Proceedings of MUCEET2009

Malaysian Technical Universities Conference on Engineering and Technology

June 20-22, 2009, MS Garden,Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
MUCEET2009

Partial Discharge Detection for Condition Monitoring Of an 11-kV XLPE Cable –

Part I

Nor Akmal Mohd Jamail, Zainal Alam Haron, Asmarashid Ponniran, Qamarul Ezani Kamarudin,
Nor Anija Jalaludin

discharge; internal discharges, surface discharges corona

Abstract— High voltage insulation breakdown discharges and discharge in electrical trees [13]. Internal
has been the main causes of high voltage system discharges are discharges in cavities or voids which lie
inside the volume of the dielectric or at the edges of
breakdown. It is found that this phenomenon conducting inclusions in a solid or liquid insulating
occurs due to the existence of partial discharge medium. Surface discharges are discharges from the
within voids found in the insulation of XLPE conductor into a gas or a liquid medium and form on the
cables, which is produced accidentally during the surface of the solid insulation not covered by the conductor.
extrusion process of the cables. The effect of Corona is a discharge in a gas or liquid insulation around
the conductors that are away or removed from the solid
partial discharge would lead to serious breakdown insulation [11]. Electrical trees discharge is a discharge in
of power cable systems and electrical apparatus the hollows, whereby electrical trees start from defects in
failures. Many appropriate techniques can be used the insulation and after treeing has progressed for some
to evaluate the condition of XLPE cables. One of time, the steam and the larger branches grow hollow [13].
the techniques is partial discharge testing. This Therefore, the partial discharge technique is an
appropriate technique to evaluate the condition of the XLPE
study focuses on 11 kV XLPE cables and the
cable. In this study, partial discharge parameter of XLPE
partial discharge testing is conducted using partial cables are being considered on several samples of cables,
discharge detector equipment. The analysis of data which are taken from services. Then, certain conclusion and
shows that the partial discharge test can be used to finding regarding the performance of XLPE cables, which is
evaluate the performance and behaviour of the in service, based on tan delta and capacitance parameters are
XLPE cable. The finding shows, if the partial obtained.
discharge value for the cable is more than 10 pC,
the cable is considered failed and it is not safe to II. MEASUREMENT METHOD
be used.
The measurements are carried out to determine the partial
Keywords: partial discharge, XLPE cable discharge value of XLPE cable insulator, to ensure the
condition of the cable. The entire measurement are using
I. INTRODUCTION Partial Discharge detector, model TE 571, which comes with a
broadband amplifier as shown in figure 1. This equipment
Partial discharge detection is nowadays a very well consist essentially of three units that are built into one piece
established method for monitoring the insulation condition of equipment; PD measurement, PD Digitisation and Data
of an electrical apparatus. The breakdown of insulation Processing.
while in service can cause considerable damage to an
apparatus and to the system to which it is connected. It has
been recognized that failures of this type often may be
related to the occurrence and severity of partial discharges
within voids and/or on the surface of the insulation. Testing
of high voltage apparatus for partial discharges has long
been recognized as an important part of quality control for
these devices [1].
Partial discharge is an electrical discharge that only
partially bridges the dielectric or insulating medium
between conductors. There are four types of partial

Nor Akmal Mohd Jamail, Zainal Alam Haron, Asmarashid Ponniran,

Qamarul Ezani Kamarudin, Nor Anija Jalaludin , Faculty of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.
(norakmal@[Link], zainalal@[Link], asmar@[Link], Figure 1: Partial Discharge Detector
ezani@[Link]).

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 iii. The discharge rod must be displaced from the power
The value of partial discharge are measured on four 11 supply circuit.
kV XLPE cable with different types of artificial defect. iv. The new file is created to save all the testing data by
Cable A is a cable in good condition of insulation, cable B is selecting F2 key. The file name is entered and must be
a cable that has void between cable insulation and iron, less than 8 characters. ENTER key is selected for the
cable C is a cable that has void between cable insulation and next display.
aluminium and cable D is a cable that has void between v. Then, the screen display Test Identification. Which all
cable insulation and copper. All samples of cables are taken the data about the testing can be mentioned, and F8 key
from service. The length of all the cables is about 5 meter. is selected to save all the information that has been set
before in Test Identification.
A. Measurement Calculation vi. Then, the screen will display all the information that has
been set in Test Identification as shown in the result.
Before the testing is conducted, the maximum test vii. The test voltage is applied between conductor and
voltage that could be applied on the test cable has to be screen. With the voltage of 3.2 kV, 5.5kV,6.4kV,
calculated. Based on the reference, AS PER IEC 60502-2 7.9kV, 8.2kV, 9.6kV and the maximum value of 11kV.
(1997), the calculation could be written as below: viii. It shall be raised to and held, for not more than 1 min, at
a value which 0.25 Vo above the voltage at which the
Test voltage for PD: measurement of partial discharge is to be made, where
Vinjected = 1.73Vo Vo is the rated voltage of the cable.
ix. The test voltage shall then be gradually reduced to, and
the measurement of partial discharge made at, the
Where: voltage specified for the measurement in the relevant
cable.

