Minimizing Dielectric Frequency Response

Measurement Time by using Multiple Frequency

Signals
M. Öhlén, Member, IEEE, and J. Duplessis, Member, IEEE

Abstract — Modern technology and developments in Adding just a few operating years to the expected end-of-
signal acquisition and analysis techniques have provided life for a transformer or cable means substantial cost
new tools for transformer diagnostics. Of particular interest savings for the power company.
are Dielectric Response Measurements, DFR (also known as
Frequency Domain Spectroscopy, FDS), a tool for
The most common insulation diagnostic test is the
investigating insulation properties of specific materials and measure of capacitance and dissipation factor/power
material combinations, e.g., oil-paper systems. factor (DF/PF) at 50/60 Hz. This is the standard test
performed whenever there is a need for investigating
DFR was first introduced about 20 years ago and has insulation properties. Analysis is based on (historical)
been thoroughly evaluated in a number of research projects statistics and comparing factory values. This is a standard
and field tests with good results (see reference list). test which takes little time to perform; the major time
Moisture assessment and bushing diagnostics in
involved is getting access to the test object and preparing
transformers as well as cable diagnostics and insulation
testing in rotating machinery are important applications for test itself. The actual measurement is less than a
where DFR in combination with insulation modeling minute per test. The DFR test, however, requires more
provides accurate information for decisions on maintenance time to perform, typically some minutes up to hours
and/or replacement. depending upon the insulation state and temperature of
the insulation. Today, time is essential and everything
One drawback of the DFR methodology is that it takes a needs to go fast, including the tests performed on the
longer time to measure compared to traditional single- insulation. Some different techniques have been used to
frequency tan delta measurements. For the first generation decrease test time for moisture determination and one
systems introduced more than 15 years ago, the
new approach is the multiple frequency signals.
measurement time was often hours. With the latest
technology, using AC signals containing multiple frequency II. MULTIPLE FREQUENCY SIGNALS
content, the measurement time is significantly reduced and
a typical measurement down to 1 mHz takes only about 20 The principal idea with DFR testing is to perform
minutes. repetitive measurements on the dielectric while the
applied test signal changes in frequency across a
Keywords – Dielectric frequency response; DFR; frequency predefined range; of primary interest are the multiple
domain spectroscopy; FDS; power factor; dissipation factor; data points of capacitance and tan d that are collected;
multiple frequencies; three tone.
see Fig 1.
I. INTRODUCTION

W ith an aging power component population, today’s

electrical utility industry faces a tough challenge
as failures and consequent repair and revenue loss may
inflict major costs. Transformers have become one of the
most mission critical components in the electrical grid.
The need for reliable diagnostic methods drives the
world’s leading experts to evaluate new technologies that
improve reliability and optimize the use of the power
network.
The condition of the insulation is an essential aspect
for the operational reliability of electrical power
transformers, generators, cables and other high voltage
equipment. Transformers with high moisture content can
not without risk sustain higher loads. Bushings and
cables with high dissipation factor (DF) / power factor
Fig. 1. Tan d frequency sweep of a transformer, 20 data points
(PF) at high temperature can explode due to ‘‘thermal collected from 1000 Hz to 1 mHz.)
runaway’’.
978-1-5090-2157-4/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE
On the other hand it is also very important to identify Each data point is attained using a pure sinusoidal
‘‘good’’ units in the aging population of equipment. signal, Fig. 2, at the given frequency (the network
frequency is avoided to eliminate disturbance). The same signals are orthogonal. It is noted that this needs to be
data as that in a standard 50/60 Hz power factor/ tan δ done in a linear system. Figure 3 provides graphical
test is collected, namely capacitance and tan d, but with representation of the multiple frequency output. The
modern signal acquisition technology it is possible to resultant total current is measured from which it is
generate signals at different frequencies and then create a possible to analyze the frequency behavior of the specific
curve using the collected data points as given in Fig. 1. applied frequencies and determine the data point for the
desired frequency.

Fig. 2. Pure sinusoidal signal applied at 930 Hz. Applied voltage (red),
measured current (White)

When collecting the data points at lower frequencies, the

time starts to add up; at each frequency of interest, more
than one full sinusoidal cycle is necessary to get a data
point. For illustration, Table 1 shows the time needed to
complete one full cycle at different frequencies, focusing
specifically on the lower frequency contributions.

