1724 R. Sarathi and G.

Koperundevi: UHF Technique for Identification of Partial Discharge in a Composite Insulation

UHF Technique for Identification of Partial Discharge

in a Composite Insulation Under AC and DC voltages
R. Sarathi and G. Koperundevi
Department of Electrical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Chennai- 600 036, India

ABSTRACT
DC power transmission is gaining considerable importance and converter transformers
form an important component in it. An insulation of these transformers is stressed by
both ac and dc voltages. Particle contamination is one of the major problems in
insulation structures as it generates partial discharges (PD). If a particle is moving
between the ground electrode and barrier, the magnitude of partial discharges formed
is less compared to that of its movement between two metal electrodes. On the other
hand, when the particle is lying over the barrier insulation material, it does not lead to
any partial discharge activities as observed under ac/dc voltages. Broadband
measurement of UHF signals produced by partial discharges due to particle movement
in transformer oil under dc voltages, at high applied electric fields, indicates that the
frequency content of the signal lies in the entire UHF range of 300 MHz - 3GHz. Narrow
band measurements of UHF signal due to PD formed by particle movement, at 1GHz,
indicates that, in the presence of barrier, an increase in applied voltage results in
increase in number of partial discharge pulses. This phenomenon occurs in converse in
oil gap without any barrier. In the presence of barrier, the sequential movement of
particle occurs and the magnitude of discharges increases with increase in applied
voltage, irrespective of polarity of the dc voltage. The number of discharges that occur
under ac voltage is high compared to the dc voltages.

Index Terms — Partial discharges, UHF sensors, oil insulation, power transformer insulation.

1 INTRODUCTION The manufacturers diagnose the quality of insulation of

POWER transmission at high voltages is an essential part
of the infrastructure for modern industrial economies. The
components of transmission systems have evolved towards
using more compact, cost effective and reliable insulation
systems. HVDC power transmission networks are widespread
nowadays and converter transformers form key components of
these systems. The insulation system is same as in
conventional power transformer but it is stressed with ac and
dc voltages [1]. The major insulation in transformer is a
combination of pressboard material and the transformer oil,
which is a multi-dielectric system. To reduce the bulk
insulation volume, barriers (pressboard materials) are
provided to enhance the withstand voltage capability and
reduce the working space of insulation [2, 3]. Zouaghi et al [4]
carried out extensive study on understanding the influence of
barrier in liquid insulation. A significant problem in this type
of insulation structures is due to the partial discharges, which
are initiated from defect sites present in it.
Manuscript received on 3 May 2008, in final form 10 October 2008.
the converter transformer by carrying out certain routine
tests, type test and special tests before installation, which
include ac voltage withstand test, dc voltage test, polarity
reversal test, partial discharge (PD) test etc. [1, 5]. In all
these type of tests, the partial discharge test provides
information as to incipient discharges that occur in the
insulation medium, caused by micro defect in the insulation.
The micro defect may be formed due to small protrusion
from the winding or due to floating conducting/non-
conducting particles present in the transformer oil enhancing
the local electric field. The non-conducting defect would
typically be fiber dust from the press-board or paper
insulation surfaces. Conducting defects may be particles
in the transformer oil introduced during
manufacturing/maintenance or from wear and tear of metal
parts within the oil cooling system during operation [6]. The
particle initiated breakdown in transformer oil under ac and
dc voltages is reported in the literature [7-9]. Further
research work is essential to understand the influence of
polarity of the applied voltage on partial discharge formation
due to particle movement in transformer oil.

