy
insulation has a higher withstand voltage than insulation
with critical defects. A withstand voltage test must be
designed in such a way that the life time consumption
of healthy insulation is negligible whereas the voltage is
high enough to cause breakdown in defective insulation
(Figure 2).
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D1.33
Figure 3:
Test cycle for withstand test with PD measurement
For non-self-restoring insulation it should be noted
that insulation with defects may pass the withstand test
with the test stress triggering defects which in time lead
to a failure in service. To check the presence of insulation
defects, the withstand test should be combined with a
sensitive PD measurement (Fig. 3). The voltage should
be increased to the highest test voltage value in steps
and then decreased in identical steps. The voltage step
levels and the time of voltage application on each step
can differ when applied to power cables, GIS or power
transformers. The PD magnitude at each step (ut)
should not exceed a defined limit and the PD inception
and extinction voltages should be above the maximum
operation voltage. It is recommended that the PD
measurement be performed on all voltage steps prior
to, during and following the withstand test levels as this
may provide an indication of possible damage of the
insulation.
The combination of withstand testing and PD
measurement is strongly recommended. The test voltage
sequence as given in Fig. 3 has been a recommended
procedure for quality testing during routine tests for
many years (this method cannot be applied to all HV
equipment with non-self-restoring insulation however).
It is expected that the combination of withstand testing
and PD measurement will become mandatory for both
routine and on-site tests in future. Additionally, the
condition-assessment of insulation should take into
account different methods of periodic inspection or
monitoring. As a general principle periodic inspections
or monitoring should deliver a warning which 
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Table 2: Test voltages used on-site for various HV apparatus / systems
Abbreviations:
W - withstand voltage test (e.g. 60 s, AC)
PD - voltage test with PD measurement
DM - voltage test with dielectric measurement (mainly tan δ),
no withstand test
ACTC - transformer circuit for AC voltage generation
ACRL - inductance-tuned resonant circuit for AC voltage generation
might be followed by a diagnostic off-line test. This test
should apply the same procedure of withstand testing
and PD measurement as described above. The PD
values of that test shall be compared with the reference
values (“fingerprints”) of the initial on-site test.
There are many different types of HV apparatus and
systems. To be able to test them all requires a wide variety
of well adapted mobile HV test facilities including
PD measuring equipment. Fig. 4 shows examples of
a selection of the HV test facilities outlining the type
of test object, the purpose of the on-site test, methods
of handling and the cost requirements. A main aspect
should be that the test voltage should represent stresses
in service. Related aspects are given in chapters 4 and 5.
Clear guidelines for the requirements of the test
voltages to be applied are given in IEC 60060-1 and
60060-2 for routine testing and in IEC 60060-3 for
on-site testing. For installations which have been in
service, lower voltages and/or shorter durations may
be used. These test values should be fixed, taking into
account the age, environment, history of breakdowns,
and the purpose of carrying out this test, as there is not a
general principle for the value of the on-site test voltage
levels for all type of HV apparatus. The test voltage
levels required for insulation coordination are only
related to new insulation, and any similar coordination
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D1.33
ACRF - frequency-tuned resonant circuit for AC voltage generation
MV - medium voltage
HV - high-voltage
1) applied in the past and no longer recommended
2) mainly for PD diagnostics
for in-service insulation is not currently available.
Furthermore, it is important to coordinate the
quality assurance tests (routine tests in factory,
commissioning tests on-site, and tests after repair) and
the diagnostic tests (off-line or on-line). The results of
measurements of partial discharges, dissipation factor
and other quantities of quality tests are used as the
references (“fingerprints”) for later diagnostic tests
and measurements. Records of repeated measurements
may be used to show trends (e.g. PD magnitudes,
pulse rate/s, etc.) which present the most important
information for condition assessment. All this enables
the establishment of the “life cycle record” (Fig. 1) for
important HV equipment as the reference for condition
based maintenance (CBM).
The brochure is organized in six chapters. In chapter
2, titled “High Voltage Sources and Accessories for
On-Site Applications” the general requirements for
on-site test voltages as published by CIGRE WG 33.03/
TF 04 and published in ELECTRA No. 195 (2000) are
up-dated with the state of the art of test voltages, used
for PD measurements (continuous alternating voltage
(AC); damped alternating voltage (DAC), very-low
frequency voltage (VLF)). A survey on the application
of these test voltages for various HV apparatus is given
in Table 2. 
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Chapter 3, “On-site PD Measurements”, presents
actual aspects of PD detection, measurement, noise
reduction and PD evaluation including identification
and localisation of defects in the insulation. In this
context it should be noted, that recently an application
guide on PD measurements in compliance with IEC
60270 was published as TB No. 366. Moreover, another
TB by CIGRE WG D1.33, which deals with so-called
non-conventional PD detection methods, should be
mentioned here. Therefore, the fundamentals of both
conventional and non-conventional PD detection
techniques are only briefly presented, whereas practical
experiences gained from on-site PD tests are discussed
more in detail in this brochure.
Chapter 4, “Preconditions for On-Site Testing
Including PD Measurement”, gives a short list of
information with the aim to help in the selection of
optimised HV test systems and test procedures for
any kind of on-site test. The list is subdivided into
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three parts referring to the characteristics of the HV
component under test and its installation, the aim and
D1.33
requirements of the test as well as the characteristics of
the HV test system to be applied.
Various examples of HV on-site tests in
combination with PD measurements are given
in chapter 5, “Examples of Test and Measuring
Techniques for Apparatus and Systems”. Each example
includes the description of the HV test sources, the
PD measurement methods and the test procedures
for on-site PD tests on GIS, power cables, rotating
machines and power transformers.
Chapter 6, “Conclusions”, summarizes the most
important aspects of on-site testing with PD
measurement as follows:
1. HV withstand testing plays an important role
in quality assurance of HV apparatus. 

a b

c d

Figure 1.4: Examples for HV tests with PD measurement

(a) 400 kV GIS by ACRF (frequency tuned resonant circuit) test system of modular reactors via bushing
(b) 400 kV GIS by ACRF test system with directly flanged reactor
(c) 150 kV HV cable system by DAC test system
(d) 400 kV/433 MVA power transformer by static frequency converter

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However, additional measurements of the
dielectric properties, such as significant
PD quantities and the loss factor tan
δ may enhance the reliability and
remaining life time of electrical insulation.
2. As there are several methods of voltage
generation on site which can be applied
for withstand testing combined with PD
measurements, the brochure discusses
and presents those various and commonly
used HV sources and PD measurement
techniques developed for on-site tests.
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TECHNICAL BROCHURE
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volume, partial discharges are “weak point
phenomena” as it is also the electric breakdown.
D1.33
In case of the new insulation, the critical
defects/weak points are e.g. the result of an
assembling failure which can be found by
a routine test consisting of the HV withstand
test including PD measurement. In case of
the insulation of HV equipment in service
(which has been tested successfully and
which operates for years) a critical defect
might be caused by high electrical, thermal
or mechanical stresses and by
the “aging” of the insulation itself.

3. In this context PD measurements play an 4. It is expected that HV on-site testing with

important role in both quality testing and
monitoring for condition assessment. As
opposed to most dielectric measurements (tan
δ, εr, dielectric response parameters) which
are characteristics of the whole dielectric
PD measurement will play an increasing role
for the improvement of the reliability of
equipment for electric power generation,
transmission and distribution. 

BROCHURE N° 502
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No. 262 - June 2012 ELECTRA 93