Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated

Switchgear Webinar

Hussain Al Juffairi
Abdulla Jawher
May 2024

1
Outline

 Introduction

 Partial Discharge Basics

 Testing Methods

 Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)

 Sensitivity Verification by Cigre

 Common Defects within GIS

 Instruments and Products

 Q & A Session
Our History
Introduction

Power Diagnostix Systems GmbH

Vaalser Strasse 250,
52074 Aachen, Germany
www.pdix.com
Our Journey

Founded as DG instrument Joined Megger

in Aachen Group

1986 2019

1993 Today

Market introduction Continuously growing

of partial discharge and improving own
detectors products
We are providing PD solutions for a wide customer base

Original equipment manufacturer Power Utilities Heavy industry

(OEMs)

Test laboratories
Repair shops Service Providers
Providing partial discharge solutions based on your purpose and need

Applications Assets
• Quality assurance & quality control (e.g. • Transformer
Factory acceptance test) • Rotating Machine
• On-site offline testing • Cable
• GIS
• On-site online testing • AIS
• Permanent monitoring
• Temporary monitoring
Our product portfolio covers various partial discharge needs

ICMcompact
ICMsystem
ICMmonitor
ICMmonitor Portable

GISmonitor

GISmonitor Portable

ICMflex

AIAcompact

PRPDreplay
HVcontrol
 Our partial discharge measurement devices

ICMcompact ICMsystem

What makes it special? The better fit for your purpose?

• Stand-alone partial discharge device • Universal PD device
• Quality assurance and quality control (end-of- • Highest grade of modularity and versatility
line, FAT) • Parallel measurement: Reduces overall testing time with multichannel
• Available in various housing (Stand-alone, In- option
house device (test bench), portable version) • For complex measurements

Customer groups Applications Assets

• Repair shops* • Factory • Transformer
• OEMs* acceptance test • GIS (Only field
• Power utilities • On-site online test use) Customer groups Applications Assets
• On-site offline test • AIS • Repair shops • Factory acceptance • Transformer
• Heavy industry
• Cable
• Service providers • OEMs test • Rotating machine
• Test laboratories • Power utilities • On-site offline test • GIS
• Heavy industry • On-site online test • AIS
• Service providers • Cable
• Test laboratories

*more common usage for these customer groups

 Our monitoring devices for all your assets

ICMmonitor ICMmonitor Portable

Why it might a better fit?

What makes it special?
• Portable solution of a monitoring system
• Monitor insulation condition (MV & HV)
• Flexibility to monitor one asset after another for a limited
• Remote access with Monitor Web Server
period
(MWS)
• With ICMoutlander (Protective housing) monitoring under
 Always aware of asset‘s conditions
all weather conditions and environments
• Ideal noise handling
 Reliable and precise results
• Various versions specified for intended ICMmonitor DIN rail with MWS

purpose

Customer groups Applications Assets Customer groups Applications Assets

• Power utilities* • Permanent online • Transformer • Power utilities* • Temporary online • Transformer
• Heavy industry* monitoring • Rotating machine • Heavy industry* monitoring • Rotating machine
• GIS • Service providers* • On-site online test • GIS
• OEM (indirect • On-site online test
• AIS • Repair shops • On-site offline test • AIS
customer) • On-site offline test • Cable • Cable

*more common usage for these customer groups

 Our specialized solutions for GIS

GISmonitor GISmonitor Portable

What makes our GISmonitor unique? Reasons for the portable version
• Specialized continuous monitoring device for GIS • Offered as a standardized solution
• Suitable for embedded + external UHF sensors available in • Portable monitoring version for GIS
the market  For temporary GIS monitoring
 Allows retrofitting of existing GIS • Flexible solution, can be used for several GIS at your
• Real-time monitoring of multiple assets with multichannel site
system • Up to 40 measurement channels in parallel
• Up to 120 measurement channels in parallel
• Available in different versions Recommended: HV testing on single or three phase
encapsulated GIS