1070-9878/08/$25.00 © 2008 IEEE

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 IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation
Birlasekaran has studied particle movement in transformer
oil under ac and dc fields [10, 11]. He concluded that under dc
Figure 1. Experimental Setup.
voltages, conductive particles transport charge by contact with
electrodes and observed the discharge current in the form of a
fast rising current pulse and slowly increasing displacement
current [11]. Tobazeon observed that when the charged
conductive particle comes close to opposite electrode, charge
transfer occurs and produces a current peak shorter than 1ns
duration [12]. When partial discharge current pulses involves
rise and fall times of a nanosecond or less, signals in the Ultra
High Frequency (UHF) range (300-3000MHz) are excited
[13, 14]. Judd et al, have provided an extensive review on
partial discharge monitoring in transformers using the UHF
technique, where details of the sensors, signal interpretation
and the applicability of the technique in a practical situation
can be found [15-17]. Raja et al [18] carried out PD
measurement adopting UHF technique and concluded that
UHF technique could identify incipient discharges. Meijer
[19] carried out partial discharge studies in transformer
adopting UHF technique and concluded that the technique
could detect PD of 25-30 pC.
Considerable research work on partial discharge activity in
transformer oil insulation has been reported in the literature
[20, 21]. It has been shown that the UHF signals radiated by
partial discharges propagate at the speed of light in oil
(~2x108 ms-1) and are attenuated by about 6 dB per 10 m of
travel [22]. Judd et al studied the UHF signal under ac
voltages and concluded that the rise time of the current pulses
generated by the particle movement is of few nanoseconds
less with positive half cycle compared to the negative half
cycle [14]. Sarathi et al [23] carried out partial discharge
formation due to particle movement in transformer oil under
ac and dc voltages and reported that the magnitude of
discharge is high under ac voltage compared to that of it under
dc voltage.
Having known all this, a methodical experimental study was
carried out to understand partial discharge formation due to
particle movement in a multi dielectric system by placing a
conductive particle (i) over the ground electrode in a sphere-
plane electrode configuration (ii) by placing the conducting
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Vol. 15, No. 6; December 2008 1725
particle over the barrier insulation, where the barrier is placed
in the mid of electrode gap. The studies were carried out under
Figure 2. Photograph of the test cell.
ac and dc voltages. The UHF signal generated by partial
discharges due to particle movement were analysed by using
spectrum analyzer by operating it in full span and through
zero span mode.
2 EXPERIMENTAL
The experimental setup used for the measurement of UHF
signal generated by partial discharges due to particle
movement in the transformer oil, under the ac and dc voltages
is shown in Figure 1. It is sectioned in to three parts, namely
the high voltage source, the oil test cell (Test Apparatus), and
the UHF sensor connected to spectrum analyzer/oscilloscope
respectively.
2.1 HIGH VOLTAGE SOURCE
The high ac voltage of power frequency is produced from a
transformer rated 5 kVA, 50 Hz, 100 kV. The ac voltage is
measured using a capacitance voltage divider. The dc voltage
is generated through a Greinacher voltage doubler circuit and
it is measured using the resistance method.
2.2 TEST CELL DETAILS
The test cell used in the present work is shown in Figure 2.
It consists of two electrodes in a cylindrical container filled
with
transformer oil. The upper electrode is a spherical electrode of
diameter 1 cm and the lower one was a slightly concave shape
disk electrode to contain the particle. The gap between two
electrodes maintained at 10 mm. A circular oil impregnated
pressboard material of thickness 2 mm is placed exactly at the
middle of the gap. A small aluminium ball of diameter 1 mm
 1726 R. Sarathi and G. Koperundevi: UHF Technique for Identification of Partial Discharge in a Composite Insulation
was placed in the concave lower electrode while the high
voltage was applied to the top electrode. In the present study,
the ac and the dc voltages were increased at a rate of 300 V/s
up to the required test voltage level.
100
Sensitivity ( mV / Vm-1)
10
1 r
0.1
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 3. Frequency response of the UHF sensor.
2.3 UHF SENSOR DETAILS
The UHF sensors used for partial discharge detection must
have broadband response, since the frequency content of
