Very Low Frequency (VLF)

Withstand Testing - The

Basics
 Publicado el 3 de marzo de 2016
 RecomendarVe ry Low Freque ncy (VLF) Withstand Testing - The Ba sics

92
 Comentar

14
 CompartirCompartir Very Low Fre que ncy (VLF) Withstand Test ing - The Ba sic s

Steve Collins
SeguirSteve Collins
HV Sales Engineer

What is a Very Low Frequency Withstand Test?

A Very Low Frequency (VLF) Withstand Test is an AC

Withstand Test usually carried out at a frequency between 0.1 Hz
and 0.01 Hz. This kind of test is suited for testing high
capacitance loads such as cable and rotating machinery. This is a
pass fail test i.e. bad cable will fail during testing rather than in
service.

The Theory

Basic electrical theory: Xc = 1/(2*pi*f*C)

Where:
Xc = Capacitive reactance (Ω)

f = Frequency (Hz)

C = Capacitance (F)

It can be seen that capacitive reactance, which is the resistance

across the power supply output, is inversely proportional to
frequency. By reducing the frequency the capacitive reactance is
increased.

More basic electrical theory: I = V/R

Where:

I = Current (A)

V = Voltage (V)

R = Resistance (Ω)

The lower the frequency, the higher the capacitive reactance (Xc).
The higher the Xc the lower the current and power needed to
apply a voltage.

Example:

A length of power cable with capacitance of 1 µF needs to be

tested at 34 kV peak.

Power frequency testing (50 Hz):

Using the above formulae it can be calculated that the capacitive

reactance would be 3.183 kΩ so the required current would be
10.68 A. Therefore, to test a 1 µF cable at a frequency of 50 Hz
the test set would have to be able to give 363 kVA. When you
consider that a 30 kV, 40 kVA AC test set can greatly exceed 620
kg it puts into perspective the size an AC test set would have to be
to produce 363 kVA.

VLF Testing (0.1 Hz)

Testing the same length of cable at 0.1 Hz would generate 1.59

MΩ of capacitive reactance and the required current would be 21
mA. Therefore testing the same length of cable at 0.1 Hz would
require 0.714 kVA, which is 500 times less than at a power
frequency of 50 Hz.

This allows the size of the test apparatus to drop from something
like this:
To something like this High Voltage Inc. VLF-34E:
Most test sets have a frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 0.01 Hz and
the most desirable test sets will select the optimum frequency
based upon the capacitance of the cable. The capacitance of the
cable is dependent upon its construction materials and its length.
As cable length increases so does the capacitance so dropping the
frequency allows kilometres of cable to be tested.

Does this difference in test frequency range have any

effect on test results?
This was reported on in the National Electric Energy Testing,
Research and Applications Center (NEETRAC) report
“Estimating the Impact of VLF Frequency on Effectiveness of
VLF Withstand Diagnostics” by N. Hampton et al (2014). This
report concluded “… there is no distinguishable difference
between failure rates on test for the common VLF test
frequencies of 0.05 Hz and 0.1 Hz, from data obtained
through laboratory and field tests, and all insulation types.”

What size VLF test set is required?

Acceptance test voltages are generally 2.5 – 3 times the line to

ground system voltage. A list of field test voltages from 5 kV to
69 kV can be found in IEEE 400.2.

How long should a VLF test last?

According to IEEE 400.2 VLF tests should last between 15 and

60 minutes with a recommended minimum duration of 30
minutes. This length of time hasn’t just been plucked out of the
air; there is some theory behind it.

According to IEEE 400, when testing at 3 times the line to ground

system voltage the tree growth rate of XLPE at a 0.1 Hz
sinusoidal test voltage is 10.9 – 12.6 mm/h.

A 15 kV 133% cable has an insulation thickness of 5.9 mm.

Therefore in a 30 minute test nearly all defects will grow to
failure.

What is a Tree?
At stressed points in insulation where there are protrusions, voids
or contaminants a phenomenon called treeing may occur. Treeing
is the preferred name due to the branch like structure of these
trees. There are two types of tree effect:

 Water tree: Produced by electro-oxidation fuelled by

electrical stress and water ingress within insulation.
Water trees do not emit partial discharges so PD testing
cannot be used to test for the presence of water trees.
During service conditions the growth of water trees is
extremely slow taking years to completely penetrate the
insulation. Like protrusions, voids and contaminants,
water trees act as stress enhancements. They can
increase the local electrical field and also create local
mechanical stresses. If these electrical and/or
mechanical stresses are high enough an electrical tree
can initiate.
 Electrical tree: Micro-channels of carbonisation or non-
insulation found within insulation that is irreversibly
damaged. Electrical treeing will lead to a completed
failure path and failure of insulation relatively quickly.
Below is an electrical tree that is growing from a water
tree.
Why not just test at DC?

DC has been used to test paper insulated lead covered (PILC)

cable for many years. Therefore it is understandable that DC
continued to be used as solid dielectric cable became prevalent.
Unfortunately the first solid dielectric cable started to prematurely
fail 15 – 20 years after being installed. After extensive testing and
research it was found that solid dielectric cable is prone to
develop water trees. DC testing at high voltages creates negative
space charges within these trees, as highlighted below.
When the testing is complete and the DC is removed these
trapped negative space charges remain. When the AC is reapplied
a high difference in potential exists at points in the insulation
where these trapped negative space charges are found. These
areas that are already suffering from heightened electrical and
mechanical stresses are prone to turn into electrical trees. Once
this point has been reached the cable will fail because the damage
is irreversible.

DC test sets cannot be used as a voltage source for Tan Delta or

Partial Discharge testing. These diagnostic tests are usually
carried out at a frequency of 0.1 Hz.

A range of HV Inc VLF hipot instruments are available

from Drallim Industries Ltd who are the representatives
of HV Inc in the UK & Ireland.

For more information on the full range of HV Inc products please

email scollins@drallim.com or phone 01424 205 140.