www.netaworld.

org Summer 2007 NETA WORLD 21

N
o
-
O
u
t
a
g
e

I
n
s
p
e
c
t
i
o
n

C
o
r
n
e
r

by Don A. Genutis
Group CBS
Figure 1 Dangerous corona occurring from middle of the insula-
tor. Te corona from the top corona ring is harmless.
Figure 2 GSU transformer bushing corona is seen firting with
fashover.
Corona Imaging
See the Invisible
Tis column focuses on electrical inspection methods and tech-
nologies that are performed while the electrical system remains
energized. Although no-outage inspections can be very valuable
tools, always remember to comply with proper safely guidelines
when conducting energized, on-line inspections.
I
t felt like a fne spring morning in eastern Oregon as
my colleague and I rolled up the power plant driveway,
although the date on my Blackberry indicated mid-Feb-
ruary. After some friendly greetings and hand-shaking with
maintenance personnel, we signed in at the control room and
viewed the not too lengthy or boring safety video. Ten it was
time to don our hard hats and head toward the substation all
half-million volts of it.
It was dry and sunny as our work boots crunched against the
coarse substation gravel rocks. Te massive bushings and insula-
tors did not appear to have much, if any, condensation from the
night before as we gazed across an acre of GSU transformers,
SF
6
dead-tank breakers and other equipment. Ideal conditions
for a corona image survey. After powering up our new corona
camera and making a few minor adjustments, we began doing
what no other person had ever done before in this substation
we were viewing an invisible phenomenon known as corona.
What we and plant personnel saw during the next few hours
that morning would better our understanding of high voltage
engineering in a manner that no text book possibly could.
We saw corona from insulators that required cleaning,
sharp edges from hardware connections, poor bus work corona
suppression, and dangerous insulator corona caused by cooling
tower residue deposits. As the prevailing wind pufed another
cloud from the cooling tower onto the westernmost insulators,
Automate Transformer Turns-Ratio Testing; Rapidly Analyze Circuit Breakers, and
EconomicallyMeasureResistanceswithVanguards Family of Test Instruments.
Measures Contact/Resistor time
Measures Contact Stroke, Velocity
Measure DC Supply Voltage
Monitor Trip/Close Current
Initiate Breaker Operation
Built-in 4.5-inch Thermal Printer or
External Color Printer
Store up to 200 Timing Tests in EEPROM
Store 45 Breaker Test Plans
Measure Contact/Resistor time
Measure Contact stroke/Velocity
First Trip Time Capability
Monitor DC Supply Voltage
Monitor OPEN/CLOSE Coil Current
Initiate Breaker Operation
Built-in 4.5 inch Thermal Printer
Store up to 200 timing records, 45 test plans
Stand Alone or Computer Control
Lightweight and Compact
Reads Turns Ratios from 0.8 to 15,000
Display Excitation Current
Calculates Turns Ratio and Compares
with Measured Ratio
No Calibration Required
AC or Battery Powered
Computer Interface
Reads Ratios from 0.8 to 15,000
Calculates Turns Ratio and Compares
with Measured Ratio
AC/DC Power (ATRT-03A)
Built-in 4.5-inch Thermal Printer
Computer interface/Windows

Software
Store 200 Transformer Records
Store 128 Transformer Test Plans
Perform Sat, Ratio, DC Res Test Automatically
2000 Vac Saturation Test Voltage
Test all X1 to X5 CT Windings
Built-in 4.5 Thermal Printer
Store 140 Test Records
Select Current from 10A to 400A/600A
Range from 1 Micro-Ohm to 300 Milliohm
Store 63 Test Records
Built-in 2.5-inch Thermal Printer
RS-232C/USB Interface
Up to 40A Test Current
Reading Range: 1 Micro-ohm to 500 Ohm
Built-in 2.5-inch Thermal Printer
Store 63 Records
Download Test Records to PC
Controlled Rise/Fall of Load Current
Range from 1 Micro-Ohm to 300 Milliohm
Prevents Tripping of Bus Differential Relay
Built-in 2.5-inch Thermal Printer
Store 63 Test Records Weight: 18 lbs
Simple to Operate
Test Over Current/Voltage Relays
250A Instantaneous Current
Test CT Saturation
Test CT Turns Ratio
CT-7000 Circuit-Breaker
Time & Travel Analyzer
DIGITIMER Circuit Breaker
Time & Travel Analyzer
EZCT 2000
Automatic CT Test Set

RFD-200
Single Phase Relay Tester
ATO 400P/600P
Micro-Ohmmeters
DMOM 100/200: True100/200
Amp DC Micro-OhmMeters

WRM-40
Winding Resistance Meter

ATRT-01, 01B, 01D

Transformer Ratio Tester
ATRT-03, 03A, and 03B
Three-phase Transformer
Turns-Ratio Meter

Vanguard Instruments Company, Inc.

