32 NETA WORLD Fall 2007 www.netaworld.

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by Don A. Genutis
Group CBS
Which No-Outage Tool
Should You Choose?
Tis column focuses on electrical inspection methods and technologies that are performed
while the electrical system remains energized. Although no-outage inspections can be very
valuable tools, always remember to comply with proper safely guidelines when conducting
energized on-line inspections.
Although this is just a partial list of
observations and decisions to make, it
does display the wide array of consid-
erations that the technician must face.
Experience helps make the decision-
making process more likely to be suc-
cessful in regard to optimizing safety,
measurement integrity, and efciency.
But every situation is unique, and the
technician must always be alert and
thinking ahead. All this is done while
trying ones best to make a good frst
impression on the customer and to ap-
pear cooperative and knowledgeable.
No matter how many eforts have
been made to provide the customer
with adequate sales and technical in-
formation beforehand, the customer
still usually asks, What is the dif-
ference between infrared and partial
discharge? I am always happy to an-
swer this (and any other) question, but
after nearly ten years of applying new
no-outage technologies to customer
assets, I feel that displaying the difer-
ences pictorially may better help iden-
tify the diferences in the technologies.
Remember the old saying, a picture is
worth a thousand words.
Before jumping ahead with the pic-
tures, I would like to frst present the
following relatively unsuccessful (well
O
ften when I begin setting up for a partial discharge, ultrasonic, or
daylight corona survey at a customers site, I fnd myself attempt-
ing to answer some customer questions regarding the viability of
the new technologies. At the same time I am doing my best to focus on the
important aspects of performing the job properly, including:
What the general layout of the equipment to be surveyed is like
What type of enclosures are present
What the general condition of the equipment is like based upon the
external appearance
Observation of any unusual noises or smells
Determining the necessary clearances
Finding the best place to set up
Finding a nearby power source
Locating at least two exits
Determining the best way to get the test equipment to the testing
location
Identifying any obstructions or trip hazards
Identifying additional safety considerations that I need to make for
the customers personnel safety
Insuring that my partner is focused on his/her role and is not being
distracted by the customer
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Figure 1
Tis picture displays the test setup. Te thicker conductor is an unshielded, single
conductor cable, and the thinner conductor is at ground potential. Te ac high
potential test set is at the far left of the picture.
we did somehow get the p.o.) verbal or written eforts that I
have used to describe the diferences in the technologies.
Infrared technology detects heat that is generated by cur-
rent fow or current related problems that are often caused by
loose connections. So, infrared detects the condition of the
conductor. Partial discharge, ultrasonic, and corona surveys
detect voltage problems that occur from the partial failure
of the insulation. Tese technologies detect the condition
of the insulation. Unfortunately, a signifcant voltage must
be exceeded for these partial discharges or corona to occur.
Tis voltage is typically greater than 2,000 volts. Terefore,
of these technologies, only infrared is efective for low-volt-
age applications.
Infrared vs. PD
PrimarilyforLowVoltage MediumandHighVoltage
CurrentistheCulprit VoltageistheVillain
Now, back to the pictures. I created simple, surface dis-
charges in the laboratory that were produced by applying a
potential from an ac high potential test set to a medium-
voltage unshielded conductor that was placed upon a
grounded conductor. Several types of tests were performed
as shown below.
NETA WORLD Fall 2007 www.netaworld.org 34
Figure 3
This infrared image of the same event does not show any appreciative
temperature rise.
Figure 2
Te yellow areas of this photo show the ultraviolet light associated with the
corona that is occurring between the energized and grounded conductor.
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Figure 4
Partial discharge test results clearly show a dangerous problem. Te larger
signal was obtained using a high frequency current transformer placed around
the ground conductor and the smaller signal was obtained using a capacitive
sensor placed on the test set control unit.
Figure 5
Magnitude vs. time and magnitude vs. frequency graphs obtained from
recording the audio output from an ultrasonic test set. In this case, the graphs
are not very useful but listening to the audio output certainly is.
NETA WORLD Fall 2007 www.netaworld.org 36
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What conclusions can be made from this simple experi-
ment and previous personal no-outage experience?
Infrared is the best tool for low-voltage equipment as-
sessment but only identifes current related problems.
Partial discharge and corona rarely occur on low -voltage
equipment.
For medium-voltage switchgear and dry-type trans-
formers that have surface tracking or corona problems,
the ultrasonic tester provides a quick and inexpensive
solution that will detect many problems. Tis should be
a minimum annual test requirement.
A partial discharge test set using a capacitive sensor can
detect deep or nonsurface insulation defects in medium-
voltage switchgear and dry-type transformers and should
be used to supplement the ultrasonic test set in order to
detect additional problems.
A partial discharge test set using a high frequency current
transformer is the best tool to detect cable, termination,
and splice problems.
A daylight corona camera is excellent for pinpointing
surface discharges in medium-voltage equipment and is
the best tool for high-voltage equipment.
Mr. Genutis received his BSEE from Carnegie Mellon University, has
been a NETA Certifed Technician for 15 years, and is a Certifed Corona
Technician. Dons technical training and education is complemented by
nearly twenty-fve years of practical feld and laboratory electrical test-
ing experience. He is presently serving as Vice President of the Group
CBS Eastern U.S. Operations and acts as Technical Manager for their
subsidiary, Circuit Breaker Sales & Service located in Central Florida.