signals from a PD varies depending on its location and the
signal path. The sensor used in the present study is a
broadband type sensor, which is placed at a distance of 20cm
away from the test cell. Figure 3 shows the sensor frequency
response as measured using a UHF calibration system [24].
The output of the UHF sensor connected to the spectrum
analyzer/high bandwidth digital storage oscilloscope. The
UHF signals were captured using a real time digital storage
oscilloscope (LeCroy four channel digital real time
oscilloscope, 3 GHz bandwidth, operated at 20 GSa/s) with an
input impedance of 50 Ω. A spectrum analyzer (Hewlett
Packard E4402B ESA-E-Series) was also used to measure
signal frequency in the range 0-3 GHz with resolution
bandwidth of 3 MHz. The spectrum analyzer was used in full
span mode and in zero span mode.
3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 VARIATION IN LEVITATION VOLTAGE OF
PARTICLE UNDER AC AND DC VOLTAGES
In the present study, sphere-plane configuration is used. The
gap between the sphere and the plane electrode is short, the
gap assumed to be of uniform field and the particle is in the
electrode gap, where the electric field is uniform. Thus, when
a conducting particle comes in contact with the electrode, it
gets charged to the same polarity of the electrode to a value
[10, 25]
2 3
Q= π ε rε 0a 2 E
3 under ac/dc voltages.
Authorized licensed use limited to: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS. Downloaded on December 26, 2008 at 06:42 from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
where εr is the permittivity of the transformer oil, εo is the
permittivity of the free space, a is the radius of the particle and
E is the operating electric field. Under dc voltage, the particles
acquires the charge and it levitates once the electric force
exerted on the particle exceeds the combined gravitational and
drag forces. The equation of motion of a particle in
transformer oil under an applied electric field is [10]
r r r r
m &x& = Fe + Fd + F g (2)
r
Where m is the mass of the particle, &x& is the particle
r r
acceleration, Fe is the electrostatic force, Fd is the viscous
drag force and F g is the gravitational force. The drag force is
a function of particle shape, size and the viscosity of the
liquid.
Under dc voltage, the levitated particles move to opposite
electrode and as it approaches the surface, charge transfer
takes place through a micro discharge between the electrode
and the particle. Once the particle comes in contact with the
opposite electrode (top electrode), it acquires its charge and
moves towards the ground electrode. In the return process, the
gravitational force aids the particle movement enhancing its
velocity [9]. This cycle continues causing localized partial
discharges near to the electrode surfaces.
When ac voltage is applied, the particle just keeps rolling
over the surface of the ground electrode, due to the zero
crossing of the applied ac voltage. The particle gets charged to
the polarity of one half cycle and attains a level of levitation,
in the meantime, the crossover of polarity of ac voltage
occurs which retards the particle movement. Hence, a small
movement of the particle occurs near to the ground electrode,
such a condition prevails even in the presence of barrier.
In the presence of barrier in the oil gap, the particle placed
in the ground electrode, on application of dc voltage above the
levitation voltage of the particle, moves between the ground
electrode and the surface of the barrier. Under dc voltages, the
levitation voltage (with and without barrier) is about 5.5 kV,
irrespective of polarity of the applied voltage. These levitation
voltages were established based on the first pulse being
captured by the oscilloscope through the UHF sensor output.
It may be inferred that acquired charge play a major role on
dynamics of the particle in the electrode gap. The levitation
voltage under ac voltage is high compared to the dc voltage,
the reason could be due to the time varying voltage, which
limit the acquired charge and level of movement in the oil gap
and in turn cause PD magnitude much lower than the
sensitivity of the UHF sensor. Under ac voltage, the levitation
voltage of the particle is 8.5 kV in the presence of barrier and
about 5.5 kV in clean oil gap, thus indicating that, the
levitation voltage is higher in the presence of barrier than in a
clean oil gap. The possible reason could be due to reduction in
local electric field in the medium, which limits the acquired
charge by the particle. It may be mentioned that when the
particle is placed over the insulation material, no partial
discharge activity due to particle movement were observed
(1)
 IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 15, No. 6; December 2008 1727

