Paper presented at:

10th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, August 1997, Montréal

UHF Partial Discharge Monitoring for 132 kV GIS

M. D. Judd B. F. Hampton W. L. Brown

Centre for Electrical Diagnostic Monitoring China Light and Power
Power Engineering, Systems Limited, Company Limited,
University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Kowloon,
Glasgow, UK Glasgow, UK Hong Kong

Abstract GIS chamber

A theoretical and experimental study into the propagation R120mm

of partial discharge (PD) excited UHF signals in a 132 kV gas

90mm
insulated substation (GIS) is described. The aim is to assess
the suitability of UHF PD monitoring techniques developed on R19mm
400 kV GIS for application to substations operating at lower
voltages. The PD signal energy is found at higher frequencies pressure UHF
window coupler
due to the effects of the smaller chambers and the pressure
window on which the UHF coupler is mounted. The monitoring Fig. 1 Part of the 132 kV GIS showing the pressure window
system frequency response must therefore be matched to the and a UHF coupler.
132 kV GIS and the use of an active coupler is recommended.
The propagation of UHF signals in 132 kV GIS was
1. Introduction investigated using both waveguide theory and experimental
measurements in full scale test rigs. The study and its results
A considerable body of research now exists showing the
are described below.
UHF method of partial discharge (PD) detection in 400 kV
gas insulated substations (GIS) to be very sensitive [1,2].
2. Theory
GIS designed for lower operating voltages have smaller
chambers, increasing the cut-off frequencies of higher-order The window structure and the dimensions of the 132 kV
electromagnetic modes. The UHF signal will be affected GIS are shown in Fig. 1. The internal radius of the GIS is
because most of its energy propagates in these modes. If about half that of a 400 kV design. As a result, the cut-off
UHF signal levels are still adequate for PD detection, it may wavelengths of the higher-order modes in which the PD
be considered economically viable to monitor substations signals propagate [3] are decreased by a similar factor. Table
operating at lower voltages. This is particularly the case 1 lists some of the cut-off frequencies.
when external UHF couplers can be fitted without
interrupting substation operation. The attenuation caused by Ohmic losses can be calculated
using waveguide theory [4]; results for several modes are
China Light and Power Company Limited have at Black
shown in Fig. 2 (for aluminium conductors). While the
Point a 132 kV GIS fitted with glass pressure windows that
attenuation is slightly higher than in 400 kV GIS [3], it is
provide an electrical aperture in the GIS chamber. Initial
not sufficient to cause a significant reduction in UHF signal
measurements using a coupler designed to fit these windows
power over distances in the region of 10 m. Dielectric
revealed lower than expected UHF signal levels when a PD
materials used for barriers also have a low loss at
test cell was placed in an open chamber. A study was therefore
frequencies up to several GHz [5].
instigated to determine whether there are any fundamental
obstacles to using the UHF technique in 132 kV GIS by: Table 1 Cut-off frequencies in the 132 kV GIS.
1. Establishing typical values for the attenuation of UHF mode fc ( MHz ) mode fc ( MHz )
signals caused by various GIS components. TE11 696.3 TM11 1627.1
2. Identifying any monitoring system requirements that TE21 1211.3 TE31 1670.2
differ from those used in 400 kV GIS. TM01 1431.3 TE12 1986.4

1
 0.08 0.06
0.04
0.06
0.02
0
0.04
0.02
0.02 0.04
0.06
0 0.06
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
frequency ( MHz ) 0.04
0.02
Fig. 2 Theoretical mode attenuation as a function of frequency. 0
0.02
0.04
A theoretical model for the excitation of UHF signals by 0.06
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
PD [3] allows the UHF electric field at a remote coupler to time ( ns )

be calculated from a knowledge of the PD current and its Fig. 3 UHF electric fields at the GIS chamber wall, 5 m from a
position in the GIS. To determine whether the UHF signals 0.5 pC PD source. (a) 400 kV GIS, (b) 132 kV GIS.
in 132 kV GIS are inherently smaller than those in 400 kV
0.08
GIS, identical PD sources were modelled in both types so
0.06
that the UHF fields could be compared. Inner and outer
0.04
conductor diameters of 0.1 m and 0.5 m were used for the
0.02
400 kV GIS. A real PD current pulse was sampled and used
0
as the excitation source in the simulation. The 0.5 pC 0.08
current pulse was measured on a 25 mm needle PD source. 0.06
The UHF electric field was calculated at a distance of 5 m 0.04
from the PD source in the absence of signal reflections and 0.02
the results for both GIS sizes are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 0
Note that these results do not include the effects of the 0 500 1000 1500
frequency ( MHz )
2000 2500 3000

coupler and PD measurement system frequency responses. Fig. 4 FFT of the electric field. (a) 400 kV, (b) 132 kV GIS.

