Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric

Dissipation Factor Measurements

Session Thirteen:
Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative
Power Factor on Dielectric Dissipation Factor (DDF)
Measurements

Wayne Proud
Technical Officer, Westernpower

“Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power

Factor on Dielectric Dissipation Factor (DDF) Measurements”

Do you have contingencies to manage a transformer fire? What if you lost your
million dollar asset due to an accessory? The following paper discusses the
principals and construction of a bushing and traps associated with
measurement inconsistencies.

Introduction
As an owner of Transmission High Voltage transformers you will want to
manage your plant on condition. One of the accessories of a Transmission
Power Transformers is the bushings. A failure of this accessory will lead to a
loss of supply from this asset and may even result in a transformer fire which
would not only destroy the Transformer, but it may lead to the destruction of
neighbouring plant. As an Asset Manager you will have a need to reliably
measure the capacitance and Dielectric Dissipation factor (DDF) of the
bushings to monitor their condition. As quality control results needs to be
accurate and reliable, inconsistencies can lead to poor evaluation and
premature replacement. This paper discusses the principals of condenser
construction related to testing bushings and presents a case study of the
phenomenon of negative results associated with DDF measurements which
could influence trending.

Design and construction

A transformer being one of the most expensive assets in the Switchyard is

assigned the function of transforming voltages for the ease of distribution. All
network energy must pass through this Plant and continued serviceability is
crucial. As insulation failure can lead to catastrophic/terminal damage and a
possible transformer fire, the condition of this insulation is a key factor in the
managing the longevity of the transformer.

The bushings being a key accessory of the transformer are assigned the task
of passing the load current at system voltage through the earth plane of the
external casing, so connections can be made to the internal coils within the

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

transformer. The bushing does this by using a condenser design construction

to control stresses which would be associated with the high field stresses at the
entry to the casing. To show this diagrammatically a two dimensional illustration
is shown below;

C C
A

E CB
CC
N CD
T CE

E CF
CG
R CH
C C
O I
CJ
N
C
D K
U
C
T
O
R

Figure 1 Diagrammatic illustration of a bushing

In the diagram, each vertical line represents a circular foil around the
conductor, which is separated with cellulose insulation; this creates a capacitive
string with the potential along the length of the string divided in a uniform
manner. This prevents a localized field stress in the bushing near the earthed
casing of the transformer.

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

Main Insulation C1

Center Conductor Grounded

Layer/Flange

CA = CB = CC = CD = CE = CF= CG = CH = CI = CJ CK

V1 = V2 = V3 = V4 = V5 = V6 = V7 = V8 = V9= V10
Tap
Electrode

Line-to-Ground System Voltage

The combined capacitance of these foils can be measured by breaking a link

which is commonly fitted between the earthed flange and the last foil of
bushing, this is known as ‘C1’. The capacitive current is plotted against the
resistive current (90 phase shift) to achieve a resultant angle (representing the
losses at 50hz). This angle can be expressed in percentage power factor or
Tangent delta. Dielectric Dissipation Factor (DDF) measurements of this kind
are now common place in the transmission industry and the technology is well
proven with added features such as; frequency variation to suppress
interference or to offer added evaluation.

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

Negative influence of results

Due to environment conditions and/or contamination the resistive current
component of the circuit can increase by a factor of a 100 (hundred). With low
capacitive items like bushings/instrument transformers this can have a
significant effect on the DDF result. In certain cases (influenced by design) in
combination with the contamination/humidity, current in parallel circuits can
induce a negative DDF result.

High Voltage
Lead Bushing Top
Terminal
Bushing
Porcelain IL
It
Surface
Leakage X
IL RL CL
It'
It' Bushing Flange

Test
Grounded- LV Tap
Current & Loss Lead
Guard
Meter

It It'
Z1 Z2

E I
L

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

As DDF is a comparative method which is related to type of plant, a negative

DDF results or very low positive result affected by this phenomenon will not
represent the true losses (at 50Hz) of the insulation and must be treat as invalid
data.

Some onsite conditioning of the plant may improve results, reducing the
significance in the circuit of the unwanted current paths. Techniques which may
improve the validity of the results are:
 Cleaning of the surface
 Products that reduce surface leakage
 Waiting for conditions to improve (testing at a different time)
 Removing parallel items from the circuit (including ladders/scaffold)
 Guarding techniques (with limited success)

NOTE: A method for evaluating external currents (influencing negative results)

is to conduct an Insulation resistance test with and without guard. If a
considerable variance is recorded a (factor of 100) result may not be
representative of the insulation.
NOTE: Using a guard band to carry out an a.c. DDF test needs to be used with
caution, as it induces a similar effect to the contamination. Confirm results with
previous data before acceptance.

To further understand this phenomenon a study/simulation

was carried out to artificially induce a negative loss or effect.
In an attempt to simulate negative power factor, I wrapped aluminium foil
around sections of the sheds to create a capacitive plate for the applied voltage
to couple too. On selected tests a resistor or short was applied to the foils to
induce simulated effects of contamination and environmental conditions.

