Condition Monitoring Of High Voltage Machines

By The Analysis of
Electrical Partial Discharges 22 April 04 Dino Kouadria
PhD MSc BEng CEng MIEE MIEEE

DOWDING & MILLS

CONTENT
What is Partial Discharge (PD) Analysis.

Stator winding Common Faults.

Basics Of Why & How To Measure PD. Case Studies. Open Discussions.

DOWDING & MILLS

What is Partial Discharges Analysis

It is an electrical condition monitoring technique.

Used to assess the condition of hv insulation

Wider applications

static items i.E. Switchgear, cables transformers, etc.

Dynamic items i.E. Electrical machines

DOWDING & MILLS

PDs Analysis On HV Windings

Apply to HV motors & generators (>5kv) Online & off line tests. Predominantly on-line tests - no shut down & tests under normal stress condition.

DOWDING & MILLS

PDs Analysis On HV Windings

Assess the current & development in condition of the windings

Maintenance planning based on machines health.

Elimination of unwanted/unexpected shutdowns.

Assistance in targeting maintenance effort effectively.

Leave

Maintain

Replace

DOWDING & MILLS

Why Do HV Stators Fail?

Failures due to windings insulation failure caused by the combined
electrical, thermal, environmental and mechanical stress factors. Most common causes in modern insulation are mechanically induced defects i.E. Loose wedges, erosion due to bar vibration etc. Short time degradation process.

Discharge between phases due to cracks / low spacing

Contamination of end windings. Others: internal voids, insulation ageing, delamination. Electrical partial discharges
DOWDING & MILLS

Regardless of the type of defects, they all result in the generation of Electrical partial discharges. So what are partial discharges?

DOWDING & MILLS

Local breakdown that short circuits part of the Insulation. Vs Cavity

Vs = Applied voltage Formation of corrosive ions, acids, nitrogen oxides, ozone. Detected using of chemical sensors for detection. Emission of light, sound & electromagnetic waves. Detected using ultrasonic devices, antennae, cameras.. Injection of high frequency current pulses. Detected using electrical partial discharges measurement (pd).
DOWDING & MILLS

What is a partial discharge

Partial Discharges Basic Theory

+
-

DOWDING & MILLS

Patterns & location of pulses within AC cycle Is the key in defects identification

Importance Of Monitoring PDs

Different defects produce different PD patterns. Complex PD patterns are produced when multiple defects are present. Failures are due to localized defects. PD pattern development over time represents developing degradation processes. Provide an early warning of potential problems

DOWDING & MILLS

Partial discharge monitoring over a machine life cycle

Discharge levels

Repair/action required Curing Process

3 6 months

?? Years

Time
DOWDING & MILLS

PD Detection
Two main type of permanently installed sensors. Capacitive couplers first developed in north america. Main users power industry.

Rogowski coils first developed for the north sea oil industry.
North sea oil industry mainly Rogowski coils Ease of installation: no disconnection of supply cables, less installation time. Atex certified

DOWDING & MILLS

Rogowski Coils: Typical Installation

DOWDING & MILLS

Partial Discharge Analysis/Display: Typical Cycle

DOWDING & MILLS

Partial Discharge Analysis/Display: Total Discharge Activity

DOWDING & MILLS

Partial Discharge Analysis/Display: Pulse Height Analysis

DOWDING & MILLS

CASE STUDIES

DOWDING & MILLS

Case studies
1 Contamination on old pump motor 2 New motor manufacturing problem 3 Coil Movement old motor 4 Plastics plant old motor high PD 11KV-3MW 13.8KV-12MW 6.6KV-9MW 11KV-2.5MW

DOWDING & MILLS

3MW Pump Motor

Total Discharge Activity

DOWDING & MILLS

3MW Pump Motor

Typical Detected Faults Damage due to movement and contamination

White power deposits clear signs of discharge activity

DOWDING & MILLS

13.8 kV 12.7 MW Gas Compressor

DOWDING & MILLS

13.8 kV 12.7 MW Gas Compressor

0ver 70% of wedges loose or missing

DOWDING & MILLS

13.8 kV 12.7 MW Gas Compressor

Typical Detected Faults Damage due to wedge movement

DOWDING & MILLS

9MW Gas Compression Motor

Banded Discharge is modulated which is due to coil movement .....

DOWDING & MILLS

9MW Gas Compression Motor

DOWDING & MILLS

9MW Gas Compression Motor

Good Coil

Air Duct Impressions

DOWDING & MILLS

9MW Gas Compression Motor

Damaged Coil

Air Ducts (no abrasion)

Lamination groves due to movement

DOWDING & MILLS

9MW Gas Compression Motor

Heavily Damaged Coil Due to impacting on slot bottom

DOWDING & MILLS

2420KW 11kV ASEA synchronous compressor motor

DOWDING & MILLS

Outcome of A PD Analysis Survey

Detect any potential insulation problems.
The contribution of the different problems. Location of problems within the winding. Development in windings condition (through regular monitoring) Early detection allows scheduling of remedial work/repairs.

Provide the maintenance engineer with the information to make The most cost effective decisions on planned maintenance

DOWDING & MILLS

Partial Discharge Analysis

Not an exact Science. Does not predict when plant is likely to fail.

BUT will highlight which machines are most likely to fail.

Does not detect Inter-turn Faults

More room for improvement in defect recognition.

Future development in insulation/motor designs.

DOWDING & MILLS

Condition Monitoring Of High Voltage Machines

By The Analysis of
Electrical Partial Discharges 22 April 04 Dino Kouadria
PhD MSc BEng CEng MIEE MIEEE

DOWDING & MILLS