1520 S Hellman Ave Ontario, CA 91761 USA
Phone 909-923-9390 Fax 909-923-9391
Visit our Website: vanguard-instruments.com
Reliability Through Instrumentation
PowerInstruments01062006Hellman 1/28/06 7:56 AM Page 1
www.netaworld.org Summer 2007 NETA WORLD 23
Automate Transformer Turns-Ratio Testing; Rapidly Analyze Circuit Breakers, and
EconomicallyMeasureResistanceswithVanguards Family of Test Instruments.
Measures Contact/Resistor time
Measures Contact Stroke, Velocity
Measure DC Supply Voltage
Monitor Trip/Close Current
Initiate Breaker Operation
Built-in 4.5-inch Thermal Printer or
External Color Printer
Store up to 200 Timing Tests in EEPROM
Store 45 Breaker Test Plans
Measure Contact/Resistor time
Measure Contact stroke/Velocity
First Trip Time Capability
Monitor DC Supply Voltage
Monitor OPEN/CLOSE Coil Current
Initiate Breaker Operation
Built-in 4.5 inch Thermal Printer
Store up to 200 timing records, 45 test plans
Stand Alone or Computer Control
Lightweight and Compact
Reads Turns Ratios from 0.8 to 15,000
Display Excitation Current
Calculates Turns Ratio and Compares
with Measured Ratio
No Calibration Required
AC or Battery Powered
Computer Interface
Reads Ratios from 0.8 to 15,000
Calculates Turns Ratio and Compares
with Measured Ratio
AC/DC Power (ATRT-03A)
Built-in 4.5-inch Thermal Printer
Computer interface/Windows

Software
Store 200 Transformer Records
Store 128 Transformer Test Plans
Perform Sat, Ratio, DC Res Test Automatically
2000 Vac Saturation Test Voltage
Test all X1 to X5 CT Windings
Built-in 4.5 Thermal Printer
Store 140 Test Records
Select Current from 10A to 400A/600A
Range from 1 Micro-Ohm to 300 Milliohm
Store 63 Test Records
Built-in 2.5-inch Thermal Printer
RS-232C/USB Interface
Up to 40A Test Current
Reading Range: 1 Micro-ohm to 500 Ohm
Built-in 2.5-inch Thermal Printer
Store 63 Records
Download Test Records to PC
Controlled Rise/Fall of Load Current
Range from 1 Micro-Ohm to 300 Milliohm
Prevents Tripping of Bus Differential Relay
Built-in 2.5-inch Thermal Printer
Store 63 Test Records Weight: 18 lbs
Simple to Operate
Test Over Current/Voltage Relays
250A Instantaneous Current
Test CT Saturation
Test CT Turns Ratio
CT-7000 Circuit-Breaker
Time & Travel Analyzer
DIGITIMER Circuit Breaker
Time & Travel Analyzer
EZCT 2000
Automatic CT Test Set

RFD-200
Single Phase Relay Tester
ATO 400P/600P
Micro-Ohmmeters
DMOM 100/200: True100/200
Amp DC Micro-OhmMeters

WRM-40
Winding Resistance Meter

ATRT-01, 01B, 01D

Transformer Ratio Tester
ATRT-03, 03A, and 03B
Three-phase Transformer
Turns-Ratio Meter

Vanguard Instruments Company, Inc.