0.05 1

A m p lit u d e ( a .u .)
0.8
A m p lit u d e ( V )

0.025
0.6
0
0.4
-0.025
0.2
-0.05 0
-5 5 15 25 35 45 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (ns) Frequency (GHz)
Figure 4. Typical UHF signal measured due to particle movement in
transformer oil (a) time domain signal (b) normalized FFT of (a).

3.2 FREQUENCY DOMAIN ANALYSIS OF UHF

SIGNAL GENERATED DUE TO PARTIAL
DISCHARGES

Figure 4 shows typical time and frequency domain

characteristics of UHF signal output of the sensor generated
due to partial discharges formed by particle movement in
transformer oil. It demonstrates that UHF signals are
generated by partial discharges formed due to the movement
of the particle in oil electrode gap under dc voltages. It is
observed that the rise time and duration of UHF signal
generated due to partial discharge formed by particle
movement under ac and dc voltages is about 2 and 5 ns
respectively, at the point of levitation voltage. When the
applied voltage is increased, no significant variation in rise
time of the UHF signal is observed in the presence of barrier.
In the present study, the rise time of the UHF signal is
measured until time for the UHF signal attain to its maximum
peak amplitude (in positive or negative half cycle), once it
crosses 10% of its highest peak magnitude (in the positive or
negative half cycle, whichever is earliest). This 10% is a
threshold of the signal. The duration of the UHF signal is
defined as the time from the point of crossing the threshold
level of 10% of highest peak amplitude of the rising signal till
the magnitude falls below threshold value, chosen 20%, in the
present study.
Figure 5 shows characteristic variation in frequency content
of UHF signal generated by the partial discharge formed due
to particle movement in transformer oil (with and without the
barrier) under ac and dc voltage. These analyses were carried
out at different voltage magnitudes.
3.2.1 WITHOUT BARRIER
It is evident upon comparing frequency content of the UHF
signal generated under ac and dc voltages that the variation is
less significant in the UHF signal generated when the applied
voltage is just above the levitation voltage. In the case of dc
voltages predominant frequency content appears in the
frequency range 1-3 GHz when the applied voltage is
increased. Under ac voltage, irrespective of applied voltage
magnitude, the frequency contents in the UHF signal
generated due to particle movement is not altered.
Figure 5. FFT analysis of UHF signal measured due to particle movement in
transformer oil at voltages (I) without barrier (II) With barrier (a) 10 kV (b) 20
kV (i) +dc (ii) –dc (iii)ac.
Under ac voltages, the particle acquires positive charge in
one half cycle gets lifted from the lower electrode. The
electric force that it experiences undergoes changes in its both
magnitude and direction. Due to the local force experienced
by the acquired charge, the particle moves erratically near to
the electrode causing localized heating as a result of frequent
micro discharges through a thin layer of oil. It is possible that
this vaporizes a certain volume of the oil forming gas channels
that can support successive discharges [26]. Tobazeon et al
reported that bubbles occur due to charge transfer process
[27]. Pompili et al, [28] studied partial discharge behavior in
mineral oil under ac voltages and concluded that the number
of partial discharge pulses increases, with increase in applied
voltage, and the amplitude of the PD pulses increases thereby
enhancing the charge transfer per pulse burst as well as the
overall charge transfer. Thus, it is clearly seen that severity of
discharge in transformer oil is high under ac voltage compared
to dc voltage.
3.2.2 WITH BARRIER
By placing the barrier in the middle of the oil gap, a slight
variation in the dominant frequency is observed in the UHF
signal generated due to partial discharge formed by particle
movement between the ground electrode and the barrier
surface. The reasons for the variation could be due to the
barrier, which has altered the resonant modes of vibration

