Bushing Insulation Diagnostics Based

on Dielectric Response

Matz Ohlen and Peter Werelius

Megger Sweden

1
Dielectric Frequency Response

Changes in insulating materials affect the power

factor and capacitance

Measurements over a frequency range, compared
to 50/60 Hz tan delta testing, provides a lot more
information on:
• Insulation characteristics
• Moisture in the cellulose insulation
• Temperature dependence
• Etc…

2
Traditional Tan Delta Testing

Dissipation
factor

Frequency

1 mHz 50 Hz 1kHz

3
Dielectric Frequency Response

Dissipation
factor

Frequency

1 mHz 50 Hz 1kHz
4
Insulation testing - 100 years of history

1870’s; First systematic investigations of dielectric properties (Clausius and
Mosotti)

1885; The transformer is invented by Ottó Bláthy

1927; First Megger instrument for DC insulation testing is patented and released

1990; ABB presents first results on dielectric response measurements on
insulating materials (NORD-IS 1990)

1993; Development of the first field instrument for Dielectric Frequency Response
measurements is started by Dr. Peter Werelius

1995; First field instrument for DFR (IDA) is available

1995-2005; The interest in using DFR/FDS for investigating insulation properties
is rapidly growing and numerous papers on the method and technology are
presented at international conferences

2004; CIGRE report 254, ”Dielectric Response Methods for Diagnostics of Power
Transformers” is published

2006; Project REDIATOOL reported at CIGRE, recommending DFR as a
preferred method for moisture assessment of power transformers

2010; CIGRE report 414 “Dielectric response diagnoses for transformer windings”
is published

5
DFR Application Areas

Power transformers

Instrument transformers

Bushings

Motors and generators

Cables

Generic testing of any capacitance/insulation
system

6
Dielectric Frequency Response measurements

Hi

Lo
A

Ground CHL

Measure at several frequencies

CL CH
Use Ohms law:
U (ω )
Z (ω ) =
I (ω )
C, tand, PF
Z (ω ) ⇒
(ε ′ and ε ′′) 7
Dielectric Frequency Response
- Investigating high tan delta values

Dry transformer with old

oil (high conductivity)

Wet transformer with good oil

8
What affects the response?

- Moisture +

- Oil Conductivity +

- Moisture +
- Temperature +

9
Typical DFR results for transfomers with various
moisture content

10
Bushing Diagnostics

11
C1 tan delta measurement setup

12
Typical power factor values for oil insulated
transformers and bushings (IEEE)

Typical power factor values @ 20° C

"New" "Old" Warning/alert limit

Power transformers,
0.2-0.4% 0.3-0.5% > 0.5%
oil insulated

Bushings (OIP) < 0.5% < 1% > 1%

IEEE 62-1995 states; “The power factors recorded for routine overall tests on
older apparatus provide information regarding the general condition of the
ground and inter-winding insulation of transformers and reactors. While the
power factors for most older transformers will also be <0.5% (20C), power
factors between 0.5% and 1.0% (20C) may be acceptable; however, power
factors >1.0% (20C) should be investigated.”

13
Traditional bushing diagnostics based on 50/60
Hz dissipation factor measurements
General guidelines for evaluating the C1 dissipation
factor:
 Between nameplate tan delta and up to twice nameplate tan
delta - bushing acceptable
 Between twice nameplate tan delta and up to 3 times
nameplate tan delta - monitor bushing closely (“questionable”)
 Above 3 times nameplate tan delta - replace bushing

Typical OIP bushing:

Tan delta values @ 20° C
”New” “OK" “Monitor" “Replace”
Bushing (OIP) < 0.5% 0.5-1% 1-1.5% > 1.5%

14
Bushings and dissipation factor

The dissipation factor is considered important for two main
reasons:

Dielectric losses generate heat, which could result in premature
ageing of the insulation if the bushing is not properly designed,
or even worse, could lead to a thermal breakdown (thermal
runaway).

Quality check of the production process.

The aim is to have a dissipation factor that:

Shows just a small variation with temperature. Increasing
dissipation factor with temperature indicates a moisture level in
the main insulation above 1 %.

Remains stable during the bushing’s entire service life.
Increasing dissipation factor indicates moisture ingress and/or
ageing of the insulation.
Source: ABB

15
Tan delta (%, 50 Hz) for bushings with different
moisture contents
10.00

4 % moisture
1.00 1% moisture
0,4 - 0,5% moisture
0.1 - 0.3% moisture

0.10
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Source: ABB

16
Power factor (%, 60 Hz) for ”good” and ”bad”
bushings
100

10

Bushing "Good"
Bushing "Bad"

Source: Doble

0.1
20 30 40 50 60 70 80

17
Typical power factor temperature correction

3.50

3.00

2.50

2.00
Typical temp correction, Power
Transformers (IEEE C57.12.90)
Typical temp correction, Bushings
1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

18
Temperature correction data for bushings...

1.8
5_O_C

1.6 7_GO_25_765

9_CTF_20_60
1.4
11_CT_KF_85_330

13_B
1.2
15_F

1 17_L_LC_LI_LM

19_OF_OFI_OFM
0.8
21_S_SI_SIM

23_T_U
0.6
25_COT_COS_SOT
0.4 27_ERC
29_PRC
0.2
31_POC

0 33_P_PA_PB
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60

19
Traditional temperature correction

“Experience has shown that the variation in power factor with

temperature is substantial and erratic so that no single
correction curve will fit all cases.” (quoted from IEEE C12.90-
2006)
“Built-in temperature correction curves for different insulation materials
are used to recalculate the measured results to reference conditions
(20°C, 68°F). The method of correction is depending on the type
of insulation and the relevant standard” (quoted from instrument
manufacturer)

