A Generalized Approach for the Study of The Non linear Behaviour of
Stator Winding Insulation
Cajetan Pinto
Al3B Lenzohm Service Limited
B. S.Devshi Road, Deonar, Mumbai - 400 016 , India.
E-mail: cajetan.lenzohm@axcs.net.in
Abstract : Measurements pe$ormed on stator
winding insulation indicate variations in
capacitance and tan 6 values with voltage even in
the absence of partial discharge activity- One of
the most obviow reasons for this variation is the
presence of the non-linear field stress grading
system employed at the slot ends. Other reasons
include intefacial and space charge polarization
phenomena, due to a variety of reasons including
contamination of the windings, as well as, the
effects of electrostatic forces on delaminated
stator insulation. As partial discharge activity
results in a change in the instantaneous
capacitance with voltage, it could also be
considered as a case of non linear b e h i o u r of
the insulation.
The paper discusses a generalized approach to
study the influence of non-linear b e h i o u r on the
variations of capacitance and losses. Case studies
are employed to illustrate the we&lnf?ss of
measurementson the stator windings in service.
NON-LINEAR BEHAVIOUR BELOW
DISCHARGE INCEPTION
Variations in capacitance and tan 6 with voltage
below discharge onset are often ignored, as
generally it is only the discharge related variations
that are considered to be significant. However, tan
6 and capacitance measured at low voltage is seen
to be a function of the state of cure of the resin, the
presence of moisture or contamination in the
windings, loss of contact of the coil outer surface
with the core due to erosion of the slot discharge
prevention coating, non-linear effects of slot end
stress grading systems, the influence of inter-
winding capacitances and losses, besides other
hctors. It is therefore important that the
mechanisms that bring about these losses be
identified, as a first step in correlating the
measurements with the insulation condition. Some
of the polarization mechanisms and components in
the insulation system, due to, or fiom which the
losses could originate or be influenced, include:
(a) Polarization losses in the organic component,
or the binding resin in the insulation, in most
cases, due to dipolar relaxation,
0 1991 IEEE
0-7803-4231-U91/$10.00
(b) Losses due to interfacial polarization that may
be present in the following situations: the
laminated, non-homogeneous (mica-resin-glass)
nature of the main insulation, voids or
delaminations in interfacial situations with the
main insulation, at the interface of slot discharge
preventive coatings and the main slot insulation,
(particularly if the former is damaged or presents
increased surface resistivities due to loss of
contact with the core), in the region of conductive
mastic near the conductor in single turn alternator
bars, at the interface of contaminated endwindings
and the bulk endwinding insulation, at the
interface of semiconductive grading systems at the
slot ends, and the bulk endwinding insulation.
(c) Losses due to the reversal of accumulated space
charges that could be located in the volume of the
insulation near the conductor stack or within the
main groundwall insulation adjacent to the slot
discharge preventive coating or even perhaps
within the stress grading system at the location of
it's overlap with the slot discharge preventive
coating.
One of the practical methods of analyzing and
identifying these losses, is with their variation with
voltage, reflected by variations in the tan 6, and
due to the charge accumulated at interfaces or in
volume situations, with simultaneous variations in
the capacitance. For example, the presence of a
peak in the tan 6 variations with voltage, in the
absence of partial discharges, together with a
simultaneous increase in the capacitance, is
believed to be brought about by interfacial
polarization. A decrease of the measured
capacitance with voltage increase is also observed
at times, and though such phenomena are observed
in a number of ferroelectric materials, a detailed
physical explanation for the same has not been
offered in the case of machine insulation systems.
In this connection, looking at the problem
mathematically, the following comments are
offered:
From the various non-linear effects described
earlier, it is quite evident that the current flowing
through the stator winding insulation is not free of
 529

harmonics. As the voltage source used during ax. 2doJ

measurements possesses a finite source impedance, b, = w h C(t).Si&ot.dt (7)
the voltage source will also not be without 0
harmonics. Harmonics in the voltage supply, along
with harmonics in the current could cause either The change in the capacitance is given by
an increase or decrease in the measured tan 6 and
capacitance with voltage, depending on the ratio of AC= a o - % -Co
their amplitudes, and their phase relationships [4]. 2

