TESTING

ABSTRACT
To meet an ever-demanding market
for reliable insulation condition
analysers, Megger is proud to present
the latest Dielectric Frequency
Response test instrument in the
IDAX family: IDAX 322. It is a robust
hand-carried instrument that has
many features that enable efficient
diagnostic and efficient use of the
testing time.

KEYWORDS
diagnostics, dielectric frequency
response, HV insulation, bushing,
instrument transformer, testing

90 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 8, Issue 2 | 2021


The Megger
IDAX 322
Achieving DFR Success for All Applications
The Megger IDAX 322 is operated by an easy-to-use software with
assessment guidance informed by international standards and over
25 years of field experience with DFR technology
T
o meet an ever-demanding mar-
ket for reliable insulation condi-
tion analysers, Megger is proud
to present the latest Dielectric
Frequency Response (DFR) test instru-
ment in the IDAX family: IDAX 322.
Since 1997, when the first portable DFR
instrument, the ‘IDA’, was brought to
the field, the analysis of the dielectric re-
sponse of different insulation materials in
the frequency domain has reached several
applications. Among these, the most suc-
cessful to date in the power industry is the
measure of power transformer insulation
systems.
To replicate this success for other critical
components in the power grid, a group
of internationally renowned specialists at
Megger identified the ‘must-have’ require-
ments for hardware and software features
and technical capabilities in an optimised
DFR test instrument. For example, one
named capability was a sufficient test volt-
age. Given the comparatively low capac-
itance of components such as bushings
and current transformers (CTs), a higher
test voltage than a DFR test instrument’s
typical 140 V output is necessary to im-
prove the signal-to-noise ratio and allow
for their accurate measurement, especially
in noisy environments.
Megger’s IDAX 322 has been designed
to ease work and overcome challenges
w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m
encountered in the field. The instrument
can, of course, be used in a laboratory en-
vironment, but the 322’s state-of-the-art
design and features practically eliminate
the difficulties of achieving reliable, ac-
curate, and fast diagnosis of high voltage
(HV) insulation systems in the field with
its industry-leading 1.4 kV RMS output.
IDAX 322 is optimised for DFR testing of
HV and EHV (extra high voltage) bush-
ings, CTs, and voltage transformers (VTs)
while working equally well for power
transformers.
IDAX 322 is ready for the most demand-
ing field conditions. The instrument is
operated by an easy-to-use software with
assessment guidance informed by inter-
national standards and over 25 years of
field experience with DFR technology.
1. Introduction of DFR
Dielectric Frequency Response (DFR)
is a measurement technique in which
capacitance and losses (dissipation fac-
tor (% DF), tan delta (% TD), or power
factor (% PF)) are measured over a wide
frequency range. Typical DFR test fre-
quencies are 1 kHz to 1 mHz for mois-
ture assessment of power transformers
and 1 kHz to 10 mHz (a 5-minute test)
for other applications, such as CT, VT,
and bushing assessments. These power
grid components work under a variety
of thermal, electrical, and mechanical
Advertorial
stresses, which contribute to the deg-
radation and ageing of their insulation
systems. The detrimental effects are of-
ten imperceptible by basic testing tech-
niques, such as line-frequency % DF or
% PF, so operations and asset managers
must rely on advanced testing techniques
such as DFR to identify proactive actions
for extending the service life of these crit-
ical-power-grid components.
With the introduction of DFR as a corner-
stone of advanced field diagnostics proce-
dures, critical details about the condition
of the insulation systems began to emerge.
DFR’s evolution in the transformer indus-
try is ongoing. The DFR technique has
been described in many technical docu-
ments and is recognised in several inter-
national standards. Today, Megger is the
leader in the ‘field’ DFR technology, and
IDAX users can be found across a wide
spectrum in the power industry, includ-
ing OEMs, academia, utilities, and service
companies.
1.1. DFR applications
“Originally, Megger’s IDAX insula-
tion analyser was used for MV ca-
bles with XLPE and EPR insulation.
Since 1997, the use of HV DFR for
insulation diagnostics of cable insu-
lation was well investigated. IDAX
enabled many researchers across the
world (both in academia and indus-
91
 TESTING
The EMI depends on several different
parameters in the substation, such as
substation voltage level and distance
from disturbance
try) to use DFR as a tool in their re-
search, resulting in new applications
for IDAX where the most prominent
became oil-paper systems where
high voltages were not required
for condition assessment” explains
Dr. Peter Werelius – Megger’s Senior
Applications Specialist and designer
of the first IDA instrument.
A power transformer’s interwinding in-
sulation became the most common DFR
test object. Accurate measurement of
this insulation system’s unique dielec-
tric response facilitates a determination
of the percentage of residual moisture
concentration in the solid insulation as
well as the conductivity of the liquid insu-
lation.
DFR became essential for the definitive
assessment of oil-paper insulation in
Figure 1. IDAX 322 and its new accessories for HV bushing testing
92
transformers, but the evolution of ap-
plications did not stop there. The work
presented by CIGRE regarding reliabil-
ity analysis of power transformers and
bushings evidenced the need to analyse
not only the main transformer insula-
tion but also the insulation of bushings
and instrument transformers in the net-
work. HV and EHV bushings age as any
other insulation system, but their mea-
surement presents different challenges
than those for power transformers. The
measured current of a low capacitance
specimen is quite low and, particularly at