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 1728 R. Sarathi and G. Koperundevi: UHF Technique for Identification of Partial Discharge in a Composite Insulation
Figure 6. Typical spectrum analyzer display of UHF signals due to particle
movement in transformer oil under different voltages using spectrum analyzer
in full span mode (I) Without barrier (II) with barrier (a) 10 kV (b) 20 kV (i)
+dc (ii)- dc (iii) ac.
of the signal formed in the chamber. Other than the dominant
frequency shift, remaining characteristic frequency contents
are the same, as observed in the case of without barrier. The
particle movement in the presence of barrier, where the
magnitudes of the frequency contents in the range 1-3 GHz
has shown a marginal increase with increase in applied ac/dc
voltage.
3.3 ANALYSIS OF UHF SIGNAL USING SPECTRUM
ANALYZER
Figure 6 shows typical UHF spectra of signals generated by
particle movement in transformer oil under ac and dc voltages
captured using the spectrum analyzer operating in maximum
hold mode for 1 minute. The analysis was carried out under
two different conditions viz. (i) without barrier (ii) with
barrier.
3.3.1 FULL SPAN ANALYSIS WITHOUT BARRIER
Under ac/dc voltages above the levitation voltage of the
particle, frequency content of the UHF signal generated is
quite similar. However, when the dc electric field in the gap is
increased, frequency content in the band 1-3 GHz becomes
more pronounced as evident from Figure 6.
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3.3.2 FULL SPAN ANALYSIS WITH BARRIER
It is observed that the spread in frequency spectrum is high
in the presence of barrier. Also, it is noticed that increase in
applied voltage correspondingly shows increase in dB level of
the signal. The characteristics are similar under ac and dc
voltages.
Figure 7. Typical spectrum analyzer display of UHF signals due to particle
movement in transformer oil under different voltages using spectrum analyzer
in zero span mode with 1 GHz as centre frequency. (I) without barrier (II) with
barrier (a) 10 kV (b) 20 kV (i) +dc (ii) - dc (iii) ac.
A comparison of condition of the partial discharge
formation due to particle movement in oil gap with and
without barrier has shown that at lower voltages, the number
of discharges is high in the absence of barrier and when the
voltage is increased the number of discharges that occurs
becomes high in the presence of barrier It is because of the
fact that the particle takes random path, in the absence of
barrier, and in the process certain charge gets dissipated in
collision with the walls of the chamber.
3.3.3. ZERO SPAN ANALYSIS WITHOUT BARRIER
The signal components in the region of 1 GHz are
predominant for both ac and dc conditions. It is possible to
record occurrence of each discharge by performing a
narrowband measurement of the 1 GHz component alone.
Thus, a single dominant frequency measurement is helpful for
recording the general dynamics of the particle motion through
 IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation
the discharge signals produced. Figure 7 shows typical pulses
generated by the particle under ac and dc voltages recorded at
a centre frequency of 1 GHz using the spectrum analyzer in a
zero-span mode with a sweep time of 5 s.
Under dc voltage, zero span measurement has shown that at low
fields, the particle moves between two electrodes and generates
partial discharge during every hit. In the process, when the particle
moves from top to the bottom, the velocity of the particles is aided
by the gravitational force. The velocity of the horizontal motion,
the amplitude of the jumps and the luminosity of the discharges
have increased with increase in applied voltage. In the process, the
centrifugal force, which increases with the applied voltage ejects
the particles out of the gap and hits the Perspex wall transferring
some amount of charges and reaches the opposite electrode. It is
the one of the causes for the changes in PD magnitude at high
electric fields formed under dc voltage application. It has been
shown with zero span measurement where the number of pulses
formed is less and arbitrary in magnitude and time. These results of
the study indicate that the repetition rate of pulses is much higher
under ac voltage than dc voltage.
3.3.4 ZERO SPAN ANALYSIS WITH BARRIER
It is observed that in the presence of barrier the number of
discharges that occurred is less compared to the particle
movement in oil gap without any barrier especially at just
above the levitation voltage . This condition manifests under
ac and dc voltages. When the applied voltage is increased
further, the velocity of the particles as well as number of
discharges increases. In the presence of barrier, the particles
move in a systematic fashion (where the transit time between
the ground electrode and the barrier is constant) thereby the
number of discharges is increased. It is also observed that
increase in applied voltage shows increase in magnitude of
UHF signal in the presence of barrier, which is not the case
where the particle moves between the two electrodes.
4 CONCLUSIONS
It is observed that the levitation voltage of the particle in oil
gap (with and without barrier in the oil gap) is nearly the same
irrespective of polarity of applied dc voltage. The UHF signals
due to partial discharges caused by the motion of conducting
particles in transformer oil under ac/dc voltage were detected..
The influence of polarity on magnitude of UHF signal
generated by partial discharges due to particle movement is
not observed. The rise time and duration of UHF signal
generated due to partial discharges in oil gap due to particle
movement is about 2 and 5 ns, respectively.
No particle movement/partial discharges were observed
when the particle is placed over the pressboard material, under
ac and dc voltages. Broadband measurement of UHF signals
produced due to particle movement in transformer oil under
dc voltages, at high applied electric fields, indicates that the
frequency content of the signal lies in the entire UHF range of
300 MHz - 3 GHz. In the presence of barrier, the intensity of
the UHF signal generated is less, irrespective of polarity of dc
voltage as well as under ac voltage. In the presence of barrier,
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Vol. 15, No. 6; December 2008 1729
an increase in applied voltage shows increase in number of PD
pulses generated.
Narrow band measurements of UHF signal generated due to
PD formed by particle movement, at 1GHz, have shown that
in the presence of barrier, an increase in applied voltage
causes increase in number of pulses generated. This
phenomenon occurs in converse in oil gap without any barrier.
When the particle moves in a oil gap (without barrier) at lower
voltages, the PD activity is regular (particle movement is
regular) and number of discharges is high. When the applied
electric field is enhanced, random movement of the particles
causes irregular discharges of varying magnitude with
reduction in number of discharges. In the presence of barrier,
the sequential movement of particle occurs and the magnitude
of discharges increases with increase in applied ac/dc voltage.
It is also noticed that number of discharges that occur under ac
is high as compared to the dc voltages.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Sarathi thanks Dr. M.D. Judd, University of strathclyde, UK
for the support provided to carry out the present work. He also
thanks the Central Power Research Institute, Bangalore, India,
for the funding through RSOP scheme for the project entitled
“Partial discharge studies in transformers using UHF
technique”.
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239-241, 2002.
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, in 1994.
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He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department
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of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of
Conf. Electr. Insul. (ISEI), Indianapolis, USA, pp. 58-61, 2004.
Technology, Madras. His area of specializations
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includes insulation engineering and condition
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G. Koperundevi (S’08) was born in Pondicherry,
under ac conditions”, IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul., Vol. 12, pp.
India, on May 1980. She did her graduated in electrical
395-403, 2005.
and electronics engineering (2001) and obtained
[22] A. Convery and M. D. Judd, “Measurement of propagation
M.Tech degree in electrical drives and control (2004) at
characteristics for UHF signals in transformer insulation materials”, 13th
Pondicherry Engineering College. She is currently a
Int. Symp. High Voltage Engineering (ISH), Delft, The Netherlands,
Ph.D. degree student with the Indian Institute of
pp.321-324, 2003.
Technology Madras, India, working on partial
[23] R. Sarathi and M.D. Judd, “Understanding the partial discharge activity
discharge studies in transformers using UHF technique..
in transformer oil due to particle movement using UHF technique”, Int.
Conf. on Power Syst. (ICPS), CPRI, Bangalore, India, pp. 64-67, 2007.

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