Customer groups Applications Customer groups Applications Asset

• Power utilities* • Permanent online • GIS
• Power utilities* • Temporary online
• Heavy industry* monitoring
• Heavy industry* monitoring
• OEM (indirect • On-site online test
• Service providers • On-site online test
customer)
• Repair shops • On-site commissioning

Asset
• GIS

*more common usage for these customer groups

 Other supportive PD solutions

ICMflex AIAcompact

How can it support you? The right additional support

• Measures partial discharge and tan delta simultaneously • Light-weight compact instrument for acoustic & electric (UHF) PD
 Results can be shown on the • Easy setup – automatic sensor detection
display at the same time • Works independently with battery
 Saves time and cost
• Delivers reliable valid results

Customer groups
• Power utility
Customer groups • Heavy industry
• Repair shops* (on-site) • Service providers
• Service Providers* • Test laboratories
• OEM
• Power utilities Applications
• Heavy industry • On-Site offline test
• Test laboratories • On-site online test

Applications Assets Assets

• Factory acceptance test • Rotating machine • GIS
• On-Site offline test • Cable • Transformer
• Cable accessories

*more common usage for these customer groups

 Other supportive PD solutions

ICMflex AIAcompact

How can it support you? The right additional support

• Measures partial discharge and tan delta simultaneously • Light-weight compact instrument for acoustic & electric (UHF) PD
 Results can be shown on the • Easy setup – automatic sensor detection
display at the same time • Works independently with battery
 Saves time and cost
• Delivers reliable valid results

Customer groups
• Power utility
Customer groups • Heavy industry
• Repair shops* (on-site) • Service providers
• Service Providers* • Test laboratories
• OEM
• Power utilities Applications
• Heavy industry • On-Site offline test
• Test laboratories • On-site online test

Applications Assets Assets

• Factory acceptance test • Rotating machine • GIS
• On-Site offline test • Cable • Transformer
• Cable accessories

*more common usage for these customer groups

Insulation & Dielectric

 Three primary types of insulator

• Electrical
• Thermal
• Sound

 Difference between Conductors and insulators

• Metals (conductors) –Loose electrons
• Insulators –Shared electrons

 Electrical insulators that can be polarized by an applied electrical

field are referred to as a dielectric
Insulation Materials

 There are number of different high voltage (HV) insulating

materials that are used for certain applications

 Common HV insulating materials

• Gasses
o Air (78% Nitrogen)
o SF6
• Liquids
o Mineral oil
o Silicon oil
• Solids
o Ceramic
o Glass
o Mica
o Resin
Partial Discharge Basics

Why do we measure PD?

 Partial discharge is one root cause of insulation degradation

 PD detection is an early-stage test that can reveal any insulation

weakness within the asset which prevents full breakdown and costly
damages
Figure: Flashover in transformer tank
 PD Location can help to find failure positions. wall

 PD measurements are non-intrusive and can be done online and

offline with conventional or unconventional testing methods

 PD analysis helps to improve the design of insulation systems

Outline

 Introduction

 Partial Discharge Basics

 Testing Methods

 Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)

 Sensitivity Verification by Cigre

 Common Defects within GIS

 Instruments and Products

 Q & A Session
Partial Discharge Basics

What is Partial Discharge (PD) ?

