Life time estimation of serviced aged oil-paper

insulated HV power cables based on the dielectric

loss measurements (tan )
Lukasz Chmura 1*, Piotr Cichecki1, E.Gulski1,
J.J. Smit1
1

Delft University of Technology,

Delft, The Netherlands
*
l.a.chmura@tudelft.nl

Abstract this contribution focuses on the application of

dielectric loss measurements for service aged oil-impregnated
high voltage power cables. The results of the project focused on
condition assessment of service aged oil-impregnated HV power
cables will be discussed. The final goal of this project is: to
develop by using laboratory and on-site tan measurements a
tool to support the condition assessment and asset management
decisions. By combination laboratory measurements and on-site
diagnostics, an investigation have been performed into several
complete cable circuits to find the relation between electrical and
thermal stresses of paper oil-impregnated insulation, at different
aging stages. The result of this investigation, in particular
influence of electrical and thermal stressing of samples in
different stage of aging, with combination of on-site diagnostics
has been applied to develop a tool for supporting asset
management decision process.

Frank de Vries2
2

Liandon B.V.
The Netherlands

and friction between dipoles and insulating material, interfaces

between materials characterized by different permeability
(local field enhancement) and discharge losses, when PD
activity is present.
Considering the new non-aged oil impregnated insulation
subjected to AC voltage with frequency of 50 Hz the losses are
characterized by low values of tan (maximal 20x10-4).
Moreover there is no strong dependency between test voltage
applied and dielectric loss behavior, for example the increase of
dielectric loss should not exceed 10x10-4 when voltage
increased from 0,5U0 to 2,0U0. In addition, when due to aging
dielectric losses increase up to 50x10-4, thermal breakdown
might become a threat [1]. When electric stress exceeds PD
inception voltage, PD activity may also increase the value of
dielectric loss.

Keywords-dielectric loss, tan, serviced power cables, aging of

oil-impregnated insulation.

I.

GENERAL

The insulation degradation caused by aging processes may

lead to limitation of dielectric strength and finally be the reason
of the failure. On the contrary, by on-site diagnostics and
measurements of different dielectric parameters, the
information about current insulation condition can be obtained
[4]. Results of periodical insulation measurements may indicate
trend of the insulation degradation. Such information is
important when considering the operational decisions regarding
the cable (e.g. increase of load). With tan measurements, the
dielectric loss factor of insulating material is measured. For oilimpregnated paper insulation this factor increases with aging
process, thus it may be applied as indicator of insulation
degradation.
II.

PHENOMENA

The tan parameter representing dielectric loss factor

becomes important diagnostic parameter to asses the condition
of oil-impregnated insulation [2,3]. Dielectric losses are caused
by different phenomena in the insulation. The most
recognizable are [1]: a) leakage currents (conductive losses)
caused by finite bulk resistance of the insulation, polarization

978-1-4244-6301-5/10/$26.00 @2010 IEEE

Figure 1. Example of dielectric loss diagnosis obtained from 150 kV, length
850m, age 49 years.

Information about parameters such tan and tan in

function of electrical stress can be obtained by application of
on-site diagnostics [2, 3]. The example of dielectric loss
measurements can be seen on figure 1. The measurement was
performed on 150 kV cable that was in operation for 49 years.
Followed from that figure, it can be noticed that there are
significant differences in dielectric loss behavior in function of
testing voltage, for all three phases It becomes important how
to asses the condition of the insulation based on on-site tan
measurements.
The main goal of the research is to develop the knowledge
how to interpret the results of dielectric loss measurements
during on-site diagnostics, performed on service-aged power
cables. Moreover, the application of dielectric loss
characteristics represented by tan parameter, obtained by
laboratory measurements. In such case, developed knowledge
regarding data the interpretation obtained by laboratory
investigation into aged insulation samples, would be very
helpful when assessing the on-site tan measurements results.
Dielectric loss in paper oil-impregnated insulation depends on
testing parameters such as frequency, value of electrical and
thermal stresses. In particular during operation of the
insulation, the temperature plays very important role. This is
due to influence of temperature on the oil viscosity and ions
mobility. Moreover, abnormally high temperatures (70C130C), lead to destruction of paper structure by breaking the
cellulose bonds. Byproducts of paper decomposition
contaminate insulation, what can lead to hot spots creation and
thermal instability introduction and finally lead to the
breakdown of the insulation.
tand=f(E)

III.

ASSUMPTIONS

Figure 2 shows results of laboratory investigation into two

types of material. The service aged insulation taken from the
failed phase of 110 kV cable and new, non-aged insulation.
From this figure it can be seen that for samples taken from
failed phase dielectric loss shows higher value that for nonaged insulation. Thus, it can be concluded, that application of
dielectric loss diagnosis may be very useful in assessing the
actual insulation condition. Moreover, the assumption that
application of tan on-site diagnostics for service-aged cables
with paper oil-impregnated insulation would be helpful to
distinct different aging stages, see figure 3 in further part will
be checked.

