Why Is Continuous On-Line Monitoring of Partial Discharge in The Switchgear Necessary?

Why is Continuous On-line Monitoring
of Partial Discharge in the Switchgear

Necessary?
Whats the condition of your switchgear?
Not sure?
You know that periodical maintenance test like partial discharge test can still leave
switchgear in virtually unknown condition. Insulation defects and deterioration may very well
develop in service within maintenance cycle.
These defects are often not detectable with traditional off-line tests and yet,
traditionally, on-line or off-line partial discharge tests have been performed on a
periodic basis commonly twice a year.
Think this is often enough?
Advantages over periodic partial discharge (PD) testing

Continuous PD monitoring has the following advantages over periodic PD testing:
1. Periodic on-line PD test could miss significant PD activities since PD activities vary by
time. On-line continuous monitoring eliminates the inherent flaw of interval-based testing.
2. Trending of PD activity is one of the most important parameters for predictive diagnostics.
Periodic tests will not be able to provide sufficient information for diagnostics based on
trending.
3. On-line monitoring provides more accurate information than off-line testing since off-line
testing conditions can differ greatly from real operating conditions.
4. Continuous on-line monitoring effectively reduces labor costs. In addition, the PD data
saved in the instrument can be accessed anytime, anywhere with modern communication
means.
Partial discharge test performed on site (photo credit: epowerplus.com)
Degradation of Insulation in Switchgear

Electrical insulation is subjected to electrical and mechanical stress, elevated temperature
and temperature variations, and environmental conditions especially for outdoor applications.
In addition to normal operating conditions, there are a host of other factors that may trigger
accelerated aging or deterioration of insulation.
Switching and lightning surges can start ionization in an already stressed area.
Mechanical strikes during breaker operation can cause micro cracks and
voids. Excessive moisture or chemical contamination of the surface can cause
tracking.
cause tracking.
PD Between Bus and Cubicle Wall
Any defects in design and manufacturing are also worth mentioning. Both normal
and accelerated aging of insulation produce the same phenomenon in common
Partial Discharge (PD).
Partial discharge (PD) is a localized electrical discharge that does not completely
bridge the electrodes. PD is a leading indicator of an insulation problem. Quickly
accelerating PD activity can result in a complete insulation failure.
Partial discharge mechanism

PD mechanism can be different depending on how and where the sparking occurs:
1. Voids and cavities are filled with air in poorly cast current transformers, voltage
transformers and epoxy spacers. Since air has lower permittivity than insulation
material, an enhanced electric field forces the voids to flashover, causing PD. Energy
dissipated during repetitive PD will carbonize and weaken the insulation.
2. Contaminants or moisture on the insulation induce the electrical tracking or surface
PD. Continuous tracking will grow into a complete surface flashover.
3. Corona discharge from sharp edge of a HV conductor is another type of PD. It
produces ozone that aggressively attacks insulation and also facilitates flashover during
periods of overvoltage.
Instrument transformers (CTs, VTs) in

the system
Posted M AY 19 2014 by EDV ARD in M ETERI NG , TRANSFO RMERS with 3 CO M M ENTS
Instrument transformers from ABB
Three main tasks of CTs and VTs

The three main tasks of instrument transformers are:
1. To transform currents or voltages from a usually high value to a value easy to handle for
relays and instruments.
2. To insulate the metering circuit from the primary high voltage system.
3. To provide possibilities of standardizing the instruments and relays to a few

rated currents and voltages.
Instrument transformers are special types of transformers intended to measure currents and
voltages. The common laws for transformers are valid.
Here we will cover six important aspects of using instrument transformer in the power
system:
1. Terminal designations for current transformers
2. Secondary grounding of current transformers
3. Secondary grounding of voltage transformers
4. Connection to obtain the residual voltage
5. Fusing of voltage transformer secondary circuits
6. Location of current and voltage transformers in substations
1. Different substation arrangements
1. Terminal designations for current transformers

According to IEC publication 60044-1, the terminals should be designated as shown in the
following diagrams. All terminals that are marked P1, S1 and C1 are to have the same polarity.
Figure 1 left Transformer with one secondary winding; Figure 2 right Transformer with two secondary windings
Figure 3 left Transformer with one secondary winding which has an extra tapping; Figure 4 right Transformer with
two primary windings and one secondary winding
Go back to main aspects
2. Secondary grounding of current transformers