 ‘‘A localized electrical discharge that only partially bridges the insulation between conductors and which
can or cannot occur adjacent to a conductor’’ - IEC 60270

 Present when voltage stress across the void exceeds the dielectric strength of the insulating material

 Physical and chemical changes may happen to the insulator which produce emissions that we can detect

 PD can manifest in different in different ways:

a) Internal
b) Surface
c) External / Corona
Partial Discharge Basics

Occurrence of PD

 For the occurrence of PD two conditions must be met:

• The local electric field must have reached the critical inception field (E > Ecrit )
• A free electron must be available to start the discharge avalanche
Outline

 Introduction

 Partial Discharge Basics

 Detection & Testing Methods

 Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)

 Sensitivity Verification by Cigre

 Common Defects within GIS

 Instruments and Products

 Q & A Session
Partial Discharge Basics

Physical Effects Detection Methods

High Voltage Optical Effects
Optical
(Light)
Pressure Wave
(Sound)
Mechanical Acoustic
Discharge Effects
Dielectric Losses
High Frequency
Electrical IEC 60270 (HF)
Waves
VHF/UHF
Insulation
Chemical Effects Chemical

Heat
Detection Methods Limitations

Conventional PD Measurement Chemical

 Limited sensitivity (on-site)  Slow processes

• Customer expectation 5pC
• Common background noise from 10 to 100pC  Barrier insulators separate the gas compartments,
 Lagging of fault location determination therefore, limiting the range of the detection
 Cant be applied in service

Optical

 Certain defects can´t be detected e.g. voids

Testing Methods

 Conventional Method (IEC 60270)

• Device under test must be taken out of

service
• Measurement can be accurately
calibrated
• Noise sources, other than radiated, can
be eliminated
• Requires coupling capacitor
Outline

 Introduction

 Partial Discharge Basics

 Testing Methods

 Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)

 Sensitivity Verification by Cigre

 Common Defects within GIS

 Instruments and Products

 Q & A Session
Gas Insulated Switchgear

 GIS is a type of high-voltage switchgear that utilizes gas

(usually sulphur hexafluoride, SF6) as the insulating
medium within a sealed enclosure.
Gas Insulated Switchgear

Simplified Cross section of a GIS

• Homogeneous electrical field by design

• Electrical field strength below

critical field strength E

• Inhomogeneous electrical field

due to imperfection

• Electrical field strength above

critical field strength

• Partial discharge inception

 Macroscopic-Physical Effects Detection Methods
High Voltage
Optical Effects
Optical
(Light)
Pressure Wave
Mechanical Acoustic
(Sound)
Discharge Effects
Dielectric Losses
Electrical IEC 60270
High Frequency
Waves HF/VHF/UHF
Insulation
Chemical Effects Chemical

Heat
PD in GIS

Partial Discharge in SF6 Discharge Current in SF6

• Electronegativity leads to a rise time

of ~100ps
• Frequency spectrum up to
several GHz

While Partial Discharge in Nitrogen

• Rise time of ~1ns

• Frequency spectrum up to some
hundred MHz
PD in GIS

 PD activity emits transient electromagnetic waves

 GIS enclosure acts as a wave guide
 Broad band signal
 Complex signal propagation

PD caused by imperfection
PD in GIS

 Complexe GIS geometry leads to

reflections and signal attenuation
 The impedanze of the wave guide is
a function of ln(D/d)
 Even surface roughness influences
signal propagation through
dispersion
 These effects are highly frequency
dependend
 PD pulse is converted to pulse
package
UHF Sensors

 Wide band measurement is required to achieve a good

sensitivity in the entire GIS
 Not one coupling capacitor, but multiple UHF sensors are
required
 UHF sensors act like antenna and convert the
electromagnetic wave to a voltage
Integrated UHF Sensors

PD caused by imperfection
UHF Sensors

Gas Insulated Line Epoxy Insulator

External Flange Sensors (EFS) Flange
 Usage of unshielded spacers
 Retrofitting without opening of GIS
 Low sensitivity

EFS
UHF Sensors

Window Sensors (WS)

 Usage of inspection windows
 Windowdiameter > 60mm
 Retrofitting without opening of GIS
 Low sensitivity
UHF Sensors

Integrated / embedded UHF sensors

 Frequency range ~ 200MHz to

2000MHz
 Best signal to noise ratio
 Often provided by GIS manufacturer
 Implementation of our IFP1 requires
close corporation with GIS
manufacturer
Acoustic PD fault detection and location