T=80 C

140
120

tand [10^-4]

100
80
60

Figure 3. Hipotetical examples of dielectric loss behavior in paper oilimpregnated insulation in different stages of life. Differences between
network operation and on-site diagnostics.

40
20
0
0,00

0,50

1,00

1,50

2,00

2,50

3,00

E [kV/mm]

Brand-new paper
Sample II from red phase

tand=f(T), E=const (~1,01kV/mm)

120

tand [10^-4]

100
80
60
40
20
0
20

35

50

60

70

75

80

T [C]
Sample II from red phase
Non-aged paper

Figure 2. Comparison of dielectric loss behavior for service-aged insulation

and non-aged insualation

On the figure above differences between network operation and

on-site diagnostics are presented. During network operation,
the electrical field intensity is constant and temperature varies
due to changes of cable load. It can be also noticed that there
are differences in thermal behavior of dielectric loss in
different age stages. In particular, difference between non-aged
and strongly-aged insulation is visible. In the case of non-aged
insulation dielectric losses increased slightly above certain
temperature. For strongly-aged insulation, dielectric losses
increase more steeply, moreover the temperature at which they
start to increase is lower than in a case of non-aged insulation.
In a case of on-site diagnostics, the temperature is low and
constant and electrical field intensity varies due to changes of
testing voltage. Also here, the differences between non-aged
and strongly ages insulation are visible. For non-aged
insulation, dielectric loss does not depend on the level of
electrical stress applied, the dielectric loss start to increase
slightly when certain level of electrical stress is exceeded. In
contrary, for strongly aged insulation there is clear dependence
between the value of dielectric loss and applied electric stress.

In the last case, dielectric loss increase more steeply when

compared to non-aged insulation. Moreover, the value of
electrical stress at which the dielectric losses start to increase is
lower.
IV.

LABORATORY INVESTIGATION

In order to develop a tool for on-site diagnostics data

interpretation, laboratory investigation has been started. The
practical approach of this laboratory investigation is presented
on figure 4.
Non aged samples

Breakdown

Aging f(T)

Degradation increase of tan

tan=f(T)

When temperature to which insulation is subjected

increases, the life-span of the insulation decreases. Using the
relation between load, temperature and life span for paper oilinsulation for operational conditions, further recalculation was
made for load higher than nominal. In this way, it was possible
to find temperature and time for the accelerated thermal aging
of the insulation.
In figure 5, insulation degradation on time of operation
dependency is presented for two different temperatures. With
the first curve, the situation is presented when insulation is
subjected to the temperature of 60 C. This temperature
responds the situation when cable is loaded with 100% of
nominal load. With this temperature the insulation life
expectancy is around 10 years. Second curve presents the
situation when insulation is subjected to the temperature of
110 C in thermally controlled oven. Subjecting the insulation
with temperature of 110 C responds the situation when cable
is loaded with 140% of nominal load. In this temperature the
total life expectancy is around 7 months.

tan=f(E)

Figure 4. Diagram presenting the practical approach of laboratory material

investigation.

Figure 5. Dependency of insulation degradation on time of operation for

temperatures of 60 C and 110 C.

The investigation is focused on application dielectric loss

diagnosis to develop a model for decision support. It is known
that increase of dielectric loss in a function of electrical stress
which is available during on-site diagnostics and increase of
dielectric loss in a function of temperature which is related to
increase of cable load during the operation, are indicators of the
insulation degradation. In this way, two important questions
arise. Firstly, what is the relation between changes of dielectric
loss in function of electrical field intensity tan=f(E) and
changes of load profile (T). Secondly, it becomes important
how to obtain information about permissible future load when
actual degradation and load history is known.

During experiment, samples of non-aged oil-impregnated

insulation were subjected to the accelerated aging in thermally
controlled oven. Recalculating, the relation between time of
accelerated aging and insulation degradation was found. Thus,
particular time of aging responses particular insulation life
consumption and degradation. By laboratory measurements,
performed on samples being on different stages of life,
parameters such tan and tan were investigated. The during
measurements, samples were subjected to different electrical
and thermal stresses. Thus, behavior of dielectric losses in a
function of electrical field intensity and temperature were
investigated. By performing these measurements, thermal
parameters of insulation such as thermal stability and
temperature of instability transition were searched.

Degradation of the paper oil-impregnated insulation is

described by Arrhenius Law (1) and is exponentially dependent
on temperature.

V.

k = A e ( Ea / R T )

(1)

Where: k reaction rate coefficient, A constant (maximal

reaction speed), Ea Activation energy, R*T average energy
the molecule has at certain temperature, R molecule gas
constant, T absolute temperature.

