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ANALYSIS AND LOCATION OF PARTIAL DISCHARGES IN POWER TRANSFORMERS BY MEANS OF ELECTRICAL METHODS

H Tatizawa , G F Burani

lnstituto de Eletrotecnica e Energia da USP (IEEUSP) BRAZIL

Abstract
Considering the number of failures in high voltage power transformers caused by problems in bushing and winding insulation, it is important to study means for diagnosing incipient failures, to avoid long unavailability periods and its consequences.
'

is important to study means for diagnosing incipient failures, to avoid long unavailability periods and its consequences. The aim of this work is to study detection and measurement procedures, concerning the evaluation of position of partial discharge inside the transformer, in order to evaluate the degree of danger for the equipment. The methodology is based on a noninvasive measurement of partial discharges from the transformer bushing. The measured response is a function of the transformer winding electrical parameters, and the partial discharge location. The most important is parameter m, which is the relationship of the capacitive coupling between windings and between windings and neutral (or transformer metallic enclosure/core).

The aim of this work is to study detection and measurement procedures, concerning the evaluation of position of partial discharge inside the transformer, in order to evaluate the degree of danger for the equipment. The methodology is based on a noninvasive measurement of partial discharges from the transformer bushing. The position of the partial discharge source is estimated considering the transformer winding model, and the measurement and proper evaluation of the response to the partial discharge pulses. By means of a proper modeling, measurement and interpretation, the localization of the problem can be performed. For the measurements, the conventional detection technique proposed by IEC 270 Standard was used

with C2 denoting winding equivalent series capacitance and C1 equivalent capacitance between winding and transformer core (and tank) Determination of equivalent capacitances C1 and C2 can be done by using known methods, for example by considering the geometry of transformer (winding, core and tank) and dielectric properties of insulating oil and paper. Partial discharge occurrence in the transformer winding comprises the incidence of a very short duration electrical pulse propagating from discharge location toward transformer bushing. Considering the equivalent electrical circuit of the transformer winding, for high frequencies, which is composed by the distributed elements

The authors wish to-acknowledge FundaGIo de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de S l o Paulo, proc. 98/10799-4, for their support to this study

Introduction Considering the number of failures in high voltage power transformers caused by problems in bushing and winding insulation, it

CIRED2001. 18-2I June 200 1, Conference Publication No. 482 0 IEE 2001

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resistances, conductances, inductances and capacitances the propagation of the pulse in the winding will show two distinct moments. In the first, the effect of the capacitive components are preponderant, and the influence of others components can be neglected (see figure 1)

The voltage at the bushing is obtained for x=O (bushing H) and x=l (bushing N) Bushing H:

&

----

Bushing N
I

t" t"
Figure 1 circuit

TC2*Tc2

tC2

Capacitance at point n, which is obtained from voltage and current distribution along the winding, is given by:

C, = ,jm[tanh(m.n)

+ tanh[m(l - n)]]
(7)

Transformer winding equivalent

Apparent charge, as defined in IEC270 standard, measured at bushing H and caused by the occurrence of a discharge at point n in the winding is expressed by:

Voltage distribution along the winding, in case of incidence of a pulse in the bushing, is expressed by:

e, = E .

Z ( p ) . a p c o s h m ( l - x) - sinhm(l - x )

[ Z ( p ) . m pcoshml- sinhml]
(2)

where e , is the voltage at position x, I is the winding length, x is per unit position, Z(p) is the terminal impedance, E is the voltage pulse amplitude. With the incidence of a pulse between winding ends, the voltage distribution will be expressed by:

Experimental
A specially adapted power transformer, with accessible taps along the windings (figures 2 and 3) was used in the tests. Pulses with period of about 70 nanoseconds, for simulating partial discharge along the winding, were injected in the winding taps. In the transformer bushings, those pulses were measured by means of a partial discharge detector. For the measurements, the conventional detection technique proposed by IEC 270 Standard was used, complemented by digitalization equipment.

v ( x ) = Ecosh(mx) coSh(mn)

O < x < n (3)

v ( x )=

E COS h [m( 1- x ) ]

cosh[m(l- n ) ]

n l x l l (4)

where n is the point of discharge, E the pulse amplitude, V(x) the voltage at x.

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high voltage
winding

Figure 2 - Power transformer with accessible taps, adapted for the study

Figure 4 a) and b) shows measurement results, compared with the theoretically expected values, represented by equation 9 (fig. 4a - bushing H) and equation 10 (fig. 4b - bushing N). In the figure, it is shown the expected relationship between the PD measurement on the bushing (in ordinate) with the position of PD along the winding, in per unit (in abscissas). In test procedure, pulses of 1OOpC were injected in each accessible tap of the transformer winding. Similar measurements of apparent charge were performed on the winding taps, but with the injection of the simulated partial discharges pulses applied to the bushing instead. The measurement results are presented on figure 5, compared with the theoretical curve.

PD detector
transformer coupling capacitor

Figure 3 - Experimental setup

-distancefiomH@u) - measurement onnbuslung N (theoretical)

-e
El

- measurement on bushug N (negative charge)

measurement on buslung N (positive charge)

Figure 4 - Apparent charge measurement on bushing H(a) and bushing N(b)

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DP injected on bus& H

DP iniected on bushnu N

!2 J

z
a E

c s

3
3

f i

5
U

n - measurcmentpositonfromH @ U ) - apparent charge (thcorehcd) apparent charge @os) apparent charge (negahve)

- theoretical apparent charge 8

n- measurementposition hom H @ U )

measured positive charge

- measured negabvc charge

4 b) Figure 5 - Apparent charge measurements along the windings taps, with discharge injection on the bushings: a)DP injection on bushing H b)DP injection on bushing N
Conclusions The obtained results show good agreement between the discharge position and theoretical expectations The apparent charge measurements performed along the winding taps show good agreement with expected values, indicating the winding electrical model adequacy. The method shows better results for discharges located in regions near the central part of the winding. In this way, this methodology can be used for the location of PDs inside the transformer. References 1 - James R. E., Trick F. E, Phung B. T., and White P. A., 1986, Interpretation of Partial Discharge Quantities as Measured at the Terminals of HV Power Transformers. T-El Vol. 21, pp. 629-638. 2 - IEC Publication 270, 1981, Partial discharge measurements
3 - CIGRE Working Group 05 - SC12 (Transformers), 1983, An international survey on failures in large power transformers in service, Electra, n88

4 - Kallberg B., 1980, Location of partial discharges in power transformers by computation and measurement of capacitively transmitted voltage pulses,E E J ! T-PAS vol PAS-99, n.02,

5 - Mendes J.C.; 1995, ReduqZio de falhas em grandes transformadores de alta tensao, Tese de doutorado, Epusp
6 - Coulthard W 6, Transients in electric circuits, Pitman & Sons, London, 1941

lEEE

7 - Cornick, K et al., Distribution of very fast transient overvoltages in transformer windings. Paris, Cigre, 12-204, 6p, 1992
8 - Karsai, K, Kerenyi, D, Kiss, L, Large power transformers, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1986