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Comparison of acoustic and electrical partial discharge measurements on cable

terminations

Conference Paper  in  Electrical Insulation, 1988., Conference Record of the 1988 IEEE International Symposium on · July 2010
DOI: 10.1109/ELINSL.2010.5549559 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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 Comparison of Acoustic and Electrical Partial
Discharge Measurements on Cable Terminations
Richárd Cselkó, Zoltán Ádám Tamus, Attila Szabó, István Berta
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Egry József utca 18.
Budapest, H-1111, Hungary
Abstract- The medium voltage cable networks act important
role in electric energy distribution. One of the most important
issues of the reliability of cable lines is the condition of the cable
accessories especially terminations and joints. The condition of
the terminations and joints can be tested by on-line acoustic and
electrical methods. The main reason of failures of these
accessories can be related to the inadvertent installation. In this
study, cable terminations with artificial defects are examined by
electrical and acoustic partial discharge detection methods in
laboratory conditions. The results of the examinations are
compared from the point of view of sensitivity and selectivity,
and discussed in this paper.
I. INTRODUCTION
During the last decades there was a continuous
development of easy-to-use methods for the evaluation of the
condition of cables and cable accessories. Partial discharge
measurements were proved to be an adequate method for these
diagnostics purposes. On one hand, they are the evidences of
deterioration processes like delamination of multi-layer
insulations or desiccation of oil-filled cable accessories. On
the other hand, partial discharges deteriorate the insulating
materials and can lead to breakdown. The weakest point of
cables systems are the accessories, which implies that after
laying tests and periodic diagnostic measurements are worth to
carry out. The after laying tests can provide information about
the quality of assembly, which is the most common reason of
the infantile mortality, while periodic measurements can
provide evidence of the deterioration of the insulation due to
ageing and external factors. The acoustic partial discharge
detection is one of the non-conventional measuring techniques
applicable to cable terminations.
II. THE APPLIED MEASUREMENT METHODS
A. Conventional Electrical PD Detection
The technique of conventional partial discharge detection
has been known and applied for decades. This method or its
variants aided with modern signal processing and evaluation
techniques is still the most common used means of partial
discharge testing of high voltage equipment. The conventional
partial discharge detector applied for the discussed
measurements (Fig. 1) has a bandwidth of 40-200kHz. The
measured signals are visualized on a storage oscilloscope and
the data are transmitted to a computer for further evaluation.
Fig. 1. Conventional electrical PD measuring device
B. Acoustic PD Detection
Acoustic partial discharge detection is a non-conventional
technique based on the fact that electrical discharges initiate
wave pressures in the insulation [1], [2]. The main fields of
application are gas insulated switchgears and substations,
transformers, cable accessories, current transformers, etc. Its
application on GIS [3],[4] and transformers [5], [6], [7] are
widely investigated, while it seems that less effort has been
made to investigate the application on cable accessories.
The acoustic partial discharge detection has some inherent
features that make it very attractive for on-site measurements:
in a properly shielded system it is completely insensitive to
electromagnetic interference and it is able to localize the
discharges. Both qualities favor to avoid false alarms.
Compared to electrical measurements a further benefit of
acoustic detection is that its sensitivity does not depend on the
capacity of the test object.
One drawback is the complexity of pressure wave
propagation in insulating structures [1]. The exact propagation
paths and attenuation is in most cases unpredictable, which
makes absolute measurements impossible. Coming to that, the
signal amplitude is reduced due to the geometrical spreading,
dividing among multiple paths, absorption and transmission
losses between different media. These phenomena reduce
detectability of the acoustic signals and thus reducing
sensitivity of the measurement. Attenuation limits the
maximum thickness of insulator where acoustic discharge
detection is feasible. This problem makes difficult choosing
the bandwidth of the measurement device. Tuning the system
to resonance results in better sensitivity, but it limits the
temporal resolution [2], [8]. In this case, multiple incident
impulses during integration time can cause a false indication
of signal levels.
Using acoustic detection for cables has clear limits due to
the fact that after laying the cable is covered by ground. Due
to attenuation it is impossible to detect any discharges
occurring in the underground cable sections. When carrying
out after-laying tests, the armor and sheath of the cable
reduces the sensitivity and limits the minimum detectable
discharge magnitude to as high as 100pC. However, acoustic
detection of discharges in accessories is feasible. Localization
of discharges is done by finding the maximum acoustic signal
fig. 4. Termination with 5mm lattice
amplitude.
The applied measuring setup consisted of a waveguide (a D. Voltage sensitivity
fiberglass rod called also an acoustic rod, see Fig.2 [11]), a
preamplifier and an AIA100 measuring device (Fig. 3). This measurement was aimed to determine the minimum
During the measurements the RMS value, the periodic peak voltage needed to detect the defects with both electrical and
value, the 50Hz and the 100Hz content of the acoustic signal acoustic method. This measurement was carried out after the
were recorded. spatial sensitivity test, so the exact place of maximum acoustic
signal was already known.
III. CABLE SAMPLES
A cable termination is a complex multi-layer insulating
system. Its preparation allows many mistakes, like carrying
out improperly or even completely skipping a technological
step, damage the insulation or enclosing particles or moisture.
These mistakes were committed intentionally during the
preparation of the test objects, as listed in Table I and shown
in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.