MEASUREMENTS RESULTS

First element of investigation into thermally aged paper,

was to measure behavior of dielectric losses in a function of
electrical field intensity for samples at constant temperature.
Then temperature was increased and measurement was
performed again. On figure 6, results of measurements of
dielectric losses in a function of electrical field intensity
performed on samples aged for different time can be seen. It
can be noticed, that for samples aged for longer time, increase

of dielectric losses is higher in the same range of electrical field

intensity.

tand=f(T) E=4,7 [ kV/mm]

84 days
2000
1800
98 days

tand=f(E) T=25 C

1600
1400

3 days
39

1200

143 days

1000
800
185 days

4 days

37
tand [10^-4]

tand [10^-4]

41

600
400

35

200

11 days

199 days

0
22

33

32

42

52

62

Te m p [C]

72

82
216 days

26 days
31

29
0,5

1,5

2,5

3,5

4,5

5,5

36 days

6,5

E [kV/mm]

Figure 6. Dielectric loss behavior in function of applied electrical stress for

samples subjected to aging for different time. Measurements performed at the
temperaruter of 25 C.

Followed from figure 6, it can be noticed that for samples

of insulation subjected to aging for longer time, the behavior of
dielectric losses is different than for samples aged for shorter
time. For samples aged for longer time, stronger dependency
between applied electrical stress and value of dielectric losses
can be observed. The tan reaches higher values for more aged
samples. On figure 7, the dependency of dielectric loss increase
(tan) on time of aging is presented.
Based on figure 8, it can be seen that samples aged for
longer time, both absolute value of dielectric losses (tan) and
increase of dielectric losses (tan) is higher than in the case of
samples aged for shorter time. Thus it can be stated that there is
certain relation between life consumption of paper oilimpregnated insulation and measured tan.
E=0,7 - 6,1 [kv/mm]

tan=f(Life)

Figure 8. Dielectric loss behavior in a function of temperature, at constant

electrical field intensity. Measurements performed on samples subjected to
thermal aging for different time

From the following figure it can be seen that there is also

relation between life consumption of the paper oil-impregnated
insulation and its tan behavior at elevated temperatures. It can
be observed that for samples aged for more than 90 days, tan
increases rapidly when temperature exceeds 60C. For samples
characterized by higher life consumption, this dependency is
even stronger. For samples aged for longer time, thermal
instability appears at lower temperatures than for samples aged
for shorted time. Thus, the relation between increase of tan at
low temperature and the thermal behavior of tan when
electrical field intensity is constant can be observed.
VI.

Based on the laboratory investigation results, it can be

concluded that tan measurements can be applied for the actual
stage of life estimation. In particular, it was observed that for
oil-impregnated insulation:
a)

There is relation between time of aging and increase

of dielectric loss (tan) measured at low room
temperature,

b)

Relation between time of aging and behavior of

dielectric losses in a function of temperature,

c)

Based on a) and b) it can be stated that combination

of the laboratory investigation and on-site tan
measurements can help in finding thermal properties
of the insulation. This is, when information about
permissible future load of the cable is desired.

T=25 C

80
70
60
dtand [10^-4]

CONCLUSIONS

50
40
30
20
10

217

213

210

208

200

167

160

157

147

145

143

105

98

101

88

74

69

48

36

21

11

0
Tim e of aging [days]

Figure 7. Increase of dielectric loss (tan) measured between 0,7 and 6,1
kV/mm for samples aged for diffent time. Measurement performed at the
temperature of 25 C.

Based on figure 7, it can be seen that samples aged for

longer time, increase of dielectric losses (tan) is higher than
in the case of samples aged for shorter time. Thus it can be
stated that there is certain relation between life consumption of
the paper oil-impregnated insulation and measured tan.
Another important part of investigation was to investigate
the thermal behavior of aged paper oil-impregnated insulation.

VII. REFERENCES
[1]
[2]

[3]
[4]

F.H. Kreuger Industrial high voltage. Delft University Press, Delft

1992
Gulski, E, Cichecki, P, Wester, FJ, Smit, JJ, Bodega, R, Hermans,
TJWH, Seitz, PP, Quak, B, Vries, F de (2008) On-site testing and PD
diagnosis of high voltage power cables. IEEE transactions on dielectrics
and electrical insulation 15(6), 1691-1700
E. Gulski et al, Condition Assessment of Service Aged HV Power
Cables, Cigre 2008 Conference, Paris, Paper D1-206.
P. Cichecki, E. Gulski, J.J. Smit, P. van Nes, A.G. Ejigu, F. de Vries
Dielectric losses diagnosis of serviced aged oil impregnated paper
insulation of HV power cables. IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference,
Montreal 2009, 216-219.