It is therefore important to access both the voltage
across the winding capacitance and the current
flowing through it, in order to get an indication of
the time varying impedance of the insulation, and
to assess it's effect on the capacitance and tan 6
measured.
The approach to the study of the stator winding
insulation systems presented here, is aimed not at
replacing tan 6 and capacitance measurements, but
at supplementing them.
GENERALIZED APPROACH
The variation of the capacitance with voltage in
the absence of partial discharges implies general
non linear behaviour of the insulation. The
instantaneous variation of capacitance with time
can therefore be written as an expansion of a
fourier series thus,
and the ratio of the change of the loss component
to the change of capacitance
A(C tan 6)lAC = -b - L L (9)
(ao - C{ - "42)
SLOT END STRESS GRADING ANALYSIS
The field stress at the slot ends is generally
controlled with the use of ia stress grading system
that comprises a coating of' Silicon Carbide (Sic).
The analysis presented here is aimed at
determining the loss contributions and capacitance
increase due to the use of the stress grading
system. In measurements that are performed on
single coils in the laboratory, these losses can be
separated by guarding out regions of the coil
beyond the slot. This is not practical on complete
stator windings and the losses will essentially have
to be separated by measurements and analysis.

00 The characteristic of the ideal non-linear grading

C(t) = a. + C (a&os(nwt) + & Sin(not)> (1) as described by Kelen El], is one in which the
n=l material is an insulator upto a threshold stress Eo,
but above this value the material conducts and has
The current harmonics generated on the an effectivedynamic resistance of zero.
application of a sinusoidal voltage wave is
therefore given by, The variation of capacitance with time per half
cycle due to the flow of charge onto the stress
i = C(t) + V(t) (2) grading system is given in [2] as AC(t)
dt dt
= -
CVo (1 - COSUt) 0 < UDt < 180' (10)
The solution for the fundamental component il of 2EO
the quadrature component of the current yields,
and Qo (1 + COSOt) 180" < a t < 360' (1 1)
il = o V o ( a o - 4)
2
(3) 2EO

and of the real component yields, where VOCosot is the applied voltage and C is the
capacitance per unit length aif the coil.
?I= - wvo 112 (4) Using expressions (5), (6), and (7),
2

