A New Approach to High Voltage Insulation System Testing

Speed is the driving force of successful fault prevention. Early detection of insulation deterioration is key for avoiding asset failure, associated unplanned outages, and physical damage to infrastructure. The traditional testing approaches most teams rely on inhibit quick diagnosis of insulation issues, as they require a wide range of sensing methods and expert data interpretation.
High voltage equipment is especially susceptible to electrical, mechanical, and thermal stresses that can accelerate insulation deterioration and asset failure. Technology advancements are helping power and utility teams create a more holistic and simplified approach to in-service testing that bridges knowledge and skills gaps. With reliable deterioration testing results easily available, teams can get ahead of asset issues before they lead to failures.

The value of partial discharge testing
Since the 1980’s Partial Discharge (PD) diagnostics have been a powerful toolset in assessing the health of high voltage insulation systems, providing valuable insights for maintenance planning and the prevention of unplanned outages due to equipment failure. Measurement methods in the field of PD range from factory acceptance testing to various field and in-service testing applications on a broad spectrum of test objects, including transformers, switchgear, cable and their accessories, generators, and many more.
However, significant complexity in both data acquisition and analysis is associated with Partial Discharge measurements and assessments. Historically there has been the need for subject matter experts, experienced or comprehensively trained personnel, in order to obtain reliable results and sound assessments of the insulation system health based on PD. This need has been a barrier to the large-scale application of Partial Discharge measurement methods.

Read the full article in the Transformer Technologies Special Edition