To prevent the secondary circuits from attaining dangerously high potential to ground, these
circuits have to be grounded. Connect either the S1 terminal or the S2 terminal to ground.
For protective relays, ground the terminal that is nearest to the protected objects. For meters
and instruments, ground the terminal that is nearest to the consumer.
When metering instruments and protective relays are on the same winding, the
protective relay determines the point to be grounded.
If there are unused taps on the secondary winding, they must be left open.
If there is a galvanic connection between more than one current transformer, these shall
be grounded at one point only (e.g. differential protection).
If the cores are not used in a current transformer they must be short-circuited between
the highest ratio taps and shall be grounded.
It is dangerous to open the secondary circuit when the CT is in operation. High voltage will be
induced.
Figure 5 left Transformer; Figure 6 right Cables
Figure 7 Busbars
3. Secondary grounding of voltage transformers

To prevent secondary circuits from reaching dangerous potential, the circuits shall be
grounded. Grounding shall be made at only one point on a voltage transformer secondary
circuit or galvanically interconnected circuits.
A voltage transformer, which on the primary is connected phase to ground, shall have the
secondary grounding at terminal n.
A voltage transformer, with the primary winding connected between two phases, shall have the
secondary circuit, which has a voltage lagging the other terminal by 120 degrees,
grounded.Windings not in use shall be grounded.
Figure 8 Voltage transformers connected between phases
Figure 9 set of voltage transformers
4. Connection to obtain the residual voltage

The residual voltage (neutral displacement voltage, polarizing voltage) for earth-fault relays
can be obtained from a voltage transformer between neutral and ground, for instance at a
power transformer neutral.
It can also be obtained from a three-phase set of voltage transformers, which have their
primary winding connected phase to ground and one of the secondary windings connected in a
broken delta.
Figure 10 illustrates the measuring principle for the broken delta connection during an earthfault in a high-impedance grounded (or ungrounded) and an effectively grounded power
system respectively.
From the figure, it can be seen that a solid close-up earth-fault produces an output voltage of
Ursd = 3 x U2n
in a high-impedance earthed system and
Ursd = U2n
in an effectively grounded system. Therefore a voltage transformer secondary voltage of
U2n = 110 / 3 V
is often used in high-impedance grounded systems and U2n = 110 V in effectively grounded
systems. A residual voltage of 110 V is obtained in both cases. Voltage transformers with two
secondary windings, one for connection in Y and the other in broken delta can then have the
ratio:
for high-impedance and effectively grounded systems respectively. Nominal voltages other
than 110 V, e.g. 100 V or 115 V, are also used depending on national standards and practice.
Figure 10 Residual voltage (neutral displacement voltage) from a broken delta circuit
5. Fusing of voltage transformer secondary circuits

Fuses should be provided at the first box where the three phases are brought together. The
circuit from the terminal box to the first box is constructed to minimize the risk of faults in the
circuit.
It is preferable not to use fuses in the voltage transformer terminal box, as this will make
the supervision of the voltage transformers more difficult. The fuses in the three-phase box
enable a differentiated fusing of the circuits to different loads like protection and metering
circuits.
The fuses must be selected to give a fast and reliable fault clearance, even for a fault at the
end of the cabling. Earth faults and two-phase faults should be checked.
6. Location of current and voltage transformers in substations

Instrument transformers are used to supply measured quantities of current and voltage in an
appropriate form to controlling and protective apparatus, such as energy meters, indicating
instruments, protective relays, fault locators, fault recorders and synchronizers.
Instrument transformers are thus installed when it is necessary to obtain measuring
quantities for the above mentioned purposes.
Read more // Location of Current Transformers in HV Substation
Typical points of installation are switchbays for lines, feeders, transformers, bus couplers, etc.,
at transformer neutral connections and at the busbars.
Figure 11 Current and voltage transformers in a substation
Location in different substation arrangements

Below are some examples of suitable locations for current and voltage transformers in a few
different switchgear arrangements.
Figure 12 Double busbar station
Figure 13 Station with transfer busbar
Figure 14 Double breaker and double busbar station
Figure 15 Sectionalized single busbar station
Earthing (grounding) transformer

Voltages during a ground fault
Posted M AY 5 2014 by ASI F EQ BAL in TRANSFO RM ERS with 6 CO MM ENTS
Earthing (grounding) transformer Voltages during a ground fault (On photo: Neutral Grounding Transformers that
offer protection from fault current damaging transformer and generator systems; Photo credit:
powermagneticsinc.com)
Protection from fault current