frequencies below 1 Hz, is very sensitive
to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Megger’s DFR database indicates that in
operational HV substations, the line-fre-
quency AC interference ranges between
0 – 100 µA, and DC interference ranges
between 0 – 50 nA [1]. Interference in the
TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 8, Issue 2 | 2021
substation cannot be controlled, but its ef-
fect can be minimised, foremost by using
a test instrument that measures entirely
in the frequency domain. Time-domain
(DC) measurements are much more sus-
ceptible to EMI bias. Secondly, a higher
test voltage can be used to improve the
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
The negative effect of EMI has been well
documented while testing instrument
transformers in the field. Academic re-
search carried out at both the KHT Royal
Institute of Technology in Sweden and
the Tennessee Technological University
(TTU) in the USA provided some of the
very first DFR test results on instrument
transformers. Since then, a great amount
of work has been implemented to improve
high voltage CT, VT, and capacitive volt-
age transformer (CVT) analyses.
“Megger presented a solution to the
EMI problem several years ago with
VAX020, a high voltage amplifi-
er that allowed the output signal of
140 V RMS from the IDAX to become
10 times greater, stepping up the test
voltage signal to 1.4 kV RMS” adds
Dr. Roberts Neimanis – Megger’s
DFR Product Manager.
2. Effective testing with
reliable results
The IDAX 322 is a combination of both
the IDAX300S and VAX020, built into a
lightweight 13 kg (28 lbs), hand-carried
instrument, making testing very man-
ageable for the user. Available testing
time is limited in a field environment, so
performing an error-free, representative,
and repeatable measurement efficiently
is paramount. Incorrect or inadequate
test connections are often to blame for
test results that prompt the recommen-
dation to repeat the test. While the soft-
ware aids with correct lead placement,
the IDAX 322 arrives with new accesso-
ries (Fig. 1) that minimise the chances for
poor connections of the test leads to the
test specimen.
EMI, of course, is the most prevalent
source of frustration when trying to access
the DFR of a test object. The EMI depends
on several different parameters in the sub-
station, such as substation voltage level
and distance from disturbance. IDAX 322
provides at least 10 times higher SNR as
compared to any other DFR instrument
currently available. Therefore, the instru-
ment guarantees the effective utilisation
of valuable testing time in the field. A field
example shown in Fig. 2 illustrates the
benefit of the 1.4 kV output that IDAX
322 offers.
3. IDAX 322 additional
features
The IDAX 322 incorporates all of the
great features available in the IDAX 300,
including a two-ammeter design. The
benefit of having two available metering
systems is the unique advantage of test-
ing two capacitances simultaneously.
“That means a great reduction of
testing time when multiple capac-
itances can be tested under a sim-
ilar connection or testing two HV
bushings at the same time. No other
instrument is capable of simultane-
ous measurement in the frequen-
cy domain. In some dual-channel
instruments, both channels share
a single ammeter and, with these,
either half as many measurements
are made, or no timesaving is real-
ised” enthuses
Jill Duplessis – Megger’s Global
Technical Marketing Manager.
w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m
10
% DF @ 0.5 kV
% DF @ 1.4 kV
%DF
1
0.1
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Frequency [Hz]
Figure 2. Effect of EMI on DFR measurement [2]
ITC allows for comparative analysis of HV
bushings and instrument transformers test-
ed at different temperatures and accurate
verification against limits provided in refer-
ence standards
One of the most indispensable functions The technical brochure CIGRE 755
available in the IDAX family is the indi- -Transformer Bushing Reliability states
vidual temperature correction (ITC) al- that “Recent publications present promis-
gorithm. A material’s percentage power ing FDS or DFR analysis on OIP bushings
factor or dissipation factor measured as based on the individual temperature cor-
a function of frequency is temperature rection (ITC) method.”
and condition dependent. The materi-
al will change its dielectric properties The IDAX 322 provides an accurate
due to contamination, ageing, or deg- DFR curve (black curve in Fig. 3) and,
radation. The insulation temperature through the use of the ITC method, a
varies due to operation and ambient ‘temperature corrected’ DFR curve (red
conditions, and ITC has demonstrated curve in Fig. 3), in addition to a 20 °C
the ability to properly correct not only equivalent % DF/PF value. This means
power frequency but also the entire di- that the test can be performed at a wide
electric response to a normalised tem- range of temperatures, allowing great-
perature of 20 °C. er freedom when deciding upon a test
time.
“The temperature behaviour of % PF
or % DF is unique, as is the dielectric To run IDAX 322, one needs an exter-
response for each bushing. The di- nal PC with the IDAX software, which
electric response in the frequency do- features a user-friendly interface that
main and the temperature response guides the user from start to finish. The
of the insulation in the bushing are software will show the relevant hook-
directly related. ITC allows for com- up for the selected test object, assur-
parative analysis of HV bushings and ing quick and confident connections.
instrument transformers tested at Before starting the test, the software
different temperatures and accurate suggests a stop frequency based on the
verification against limits provid- temperature and test object, which will
ed in reference standards,” affirms provide just enough measuring points
Dr. Diego Robalino – Megger’s Busi- to accurately produce a representative
ness Development Director Power DFR curve while minimising unneces-
Transformers. sary, extended test time. Once the test
93
 TESTING

