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ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY

A BRIEF SUMMARY:
IEEE GUIDE
FOR DIELECTRIC
FREQUENCY
RESPONSE TEST
BY DIEG O ROBAL INO, P H D, P M P, Megger

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Standards

Association recently approved the publication of IEEE Std. C57.161–2018,
Guide for Dielectric Frequency Response Test. The work was developed within
the IEEE Transformers Committee and the Dielectrics Subcommittee. The
industry needed a document to better understand the field application of
a non-intrusive and non-destructive method to assess the condition of oil-
paper insulation in power and distribution transformers.
Over the last two decades, other technical the task force to the publication of the
references presented the development of guide, the contributions and participation
dielectric frequency response (DFR), aka of specialists, end-users, testing equipment
frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS), manufacturers, transformer manufacturers,
specifically its application for power and and academia made it possible to produce
distribution transformers with oil-impregnated a practical and comprehensive guide for
paper insulation. CIGRE Technical Brochures using DFR technology and interpreting a
254, 414, and 445, as well as IEEE Std. transformer’s insulation dielectric response in
C57.152, addressed the importance of the the frequency domain.
research and the benefits of the method as
applied to power and distribution transformers.
DFR HI STORY
The IEEE Transformer Committee initially Around the mid-1900s, the frequency domain
formed a task force to recommend (or not) response was thoroughly studied, and the
the need to develop a guide describing the definition of dielectric losses at power or
application of DFR on oil-impregnated line frequency (50/60Hz) turned out to be a
transformers. From the initial step of forming great success for transformer manufacturers,

2 • FALL 2019 A BRIEF SUMMARY: IEEE GUIDE FOR DIELECTRIC FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST
 ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
end-users, and testing service companies.
Technology evolved, however, and electronic
components and control devices opened the
door to a wider band frequency spectrum to
analyze different insulation materials.

In 1996, WaBtech AB in Sweden brought the

first portable device for DFR testing in the
field to the market. Dr. Peter Werelius and
Bjorn Bengtsson introduced the insulation
diagnostics analyzer (IDA) mainly for cable and
transformer testing. The practical application
of DFR in the field generated interest in the
industry, and international organizations took
the lead on investigating this new technology
that was revolutionizing testing practices in the
field.

In 2002, CIGRE developed Technical

Brochure 254, “Dielectric Response Methods
for Diagnostics of Power Transformers.” This
report from Task Force D1.01.09 focused on
three dielectric response techniques: return
voltage measurements (RVM), dielectric
spectroscopy in time domain (TDS), and
dielectric frequency domain spectroscopy
(FDS). The task force concluded that (a) all
three methods reflect the same fundamental
polarization and conduction phenomena in
transformer insulation and (b) the definition
of moisture in solid insulation by time
domain and frequency domain responses
requires mathematical modelling and a good
understanding of the dielectric properties of
insulation system components.

In 2010, CIGRE continued the work and

published Technical Brochure 414, “Dielectric
Response Diagnoses for Transformer Windings,”
which combined the acquired practical
experience with the mathematical modelling
approach to determine testing best practices.
The document covers the fundamentals of the
X-Y model, measurement configurations, test
performance — and perhaps the most important
part — case studies and comparative analysis
using Karl Fisher titration (KFT) to validate
using dielectric response methods to detect
moisture estimation in solid insulation.

A BRIEF SUMMARY: IEEE GUIDE FOR DIELECTRIC FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST NETAWORLD • 3
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
The technology was widely accepted in the information assembled in this document
field. Continuing the work, CIGRE Working is difficult to describe in just few lines, but
Group A2.34 incorporated the dielectric this guide added Informative Annex G,
response methods in time and frequency which provides a brief description of the
domain into Section 5.1.3 of Technical dielectric frequency response method and its
Brochure 454, which was published in 2011. interpretation for oil-paper insulation systems
Dielectric response methods are included as in power transformers.
“Special or Advanced Measurements.” DFR
or FDS is an advanced testing technique used
in the field to determine the water content IEEE GUIDE FOR DIELECTRIC
in the solid cellulose insulation of oil-paper FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST
insulation and detect insulation failures and The continuous work of IEEE and its
insulation contamination. Moisture content members is well-reflected in IEEE Std.
in solid insulation is derived from field testing C57.161, IEEE Guide for Dielectric Frequency
and mathematical modelling, and a database Response Test, which is applicable to liquid-
source is compared against limits given for immersed transformers. The guide includes
dry, moderately wet, and extremely wet a thorough description of the DFR method,
insulation in IEC 60422. IEC 60422 states comparative analysis of line-frequency power
that although the determination of water factor and the dielectric response in a wide
content in transformer paper by measuring frequency spectrum, recommendations for
the water in oil has been frequently described, instrumentation, procedures for performing
practical results are often not in line with the the tests, and guidelines for interpreting the
theoretical predictions. All calculations and data. The application of DFR allows testing in
correlations of the water content in oil and the the factory and in the field.
water content in the oil/paper system depend
on the equilibrium state between the insulating After a general overview, Section 4 introduces the
oil and the oil/paper system. DFR method. DFR is a non-intrusive and non-
destructive off-line testing technique performed
In North America, the IEEE Transformer in the frequency domain to determine the
Committee revised IEEE Std. 62, Guide moisture content of a transformer’s solid
for Diagnostic Field Testing of Electric insulation and the conductivity of the liquid
Power Apparatus — Part 1: Oil filled Power insulation. This paragraph covers one very
Transformers, Regulators, and Reactors. One important characteristic of the dielectric
of the fundamental reasons for revising this response: It can discriminate between the effects
document was the application of new testing of moisture versus contamination in liquid or
techniques were not previously described solid insulation.
but were considered important to help
manufacturers and end-users meet current Section 4 describes several important facts.
requirements, especially in the field. It is
interesting that IEEE 62 (R2005), Section • First, DFR, as with any other dielectric
6.3.12 provides two tables with general
response method, depends on the unique
guidelines for interpreting data expressed in
dielectric properties of the material, the
percent saturation of water in oil and in percent
electric field, and the temperature of the
moisture by dry weight of paper.
specimen at the time of the test.
The work carried out by the IEEE Transformer • Second, DFR follows the same
Committee ended with the 2013 publication measurement principle as the line-
of IEEE Std. C57.152, Guide for Diagnostic frequency power factor test, but the
Field Testing of Fluid-Filled Power Transformers, excitation signal applied by DFR
Regulators and Reactors. The amount of instruments varies frequency in the range

