Presented by:

Remya Rebecca Manuel,

S7 EEE, Roll No: 46
MBCET
 Contents
 Introduction
 What is Partial Discharge?
 Types of Partial Discharge
 What causes Partial Discharge?
 Partial Discharge Process
 Effects of Partial Discharge
 Partial Discharge Testing
 Need for Partial Discharge Analysis
 Conclusion
 References

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 Introduction

 Partial Discharges (PD) are the localized electrical

discharges within an insulation system, restricted to
only a certain part of the dielectric.

 Partial Discharges are not the complete breakdown,

but have an impact on the life of insulation,
particularly solid and liquid dielectrics

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 What is Partial Discharge?

 “Partial Discharge (PD) is the localized dielectric

breakdown of a small portion of a solid or liquid
electrical insulation system under high voltage stress.”

 PD can occur in a gaseous, liquid or solid insulating

medium.

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 Partial Discharge is often initiated -
 within gas voids enclosed in solid insulation, such
as voids in an epoxy insulator.

 in bubbles within a liquid insulating material, such

as gas bubbles dissolved within transformer oil.

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 Types of Partial Discharge
 Partial discharges occur wherever the electrical field is
higher than the breakdown field of an insulating
medium

 Some of the typical partial discharges:

 Cavity discharge
 Surface discharge
 Corona discharge
 Treeing Channels

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 1. Cavity Discharge

 Occur due to the

presence of cavities
in solid or liquid
insulation.

 Discharges are
formed when the gas
within the cavity is
overstressed.

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 2. Surface Discharge / Tracking
 It is the formation of conducting path on the surface of
dielectric due to surface erosion under voltage
applications.

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 3. Corona Discharge
 Discharges are due to the
presence of
inhomogeneous fields.

 Phenomenon is
accompanied by
 Violet glow
 Hissing sound
 Production of ozone
 Radio interference

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 4. Treeing Channel
 Branching channels are
created within/on the
surface of solid
dielectric material as a
result of cumulative
partial discharges

 Continuous impact of
discharges in solid
dielectrics forming
discharge channels

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Causes of Partial Discharge?
 Due to overloads, manufacturing
defects, ageing.

 Due to the presence of void and

contamination

 TEAM stresses of insulation

 Thermal, temperature
 Electrical, electric field
 Ambient (environmental)
 Mechanical Vibrations

 Formation of Water Trees

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 Partial Discharge Process

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 Effects of Partial Discharge

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 Partial Discharge Equivalent Circuit

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 PD voltages & pulse currents at a cavity
in the dielectric

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 Significance of Tan-delta/Dissipation
factor/Loss Factor
 Predicts the life expectancy of insulation

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 Partial Discharge Testing

 Off-Line Testing Techniques

 Power Factor/Loss Factor Testing

 Very Low Frequency Testing (VLF)

 In-Service Testing Techniques

 Ultrasonic PD Detection

 Partial Discharge Testing

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 Power Factor /Loss Factor Testing
 In a perfect insulation, angle ∂ = 0
 As angle ∂ increases, resistive current increase, meaning
contamination
 Greater the angle, worse is the insulation.

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 Very Low Frequency / VLF Testing

 It is a withstand test (pass/fail test)

 VLF high voltage is supplied across the dielectric for

15+ minutes.

 Supply Frequency is normally 0.1Hz

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 Ultrasonic PD Detection
 A piezoelectric transducer is used to convert acoustic
energy into electrical energy

 Two types of sensors are used in acoustic detection

 Accelerometers
 Acoustic emission sensors.

 Accelerometers have a useful frequency range of up to

50 kHz

 Acoustic emission sensors have a frequency range between

30 kHz and 1 MHz

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 Sensors used for Acoustic Detection

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 Partial Discharge Testing
 Represents the insulation condition at the actual
operating voltage

 High Frequency Current Transformer (HFCT) sensor

can be easily connected to the earth cable connected
to the cable screen.

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 HFCT Sensor used for PD detection

 The High Frequency

Current Transformer
(HFCT) sensor has a
split core construction

 Disconnection of the
earth cable is not
requires in order to
insert the HFCT sensor.

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 Partial Discharge Analysis

 Partial Discharge Analysis is a diagnostic approach

which uses PD measurements in order to evaluate the
integrity of the equipment

 It is essential to measure the PD levels and sensitively

monitor the deterioration of insulation as a function of
time.

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 Need for Partial Discharge Analysis

 To determine the condition of equipment

frequently
 To enhance electrical reliability
 To identify voids, cracks or any flaws where
electrical stresses exceed the insulation
capacity
 To reliably predict which electrical equipment
is in need of maintenance.

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 Conclusion
 PD – best indicator of electrical deterioration of high
voltage insulation

 PD provides early warning against future catastrophic

insulation failure

 Periodic PD testing and analysis of insulation will

ensure safe operation of the electrical system.

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 References
 E.Kuffel, W.S. Zaengl: High Voltage Engineering Fundamentals,
Pergamon Press Publications, First edition, 1992

 M S Naidu, V Kamaraju: High Voltage Engineering, Vol.1 Tata

McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd. Third Edition,2004.

 Subir Ray: An Introduction to High Voltage Engineering, Vol.1

Prentice-Hall of India Private Ltd. First Edition, 2004

 Ravindra Arora, Wolfgang Mosch, High Voltage Insulation

Engineering:Vol.1, New Age International Publishers, First
Edition:2005

 Gabe Paoletti, Alex Golubev: Partial Discharge Theory and

Applications to Electrical Systems, IEEE Journal - Pulp and Paper
Industry Technical Conference,1999. Issue Date: 21-25 Jun 1999
On page(s): 124 - 138

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