10 is finished, all the relevant graphs are

presented along with an analysis of rel-
evant test parameters that is easy to read,
DFR - measured interpret and helps the user make correct
conclusions about the asset. The parame-
DFR corrected - ITC ters displayed in the analysis section vary
for different test objects; a bushing is
% DF

1
evaluated by % DF or % PF at 3 different
frequencies, while the analysis of a power
transformer focuses on moisture content
and oil conductivity. The limits used for
the analysis are based on international
standards together with over 25 years
0.1
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 of experience with DFR measurements.
Frequency [Hz] Limits depend on the insulation type.
For example, an oil-impregnated paper
(OIP) bushing will have different limits
than a resin-impregnated paper (RIP)
bushing.

4. IDAX 322 - Efficient

diagnostics
IDAX technology and DFR have prov-
en their value countless times through-
out the years. For example, in tests
Figure 3: A DFR curve on an HV CT and its corresponding 20 °C temperature-corrected curve done on a population of 800 kV CTs
[3], IDAX was able to detect problems
10 that did not appear in the basic power
factor test at line frequency. In Fig. 4,
three 800 kV CTs of similar construc-
tion exhibit differences in their di-
electric responses even though their
line-frequency % DF test results coin-
%DF

1
cide. CT1 exhibits a typical good re-
sponse, CT2 an aged-service response,
and CT3 displays behaviour commen-
surate with insulation that has a high
degree of contamination.
0.1
0.1 1 10 100 1000 Fig. 5 provides another example of
Frequency [Hz]
DFR test results. This testing was per-
CT1 CT2 CT3 formed on two 110 kV transformer
Figure 4: Dielectric response of HV CTs under different degradation conditions OIP bushings (H1 & H3). At line fre-
quency, a negligible difference in per
10
cent dissipation factor appears, and
the faulty bushing is hard to detect.
However, as test frequencies lower, H3
H1 (Good)
starts to deviate from what is expected
H3 (Bad) (H1), and the fault becomes apparent,
possibly indicating degradation and /
or contamination within the bushing.
%DF

These are a mere two examples that un-

derscore the insightful diagnostics that
DFR offers for HV bushings and instru-
ment transformers, outside of its more
0.1 common use for power transformers.
0. 0 1 0.1 1 10 10 0 10 00 DFR will continue to evolve and cement
Frequency [Hz]
itself as an essential tool in the toolbox
Figure 5: DFR on good and bad 110 kV OIP bushings for diagnostics of HV bushings and in-

94 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 8, Issue 2 | 2021

strument transformers. The IDAX fam- IDAX technology and DFR was able to de-
ily, with its latest addition of IDAX 322,
is ready to support this transition, offer- tect problems at the 800 kV CTs that did not
ing unique features that make DFR test-
ing available and reliable for everyone.
appear in the basic power factor test at line
frequency
Bibliography
[1] P. Werelius, M. Ohlen, J. Skoldin, Di- former Failure by Dielectric Conference (EIC), Knoxville, TN,
electric Frequency Response Measure- Frequency Response Technique , USA, 2020, pp. 72-75, doi: 10.1109/
ment Technology for Measurements in 2020 IEEE Electrical Insulation EIC47619.2020.9158762
High Interference AC and HVDC Sub-
stations,” in Techcon Asia-Pacific, 2011

[2] I. Güner, D. M. Robalino, P. Were- Author

lius, HV and EHV bushing condition Olle Benzler, MSc., joined Megger in 2018 in the posi-
assessment – field experience, 2016
CIGRE IEC Colloqium, Montreal, QC, tion of Applications Engineer. He is based in Stockholm,
Canada Sweden. Mr. Benzler’s primary focus is diagnostics of
power transformers and HV-insulation.
[3] D. M. Robalino, I. Güner, Inves-
tigation of EHV Current Trans-

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