TABLE I
TIME TO COMPLETE ONE CYCLE

Frequency (Hz) Time needed for Time in minutes

one cycle (s)
1 1 <1 Fig. 3. Multiple frequencies
0,1 10 <1
0,01 100 1,5 The time to complete one full cycle of a multiple
0,005 200 3,3 frequency output signal is the same as that for f0 and
0,002 500 8,3 eliminates test time associated with the other embedded
0,001 1000 17 frequencies (2*f0 and 5*f0) had they been applied
= 32 separately. This will reduce the total test time
significantly; an example is given in table 2.
The collective investment of time can become large
principally due to the very low frequency measurements. TABLE I I
It is noted that being able to reduce the time for some of TIME WITH MULTIPLE FREQUENCIES
these single frequency measurements will significantly
decrease the total test time. The new technique of Frequency (Hz) Time needed for Time in minutes
applying multiple frequencies is one good way to do this. one cycle (s)
This method establishes the frequency with the longest 1 1 <1
test time, f0 (lowest frequency) as the base. Three 0,1 10 <1
frequencies, including 1*f0, 2*f0 and 5*f0 are added, 0,01 100 1,5
creating an output signal that is not a pure sinusoidal. 0,005 200 3,3
This new output signal, in effect, replaces the need for 0,002 500 8,3
separately applying three single frequency outputs while 0,001 1000 17
978-1-5090-2157-4/16/$31.00
preserving ©2016
the original end information IEEE at each
of interest = 21
of the three frequencies due to the fact that the three
 III. DIELECTRIC FREQUENCY RESPONSE
MEASUREMENTS
A field instrument for DFR measurements of
transformers, bushings and cables was introduced in
1995 [7]. Since then numerous evaluation of the
technology has been performed and as an example,
several international projects/reports define dielectric
response measurements together with insulation
modeling as the preferred method for measuring moisture
content of the cellulose insulation in power transformers
[8], [9], and [10].
The results are normally presented as capacitance
and/or dissipation factor/power factor versus frequency.
Fig. 6. Influence of moisture, temperature and oil quality
Measurement setup is shown in Fig. 4 and typical DFR
results from measurement on transformers in different
A DFR measurement combined with modeling the
conditions in Fig. 5.
response using the so-called X-Y model is capable of
The influences of moisture in cellulose, temperature of
evaluating the condition of the insulation system. The
the insulation and oil quality on tan d DFR results are
insulation structure of the power transformer is
depicted in figure 6.
represented by the relative amount of spacers (sticks) and
barriers in the cooling duct as shown in Fig. 7.
Parameter X is defined as the ratio of the sum of all
barriers in the duct, lumped together, and divided by the
duct width. The spacer coverage Y is defined as the total
width of all the spacers divided by the total length of the
periphery of the duct.

Y 1-Y

1-X
∗
ε spacers ε∗oil
∗
ε barriers X
Fig. 4. DFR test setup
Fig. 7. XY model of the transformer [6]

The permittivity of oil, ε oil , spacers,

*
ε spacers
*
and

barriers, ε barriers
*
, are complex functions of both
frequency and temperature. The equivalent permittivity
of the XY model is given by:

Y 1− Y
ε (ω , T ) = +
1− X X 1− X X
+ +
ε spacer ε barrier ε oil ε barrier
(1)

Using DFR for moisture determination is based on the

comparison of the transformer’s dielectric response to a
Fig. 5. DFR measurement examples of different transformers with
moisture content ranging from 0.3 to 3.4%
modeled dielectric response. An analyzing algorithm
rearranges the modeled dielectric response and delivers a
new modeled curve that reflects the measured
transformer. Results are presented as moisture content
and oil conductivity for the transformer.
An example is shown in Fig. 8. The transformer is a
20 MVA distribution transformer. Moisture content of
cellulose and oil conductivity is obtained by varying the
parameters in the model curve to the measured dielectric
978-1-5090-2157-4/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE frequency response at a certain insulation temperature.
 This multi-frequency test approach has the additional
advantage that it is a pure dielectric frequency response
measurement, DFR (also known as Frequency Domain
Spectroscopy, FDS), which is best suited to ensure
reliable moisture assessments in a test environment with
interference [11].