TABLE I
CABLE ENDINGS PREPARED WITH ARTIFICIAL DEFECTS
Fig.2 Acoustic PD measurement on cable termination Nr. Defect
Place Type
Bending back a conductor
1 Screening
missed
Field grading and
2 Left out completely
filling tape
3 Semicon layer Cut
Void due to improper
4 Heat-shrink tube heating (lack of heating from
one side)
Fig. 3 Signal processing chart of the AIA measurement device Bubble left between the
5 Heat-shrink tube
C. Spatial sensitivity semicon layer and the tube
The goal of the spatial sensitivity measurements was to External cut on heat-shrink
6 Heat-shrink tube
gain information regarding the examined cable termination tube over the filling tape
about the minimum distance from the defect and the
attenuation when placing the sensor farther from the defect.
For this purpose the surface of the termination gridded with 5
mm spacing (fig. 4).
 Fig. 8. Phase resolved diagram of the measured acoustic signals

Fig. 5. Cable terminaion with an unbent screening conductor

Fig. 9. RMS values measured on termination nr. 6

Fig. 6. Artificial cut on the semicon layer

IV. RESULTS OF THE MEASUREMENTS

A complete series of measurement results of termination
nr. 6 are shown on the following series of figures (Fig. 7 to
Fig. 12). The time domain (phase resolved) display of
electrical and acoustic signals shows clear evidence of phase
correlation with the test voltage and each other, as well.
Regarding the different types of processed acoustic signal
it is clear that all of them can show the location of the defect.
But, at the same time the 100Hz content seems to have the
highest sensitivity having the highest dynamic range and being
less sensitive to disturbances like external noise or the
accidental noise caused by the movement of the waveguide Fig. 10. Periodic peak values measured on termination nr. 6
rod.