1520 S Hellman Ave Ontario, CA 91761 USA
Phone 909-923-9390 Fax 909-923-9391
Visit our Website: vanguard-instruments.com
Reliability Through Instrumentation
PowerInstruments01062006Hellman 1/28/06 7:56 AM Page 1
Vacuum technology has
vastly improved the
reliability and life
span of medium voltage
circuit breakers. When
failure occurs you can
count on CBS Maxi-Vac
products for replacement
assemblies.
Contact CBS for
assistance in diagnostics,
service or replacement.
A Group CBS Company
Ph: 972-250-2500 Fax: 972-250-2501
www.vacuumbreakers.com Email info@cbspowerproducts.com
Figure 3 Electrical feld surrounding an insulator
we could hear the corona crackling intensify as the camera re-
vealed near fashover conditions. When it sounds like this, I tell
my guys to get out of the substation, our customer stated. Not a
bad idea, I thought. Next, we followed our customer to a corner
of the substation were we examined a fash-damaged insulator
laying in the gravel, then observed the additional weather sheds
added recently to the in-service insulators nearest the cooling
tower. For the most part, the increased surface creepage of the
modifed insulators were doing their job by eliminating most of
the corona. However, as can be seen in Figure 1, one insulator
was clearly showing dangerous corona that consistently occurred
from a defect located half way down the insulator. Addition-
ally, we found severe corona activity occurring from the center
phase GSU transformer bushing as shown in Figure 2. We left
the power plant feeling that the customer greatly appreciated
the value of our new technology and would use the knowledge
gained that day to reduce future fashover likelihood.
One of the greatest difculties when working with elec-
tricity is that it cannot be seen. Te technician must gener-
ally determine its presence based upon meter defection or
simple visual or audible warning signals.
Perhaps even more difcult to appreciate is the concept
of electrical felds surrounding conductors or insulators in
air. A visual representation of the electrical feld is shown
in Figure 3, which illustrates the voltage gradient surround-
ing an insulator. Medium- and high-voltage equipment is
A day at the Pennsylvania Breaker and Pennsylvania
Transformer Technology facilities
Over a dozen useful substation and switchgear
presentations
An SF6 handling, management, and emissions
reduction seminar
A circuit breaker timing and analysis seminar
Supplier exhibits every evening in the hospitality rooms
October 1-5, 2007
Omni William Penn Hotel
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Finepoints 14th Annual Circuit Breaker
Test & Maintenance Training Conference
For further information and on-line registration, please visit
www.circuitbreakerconference.com
Join Us In Pittsburgh This October!
www.netaworld.org Summer 2007 NETA WORLD 25
Right. Ready. Reliable.
Call the professionals:
ComRent International
MEDIUM VOLTAGE
LOAD BANKS
RESISTIVE & REACTIVE
5000 kW @ 13.8 kV
4000 kW @ 4160 VAC
LOW VOLTAGE LOAD BANKS
4 kW to 5000 kW Models
300 to 3750 KVAR Reactive
100 kW Suitcase Load Banks
UPS & FedEx Ready
600 VAC up to 4000 kW
ComRent International
1.888.881.7118 www.loadbanks.com
NEW LOCATIONS: FLORIDA and HOUSTON
S 5000 kW
400 kW S
Reuter
Pick up pg 68
spo7
w/ BANNER
A day at the Pennsylvania Breaker and Pennsylvania
Transformer Technology facilities
Over a dozen useful substation and switchgear
presentations
An SF6 handling, management, and emissions
reduction seminar
A circuit breaker timing and analysis seminar
Supplier exhibits every evening in the hospitality rooms
October 1-5, 2007
Omni William Penn Hotel
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Finepoints 14th Annual Circuit Breaker
Test & Maintenance Training Conference
For further information and on-line registration, please visit
www.circuitbreakerconference.com
Join Us In Pittsburgh This October!
Figure 4 Hand held corona camera in use
carefully designed so that electrical felds are contained.
If the electrical feld is compromised by foreign materials,
poor design, or other factors, corona will occur. Corona is
responsible for the generation of ultraviolet radiation, ozone,
acids, heat, mechanical-erosion through ion bombardment,
electric power loss, and electromagnetic interference of radio
communications. Corona by-products destroy insulation and
lead to catastrophic failure while remaining invisible to the
eye. Corona can occur due to:
poor component or system design
improper installation or workmanship
temporary contamination by icing, salt sprays near high-
ways or oceans, fog, agricultural chemicals, and other
chemicals
damage due to storm wind or lightening
damage due to vandalism
cumulative damage due to corona activity caused by
weather conditions
cumulative damage due to contamination from nearby
sources
Until recent technology breakthroughs, ultrasonic de-