Although the higher cut-off frequencies in 132 kV GIS
restrict the propagation of low frequency components of the
signal, the excitation in the smaller GIS is greater (for a
given defect size and PD current) because the defect
occupies a larger percentage of the gap between the
conductors. This effect appears to dominate and the
simulation results consistently showed a greater UHF
electric field amplitude in the 132 kV GIS, although at
higher frequencies. These results indicate that there is no
fundamental obstacle to the use of UHF monitoring in
132 kV GIS provided the coupler and monitoring system
have a suitable frequency response.
3. Experiment
Various full scale components were fabricated in
aluminium to the dimensions of the 132 kV GIS so that the
UHF signal attenuation caused by a range of discontinuities
could be investigated. A typical measurement arrangement
is shown in Fig. 5. A stable source of excitation was
UHF signals excited within the test rigs were detected
using a second 25 mm probe which has a known response to
an electric field [3]. Holes along the top and sides of the test
chambers allowed for mounting of the excitation and field
probes. The signal from the field probe was fed through a
pre-amplifier (25 dB gain, 1.7 GHz bandwidth) and
captured using a transient digitiser (1 GHz bandwidth). The
maximum record length that can be captured using the
digitiser is 20 ns so in each configuration the first 100 ns of
UHF signal was assembled from five records captured with
the trigger delay incremented in steps of 20 ns.
Comparing UHF signal amplitudes proves difficult
because the signal envelope can vary considerably. A better
method of comparison involves calculating the average UHF
signal power PUHF over a representative measurement
4.5m
input probe to Top view of GIS UHF
simulate PD test chamber field
pulse
1.4m

probe
necessary to allow the UHF signal powers measured at circuit
various locations to be compared. This was accomplished
using an avalanche transistor circuit to generate a 1.4 pC PC trig Pre-amplifier
input
current pulse on a 25 mm probe inserted through the wall of Digitiser
the GIS chamber. Peak amplitude of the pulse was 5.7 mA
and its width at half-amplitude was 300 ps. Fig. 5 Measurement equipment and a typical GIS test chamber.

2
 30
20
(1) (2)
10
0
10
20 (3) (4)
30
0.15 Scale: 1m

0.1
Fig. 7 Four configurations of the 132 kV GIS test chambers.
0.05

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
time ( ns )
Fig. 6 Calculating the UHF signal power. (a) Initial part of
UHF signal into 50Ω. (b) Cumulative energy delivered
to the 50 Ω load, amounting to 0.102 pJ in 97 ns.
period. This is particularly useful because PUHF can be
directly related to the detection threshold of a PD
monitoring system. Fig. 6 illustrates the signal processing
used to determine PUHF. In this example, the energy
delivered to the load during the first 97 ns after the arrival
of the UHF signal at the coupler is 0.102 pJ. The average
power at the digitiser input is:
0.102 pJ 97 ns = 1.05 µW = - 29.8 dBm
The gain of the pre-amplifier (including losses in the
associated cables) was 24 dB ± 1 dB in the range 700→1500
MHz where most of the UHF signal energy recorded by the
digitiser is concentrated. Subtracting this gain gives an
average power of PUHF = -53.8 dBm for the PD generated
signal at the coupler output.
Fig. 7 shows four configurations of the GIS components
that were investigated. Within each of these, further
modifications were made such as introducing gaps in the
inner conductor or adding dielectric discs to represent
barriers. Pulses at a repetition rate of 10 kHz were injected
into the chamber and the resulting UHF signals were
• Gaps in the inner conductor had little effect on the UHF
90 100
signals (see Fig. 8). At a T-junction, the power measured in
the side arm increased when the inner conductor leading
into it was completely removed.
• Flat PVC discs (εr ≈ 3.5) that were mounted in the
chamber to represent an insulating gas barrier increased the
power measured in the compartment containing the source
while decreasing the power in the compartment beyond the
disc. This effect becomes more significant as the disc
thickness increases (see Fig. 9). At 36 mm thick, the signal
power measured beyond this barrier is about 3 dB below the
level in the source chamber.
• Signal power measured in a side compartment (such as a
corner or T-junction) at 90° to the chamber containing the
(1) source was in the range 5-9 dB below that in the main
chamber. The termination of the side compartment had a
significant effect on the signal power, with lower attenuation
occurring if a metal closing plate was used rather than a less
reflective material such as a PVC disc.
• An interesting result was obtained for the propagation of
UHF signals through a larger compartment (diameter
360 mm based on the dimensions of a circuit breaker). No
additional attenuation relative to a uniform 240 mm
diameter was observed when the source and coupler were
either side of the large compartment. However, when either
the source or coupler was in the large compartment, a
decrease of 6 dB in signal power was recorded.
50

recorded at various positions. Each measurement was 52

processed to determine an average signal power over the 54

first 95 - 100 ns. These UHF power levels were used to 56

obtain typical values for the attenuation through various 58

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
signal paths. Power variations of less than ± 1 dB were inner conductor gap ( mm )
regarded as statistically insignificant. The results of these Fig. 8 The effect of a gap in the inner conductor between PD
experiments were as follows: source and coupler on the UHF signal power.