Earthing Transformer or grounding transformer is the neutral grounding transformer - star
connected on the primary and has an open delta on secondary. Open Delta has two terminals.
A resistor is connected across these two terminals.
Whenever a fault occurs, voltage will be induced in the open delta and there will be a
voltage drop in the resistor connected.
This voltage drop will be sensed by the earthing transformer connected across this resistor. At
the secondary of the earthing transformer we have the neutral displacement relay which will
give a trip signal or an alarm whenever its settings exceed a particular value.
Earthing transformer can also be called a large Potential transformer (Open delta PT).
Representation in SLD
Earthing transformer Single Line Diagram
Connection diagram
Earthing Transformer Connection Diagram
The best way to ground an ungrounded delta system (existing or new) is to derive a neutral
point through grounding transformers as shown in figure above. The resistor inserted in the
broken delta leg is reflected to the primary underground fault conditions and limits the current
to a nominal value as dictated by its design.
Also, sensing the voltage drop across the resistor (device 59G) can be used to signal an
alarm advising that a ground fault has occurred.
The three lights across each individual transformer will constitute a version of the normal
ground detection scheme currently employed on ungrounded systems.
The voltage across the broken delta is simply the sum of system phase to ground voltages,
or 3V0.The Y side of the Y-ground/Broken delta VT can either be directly connected to the high
voltage terminals or to the secondary of a main step down VT.
It is common to place a resistor in the broken delta as shown in above figure. One rationale for
the resistance is that the resistance stabilizes the measured voltage.
It does this by:
1. Reducing the risk of ferroresonance
2. Act as a grounding bank/transformer.
Voltages during a ground fault

Referring to phaser diagram:
VAG = VAN + VNG = K<0 + 0 /Equation 1/

VBG = VBN + VNG = K<-120 + 0 /Equation 2/
VCG = VCN + VNG = K<120 + 0 /Equation 3/
For a phase A to ground fault, VAN = 0, and the voltage across the neutral resistor that is VNGis
essentially the negative of the Phase A to neutral voltage.
Mathematically:
VAG = 0 since Phase a is faulted

So: VAN + VNG = 0
VNG = -VAN = K<0 = 1<180 /Equation 4/
Substituting equation 4 in equation 2
VBG = VBN + VNG = K<-120 + K<180 = 1.732K<150
/Equation-5/
Similarly substituting equation 4 in equation -1
VCG = VCN + VNG = K<120 + K<180 = 1.732K<150
/Equation-6/
Equation 5 and 6 proves that voltage of healthy phase rises by 1.732 times during phase
to ground fault in one phase.
Sum of the three phase voltage will be:
= VAG + VBG + VCG = 0 + 1.732K<-150 + 1.732K<150 =

3K<180 /Equation-7/
Since broken/open delta sum up the three phase voltage so voltage of equation 7 will be
transformed to open delta secondary side from the Y grounded primary side.
V Broken Delta = V Primary / Turn ratio = (1/turn ratio) 3K<180 /Equation-8/

Equation 8 can be generalized as:
V Broken Delta =(1/Turn ratio) (3 V L-G System) < (Un faulted phase
angle + 180)
Resistance Selection
To obtain the maximum capability of the resistor to dampen system transients and dampen
ferroresonant circuits, a typical approach to sizing the resistor is to utilize one that can handle
all the power that the transformer can supply during a full neutral offset.

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Why is Continuous On-line Monitoring

of Partial Discharge in the Switchgear

Advantages over periodic partial discharge (PD) testing

Partial discharge test performed on site (photo credit: epowerplus.com)

Degradation of Insulation in Switchgear

PD Between Bus and Cubicle Wall

Partial discharge mechanism

Instrument transformers (CTs, VTs) in

Instrument transformers from ABB

Three main tasks of CTs and VTs

3. To provide possibilities of standardizing the instruments and relays to a few

1. Terminal designations for current transformers

Go back to main aspects

2. Secondary grounding of current transformers

Figure 5 left Transformer; Figure 6 right Cables

Go back to main aspects

3. Secondary grounding of voltage transformers

Figure 8 Voltage transformers connected between phases

Figure 9 set of voltage transformers

Go back to main aspects

4. Connection to obtain the residual voltage

5. Fusing of voltage transformer secondary circuits

6. Location of current and voltage transformers in substations

Figure 11 Current and voltage transformers in a substation

Go back to main aspects

Location in different substation arrangements

Figure 12 Double busbar station

Figure 13 Station with transfer busbar

Figure 14 Double breaker and double busbar station

Figure 15 Sectionalized single busbar station

Earthing (grounding) transformer

Protection from fault current

Earthing transformer Single Line Diagram

Earthing Transformer Connection Diagram

Voltages during a ground fault

VAG = VAN + VNG = K<0 + 0 /Equation 1/

VAG = 0 since Phase a is faulted

Substituting equation 4 in equation 2

VBG = VBN + VNG = K<-120 + K<180 = 1.732K<150

Similarly substituting equation 4 in equation -1

VCG = VCN + VNG = K<120 + K<180 = 1.732K<150

= VAG + VBG + VCG = 0 + 1.732K<-150 + 1.732K<150 =

V Broken Delta = V Primary / Turn ratio = (1/turn ratio) 3K<180 /Equation-8/

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