V. REFERENCES
[1] IEEE Guide for Diagnostic Field Testing of Electric Power
Apparatus – Part 1: Oil Filled Power Transformers, Regulators,
and Reactors, IEEE Standard 62-1995, Dec. 1995.
[2] P. Werelius, B. Holmgren, and U. Gäfvert, “Diagnosis of Medium
Fig. 8. MODS® moisture analysis for a transformer Voltage XLPE Cables by High Voltage Dielectric Spectroscopy,”
in Proceedings of the IEEE 6th International Conference on
DFR measurements on a distribution transformer at Conduction and Breakdown in Solid Dielectrics, Va stera s,
Sweden, 1998.
various temperatures are shown in Fig 9. As expected the [3] S.M. Gubanski et al, “Reliable Diagnostics of HV Transformer
moisture analysis (moisture in paper insulation) shows Insulation for Safety Assurance of Power Transmission System.
the same values independent of insulation temperature REDIATOOL - a European Research Project,” CIGRE, paper D1-
207, Paris, France, 2006.
(insulation temperature was estimated as winding [4] S.M. Gubanski et al, “Dielectric Response Methods for
temperature obtained by winding resistance Diagnostics of Power Transformers,” in IEEE Electrical
Insulation Magazine, 19(3):12-18, Jun. 2003.
measurements). [5] U. Gäfvert et al, “Dielectric Spectroscopy in Time and Frequency
Domain Applied to Diagnostics of Power Transformers,” in
Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Properties
and Applications of Dielectric Materials, Xi'an, China, 2000.
[6] “Swedish Bushings Plant Sees Growth in RIP Designs,” INMR
Quarterly, Issue 68, 2005.
[7] J.M Braun et al., “Accelerated Aging and Diagnostic Testing of
115 kV Type U Bushings,” in Conference Record of the IEEE
International Symposium on Electrical Insulation, Anaheim, CA,
USA, 2000.
[8] P. Werelius and M. Ohlen, “Dielectric Frequency Response
Measurements on Power Transformers,” presented at the 6th Euro
TechCon, Liverpool, UK, 2008.
[9] M. Ohlen and P. Werelius, “Dielectric Frequency Response and
Temperature Dependence of Power Factor,” in Conference
Record of the IEEE International Symposium on Electrical
Insulation, San Diego, CA, USA, 2010.
[10] M. Ohlen and P. Werelius, “Bushing Insulation Diagnostics Based
on Dielectric Response,” presented at INMR World Congress
Seoul, Korea, 2011.
Fig. 9. DFR measurements and analysis for a transformer at different
[11] M. Ohlen, P. Werelius and J. Cheng, “Dielectric Response
temperatures Measurements in Frequency, Temperature and Time Domain,”
presented at the 18th International Symposium on High Voltage
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Engineering, Seoul, Korea, 2013.
The dielectric frequency response in terms of
capacitance and dissipation factor of an electric VI. BIOGRAPHIES
insulation material or an insulation system depends not Matz Ohlen was born in Sundsvall, Sweden,
1952. He graduated from the Royal Institute of
only on insulation condition but also on temperature. Technology (M.Sc. EE) in Sweden in 1975
When restricted to power frequency measurements the and started his professional career at IFM
effect of temperature is unknown. Akustikbyran AB, a consultant company in
signal analysis, acoustics and noise &
Fortunately, most insulation materials have a simple vibration control. He continued working in
relation between capacitance and dissipation factor industrial automation and measurement
technique at Karlson Instruments and
measured as function of temperature and as function of Programma Electric, specializing in
frequency that can be effectively used when predicting instrumentation for diagnostic testing of power
the temperature effect on the insulation system by industry components.
In 2000 he started to work in the semiconductor business as
measuring the insulation system as a function of Product Manager for Bluetooth products at National Semiconductor. In
frequency. This relation become a bit more complex, but 2007 he returned to the power industry business as Marketing and Sales
still manageble, for an insulation system consisting of e.g. Manager for Pax Diagnostics, specializing in test systems for SFRA
(Sweep Frequency Response Analysis) and FDS/DFR ((Frequency
impregnated cellulose and insulating liquids as in power Domain Spectroscopy/Dielectric Frequency Response Measurements)
transformers. in transformers, generators and cables. In October 2008 Pax
The implementation of a technique that uses a mixed Diagnostics was acquired by Megger and Matz is now working as
Director – Transformer Test Systems.
frequency output signal significantly reduces the Matz Ohlen has presented/written a number of papers/articles on
measurement time for lower frequency data points. It is Measurement Techniques, Signal Analysis and Test and Maintenance
978-1-5090-2157-4/16/$31.00
important ©2016
to choose frequencies that are IEEE
orthogonal to of Power System Components for international
conferences/publications. He is member of IEEE and holds several
eliminate influence from the neighboring frequencies. patents within the field of transformer testing.
 Jill Duplessis is the Global Technical
Marketing Manager for Megger and member
of IEEE. She was previously Director of
Power Programs for SmartSenseCom,
Inc. where she was responsible for developing,
testing and deploying new applications of
SmartSenseCom’s optical monitoring systems
for transmission and distribution utilities. She
has over 17 years of experience in the
condition assessment of substation assets, first
as a Principal Engineer at Doble Engineering Company and following
as a Primary Manager and Regional Application Specialist,
Transformers, for OMICRON electronics USA. Jill is considered a
specialist in power transformer diagnostics, including emerging test
technologies, and in addition to a number of papers, is the author of a
book titled, ‘‘Electrical Field Tests for the Life Management of
Transformers’’. She has prior electric utility work experience, with
exposure to a wide breadth of engineering functions. Jill received a
BSEE degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1991 and has
completed extensive studies in electrical power engineering at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.

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