Polarization Depolarization Current Data Research Articles

Detrapped Charge-Affected Depolarization-Current Estimation Using Short-Duration Dielectric Response for Diagnosis of Transformer Insulation

Analysis of detrapped charge [evaluated from polarization–depolarization current (PDC)] is effective in carrying out insulation diagnosis. However, computation of detrapped charge requires PDC data for at least 1600 s (PDCs each measured for 800 s). Such a technique of obtaining detrapped charge from short-duration PDC data considers few assumptions (including modeling of detrapping current by a straight line), which might not always be true for real-life equipment. Furthermore, PDC data are susceptible to noise and other environmental factors. Hence, it may be practically difficult to allow a measurement time of 1600 s during field measurement. Therefore, it is advisable to reduce the measurement time as well as the volume of data required. In this article, a method has been proposed, which is capable of estimating detrapped charge using only polarization current measured for 600 s. In addition, some unique advantages offered by the proposed method are also discussed in this article. The proposed technique is tested on data collected from several real-life in-service transformers.

Condition Assessment of Power Transformer Insulation Using Short-Duration Time-Domain Dielectric Spectroscopy Measurement Data

Utilities prefer noninvasive methods for assessing the condition of power transformer insulation. Analysis of polarization–depolarization current (PDC) is one such popular method. One such analysis involves the estimation of trapped charge released from the interfacial region of oil–paper insulation. The literature shows that such charges can be reliably used for the diagnosis of transformer insulation. However, such analysis requires a complete profile of PDC. PDC measurement (an offline technique) takes a large amount of time (several hours) to complete. The magnitude of PDC data for a larger value of time is also sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and field noise as its magnitude is low. Hence, a reliable estimation of detrapped charge may require numerous PDC measurements. This situation is not convenient for utilities as it prolongs shut down time. In this article, a method has been proposed which is capable of estimating detrapping charge using PDC data measured for a short span of time. The proposed method is tested on data collected from several real-life in-service transformers.

Use of Interfacial Charge for Diagnosis and Activation Energy Prediction of Oil-Paper Insulation Used in Power Transformer

Activation energy is popularly used for the estimation of remaining life of transformer insulation. It is defined as the average rate of all reactions that happen with cellulose. Existing literature shows that the activation energy of oil–paper insulation can be obtained from polarization depolarization current (PDC) and return voltage measurement (RVM) data that are measured at a specific temperature. It is practically difficult to ensure the same measurement temperature for both PDC and RVM data. On the other hand, PDC data and its analysis get influenced by de-trapping current. This de-trapping current is generated by ionic charge carriers that get freed from trap sites during PDC measurement process. Formation of these trap sites is related to physical, chemical reactions that happen at oil–paper interface. This paper proposes a methodology which uses de-trapped charge, dislodged from deep and shallow traps, to assess insulation condition and for the prediction of activation energy. Thus, eliminating the need of RVM data. The proposed method is tested using data collected from various real-life in-service transformers.

Study on Quantitative Correlations between the Ageing Condition of Transformer Cellulose Insulation and the Large Time Constant Obtained from the Extended Debye Model

Polarization-depolarization current (PDC) measurements are now being used as a diagnosis tool to predict the ageing condition of transformer oil-paper insulation. Unfortunately, it is somewhat difficult to obtain the ageing condition of transformer cellulose insulation using the PDC technique due to the variation in transformer insulation geometry. In this literature, to quantify the ageing condition of transformer cellulose insulation using the PDC technique, we firstly designed a series of experiments under controlled laboratory conditions, and then obtained the branch parameters of an extended Debye model using the technique of curve fitting the PDC data. Finally, the ageing effect and water effect on the parameters of large time constant branches were systematically investigated. In the present paper, it is observed that there is a good exponential correlation between large time constants and degree of polymerization (DP). Therefore, the authors believe that the large time constants may be regard as a sensitive ageing indicator and the nice correlations might be utilized for the quantitative assessment of ageing condition in transformer cellulose insulation in the future due to the geometry independence of large time constants. In addition, it is found that the water in cellulose pressboards has a predominant effect on large time constants.

Compensating the effect of temperature variation on dielectric response of oil-paper insulation used in power transformers

Being an offline measurement technique, Polarization Depolarization Current (PDC) data is conventionally measured after the oil-paper insulation of the equipment reaches thermal equilibrium. Depending on the condition of the insulation, PDC data measurement time typically ranges from several minutes to few hours. It is understood that atmospheric conditions controls the value of ambient temperature. During field measurement, these conditions may not remain constant throughout the PDC recording process. Variation in ambient temperature disturbs the thermal equilibrium that the equipment may have attained at the start of the measurement procedure. Such a condition invariably affects the recorded dielectric response data. However, methods that are available for analyzing relaxation current assume that temperature equilibrium is maintained throughout the measurement period. Results presented in this paper show that dielectric response data is indeed affected if the ambient temperature increases/decreases monotonically. A method is also proposed in this paper using which the effect of such temperature variation on the recorded relaxation current data can be eliminated. This also ensures correct interpretation of PDC data for condition assessment. Analysis presented shows that the value of the equilibrium temperature does not affect the performance of the proposed technique. The applicability of the proposed methodology is first tested on laboratory samples. Thereafter, it is applied to data collected from a real life power transformer.

Prediction of moisture present in cellulosic part of power transformer insulation using transfer function of modified debye model

Polarization-Depolarization Current (PDC) analysis is a well known technique for condition monitoring of oil-paper insulation in power transformers. However, due to variation in insulation geometry, information obtained through analysis of PDC measured for one transformer cannot be used for predicting condition of another transformer even if the loading history of the two units are similar. Furthermore, parts of solid insulation closer to winding are exposed to much higher temperature than the parts away from it. Prolonged exposure to this temperature variation leads to nonuniform aging in cellulosic parts. It is reported that Modified Debye Model (MDM) is capable of modeling this non-uniform aging. In the present work it is shown that a parameter sensitive to insulation condition can be obtained from Transfer Function of MDM. Several laboratory samples having different physical dimensions has been constructed. PDC data recorded from these samples are used to obtain the performance parameter (which is less influenced by insulation geometry) and its relation to paper moisture content. The results obtained from the proposed method have been compared with that obtained using Frequency Domain Spectroscopy (FDS) based commercial instrument (IDAX 300) in the case of real-life power transformer.