The sample unit used for the test was removed from a Substation in the
Eastern suburb of the Perth Metropolitan area and had suspected PD due to
High H2 content in the oil.
Test conditions were: temperature 24°C and humidity 52%
The unit was fitted with a DDF tap.
The lower end of the bushing was immersed in transformer oil as in service.
The bushing was placed in a tank with streamlined oil to ensure DDF results
were not influenced by high water in oil content. Voltage was applied by a step
up transformer connected to a overhead bus system fitted with a standard
capacitor for the DDF reference and voltage monitoring.

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

Different configurations of external electrodes (aluminum foil) were fitted to the

outside off the porcelain section, with results for each configuration recorded.

NO FOIL APPLIED

Test Voltage DDF Capacitance pF

14.5kV 0.0098 277.3

29kV 0.0111 277.4

43.5kV 0.0114 277.4

58kV 0.0111 277.5

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

DDF

0.012

. 0.0115

0.011
Tan delta

0.0105 DDF

0.01

 Bushings are a critical part of a transformer allowing voltage and current

0.0095

to enter/leave the earthed casing.

0.009

 If a bushing14.5kV
failure occurs29kV
the transformer43.5kV 58kV
will be inoperative and unable
Te s t V oltage
to supply load

APPLICATION OF FIRST FOIL

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

Test Voltage DDF Capacitance pF

14.5kV 0.0093 277.9

29kV 0.0111 278

43.5kV 0.0114 278

58kV 0.0111 278.1

DDF

0.012

0.01

0.008
Tan delta

0.006 DDF

0.004

0.002

0
14.5kV 29kV 43.5kV 58kV
Te s t V oltage

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

APPLICATION OF SECOND FOIL

Test Voltage DDF Capacitance pF

14.5kV 0.0099 282.8

29kV 0.0117 282.9

43.5kV 0.0132 283.2

58kV 0.0141 283.5

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

DDF

0.016

0.014

0.012

0.01
Tan delta

0.008 DDF

0.006

0.004

0.002

0
14.5kV 29kV 43.5kV 58kV
voltage

APPLICATION OF 1k OHM RESISTOR

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

Test Voltage DDF Capacitance pF

14.5kV 0.008 262.2

29kV 0.009 262.2

43.5kV 0.0096 262.2

58kV 0.0094 262.2

DDF

0.01

0.0095

0.009
Tan delta

0.0085 DDF

 to control electrical stress where they enter the earthed plane.

0.008

 This is done by embedding capacitive foils in the insulation.

0.0075
 To test this primary insulation a DDF tap is brought out.
0.007
 Connecting a measuring 29kV
14.5kV bridge to the DDF tap whilst applying
43.5kV 58kV a voltage
to the conductor, capacitive and resistive losses can be measured.
Test Voltage

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

APPLICATION OF SHORT TO GROUND

Test Voltage DDF Capacitance pF

14.5kV 0.0079 262.2

29kV 0.0086 262.2

43.5kV 0.0095 262.2

58kV 0.0094 262.2

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

DDF

0.01

0.0095

0.009
Tan delta

0.0085 DDF

0.008

0.0075

0.007
14.5kV 29kV 43.5kV 58kV
Test Voltage

COMPARISON OF RESULTS

comparision

0.015

0.014

0.013
no foil
0.012
Tan delta

one piece of foil

0.011 two piece of foil
foil with 1kohm resistor
0.01
foil with short to grnd
0.009

0.008

0.007
14.5kV 29kV 43.5kV 58kV
Test voltage

Above is a graph showing all the results compared from the study. The data
clearly shows that different results can be obtained from applying external
influences. Foils that were applied without any reference to ground (floating) did
not reduce (negative influences) the value obtained from the instrument. Foils
when shorted to ground, providing a current path in the instrumentation circuit
shifting the results numerically downwards.

After comparing the results it was clear that applying only the foil around the
bushing had only a little effect on the DDF reading and the capacitance
reading. Once the foils were linked to earth via a 1k ohm resistor or short, the
reading showed a reduced value for the losses.
Although a negative figure could not be induced, a reduction in the DDF figure
was simulated.

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Session Thirteen: Condenser Construction and Awareness of Negative Power Factor on Dielectric
Dissipation Factor Measurements

Conclusion
It could be concluded that negative influence was the cause of the varied
results in this study. This highlights that readings may not go negative but are
not valid values representing the losses of the insulation at 50Hz. Negative
results in the field are typically associated with coastal regions and/or high
contamination through the wetter winter months when high levels of humidity
are present. Technicians onsite need to consider values obtained, evaluating
the validity of the data before remedial action is taken to obtain representative
information of the plant. Results may look to good for a typical piece of plant
and may need to be questioned. Training, skill and access to previous data
onsite will aid in the Technician making an informed decision. As trending is the
key to DDF evaluation of plant, ongoing repeatable results are crucial to allow
the Asset Manager to trend and evaluate the longer term condition of Plant in
the field.
Due to the importance of such data to the Asset Managers, Technicians should
be made aware of these influences and be encouraged to question results in
the field and take remedial action to limit variations associated with periodical
data obtained. Outages are a costly exercise and accurate data is critical to
assess the ongoing health of High Voltage electrical equipment across it’s
design life.

References
Diagrams courtesy of Doble Engineering

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