where a,= C , + (o/2n)f$).dt

0

2x/w
a, = a h
L
C(t).Cos2ot.dt
0
530
A(C tanG)/AC = - b;/2
(ao - Co - a42)
Analyses performed in [l] and [2] have arrived at
an identical result as in (13) during the course of
calculations for the energy expended in a Sic
stress grading coating applied to a coil. The
analysis shown above, additionally provides an
expression for the variation of capacitance.
EXPERIMENTAL
A computer program was designed to integrate the
accessed current and obtain the wavefonn of the
stored charge, which was fiuzher used to calculate
the change in capacitance variation at all instants
of time. The voltage across and the current flowing
through a newly manufactured 6.6 kV coil was
analysed with the program, presuming that the
non-linear behaviour was mainly influenced by the
stress grading system.
The ratio of the variation of the loss component
i.e. A(C tan 6 ), to the quadrature component i.e.
AC, hereafter referred to as the Phase Ratio, was
evaluated. For two new coils the values obtained
were 0.49 and 0.45 at 2 kV, which were seen to be
very close to the theoretically calculated value of
0.425. At higher voltages, the Phase Ratio was
seen to decrease, i.e. to around 0.36 at 4 kV., and
0.3 at 6.6 kV. The deviation fiom the theoretically
calculated value, could be explained by the
non-ideal nature of the Sic stress grading system,
which due to its finite resistivity causes additional
surface charge to be diffused onto regions of the
stress grading system that have been assumed to be
non-conducting in the theoretical analysis [11. The
presence of odd harmonics in the current flowing
through the stress grading system, due to the h i t e
non-linear resistivity, also contributes to the
modification of the shape of the capacitance
variation curve.
nc SIGNAL
25 30 35 40
milliseconds
1 - 500MW StatorWindinaPh. Rat.= 0.37 I
--Ideal SIC S a s s Grddeph. Rat.= 0.425
Fig. 1
= 4 (14) OTHER OBSERVATIONS
37r
1) The phase ratios obtained varied from 0.35 to
0.5, for newly manufactured stator windings as
well as clean stator windings that had not been in
use for more than two years. An example of the
capacitance variation waveform is shown in fig-1,
where measurements were performed on a 21kV,
500MW alternator stator winding. The Phase
Ratio calculated was 0.37 at 6kV.
2) Measurements and analysis were pepformed on
coils that were artificially contaminated in the
endwinding regions. Computed values of the phase
ratio were observed to be less than 0.2. In stator
windings with endwinding contamination, the
phase ratios calculated were generally seen to be <
0.2, decreasing with an increase in the test voltage.
3) Attempts were made to analyze the ratios of
various fiequency components in the capacitance
variation signal, particularly in the case of
contaminated endwindings, by looking at the ratio
of even and odd harmonics, as well as, magnitudes
of harmonics above ten times the fundamental of
the capacitance variation signal. In the case of
carbonized endwindings the even to odd harmonic
ratios decreased with increase of voltage. It is
likely that the increase in the odd harmonics are
brought about by the increase in non-linear
resistive losses. However a larger amount of data is
required to be analyzed to determine the
significance of the relationship of the magnitudes
of the odd and even harmonics, which could prove
useful in providing information on the nature of
the contaminant. Another interesting observation
made while studying harmonic patterns was that in
cases of known brittleness of insulation (due to
depolymerization), as well as in cases of
contaminated thermoplastic insulation systems,
where the possibility of ingress of the contaminant
was high, there was a distinct increase in the
magnitudes of (odd) harmonics, above ten times
the fundamental of the capacitance variation
signal.
DELAMINATED INSULATION
Capacitance variation due to electrostcatically
generatedforces
When an a.c. voltage was applied to a highly
delaminated stator bar, it was observed, that it
45
emitted a sound with a fundamental frequency of
twice the test frequency [SI. Movement of the
insulation surface was confirmed with
displacement transducers, establishing a link not
only between electrostaticallygenerated forces and
the observed deflection, but also with the change

in the capacitance measured. The possibility of
p e r f i i i n g electrical measurements on stator
winding insulation at voltages below discharge
inception, to determine whether delamination
exists, was truly appealing, and hence a study was
made to correlate capacitance and tan 6
measurements with the insulation deflection [ 5 3.
An instantaneous variation of the capacitance with
time occurs, in the case of highly delaminated
insulation, when the dielectric surfices get pulled
toward the air spaces in the insulation with a an
alternating force of twice the test frequency,
superimposed on a constant force. This reduction
in the air space, which is proportional to the
square of the test voltage applied, results in the
instantaneous capacitance variation, which can be
represented by
AC (t) = A (15)
d - B.V2 Sin2(ot -9)
where cp is the phase lag between the force and the
insulation movement and A ,Bare constants.
Using the approach given above, the variation in
capacitance and tan 6, due to internal
displacements within the insulation, by
electrostaticallygenerated forces is given by,
AC = C k Cos (29) (16)
A(C Tan6 ) = C k Sin (29) (17)
where k = (c V2) ,V being the applied voltage and
c is a constant described in [ 5 1-
EXPERIMENTAL
Measurements were performed on a 50 MW, 2
pole, 11 kV thermal generator stator winding of
the bituminous insulation type. Tan 6 and
capacitance measurements were performed up to 2
kV, i.e., below discharge inception, and were seen
to vary as the square of the applied test voltage
(correlation coefficient = 0.995). The current
flowing through the insulation and the voltage
across were also monitored, and the instantaneous
change in capacitance calculated. The variation in
the magnitude of the change in capacitance as
calculated fkom the harmonic analysis, with
voltage was seen to obey a square law (correlation
coefficient=0.998). The calculated phase lag ftom
the method of analyzing the instantaneous
variation in capacitance, and fiom the variation in
capacitance and tan 6 measured was in the same
range.
531
NON-LINEAR BEEhVIOUR ABOVE
DISCHARGE INCEPTION
There are two kinds of approaches that could be
used when considering non linear behaviour of
the insulation in the presence of partial discharges
- the first concerns the phenomenon of
discharging within the insulation per se which
results in the total or partial short circuiting of air
spaces within the insulation, leading to an
instantaneous change in caipacitance. The second
approach concerns the Variation in the solid losses
and charge storage, due to trapped space charges
within walls of the discharging voids and within
the insulation space adjacent to the voids, the
change in the surface resistivity during discharge
-
activity in the slot regions and at the slot ends all
of which result in a variation of capacitance with
time. The effects on calpacitance and tan 6
measurements of both interhcial and space charge
polarization during the cxcurrence of partial
discharges have been modellled in [ 7 1.
EXPERIMENTAL
The computer program devt:loped for solid losses
was extended for the computation of the variation
of the change in capacitance with time, as well as
A C SIGNAL DUE TO PARTIAL DISCHARGES 1
0 5 10 15 20
millisecorlds
Fig. 2
the change in the tan 6 and capacitance upon
perfinming a harmonic analysis of the above.
Separation of losses. Considering that the total
losses above discharge incq3tion is given as the
sum of the solid losses and the losses due to partial
discharges, appropriate scaling factors could be
calculated to separate the solid losses by
calculating variations of b.L with voltage,
considering the losses due to the instantaneous
change in capacitance due to partial discharges,
along with the solid 10ss;es above discharge
532

