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On-site measurements of Partial Discharges through tap of the bushings —

Brazilian experience in power transformers

Conference Paper · June 2013

DOI: 10.1109/ICSD.2013.6619767

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 2013 IEEE International Conference on Solid Dielectrics, Bologna, Italy, June 30 – July 4, 2013

On-Site Measurements of Partial Discharges Through Tap of the

Bushings – Brazilian Experience in Power Transformers
H. P. Amorim Jr. A. T. D. Carvalho T. B. Rodrigues J. B. S. Borges C. F. F. de C. Cunha
Department of Lines and Stations, DLE
Electric Energy Research Center - CEPEL
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
amorim@cepel.br tomaz@cepel.br thiagobr@cepel.br borges@cepel.br caiocunha@cepel.br

Abstract—This paper describes the recent Brazilian experience
at on-site Partial Discharges (PD) measurement and analysis in
Power Transformers, including the development of IMA-DP
(Instrumentation for Monitoring and Analysis of Partial
Discharges), designed by Eletrobras to monitor High Voltage
Equipment. The proposed system includes high speed digitizer
cards on an industrial computer and is designed to operate off-
line or on-line, remotely logging statistical maps of PD over time.
The goal of this project was to evaluate the performance of the
operative state of power transformers of 138kV up to 500kV
installed in the Brazilian electric power system.
Keywords — Partial discharge, power transformers
I. INTRODUCTION
The PD on-site evaluation on high voltage equipment is a
predictive diagnosis tool that can assist in the accomplishment
of the maintenance of the equipment. The result of this
evaluation can lead to the intervention in the equipment before
it can suffer more serious damage. A catastrophic failure can
even affect the whole electrical system.
The measurement of partial discharges in power
transformers has always caused intensive discussions and
differing opinions on specialized technical groups. The state of
the art, which has evolved very little in recent years in terms of
effective diagnosis of the machines, fails to produce the
desired universal procedures and recommendations.
The oil-paper insulation of a power transformer can
tolerate partial discharge for a while. Partial discharge activity,
on the other hand is an indicator for degradation of the
insulation system. Thus, partial discharge monitoring is an
effective tool to evaluate its insulation system.
Among reasons for the absence of universal measurement
procedures, we can cite the difficulty to quantify the severity
of the internal problem, since the registered amplitudes are
also functions of the location of the discharges. In this paper,
we presented three cases that can help on the discussion of the
importance of the partial discharge measurement.
The technologic stagnation results on a diversity of
solutions about monitoring and diagnosis according to the
culture and the technical knowledge of each company.
However, there is a common sense of the most part of
specialists: the partial discharge measurement is still a
fundamental tool to establish consistent evaluation of electrical
performance of the insulation system.
II. PARTIAL DISCHARGES
The occurrence of partial discharges in the insulation
system of the high voltage (HV) equipment is a symptom of
the fragility of the dielectric. Its evolution can have serious
consequences for these equipments and for the whole electric
system. The measurement of partial discharges is made in
order to verify if there are discharge activities inside the
dielectric and, if possible, to quantify it.
Physically, Partial Discharges are the result of an
ionization process in gaseous environment in the interior of
dielectric materials, caused by an intense and located electric
field [1]. From this process, several physical quantities are
generated in the local, like electromagnetic pulses, brightness,
acoustic noise, temperature increasing and local chemical
reactions.
Traditionally, PD have been evaluated by the measurement
of the high frequency electric pulses conducted on a specific
measurement circuit, according to the procedures described in
IEC 60270 [2], see Fig.1.
On an electromagnetic noisy environment such as electric
substations, signal pre-conditioning is required in order to
discriminate noises from useful PD signals. The quality of an
on-site PD measurement is directly related with an efficient
pre-processing of the acquired signals. In order to provide
effective signal pre-conditioning for IMA-DP (Instrumentation
for Monitoring and Analysis of Partial Discharges) in such
electromagnetic noisy environment, customized analog filters
have been successfully used.
Fig. 1. PD measurement circuit in laboratory.

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 2013 IEEE International Conference on Solid Dielectrics, Bologna, Italy, June 30 – July 4, 2013
III. PARTIAL DISCHARGES MEASUREMENT
Bushing sensors are employed at online electrical PD
measurements. They are installed in the capacitance tap of the
bushings. Fig. 2 shows a typical bushing sensor that is
installed in the capacitance tap of a high-voltage bushing.
Fig. 2- Typical bushing sensor and yours installation
Typically, bushing coupler units suited for permanent
installation are mounted to the test tap of the bushings. The
connector output of the bushing adapter is then connected to
the bushing coupler unit, which provides the high-frequency
signals superimposed with the AC signal derived from a
capacitor voltage divider, and also provides a second output
connector for bushing monitoring, such as: tan delta and
voltage measurements.
The sensors must have the capability to catch the high-
frequency signals of PD. One of the key issues in making
electrical measurements is the noise, especially on high-
voltage substations. Typical noise found in high-voltage
substations are corona and floating potentials. In this work
high-pass analog filters have been used to reduce noise of
lower frequencies.
Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of the on-site measurement
circuit. All the components – power transformers, bushing,
bushing sensors, measurement impedance (quadripoles),
oscilloscope and IMA-DP – have been presented in this
Figure.
Fig. 5. Power Transformer evaluated
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1021
IV. FIELD RESULTS AND CASE STUDIES
A. Case 1 - Transformer rating: 145 kV/69 kV – Three Single
Phase Tanks
These transformers are installed in the substation of the
Brazilian Electric Energy Research Center, CEPEL, in Rio de
Janeiro. It is used by the laboratory for special tests that
require high power. Therefore, it is an important equipment
and must be monitoring continuously. See Fig. 3.
Fig. 3. Power Transformer evaluated.
The phase resolved partial discharge measurement offers
excellent possibilities to characterize the properties of defects
on isolation materials. An example can be seen on a surface
graph shown in Fig. 4. From this representation, we can get
many other information, like total number of PD registered,
and the graphics of pulse count versus phase or amplitude.
Sequential results, each three months, indicated an
evolution in the intensity of Partial Discharges, see Fig. 5. In
this case, the recommendation is a more intense investigation
and monitoring.
Currently, based on the analysis of PD data, this equipment
is under maintenance and will be recovered. After its recovery
a new sequence of PD tests will be programmed to evaluate
the effectiveness of the repair.
Fig. 4. Phased Resolved Partial Discharge of Case A
 2013 IEEE International Conference on Solid Dielectrics, Bologna, Italy, June 30 – July 4, 2013

