High Voltage Insulation Diagnostics WELCOME!

Presented by: Bostjan Flis bostjan.flis@metrel.si

Content overview
Application areas of HV insulation testing What influences insulation resistance Symptoms of bad insulation Testing methods Insulation testing with DC test voltage - insulation characteristics Insulation testing with DC test voltage - test parameters Limit values Connection schemes Test data evaluation i.e. statistics keeping General requirements for HV insulation testers Metrel HV insulation testers Metrel's solution providing, services and development

Application areas of HV insulation testing

Insulation resistance testing is part of predictive maintenance of: - Rotary machines (generators, motors) - Transformers (industry, utilities, power distribution) - Cables - Measuring transducers - Distribution boards Benefits: - Lower TCO (total cost of ownership)

- increased electrical safety

- prevention against fire hazard

What influences insulation resistance - Thermal exposure - Overload

- Moisture
- Electrical shocks - Mechanical shocks (vibrations, bad transportation) - Dirt (oil, dust, conductive materials) - General ageing of insulation Symptoms of bad insulation - Insulation breakdowns in a form of electrical short-circuits - Fire - Long-term downgrading values of insulation resistance - Insulation resistance values under by standards determined values

Insulation testing methods

- AC insulation testing (50/60Hz, 1 minute) - Insulation surge breakdown testing

- Insulation testing with switching voltage

- Insulation testing with DC voltage - Dielectric losses (tg) - Partial discharges - U I characteristics

Insulation testing with DC test voltage - insulation characteristics

Itot IRiss Riss 1 Guar d IRiso Riso Riss 2 IRCpi Cpi Rpi Cis o ICiso + U
U Riss1 and Riss2 Riso Ciso Rpi Cpi Test voltage Insulation surface resistance Insulation resistance Capacitance of an insulation system Polarisation resistance Polarisations capacitance

Itot

Total insulation current Insulation surface leakage current Resisitve part of the insulation current Polarisation current Capacitive part of the insulation current

uA 40 ICiso 30 20 IRiss 10 IRCpi 0 0 200 400 600 800 t [s] IRiso Itot

IRiss IRiso IRCpi ICiso

Insulation parameters
Polarisation Index (PI) PI = R tot (10 Min) / R tot (1Min) Dielectric absoption ratio (DAR) DAR = R tot (1 Min) / R tot (30 Sek) Dielectric discharge (DD) DD = I DIS (1 min) / (U * C ISO ) I DIS .a discharge current measured 1 minute after disconnecting the insulation system from the test voltage C ISO . capacitance of the insulation system Discharge of U test voltage Discharging of Cpi
Ciss Itot

Bad insulation Good insulation 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 t [s]

Limit values for insulation testing with DC voltage

Insulation resistance
Limit value

General applications Rotary machines according to IEEE 43-2000 Switching- and control devices according to IEC 60439-1 Splitting transformers and safety low voltage transformers according to IEC 61558

> 1M per 1kV der Nennspannung des Prflings a./ 1 M + 1 M/1kV b./ 5 M for motors under 600V c./ 100 M for motors above 600V > 1k for 1V of the UN of the test object a./ Basis insulation > 2M b./ Additional insulation > 5M c./ Reinforced insulation > 7M

Polarisation index (PI)

Evaluation
PI Wert 1 to 1.5 2 to 4 >4 BAD (valid for older types of insulation materials) SUFFICIENT (valid for older types of insulation materials) VERY GOOD (also for the modern type of insulation materials)

Thumb rule
(motors and generators):

Ri M U n kV

Dielektric absorption ratio (DAR)

Evaluation
DAR value <1 1 DAR 1.25 > 1.4 BAD SUFFICIENT VERY GOOD

Connection schemes
Precondition!
- Measuring object has to be disconnected from power supply network (voltage free) - Surface of the insulation system has to be dry and clean Power transformer
VN NN
G

HV vs LV

VN NN

HV vs G
G

Multiple devices
Power supply PE - ground PE Port A PE Port A Port A Port C1 Device N Port C1 Device B Device A Port C2 Port C C Port C2 Port B Port B
VN NN
G

LV vs G

Test data evaluation i.e. statistics keeping Statistics

- Always assure the same measuring conditions (connection, temperature, test voltage, diagnostics parameters) - Regular test intervals (6 months or one year)

- Results keeping for the entire life period of the equipment

- Observation of downgrading trends

Temperature coefficient
(all values are to be calculated on 75C)

Ri10 / /75 Ri10 /

1 Kr

K r 10 2, 280,0304

General requirements for HV insulation testers

Test functions:
- Insulation resistance - Step voltage test

Other features:
- Guard terminal to eliminate surface insulation currents

- Capacitance
- PI, DD, DAR - Current in A and mA range - Voltage AC/DC

- Automatic discharging of the test object after measurement

- Built-in timer - On-Line graph R = f(t) - EM immunity for usage in HV environments

- EM Filters for improved accuracy

Accessories:
- Shielded test leads

- Good charging system (accus or mains or both)

- High quality test terminals (HV, antistatic, high surface resistance)

- PC Software for downloading of test results and creating test reports

Metrel HV insulation testers

Integrated features: Test voltage up to 10kV DC Resistance measuring range up to 10T Automated calculation of PI, DAR and DD for profound insulation diagnostics On-Line R=f(t) display Test voltage setting in 25V steps Shielded 12kV test leads to reduce influence of external EM fields CAT IV/600V over-voltage category for utilities and industrial applications New TeraLink PRO Windows PC Software for TeraOhm 5kV Plus Handbook Modern insulation testing on CD

Metrel's solution providing, services and development

Product training in Metrel training centre
On-Line technical support Application training and publications Repair & Calibration training

Calibration equipment
Repair & Calibration services Advanced technical solutions for all products segments (Hardware, Firmware, PC Software) Customised solutions (Instruments, Software, Accessories)

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