Based on the calculation above, the maximum test voltage There were two types of plots on the PD detector that
that can be applied on the test cable is 11kV. could be observed:
i. Ellipsoid diagram
B. Testing Procedure ii. Two minutes line diagram

After taking all the safety precautions and equipment

All plots were printed using the printer. Analysis
calibrations, the measurement of partial discharge are ready
measurement or two minutes line diagram will show
to begin. The measurement procedure mentioned here is one
measurement parameters, measurement values and graphs of
of the test procedures to test the partial discharge by using
Partial Discharge Detector, TE 571. The testing data is measurement values against time/phase. The measurement
automatically recorded into the system whilst this testing is parameters displayed are noise suppression, PD range and
running. measuring time. These values will not change, with the
exception of PD range which may be changed once by the
i. The circuit is arranged as in Figure 2 user during the test. The measurement values displayed are
PD max. level and voltage. These are “live” values and will
change when the PD max. level and test voltage alter during
the test.

Figure 2: The partial discharge test circuit arrangement III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION FOR PARTIAL DISCHARGE

Where:
1. HV Power Supply A. Case A: Olive Oil Effect on the Test Cable Insulation
2. Test Object
3. Coupling Capacitor or Discharge Free Capacitor This observation can typically be due to partial
4. AKV Coupling Quadripole discharge occurs at thesurface of the insulation. The cable
5. TE 571 Partial Discharge Detector insulation was covered with a layer of olive oil. The result is
6. Connection Cable shown in Figure 3. When the 11 kV was injected to the
7. Injection Capacitor sample, the voltage reading at PD scope display was 10.7
8. KAL 451 Calibrator kV and the PD level at this voltage was 3.7 nC. The partial
discharge pulses can be seen at the first quadrant (0-90º) and
ii. The system of the testing and the surrounding of the third quadrant (180º-270º). During the first quarter cycle we
testing place must be sure at low interference. It is of are creating a positive charge and the resultant partial
course essential that the background level of discharges. During the third quarter cycle, this positive
interference is as low as possible prior to the charge is effectively reversed, resulting in a positive charge
commencement of a test. in the reverse direction, and the resultant partial discharges.

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From the result it can be concluded that the cable is not in
good insulation because the value of PD is greater than 10
pC.

Figure 5: PD Scope display for grease oil effect on the test cable insulation

Figure 6 shows the line diagram for grease oil effect on

the test cable insulation. From the graph, we can observe
Figure 3: PD Scope display for olive oil effect on the test cable insulation that the partial discharge pulse can be seen during the initial
rising positive signal and initial rising negative signal. The
From the analysis measurement as shown in Figure 4, it maximum level of partial discharge was 11 nC when the
can be observed that partial discharge pulse can be seen voltage was 10 kV and it shows that the cable is not in good
during the initial rising positive signal and initial rising condition of insulation.
negative signal. The maximum level of partial discharge was
6.2 nC when the voltage was 10 kV and it shows that the
cable is not in good condition of insulation.

Figure 6: Line diagram for grease oil effect on the test cable insulation

From Case A and Case B, it can be see that partial

Figure 4: Line diagram for olive oil effect on the test cable insulation discharges occur only during the first and third quarter of
each cycle. This is the initial rising positive signal, and the
initial rising negative signal. Effectively, during the initial
rising positive signal, all of the capacitive components are
being charged until the partial discharge inception voltage is
reached across each specific defect, and partial discharges
commence. When the positive wave cycle begins to
B. Case B: Grease Oil Effect on the Test Cable Insulation decrease the positive voltage across each defect is reduced,
since some capacitive charge remains. Some level of charge
This case can be indicative of partial discharge occurs at must exist since the voltage across a capacitor cannot be
the surface of the insulation. This case was similar with the changed instantaneously.
Case E but the insulation was covered with a layer of grease From the results, it can be say that different material that
oil. The result is shown in Figure 5. When the 11 kV was was covering the insulation can give different reading of PD
injected to the sample, the voltage reading at PD scope level.
display was 10.7 kV and the PD level at this voltage was 8.5
nC. The partial discharge pulses can be seen at the first IV. DISCUSSION
quadrant (0-90º) and third quadrant (180º-270º). During the
first quarter cycle positive charge are created and the Seven values below the maximum test voltage were
resultant partial discharges. During the third quarter cycle, chosen to determine the corresponding PD value, which
this positive charge is effectively reversed, resulting in a were 3.2 kV, 5.5 kV, 6.4 kV, 7.9 kV, 8.2 kV, 9.6 kV and 11
positive charge in the reverse direction, and the resultant kV. The first value of voltage that was injected across the
partial discharges. test cable in order to trace the first PD value is known as the
From the result it can be concluded that the cable is not inception voltage and the value of the inception voltage is
in good insulation because the value of PD is greater than 10 obviously 3.2 kV. As the testing was repeated with these
pC. seven values for testing two different conditions of cable,

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the results are shown in Figure 5. The graphs show the PD
level in pico Coulomb versus injected voltage in kilo Volt.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Use the singular heading even if you have many
acknowledgments. Sponsor and financial support
acknowledgments are placed in the unnumbered footnote on
the first page.