Temperature correction is pending type of insulation

Temperature correction is pending status of insulation

Guessing game…

20
Temp dependence – Conclusions from a project

Power factor values are affected by variation of temperature. In most cases (but not all),
tan delta value increases with increase in temperature. Rate of change is different for
different makes of the transformers and bushings

The temperature correction factors (for correcting measured power factor to 20°C) are
different for different makes. Hence temperature correction factors as given in
IEEE/C57.12.90 can not be applied to these components
“Application of Temperature Correction
Factors for Dissipation Factor Measurements
for Power Transformers – A Case Study”
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited

21
DFR and temperature dependence

Insulation properties changes with temperature

Described by the Arrhenius equation:

A measurement at e.g. 50 Hz, 20C corresponds to a
measurement at higher frequency at higher temperature

Various material have different activation energy

Dry paper typically around 1.0 eV

Oil-impregnated paper typically 0.9 – 1.0 eV

Mineral transformer oil typically 0.4 – 0.5 eV

22
DFR data acquisition is pending insulation
temperature

Measured insulation
properties are the
same @ 2 mHz, 25 °C
as @ 1 mHz, 18 °C

Corresponding data points

Cellulose, (0.9 eV)

Frequency, mHz

23
DFR measurements – oil impregnated Kraft
paper, moisture content < 0.5%

24
Kraft paper – Tan Delta vs temperature

25
Temperature correction of transformers using
converted DFR data
12.00

10.00
Pauwels 20 MVA, 2000, new

8.00 Pauwels 80 MVA, 2005, new

Westinghouse 40 MVA, 1985,

6.00 spare

Yorkshire 10 MVA, 1977,

scrapped
4.00
Typical correction table for
transformers
2.00

0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

26
DFR measurements on GE type U bushings

6 units, 115 kV, age up to 20 years

Three broad classes; “Low”, “medium” and “high” 60 Hz tan delta readings

Accelerated aging test by running full voltage and increasing current load up to 2000 A
corresponding to about 80-85°C insulation temperature

Two bushings failed at 1900 A

DFR measurements performed in the beginning of the program

"0A", ambient/21°C, measured @ kV "1200A", ~ 50°C, measured @ kV "1600A", ~ 65°C, measured @ kV

Bushing
0.1 3 6 9 12 14 0.1 3 6 9 12 14 0.1 3 6 9 12 14
1 (M) x x x x x x x x x x x x
2 (M) x x x x x x x x x x x x
3 (H) x x x x x x x x x
4 (H) x
5 (L) x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
6 (L) x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

27
Tan delta measurements on GE type U bushings

1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2 ”High”/”Replace”

Series1
0.8
”Monitor”

0.6
”OK”
0.4

Nameplate
0.2

0
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6

28
DFR on 115 kV GE Type U bushings

”Bad condition”

”Good condition”

29
Individual temperature dependence from DFR data

Temperature correction (relative tan delta)

9

6 "Typical"
"As new"
5 #1
#2
4 #3
#4
3
#5
#6
2

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 Temperature

30
Temperature test of bushing #1

~ 65°C

~ 50°C

~ 20°C

31
Temperature test of bushing #5

~ 65°C

~ 20°C
~ 50°C

32
 Tan delta @ 1 and 60 Hz

Bushing #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Nom

Tan delta, 60 Hz 0.58 1.07 1.60 1.46 0.23 0.24 0.25

Actual/nominal ratio 2.31 4.28 6.40 5.84 0.94 0.96 1.00

Tan delta, 1 Hz 6.5 33.6 23.6 24.4 0.27 0.32 0.3

1Hz/60Hz ratio 11.3 31.4 14.8 16.7 1.15 1.34 1.20

If 60 Hz is measured at room temperature, 1 Hz corresponds to measuring at about 75°C

33
Tip-up test on bushing #5

0.13 kV
Slight ”tip-down”
at low frequencies

6 kV No tip-up at 60 Hz
12 kV

34
Tip-up test on bushing #3

0.13 kV

6 kV

12 kV

”Tip-down” at low
frequencies

No tip-up at 60 Hz

35
DFR on 220 kV GE Type U bushings (10°C)

60 Hz tan delta is low/as nameplate

1 Hz data is about the same as 60 Hz indicating low temperature dependence
All bushings good!

36
DFR on 26 kV GE Type T bushings (10°C)

60 Hz tan delta is low/”OK”

1 Hz data differs, especially for X3 indicating higher temperature dependence
Bushings good…?

37
Temperature dependence for LV bushings

X1 “as new”

X2 “normal/OK”

X3 “bad”, 60 Hz > 2x nameplate and strong temperature dependence

38
Factory testing example – Bushing insulation

6 bushings similar

One rejected and returned for inspection. Manufacturing defect was found

39
Summary and conclusions

DFR/FDS measurements/analysis can:

Perform individual temperature correction of measured 50/60 Hz
dissipation factor at various temperatures to values at reference
temperature, 20°C.

Estimate temperature dependence in an object and from measured
dissipation factor at a certain temperature calculate the dissipation
factor at a different temperature

Estimate the moisture content of oil-immersed cellulose insulation in
power transformers and bushings

Generally investigate causes for increased dissipation factor in power
components

40
The doctor is in...

41