• Acoustic sensors 1,3m 1,5m 1,7m 1,85m

 If UHF not applicable, 1 2 3 4

acoustic detection is
possible
 Run-time analysis for PD fault
location possible

PRPD-Pattern at Pos 3
Acoustic Transmission of PD signals

 An electrical signal is necessary to

conduct an acoustic measurement
• 1 is the electric trigger signal
• 2, 3, 4 are the acoustic signals
 The difference is the time delay
 The time delay can be used along with
the acoustic wave velocity to
determine the distance
 Pressure wave velocity in oil : 1415 m/s
(20 C)
 Pressure wave velocity in steel : 5900
m/s
Outline

 Introduction

 Partial Discharge Basics

 Testing Methods

 Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)

 Sensitivity Verification by Cigre

 Common Defects within GIS

 Instruments and Products

 Q & A Session
Sensitivity Verification

Sensitivity Verification
• 2 step procedure for acceptance
criteria
• Calibration like procedure

Described in:
• CIGRE TBA 654
• CIGRE TF 15/33.03.05
Downloadable on e-cigre.org
(account required but for free)
Sensitivity Verification

“For the unconventional (UHF) method a calibration to apparent charge in pC is not

possible” [CIGRE TBA654, page 4]

 Measurement in dBµV or dBm

dBµV – 107 = dBm when considering a 50 Ω system

PD caused by imperfection
Sensitivity Verification

Sensitivity Verification Step 1 – Laboratory Test

Parallel laboratory measurements, conventional
(IEC60270) and unconventional (UHF)

 Real PD source of 5 pC while applying HV

 Injection of artificial PD signal at same location

− Determine what type of impulse generates same

amplitude and frequency spectrum as real PD
source

Results are valid for this type of GIS, this type of

sensor, and this type of impulse generator only
Sensitivity Verification

Sensitivity Check Step 2 – On-Site 

1) Injection of voltage signal as per Step 1 in

UHF sensor
2) Check of sensors in surrounding area
• Visibility of signal above noise floor required
3) Check of every measurement path of the
system 


Sensitivity Verification

Acceptance criteria

•Each sensor needs to Pick-up a signal at least

once
•At least one measurement through each part
of the GIS

The Sensitivity Verification confirms, that the

given measurement setup is capable of
detecting all PD impulses of 5pC or above
Signal Pre-Processing

Signal pre-processing with IPU and FCU

•Available as IP52 for indoor or IP65 for outdoor
applications
•Input Protection Unit (IPU) cuts overvoltages
that occure due to VFTs from e.g. switching
operations
Signal Pre-Processing

Frequency Converter Unit (FCU)

 Convert the UHF signal (up to 2 GHZ) to lower frequencies (<1MHz) by

building the envelope over the received pulse package
 Frequency range typical 250 MHz to 1800MHz (other on request)
 Unipolar
measurements
 Signals transmission
up to 80m
Outline

 Introduction

 Partial Discharge Basics

 Testing Methods

 Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)

 Sensitivity Verification by Cigre

 Common Defects within GIS

 Instruments and Products

 Q & A Session
GIS Defects

 All defects decrease the withstand voltage of a

GIS, hence all of them should be detected and
eliminated
 A high percentage of failures can be detected
by partial discharge monitoring
 Failures detectable by PD monitoring systems:
• Mobile Particles
• Protrusions
• Loose and electrically floating elements
• Particles on insulation materials
• Voids in insulation material and cavities in
spacer
• Contact erosion
• Defects in GIS components (VTs, CTs,
others)
Defects in GIS

Limited amount of defect types in GIS

 Moving Particles
 Floating Elements
 Protrusion
 Voids
Moving particles

Moving Particles
• Mostly enter GIS during assembly
• Can be lifted by electrostatic forces
and jump towards HV conductor
• Breakdown when it gets to close to HV
conductor or through contact with
insulators
Loose and floating elements