Fig. 11. 50Hz content measured on termination nr. 6

Fig. 7. Phase resolved diagram of electrical PD measurements

 Fig. 12. 100Hz content measured on termination nr. 6
It is important to mention that attenuation was different in
the different terminations e.g. in case of termination nr. 4 the
signal is almost undetectable farther 10mm of the defect, as it
is shown by Fig. 13.
Fig. 13. 100Hz content measured on termination nr. 4
The signal level indication of the conventional partial
discharge detector and the output of the acoustic detector (Fig.
14) show good correlation in case the acoustic detector is
placed directly to the defect.
Fig. 14. Electrical and acoustic measurments in function of test voltage on
termination nr. 6
Despite the good correlation of the above functions, the
ratio of the electrical and acoustic indication has a slight
deviation from the linear relation (Fig. 15).
Fig. 15. Acoustic signal level in function of the apparent charge of the
discharges on termination nr. 6
The sensitivity of electrical and acoustic measurements
was also evaluated by the minimum voltage of the detection of
the discharges. Based on the experienced noise levels, 10pC
apparent charge and 0.1mV of 100Hz content of the acoustic
signal were denominated as detectable levels. The results are
listed in Table II.
TABLE II
MINIMUM VOLTAGE NEEDED FOR DETECTION
Nr. Electrical (10pC) Acoustic (0,1mV)
1 3kV 15kV
2 - -
3 8kV 15kV
4 11kV 11kV
5 9kV 12kV
6 12,5kV 13kV
It is an interesting result that termination nr. 2 did not
show any discharges in the measured voltage range, but it is
expected that in case of long electrical stress the lack of the
tape will cause tracking and later breakdown.
V. DISCUSSION OF THE EXPERIENCES
The laboratory measurements have proved that acoustic
partial discharge detection is feasible on this type of cable
termination, but the experiences have shown some difficulties,
too.
The test voltage had to be over the nominal voltage of the
cable, because at nominal voltage the discharges were not
detectable or appeared only intermittently that made difficult
to locate them.
The acoustic rod is an easy-to-use equipment, however, it
poses some challenges for the user. The efficiency of the
sensor depends directly on the acoustic impedance between
the sensor and termination. When measuring with the rods
with a bent ending, it is not easy to feel the optimal direction
of the force that has to be applied. Although we have not
investigated it separately, the detection seems to be sensitive
to the angle between the rod and the surface. At the most
critical spots (ending of the semiconducting layer) [9], [10] the
full contact between the insulation and the rod is not possible
due to protrusions. The measurement is very sensitive to lack
of acoustic coupler (silicone compound), that has to be applied
on both ends of the waveguide.
Based on the laboratory experiences the minimum time
needed for a full acoustic scan of a termination can be
estimated. It turned out that the most problematic place is
where the semiconducting layer has been cut. Measurement is
necessary at least on 15cm of length, with 1cm resolution.
This resolution means 16 points radial. The duration of
measuring one point is around 5s (touching the surface of the
termination makes “noise” and “tuning” the application of the
proper force needs time). With these considerations, it has
been estimated that 20 minutes time is enough for a careful
examination.
VI. CONCLUSION
Acoustic partial discharge testing has many obvious
advantages. It is a non-destructive method and is inherently
able to locate discharge sources, while it can be carried out on-
line as well.
Some drawbacks have to be taken into consideration, too.
Touching the termination with the waveguide is live-line
working that may pose special requirements to the worker. In
some cases voltage has to be elevated well above nominal to
make possible the detection of the discharges. The spatial
selectivity can become extremely high, which can make
reliable measurement unfeasible.
The application of acoustic partial discharge diagnostics
has to be evaluated for each kind of accessories based on
sensitivity and duration of the measurements.
[8] A. Schei, F. Heksem, L.E. Lundgaard, “Acoustic Insulation Analyzer
for Periodic Condition Monitoring of Insulation Systems such as GIS,
Cable Terminations and Joints Etc.” VII. SEPOPE, Curituba, Brasil,
May 21-26, 2000
[9] Z.Á. Tamus, B. Németh, I. Kiss, R. Cselkó, I. Berta, “Complex
Examination of a Cable Terminal Failure,” IEEE International
Symposium on Electrical Insulation, Vancouver, 8-11 June 2008, pp47-
49
[10] Z.Á. Tamus, B. Németh, R. Cselkó, I. Berta, “Laboratoy Examination
of a Medium Voltage Cable Terminal Failure,” XVII. Dielectric and
Insulating Systems in Electrical Engineering (DISEE2008),
Demänovská Dolina, 17-19 September, 2008, pp56-59
[11] TransiNor As AIA-1 User Manual, Version 5.0.5, January 2007
BIOGRAPHIES
Richárd Cselkó (M’2009) was born in Budapest,
Hungary on October 17, 1983. He graduated from
the Budapest University of Technology and
Economics in 2008. He is now a Ph.D. student at the
same institution.
His fields of interest include partial discharges,
insulation diagnostics and high voltage measurement
techniques.
He is the chair of the IEEE Budapest University of Technology and
Economics Joint PES/IAS Student Branch Chapter.
E-mail: richard.cselko@ieee.org

REFERENCES
[1] L.E. Lundgaard, “Partial Discharge – Part XIII: Acoustic Partial
Discharge Detection – Fundamental Considerations,” IEEE Electrical
Insulation Magazine, July/August 1992-Vol.8.No.4 pp25-31
[2] L.E. Lundgaard, “Partial Discharge – Part XIV: Acoustic Partial
Discharge Detection – Practical Application,” IEEE Electrical
Insulation Magazine, September/October 1992-Vol.8.No.5 pp34-43
[3] A. Schei, S. Kyrkjeeide, V. Larsen, “Acoustic insulation analyzer for
periodic condition assessment of Gas Insulated Substations,”
Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exhibition 2002, 6-10
Oct. 2002, Vol. 2 pp919-924
[4] K. Gao, L.H. Yang, J.H. Jiang, Z.L. Liu, “Research on the Synthetic
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Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, 26-29
October 2008, Quebec, pp459-462
[5] L.E. Lundgaard, G. Berg, A.P. Brede, S.L.Kyrkjeeide, “Acoustic
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Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, 2003, pp582-583
[6] K. Raja, T. Floribert, “Comparative Investigations of UHF and
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2002, pp150-153
[7] T. Boczar, S. Borucki, A. Cichoń, D. Zmarzły, “Application
Possibilities of Artificial Neural Networks for Recognizing Partial
Discharges Measured by the Acoustic Emission Method,” IEEE
Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 16, No. 1;
February 2009, pp214-223

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