Insulation Resistance Test and Polarization Index Test

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Insulation Resistance Test and Polarization

Index Test
Both Insulation Resistance Test (IR Value Test)
and Polarization Index Test (PI Value Test) are conducted on HV
machine to determine service condition of the insulation. In HV
machines and winding are likely to be affected by moisture and
contamination. IP test is conducted especially to determine the
dryness and cleanliness of winding insulation.In
insulation resistance test, a high DC voltage is applied across,
conductor and ground more specifically. The voltage is applied
across the insulator. Due to this applied high DC voltage there will
be a current through the electrical insulator. Dividing the applied
voltage by this current we get the actual resistive value of the
insulator.

Say the applied high voltage is V and corresponding current through


the insulator, is I. Hence as per Ohms law the value of insulation

resistance is This test is generally done by means of megger.


Megger gives required direct (DC) voltage across the insulator, and
it also shows the resistive value of insulation directly in Mohm
range. The megger used are of 500 V, 2.5 KV and 5 KV. We use 500
V megger for insulation test up to 1.1 KV rated insulation. For
high voltage transformer, other HV equipment and machines, 2.5 or
5 KV megger are used. As all insulators are dielectric in nature, they
always have a capacitive property. Due to that, during application of
the voltage across the electrical insulator, initially, there will be a
charging current. But after some time when the insulator becomes
totally charged, the capacitive charging current becomes zero and
then only resistive conductive current presents in the insulator. That
is why it is always recommended to do insulation resistance test at
least for 1 minute since charging current totally becomes zero after
1 minute. Only measuring insulation resistance by megger for 1
minute does not always give the reliable result. As the resistive
value of an electrical insulator also varies with temperature. This
difficulty is partially solved by introducing polarity index test or in
short PI value test. We will discuss the philosophy behind the PI
test, below.

When we apply a voltage across an insulator, there will be a leakage


current from line to ground. Although this leakage current is tiny
and it is in milliampere or sometimes in microampere range, it has
mainly four components.

1. Capacitive component.
2. Resistive or conductive component.
3. Surface leakage component.
4. Polarization component.
Let us discuss one by one.

Capacitive Component
When we apply a DC voltage across in insulator, because of its
dielectric nature, there will be an initial high charging current
through the insulator from line to ground. This current decays
exponentially and becomes zero after some time. This current exists
for initial 10 seconds of the test. But it takes nearly 60 seconds to
decay totally.

Resistive or Conductive Component


This current is purely conductive in nature flows through the
insulator as if the insulator is purely resistive. This current is a
direct flow of electrons. Every insulator has this component of
electric current. Since, in practice, every material in this universe
persists some conductive nature. The resistive or conductive
component of insulator leakage current remains constant
throughout the test.

Surface Leakage Component


Due to dust, moisture and other contaminants on the surface of the
insulator, there is one small component of leakage through the
outer surface of the insulator.
Polarization Component
Every insulator is hygroscopic in nature. Some contaminant
molecules and mainly moisture in the insulator are very polar. When
an electric field is applied across the insulator the polar molecules
align themselves along the direction of electric field. The energy
required for this alignment of polar molecules, comes from voltage
source in form of electric current. This current is called polarisation
current. It continues until all the polar molecules allied themselves
along the direction of electric field.

It takes around 10 minutes to align the polar molecules along


electric field, and that is why if we take megger result for 10
minutes, there would be no effect of polarising in megger result. So
when we take megger value of an insulator for 1 minute, the results
reflects, the IR value which is free from the effect of the capacitive
component of leakage current. Again when we take megger value of
an insulator for 10 minutes, the megger result shows the 12 value,
free from effects of both capacitive component and polarisation
component of leakage current.

Polarisation index is the ratio of megger value taken for 10 minutes


to the megger value taken for 1 minute. The significance
of polarization index test. Let I be the total initial current during
polarisation index test or PI test. IC is the capacitive current. IR is
resistive or conductive current. IS is surface leakage current. IP is
polarization current of the insulator.
Value of insulation resistance test or IR value test, i.e. value megger

reading just after 1 minute of the test, is- Megger

value of 10 minute test, is Therefore, result of


polarization index test, is

From the above


equation it is clear that, if the value of (IR + IS) >> IP, the PI of
insulator approaches to 1. And large IR or IS or both indicate
unhealthiness of the insulation. Th value of PI becomes high if (I R +
IS) is very small compared to IP. This equation indicates that high
polarization index of an insulator implies healthiness of insulator. For
good insulator resistive leakage current IR is very tiny. It is always
desired to have polarisation index of an electrical insulator more
than 2. It is hazardous to have polarisation index less than 1.5.

Dielectric Absorption Test


The Dielectric Absorption (or Time-Resistance) test is an extension of the insulation resistance
test where instead of a spot test, the testing device is applied to the insulation for up to 10
minutes. The idea is that the insulation resistance should increase over time as the atoms in the
insulation are polarised by the IR tester's applied DC voltage (i.e. they line up with the applied
electric field).

When the testing device is applied to an insulation system, there are generally three types of
current flow:

Leakage current is the resistive current that flows through the insulation and is

what is being measured by the IR tester. Obviously, a lower leakage current implies
an insulation system in better condition. The leakage current should stay more or less
constant over the test period.

Capacitive charging current is the current that flows upon application of the DC
voltage to charge the capacitance between insulation system under test and earth.
This will draw a high current in the first instance before dropping off quickly to zero as
the capacitor is charged (i.e. within 1s)

Dielectric absorption current is the polarising current that is drawn by the

insulation system (dielectric) to align the dipoles within the dielectric with the applied
electric field. This current draws a high current initially but then gradually drops off as
the dipoles in the dipole become increasingly polarised (i.e. in the order of 5 to 10
minutes).

There are two commonly used tests:


Dielectric Absorption Ratio (DAR)

In this test, the testing device is applied and IR measurements are taken after 30
seconds and 60 seconds. The dielectric absorption ratio (DAR) is calculated as:

where and are the IR test measurements at 30 and 60 seconds


respectively (

A general guide to interpreting the DAR test results are as follows:

DAR Insulation Condition

<1.25 Questionable

1.6 Adequate

>1.6 Good

Polarisation Index (PI)

In this test, the testing device is applied and IR measurements are taken at
1 minute and 10 minutes. The polarisation index (PI) is calculated as:

where and are the IR test measurements at 1 and 10


minutes respectively (

A general guide to interpreting the PI test results are as follows:

PI Insulation Condition

<1 Dangerous

<2 Questionable
<4 Good

>4 Excellent

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