REFERENCES
[1] J.P. Steiner, “Partial Discharges In Low-Voltage Cables”, IEEE
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in Cables" IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation
increases of the PD level, followed by a period of stability. Vol.5, No.2,April 1998.
The inception voltage for these cases was 3.2 kV. The PD [6] D Zhu, A J McGrail, S Swinglei, D W Auckland and B R Varlow,
level for Case A and B are high because the cable had “Partial Discharge Detection in Cable Termination Using Acoustic
critical defect. Emission Techniques and Adaptive Signal Processing” IEEE
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Thus, from the results, it can be seen that the USA, June 5-8, 1994.
performance of the test cable depend on a requirement of [7] I. J. Kemp, "Partial discharge plant-monitoring technology: Present
British Standard that if the PD value for a certain voltage and future developments," IEE Proc.-Sci. Meas. Technology, vol.
value on a particular cable is more than 10 pC, the cable is 142, pp. 4-10, 1995.
[8] Zhifang Du, P.K. Willet, M.S. Mashikian, “Performance Limits of PD
considered as fail and it is has a defect and if the partial Location Based on Time-Domain Reflectometry”, IEEE Trans. On
discharge maximum level is below 10 pC, the cable is in a Dielectric and Electrical Insulation, Vol.4, No.2, pp182, 1997.
good condition of insulation. [9] H M Ryan (1994). “High Voltage Engineering and Testing”. Peter
The illustration of the partial discharge activity relative to Peregrinus Ltd.
[10] A. Haddad and D. Warne (2004). “ Advances in High Voltage
the 360 degrees of an AC cycle allows for identifying the Engineering”.The Institution of Electrical Engineers, London.
prominent root cause of partial discharges, therefore [11] M S Naidu and V Kamaraju (2004). “High Voltage Engineering”
appropriate corrective actions can be implemented. third edition. Mc Graw Hill.
[12] C.T. Baldwin (1961). “Fundamentals of Electrical Measurements”.
GreatBritain.
[13] Kreuger, F.H (1989). “Partial Discharge Detection In High Voltage
V. CONCLUSION Equipment”. New York.
[14] Westinghouse Electrical Maintenance Hints, Pages 19-14 and 15, and
In this testing, the insulation condition of an 11 kV Page7-23, Westinghouse Electric Corporation Printing Division,
XLPE cable was assessed by subjecting it to partial Trafford, Pa.1976.
discharge tests. In particular, the partial discharge tests were [15] J. Millman, H. Taub, Pulse, Digital and Switching Waveforms, Pages
carried out to determine the quality of the cable whether its 50-54 McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1965.
[16] C. Kane, B. Lease, A. Golubev, I. Blokhintsev, “Practical
insulation material was in good condition or whether it had a Applications of Periodic Monitoring of Electrical Equipment for
defect. The quality of the XLPE cable can be determined Partial Discharges,” NETA Conference, March, 1998.
based on the PD value, where a low PD value indicates an [17] C.H. Flurscheim, Power Circuit Breaker Theory and Design, Pages
XLPE cable in a good condition. This is concomitant with 556-557, Peter Peregrinus Ltd. on behalf of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers, 1985.
the TNB requirement which states that if the PD value is [18] BS EN 60885-3:2003. “Electrical Test Methods for Electric Cables”.
more than 10 pC, the XLPE cable should be assumed as fail [19] BS EN 60885-2:2003. “Electrical Test Method for Electric Cables”.
and not safe to be used anymore. The partial discharge IEC 60502-2 (1997)
magnitude is related to the extent of damaging discharges [20] Eleventh International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering,
Volume 3
occurring, and therefore related to the amount of damage [21] Eleventh International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering,
being inflected into the insulation. The pulse repetition rate Volume 4
indicates the quantity of discharges occurring, at the various [22] Eleventh International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering,
maximum magnitude levels. Both play a role in determining Volume 5
the condition of the insulation under test.
In conclusion, the partial discharge test can be used to
evaluate the performance and behaviour of the XLPE cable.
For this reason the techniques of PD measurements is a very
valuable in-house means of reviewing and improving the
design of electrical cables. The PD inception levels serve as
a very important measure to indicate the insulation condition
of the cable and thus can be used to improve its quality of
the manufacturer and also the user.

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