•Incorrect fixed elements can start to

vibrate
 Strong acoustic signal with
100Hz/120Hz envelope related to zero
crossing of voltage
 Vibration alone does not lead to
electrical signals
•If Ecrit is exceeded in a gap between
electrode and floating element
PD inception
•No short-term spontaneous breakdown
expected
Loose and floating elements

Signal of floating potential picked up

at substation in UAE
•PD Alerts generated by GISmonitor PDMS
•Same signal could be observed on all three
phases
•Difference in amplitude indicated relation Phase R Phase Y
to phase R and cross coupling to B and Y
•Amplitude comparison between different
sensor positions gives location of PD source

Phase B
Protrusions

Protrusion
•Mostly scratches due to insufficient
care during assembly
•Often low PD level
•The sharper the tip, the easier to
detect
•Shape of the tip can change over time
•Significant polarity effect
Voids

Void
 PD inception requires a starting
electron
• Voids are difficult to detect
during acceptance testing
• GISmanufacturers have
implemented PD tests under x-
ray to detect voids
 Aging effects in insulators
Contact Problem Faulty Insulator Disc Mobile Particles
Gating

Disturbance Antenna (DA2)

 An antenna can be used to pick up air
borne noise signals
 IP65 protection class

Current Transformer (CT)

 A current transformer can be used to pick
up signals from grounding connections

• Such gating signals can be used to blind

out the measurement and eliminate
disturbances
Outline

 Introduction

 Partial Discharge Basics

 Testing Methods

 Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)

 Sensitivity Verification by Cigre

 Common Defects within GIS

 Instruments and Products

 Q & A Session
Instruments and Products

Online PD Testing (Portables)

Permanent PD Monitoring
GISmonitor

Partial Discharge Monitoring Acquisition

Rack (PDMAR)
•Part of the continuous online monitoring
(further hardware required)
•Up to 15 GISmonitor plug-in boards
•Up to 120 measurement channels in parallel
•Temperature controlled
•Backup UPS
•Self monitoring
•Sync Switching Box (SSB)
•Any Object Running signal
GISmonitor

Outdoor Partial Discharge Monitoring

Acquisition Rack (PDMAR IP65)
•Part of the continuous online monitoring
(further hardware required)
•Protection class IP65
•Up to 5 GISmonitor plug-in boards
•Up to 40 measurement channels in parallel
•Temperature controlled peltier-element for
heating and cooling
•Backup UPS
•Self monitoring
GISmonitor
GISmonitor

 Customized GIS layout

with individual sensor
labeling and positioning
 Direct overview about PD
activity in GIS and PDMS
status
GISmonitor

 Detailed data of all sensors

 Current and past
measurement data over the
lifetime of the system
 Details of alarm
configuration and alarm
status
 Synchronization
GIS Monitor Portable

 UHF partial discharge (PD) measurements without

interrupting assets in operation

 Parallel real-time PD measurement on up to 40

channels

 Sensitivity verification and high voltage (HV) test

dedicated features to simplify on-site activities

 Reliable identification of insulation imperfections

and their severity

 Robust case made of a high-performance plastic

compound or aluminium desktop enclosure
GIS Monitor Portable

ICM Outlander GISmonitor portable

GISmonitor Portable Connections
Software Web Server

Mobile Communication Interface (MCI) allows remote access via

3G/4G/5G
AIAcompact

 Non-invasive PD detection and location on

GIS/AIS, cable terminations and transformers

 Stand-alone detector; fully operational by push

buttons – no PC necessary

 Combines all non-conventional PD

measurements, such as acoustic, HF and UHF in
one instrument

 Automatic sensor detection

Thank you for
your attention!
Outline

 Introduction

 Partial Discharge Basics

 Testing Methods

 Partial Discharge in Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS)

 Sensitivity Verification by Cigre

 Common Defects within GIS

 Instruments and Products

 Q & A Session