Comparison of Low Frequency and High

Frequency Partial Discharge Measurements

on Rotating Machine Stator Windings

G.C. Stone, H.G. Sedding,

C. Chan, C. Wendel
Iris Power L.P.
gstone@qualitrolcorp.com

1
 Outline
• Partial discharges (PD)
• Why do PD testing
• Relevant IEC and IEEE standards
• Low frequency (LF) vs higher frequency (HF,
VHF and UHF) PD testing
• Examples of test results using LF and VHF
detection
• Conclusions
2
 Electrical Representation of
Partial Discharge (PD)
Copper  Potential difference (voltage)
builds across an air-filled void
Cin
 Typically about 1/3 of the applied
voltage appears across the void
V Vair Cair
 if Electrical Stress E > 3kV/mm
Cin ( i.e., electrical stress exceeds
electrical breakdown strength of
gas), gas breakdowns – PD

0  The larger the void, the larger the

V discharge
 The PD creates electrons and ions
which bombard solid insulation,
leading to insulation erosion
PD pulses measured on operating
generator

4
 PD is a Symptom or a Cause of Several Gradual
Deterioration Processes in Stator Windings

• Loose coils/bars in the stator slot

• Delamination due to thermal aging
• Partly conductive contamination leading to electrical
tracking
• Groundwall insulation voids due to poor impregnation with
epoxy
• Poor manufacture of PD suppression coatings
• Inadequate spacing between bars/coils in the endwinding

PD is NOT a symptom of endwinding vibration, turn insulation

problems, water leaks, metallic debris away from HV
coils/bars
Aging Process Caused by
Manufacturing

8
Aging Processes Caused by Operation

9
 PD Test Standards
General Standards (not related to test object):
• IEC 60270- test method using low frequency
(LF) range up to 1 MHz, for capacitive test
objects, describes calibration from mV into
picoCoulombs (pC)
• IEC 62478 – describes PD test measurement
frequencies using electromagnetic or acoustic
methods in specific frequencies
– 3-30 MHz high frequency (HF)
– 30-300 MHz very high frequency (VHF)
– 300-3000 MHz ultrahigh frequency (UHF)
– Indicates it is NOT possible to make measurements in pC
– Gives examples of VHF and UHF detection in stators,
10
transformers and GIS
 PD Test Standards
Specific to Rotating Machines:
• IEEE 1434 – off-line and on-line PD test methods, for
QA and condition assessment
• IEC 60034-27-1 - off-line test for QA and condition
assessment; LF test method only (coils and windings)
• IEC 60034-27-2 – on-line PD test for condition
assessment:
– Discusses LF, VHF and UHF methods
– Extensive discussion that external electrical noise (from transmission line
corona, sparking electrical contacts, sparking from power tool operation)
means that there is a high risk of “false positive results”
– LF methods require considerable expertise to reduce false positive
indications (which can only be validated by inspecting the winding)
– VHF/UHF methods are described, but the standard implies may not detect
PD remote from sensor

11
 LF PD Testing
• For the most part - best for off-line testing (QA and
condition assessment)
• For QA testing of coils/bars – test object appears as a
capacitance, as required by IEC 60270; measure in pC

• For off-line testing of stators:

– little noise interference, so noise separation method is not
often needed
– Entire phase is energized, thus PD can occur remote from
PD sensor – with LF detection there is attenuation as PD
travels through the winding to the PD sensor due to
inductive impedance (X = 2pfL) and local resonances

12
 VHF/UHF PD Testing
• Standards suggest VHF/UHF not be used for off-line testing
of windings, unless trying to locate specific PD sites
• Standards and experience suggest risk of false indications
due to electrical noise is much lower with VHF/UHF since
several proven noise separation methods are available –
this reduces test cost since endusers can perform own
testing
• Since the stator appears as a surge impedance that varies
only from 20-30 ohms, rather than a complex inductive-
capacitive circuit that changes greatly from machine to
machine, independently validated levels for high PD have
been published. No such independently validated levels
exist for LF or HF testing.