• A uniform straight GIS section of up to 4.5 m in length 50

appeared to be loss-free. In some instances slightly more 52

power was recorded at positions further from the source than 54

at a distance of 1 m. This is because during 100 ns the
56
signal can traverse the length of the chamber more than six
58
times in both directions. The electric field at the UHF 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
coupler is due to the superposition of all these reflected No. of PVC disks ( each 9mm thick )

signals and variations with position can occur which are not Fig. 9 Effect on the UHF signal power of inserting plastic discs
unlike the effects of standing waves. between PD source and coupler to simulate a gas barrier.

3

4. Window coupler
The coupler consists of a sensor mounted against a
pressure window on the GIS (Fig. 1). The cut-off frequency of
the dominant TE11 mode [4] in the window tube (∅90 mm)
is 1950 MHz. Most of the PD signal energy is at frequencies
below cut-off and is therefore subject significant attenuation.
Fig. 10 shows the theoretical attenuation as a function of
frequency (calculated according to [6]). The window
structure acts as a high-pass filter and therefore has a
considerable effect on the coupler sensitivity and its
frequency response. For example, at 1 GHz the insertion loss
of the window tube is 300 dB m-1, so a recess 50 mm deep
will cause an attenuation of about 15 dB. The effects of the
window structure are investigated further in [7].
The attenuation caused by the window mount must be
overcome using additional gain. Locating a pre-amplifier
within the coupler housing which is bolted to the GIS
window ensures a good level of immunity to external
interference. To achieve a PD detection sensitivity
comparable with that of 400 kV systems, the coupler
specification given in Table 2 was proposed. This sensitivity
(specified in terms of an effective height He [7]) should be
measured with the coupler mounted on a test plate which
replicates the pressure window structure.
Simulations including the effects of the monitoring
system bandwidth showed that a first-order low-pass
response with a 3 dB cut-off at 1 GHz reduces the
available PUHF by 6 dB from its theoretical maximum.
Extending the bandwidth to 1.5 GHz causes a 3 dB
improvement. To extend the bandwidth beyond 1.5 GHz was
considered uneconomical in view of the increased cost of the
signal processing components and the relatively small
further gains in PUHF (< 3 dB) that can be achieved.
Table 2 Proposed window coupler sensitivity specification.
Frequency range Effective height specification
700 → 1250 MHz H e ≥ 10 mm over a total
bandwidth of at least 250 MHz.
1250 → 1500 MHz H e ≥ 10 mm
5. Summary and conclusions
This study has shown that the reduced dimensions of
132 kV GIS do not impede UHF detection of PD. However,
the bandwidth of a monitoring system should extend to
around 1.5 GHz because of the higher cut-off frequencies
compared to 400 kV GIS. Experimental results indicate that
a uniform 132 kV GIS chamber of up to at least 5 m in
length can be considered loss-free when it has no
discontinuities such as barriers, corners or T-junctions. This
400
300
200
100
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
frequency ( MHz )
Fig. 10 Attenuation of the TE11 mode in the window tube.
conclusion is supported by calculations of the skin effect
losses which, even if they were increased tenfold by surface
roughness, would account for less than 1 dB in 10 m. The
attenuation along the GIS is caused by reflections at
discontinuities which tend to confine the UHF energy within
chambers close to the PD source. The attenuation introduced
by various obstacles is therefore partly dependent on
adjacent components. However, some typical UHF
attenuation levels for certain components have been
measured and these can be used to estimate the total signal
attenuation between a PD source and the nearest coupler.
The tube which houses the window forms a high-pass
filter with a cut-off frequency that is inversely proportional
to its diameter. When such pressure windows are specified
for UHF monitoring, the diameter should be made as large
as possible within the constraints of pressure vessel design.
To overcome the attenuation of the window structure an
internal pre-amplifier can be used in the window coupler.
China Light and Power Company Limited is currently
considering the application of UHF PD monitoring
techniques to the Black Point 132 kV GIS, making use of
window couplers with built-in pre-amplification.
References
[1] J S Pearson, O Farish, B F Hampton, M D Judd, D Templeton,
B M Pryor and I M Welch, "Partial discharge diagnostics for
gas insulated substations", IEEE Trans. Dielectrics and
Electrical Insulation, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 893-905, October 1995
[2] R Kurrer, K Klunzinger, K Feser, N de Kock and D Sologuren,
"Sensitivity of the UHF-method for defects in GIS with regard
to on-line partial discharge detection", Conf. Record of IEEE
Int. Symp. on Electrical Insulation (Montreal), Vol. 1, pp.
95-98, 1996
[3] M D Judd, O Farish and B F Hampton, "The excitation of UHF
signals by partial discharges in GIS", IEEE Trans. Dielectrics
and Electrical Insulation, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 213-228, April 1996
[4] N Marcuvitz, Waveguide Handbook, Peter Peregrinus Ltd, 1986
[5] S Pack, A Diessner and J Gorablenkow, "PD signal propagation
in GIS considering frequencies up to GHz", Proc. 8th ISH
(Yokohama), Vol. 3, pp. 93-96, 1993
[6] J D Kraus and K R Carver, Electromagnetics. McGraw-Hill,
2nd Ed., 1981
[7] M D Judd, O Farish and P Coventry, "UHF Couplers for GIS -
Sensitivity and Specification", Proc. 10th ISH (Montreal), 1997