4 • FALL 2019 A BRIEF SUMMARY: IEEE GUIDE FOR DIELECTRIC FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST
 ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
from 1 kHz down to 1 mHz (typical range
at 20°C). The complex impedance of the
dielectric system is measured at different
frequencies, and the dielectric response is
plotted as percentage dissipation factor,
permittivity, or capacitance as a function
of frequency.
To evaluate the condition of the insulation
system, the modelling algorithm requires
specific information. The normally fixed
information is:

a. Liquid Insulation relative permittivity (er)

b. Thermal activation energy for solid and
liquid insulation Figure 1: Hook-Up between DFR Test Set and Two-Winding
Transformer
c. Temperature of the insulation under test
configurations. At this stage, the reader should
The outcome of the test will provide:
be aware that the most accurate estimation of
moisture in the solid insulation is related to
• Liquid insulation conductivity (s)
the test between windings in an ungrounded
• Moisture in solid insulation (m) specimen test (UST) mode. In a two-winding
transformer, the capacitance of interest is
In addition to modelling, it is important the inter-winding insulation between the
to understand that the test is performed in high- and low-voltage windings represented
the field following the same instrument-to- in Figure 1 as CHL. Other insulation systems
object hook-up principles as those used for between the high-voltage winding and ground
power factor/dissipation factor testing at (CH) or between the low-voltage winding and
line frequency. Figure 1 depicts the hook-up ground (CL) are susceptible to the influence of
diagram of the DFR test set to a commonly bushings and other components, such as tap
used two-winding transformer. changers, inside the transformer. Nevertheless,
UST measurements are often taken to identify
Section 5 provides best practices and non-typical responses related to contamination
configurations to perform the test in the or degradation of the insulation system.
field. As in any other electrical test, the very
first recommendations are related to safety. Section 6 provides the guidelines to generate
For many readers, safety is not just a best the test report, including an example of the
practice; it is a life style. Therefore, the local report.
and federal regulations required to perform the
test as well as the safety instructions provided The most important part of the guide is
by the test set manufacturer must be followed. undoubtedly Section 7, Measurement Analysis
An additional advantage of DFR is that the and Interpretation. This section provides the
test involves a low-voltage excitation signal, differences between the dielectric response
typically ≤ 140VRMS. of liquid and solid insulation, graphically
represented in Figure 2. Liquid insulation
Working conditions in the field might not dielectric properties can be described by a
be optimal. Section 5 provides guidelines simple parallel RC-circuit: The capacitance
to minimize the effect of external factors on represents the liquid permittivity; the resistance
test performance as well as the measurement represents the liquid conductivity. The

A BRIEF SUMMARY: IEEE GUIDE FOR DIELECTRIC FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST NETAWORLD • 5
ADVANCEMENTS IN INDUSTRY
a) b)

10000 100

1000

100
10
10

1
1
0.1

0.01

0.001 0.1
0.0010 0..010 0..1 11 01 00 1000 0.0010 0..010 0..1 11 01 00 1000

Frequency [Hz] OIL ONLY Frequency [Hz] PAPER ONLY

Figure 2: a) DFR of Mineral Oil; b) DFR of Paper Only

dielectric properties of solid insulation are more CONCLUSI ON

complex; both capacitance and losses vary with This article, which was originally published in
frequency in a manner that cannot be described Transformer Technology Magazine, represents a
by a simple parallel or series RC-circuit. brief summary of a well-developed document
provided by IEEE and its members. The author
After a clear description of the behavior of considers it imperative for asset managers,
the materials under an alternating excitation utility operators, transformer manufacturers,
signal in a wide frequency spectrum, various and testing service providers to acquire this
factors affecting the dielectric response are document and follow the guidelines given.
described. One of the most important factors
to consider is the presence of noise (EMI) in
the surrounding test area. To overcome the Diego Robalino, PhD, PMP, IEEE
effect of EMI on the measurement signal, use Senior Member, is a Principal Engineer
of a voltage amplifier is optional in the field, at Megger, where he specializes in the
especially for low-capacitance specimens and diagnosis of complex electrical testing
procedures. He has over 20 years of
tests at temperatures close to 0°C. involvement in the electrical engineering
profession with management responsibilities
Four annexes are included in the document: in the power systems, oil and gas, and research arenas. Diego is a
member of the IEEE/PES Transformers Committee, a certified
• Dielectric frequency response analysis — Project Management Professional with the Project Management
Institute (PMI), and the General Chair for the IEEE/DEIS
theory and validation 2020 Electrical Insulation Conference. He is the author
• Non-moisture related factors influencing and co-author of multiple technical articles related to power,
distribution, and instrument transformer condition assessment.
the DFR measurements Diego received his PhD in electrical engineering from Tennessee
• Examples of typical measurement challenges Technological University while doing research in power system
optimization with a focus on aging equipment.
• Bibliography

6 • FALL 2019 A BRIEF SUMMARY: IEEE GUIDE FOR DIELECTRIC FREQUENCY RESPONSE TEST