13
 Attenuation of simulated PD pulses from neutral to
the line-end for LF (top) and VHF detection (bottom)

M. Lachance, F. Oettl, “A study of pulse propagation

behavior in a large TG”, June 2020 IEEE EIC

14
 PD Attenuation Through Winding
• Clear from this study that in LF range, how
sensitive one is to PD deeper within winding
depends on the detection frequency – likely
due to local resonances
• In VHF range, 10-20% loss of signal from
neutral bar to line end bar – PD capacitive
coupled along endwinding (most of the signal
loss occurs at the machine HV output
terminal)

15
 Case Studies
• Compared LF and VHF methods on same stators
in off-line tests (entire phase energized)
• Iris manufactures both LF and VHF PD detectors
• LF tests: PDTech DeltaMaxx, 1 nF sensor, 40-800
kHz
• VHF: Iris TGA-B, 80 pF sensor, 40-350 MHz
• Show results from the phase with highest PD only

16
 13.2 kV, 6000 HP Motor Stator
tested at 8 kV
LF result VHF result
Qm = 2.5 nC Qm = +816/-912 mV

17
 18 kV, 200 MVA, H2-cooled generator
tested at 9.7 kV, in air
LF result VHF result
Qm = 1.1 nC Qm = +106/-121 mV

18
 Observations
• Phase-resolved PD (PRPD) patterns the same
for LF and VHF tests
• The pC to mV ratio is different for tests on
different stators (as predicted in IEC
standards):
– 2.7 pC/mV for motor
– 9.1 pC/mV for generator

19
LF vs VHF On-Line PD Detection for Stators
LF
• Original method (1950s)
• Uses 1-10 nF sensors
• Many sensors do not meet IEC
reliability requirements for
sensors
• 0.1 to 3 MHz
• In principle, sensitive to PD
“deeper” in the winding
• Needs considerable expertise to
separate PD from noise
• No independently verified levels
for high PD
• Used on a (perhaps) a few
thousand motors and
generators
• Preferred by most OEMs and
service companies
VHF
• Developed in the 1980s
• 80 pF sensors
• Usually meets all sensor
reliability requirements in IEEE
1434 and IEC 60034-27-2
• 40-350 MHz
• Probably sensitive to PD
anywhere in the winding, but to
be conservative - in top 15% of
winding (due to lower voltage
farther from line end)
• Lower risk of false indications
• Independently verified high PD
levels
• Used on >18,000 motors and
generators
• Preferred by majority of endusers
23
 Conclusions
• LF and VHF PD detection in machines each have
different advantages
• For off-line testing it is clear that LF testing is preferred
since PD may be detected better no matter where it
occurs in the winding
• For on-line testing methods, as with transformers and
GIS, the VHF and UHF methods have been preferred by
endusers, since the risk of false indications caused by
noise is lower, and thus test credibility is higher
• Experiments on a large hydrogenerator showed that
sometimes VHF sees less attenuation of the PD than LF
• As also discussed in IEC standards, setting what is low
and high PD is difficult when using pC in the LF range
24
 References
1. G.C. Stone, et al, “ Electrical Insulation for Rotating Machines”, Wiley-
IEEE Press, 2014
2. G.C. Stone, et al, “Importance of Bandwidth in PD Measurements in
Operating Motors and Generators”, IEEE Trans DEI, Jan. 2000, pp 6-11
3. G.C. Stone, “Calibration of PD measurements for Motor and
Generator Windings- Why it cant be done”, IEEE Electrical Insulation
Magazine, Jan. 1998, pp 9-12.
4. M. Henriksen et al, "Propagation of Partial Discharge and Noise
Pulses in Turbine Generators,” IEEE Trans EC, September 1986, p.161.
5. G.C. Stone et al, “Comparison of LF and HF PD measurements on
rotating machine stator windings”, IEEE Electrical Insulation
Conference, June 2018.

gstone@qualitrolcorp.com

25