inception, which could then be related to the
variations in the loss component or A(C TanG)
from bridge measurements.
The following is observed:
The capacitance variation waveforms are sensitive
to the nature of the partial discharges. The factors
that could possibly be evaluated to be used as
discerning criteria are the effective phase of
discharging as estimated fkom the second
harmonic values, the polarity sensitive nature of
the waveform, as well as the harmonic spectrum
up to around ten times the fundamental of the
capacitance variation waveform.
[4] KELEN A., “Critical Examination of the
Dissipation Factor Tip-Up as a Measure of Partial
Discharge Activity”, IEEE Trans. Elect. Insul.,
Vol EI-13, NO. 1, 1978, pp.14.
[5] PINTO C., “Variations in the Capacitance of
Delaminated H. V. Stator Insulation due to
Electrostatically Generated Forces”, 19%IC
Conference proceedings., pp. 65-69,1991
[6] PINTO C., MOKASHI A. D., “A Method for
the Study of Non-linear Behaviour of XV. Stator
Winding Insulation”, 2lst/EIC Conference
proceedings, pp. 593-597,1995

[7] PINTO C., “Evaluation of H. V. Stator Coil

Insulation using A. C. Bridge Measurements7’, 6”
While recognizing the complex, non linear BEAMA International Electrical Insulation
behaviour of the insulation systems of stator Conference., 1990
windings, a method has been proposed to study the
variation of the capacitance change with time as [SI BURNLEY K. J., EXON J. L. T., “Mechanical
well it’s influence on loss changes with voltage, in Effects associated with the application of High
a manner that accounts for harmonics in both the Voltage to Generator Stator Bar Insulation”
voltage and the current signals. DMMA Conference Proceedings 1988, IEE Pub.
NO.289, pp 383-386.
The method was applied to non linear stress
grading systems, to loss and capacitance
variations due to the effects of electrostatically
generated forces on delaminated insulation, and to
the analysis of partial discharge patterns.
The method developed shows promise for
separation of losses and for identifying the nature
of partial discharge activity.

Research work at present, is being directed at

processing the current and voltage waveforms in
real time, while acGumulating and analyzing
additional field data.

REFERENCES

[l] KZMURA K., TSUKIJI M., TANl T. and

HTRAl3AYASHI S., “Suppression of Local
Heating on a Silicon Carbide Layer by means of
Divided Potentials”, IEEE Trans. Elect. Insul.
Vo1.-E1 - 19 NO.4, August 1984. pp 294-302.

[2] ROBERTS A., “The Calculation of the

Increase in Measured Integrated Energy and Loss
Tangent Slope Values Arising fkom the use of
Non-Linear Stress Grading Materials on the Coils
of High Voltage Rotating A.C. Machines”,
DMMA Conf. Proceedings, 1984, JEE Pub. No.
234, pp.263-266.

€31 KELEN A., “On the Theory of Non-Linear

Resistive Field-Grading Coatings on Insulating
surface^^'^ Electrik, pp. 109-122,-1967.