Fig. 4. Power Transformer evaluated – Case 1 Fig. 6. PRPD of the High Voltage A-Phase – Case 3

B. Case 2 – Power Transformer rating: 230 kV/138 kV – The results confirmed PD existence and enabled us to
Three Single Phase Tanks evaluate its severity degree, see Fig. 6.

This is an important equipment of an electric substation in
Brasil. A failure in this equipment may cause a blackout on
thousands of consumers in the central region of the country. In
this case, IMA-DP was installed as a standalone system.
Partial Discharge measurements were made during two days
continuously. The maximum detected PD was around 450 pC
from the high-voltage B-Phase sensor, see Table I.
TABLE I.RESULTS OF PD MEASUREMENT ON POWER TRANSFORMER CASE 2.
Unfortunately, the appropriate decision has been taken in
time to prevent failure. The consideration of the PD
measurement as an essential tool to establish a robust
assessment of electrical performance of the Power
Transformer was not accepted by the company. After a few
months, the electrical equipment failed, causing great damage
and inconvenience technicians. The most important fact is the
confirmation of what was indicated by the PD measurement.

Phase A - HV A - LV B - HV B - LV C - HV C - LV
Charge (pC) 300 350 450 350 150 200

A PRPD measurement of the High Voltage B-Phase is

shown on Figure 5. It is possible identify characteristic signals
of partial discharges in this PRDP through its relationship with
the reference signal of 60Hz.

Fig. 5. PRPD of the High Voltage B-Phase – Case 2

C. Case 3- Power Transformer rating: 550 kV/ 230 kV – Three

Single Phase Tanks
This is another very important equipment of an electric
substation in Brazil, see Fig. 7. An equipment failure can
cause prejudice thousands of consumers and various industries
with high electrical loads. The cost of such a failure is
incalculable.
In this case, a permanently PD monitoring system was Fig. 7. Power Transformers Failed
installed. Partial Discharge measurements were made during
four years continuously.

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 2013 IEEE International Conference on Solid Dielectrics, Bologna, Italy, June 30 – July 4, 2013
V. RESULTS, DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSION
Analyzing and locating internal partial discharge activity
on large power transformers is a demanding task. Power
transformers have a complex internal life that is mostly hidden
by the tank. Traditional methods along with modern
measurement techniques offer results and information needed
to support maintenance. Signal processing techniques have
greatly improved traditional testing methods for accessing the
health of power transformers.
In this paper the practice of performing in-service electrical
PD monitoring on large power transformers has been
successfully demonstrated for three cases. One of them has
failed. This failure could have been avoided if measures had
been taken into account. This case demonstrates that the
measurement of partial discharges may be very useful in
preventing future failures.
Moreover, since 2004 IMA-DP has been used in two
hydro-generators at a Brazilian hydroelectric power plant
located in Tucuruí, the biggest genuinely Brazilian
hydroelectric plant. Besides that, it will be soon installed in
others hydroelectric plants, in thermal plants and in nuclear
plants in Brazil.
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Digital PD measurement instrumentation for monitoring
purpose requires hardware with high sample rate and large
memory, besides heavy signal process performed in parallel
with the signal acquisition and storing processes. Another
important goal was the use of commercial, available modular
measurement equipment, what has reduced the system’s final
cost, making easier and cheaper the system’s maintenance,
repairs and future upgrades.
One important result was to reduce the costs of the PD
monitoring system so that turn possible its installation on a
large number of measurement points at a large number of
Power Transformers of the Brazilian power system. This will
improve our diagnostic capability of electrical equipment,
improving thus the reliability and availability of the electricity
supply.
REFERENCES
[1] “IEC 60270 - High Voltage Test Techniques: Partial Discharge
Measurements, third edition (2000)”. 2000.
[2] J. R. Perkins, “Some general remarks on corona discharges”,
Engineering Dielectrics Volume I: Corona Measurement and
Interpretation, ASTM Special Publication 699, Philadelphia, 1979, pp
03-21.
[3] IEEE C57.113-1991 "IEEE Recommended Practice for Partial Discharge
Measurement in Liquid- Filled Power Transformers and Shunt
Reactors".
[4] D. Gross, M.. Soeller, "Partial Discharge Diagnosis on large Power
Transformers," ISEI 2004 Conference, Indianapolis, IN, September 19-
222004, 04CH37561C, pp. 186-191.