Partial Discharge

Partial Discharge is a "localized electrical discharge that only partially bridges the insulation between conductors and which can or cannot occur adjacent to a conductor" (IECC60270).

When Partial Discharge occurs, various physical and chemical changes may happen, which produce emissions that we can detect, locate and characterize to provide the information needed to prevent insulation failures of medium and high voltage electrical equipment.

PD occurs in solid, liquid or gaseous insulating mediums. PD can occur in the the form of Corona, Surface Tracking, Void, Particle, or Floating Electrodes, causing degradation of the insulation. Once PD begins, it will always get progressively worse. 80% of electrical failures are caused by insulation breakdown or failures and PD is the very first indication that the insulation deteriorating. NFPA 70B states that insulation breakdown is the number one cause of electrical failures.

Partial Discharge Emissions

Bi-Products of PD Activity

• Light - Sometimes Visible

• Heat - Infrared

• Gases - Nitrous Oxide, etc.

• Acoustic - Audible and inaudible ultrasonic

• Electromagnetic - Transmitted UHF or induced TEV or HFCT

• Chemical - Verdigris - Nitrous Oxide + Moisture = Nitric Acid

PD Testing Methods

Emissions Detected by PMDT's Solutions

Acoustic Emission (AE)

• Airborne - Ultrasonic Microphone with 40kHz Center Frequency

• Contact Probe - Broad Bandwidth with 20kHz - 300kHz (Detects PD in Oil or SF6 Gas)

Electromagnetic

• UHF - Ultra High Frequency: 300MHZ - 1.5 GHz

• HFCT - High Frequency Current Transformer: 500kHz - 50MHz

• TEV - Transient Earth Voltage: 3MHz - 100MHz

Partial Discharge Types

• Voids - Gaps in solid insulation or gas bubbles in oil

• Corona - Discharge to air

• Floating Electrode - Metal to Metal or Metal to Insulation defect

• Surface Tracking - Tracking over the outside of insulators

• Particle Discharge - Conductive particles contaminate insulation medium

Insulation Failure

Based on IEEE Gold Book Table 36

Component

Transformers

Circuit Breakers

Disconnect Switches

Insulated Switchgear Bus

Bus Duct

Cable

Cable Joints（Splices）

Cable Terminations

Percentage of Insulation Failure

84%

21%

15%

95%

90%

89%

91%

87%

Partial Discharge Types

• Void Discharge

This discharge usually occurs due to the manufacturer’s defects in solid insulation. Commonly found in Cables, Bushings, GIS Junction insulation. Highly destructive to insulation. Voids typically continue to grow until failure. If a void PD is discovered, the insulator should be replaced.

• Corona Discharge

Corona is a discharge to air from the sharp surface of a conductor. Corona is typically not a problem besides the sound and the radio frequency emission. Corona signals have many distinct characteristics, allowing it to be easily differentiated from other PD signals.. Corona disturbances do not interfere with other PD measurements.

• Surface Discharge

Also known as "surface tracking". Discharge along the surface of insulation can be very destructive. Usually caused by contamination or weathering of insulator surface. It is different from corona because it tends to track to grounded metal, while corona discharges to air. Corona conditions can evolve into surface PD as they become more severe. This can happen on any MV and HV equipment when strength of insulation breaks down in high humidity environments. or poor maintenance of equipment can lead to this phenomenon. Moisture intrusion is also common cause of surface PD.

• Floating Discharge

Occurs when exposed load carrying conductor is exposed to another conductive surface of different potential not connected to said conductor. Types: Metal to Insulation and Metal to Metal. Usually caused by a manufacturing defect or non-grounded piece of metal within the field. Floating Discharge is the most common type of PD. Often caused by human interaction, such as conductors not positioned properly or foreign or loose object inside of insulation.

• Particle Discharge

Occurs in GIS (SF6 gas) and oil insulated transformers. Caused when conductive particles are left inside system. Allows PD to jump from particle to particle. Purifying and processing the oil or SF6 is recommended.