tection was one of the only methods capable for detecting
corona. Tis technology is limited, especially when scanning
high voltage equipment from a distance since only the rela-
tive direction of the problem source can be determined.
NETA WORLD Summer 2007 www.netaworld.org 26
ETS
pick up pg 63
sp 07
with
new banner
BurlingtonNETA ?00S.pdf 9/I/0S 9.I9.49 AM
Figure 6 Unwanted corona from poor test lead clearance
Figure 5 No corona from breaker during shop high potential test
Today, a relatively new technology allows invisible corona to be visible
through a special imaging device. Te handheld camera seen in Figure 4 clearly
displays the ionized air created by harmful corona activity by indirectly detect-
ing the associated ultraviolet radiation. Te camera user can change the color
of the corona activity to provide better contrast against varying backgrounds,
and the camera records the corona image to allow subsequent transfer of the
image to a PC for report generation. Tis highly efective technology is quickly
becoming an indispensable tool for the technician. In addition to the obvious
maintenance applications for all types of medium- and high-voltage equip-
ment, the corona camera can also be used for:
supplementing partial discharge and ultrasonic surveys
acceptance testing of new or modifed installations
product quality assurance
design verifcation
www.netaworld.org Summer 2007 NETA WORLD 27
Single Phase Testing
The smallest and lightest in its class, the PTE-100-C Plus can test
virtually any type of protective relay element, from time-dependent
overcurrent to the most sophisticated directional,
frequency and distance protection relays. Its
outstanding power, 1000 VA, makes testing
electromechanical, high burden relays a
snap. High power demanding applications
such as knee point analysis on CTs and
long cycle testing of miniature breakers
are also possible with this easy-to-use,
fully protected test workhorse.
Download complete specications at www.noramsmc.com or call (918-622-5725)
Test Solutions by Noram-SMC Inc.
Three Phase Testing
The brand new Mentor 12 features leading
technology from the unique case design, and
Adaptive Integrated Control (AIC), along with
various power output congurations. The
(AIC) is an advanced concept in context
driven operation with an 8-inch attractive,
easy to use, high resolution color touch
panel. It has an extensive choice of options
in the (6 volt and 6 current) power channel
congurations, with plug and play technol-
ogy.
Primary Current Injection Testing
The LET-1000-RD is designed to perform
most of the primary tests that are nec-
essary in substation commissioning. It
has sufcient power for all the primary
current injections to test the proper
function and wiring of all the elements
that compose the protection and mea-
suring section in a substation. (There are
also other models available.)
Circuit Breaker Analyzer & Microhmeter
Two Sets in One!
The PME-500-TR is a fast, easy-to-use in-
strument for the testing, maintenance and
commissioning of medium to high voltage
breakers. The display, a touch screen panel,
is the control interface of the unit and dis-
plays the results in graphic and numerical
format. A thermal printer has been built-in
so that the test results can be immedi-
ately printed.
Technical Training
by NETA
Relive the NETA Seminar Experience
with Self-Paced Technical Seminars (SPTS)
Share knowledge with your colleagues!
Review information!
Experience seminars you couldnt attend!
Power Transformer Testing
and Maintenance
Presented by Jim White, Shermco Industries
Critical Maintenance for Circuit Breakers
Presented by Jim White, Shermco Industries

feld and shop high potential testing
general research
We can now even have a much greater understanding
of equipment insulator and conductor behavior when con-
ducting routine high potential testing. Figure 5 displays the
absence of corona while performing an ac high potential
test of a medium-voltage circuit breaker, indicating good
insulator and conductor condition, while Figure 6 shows
unwanted corona generating from inadequate clearance of
the energized test conductor during the same test. It is ap-
parent that the breaker was good but our temporary shop
test setup was not.
Te future use of corona imaging promises to provide
many new applications and many associated new surprises,
but one thing is certain we will never think of corona in
the same manner, for now we can see it.
Mr. Genutis received his BSEE from Carnegie Mellon University, has
been a NETA Certifed Technician for 15 years, and is a Certifed Corona
Technician. Dons technical training and education is complemented by
nearly twenty-fve years of practical feld and laboratory electrical test-
ing experience. He is presently serving as Vice President of the Group
CBS Eastern U.S. Operations and acts as Technical Manager for their
subsidiary, Circuit Breaker Sales & Service located in Central Florida.