Practical Experience Using VLF Tan Delta and Partial
Practical Experience Using VLF Tan Delta and Partial
Abstract—Condition assessment of power cables is one of the VLF voltage source can be used for diagnostic test – TD &
most important tasks in maintenance and management of power 3'PHDVXUHPHQWDQGDVZHOODVZLWKVWDQGWHVW,I7'DQG3'
networks. Significant investment has been made to ensure the DUHPHDVXUHGGXULQJZLWKVWDQGWHVWLWLVFDOOHG)XOO0RQLWRUHG
reliability of cable systems. Very Low Frequency (VLF) test is an :LWKVWDQG7HVW0:7
alternative method for 50 Hz AC voltage test. Using VLF voltage
II.WHAT IS VLF
source, Tan Delta (TD) and Partial Discharge (PD) measurement
can be carried out simultaneously. TD measurement is a non- 9HU\ ORZ IUHTXHQF\ 9/) LV DQ$& YROWDJH ZLWK IUHTXHQF\
destructive integral test to assess the overall cable condition, EHWZHHQ +] WR +]9/) WHVW LV DQ DOWHUQDWLYH WR +]
while PD measurement can be used to localize defects that $&WHVW7KHFKDUJLQJFXUUHQWDWORZHUIUHTXHQF\IRUH[DPSOH
generate electric discharge activities. This paper focuses on the +]LVPXFKORZHUFRPSDUHGWR+]$&7KXVD9/)WHVWHU
practical experience using combined VLF testing with TD and LVDVLJQL¿FDQWO\VPDOOHUDQGPXFKPRUHSRUWDEOHSRZHUVRXUFH
PD to assess health condition and localize defects in medium WKDWKDVWKHFDSDELOLW\WRWHVWFDEOHQHWZRUNRIUHODWLYHO\ORQJ
voltage cables. Field experience with VLF TD and PD will OHQJWKV9/)YROWDJHFDQEHLQVLQHZDYHIRUPRUFRVLQHZDYH
be shared. Detailed testing and evaluation technique will be
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described.
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Index Terms—Very Low Freuqnecy VLF; Tan Delta TD; +]YV+]
Partial discharge PD; Medium Voltage Cable; Testing and
evaluation
I. I NTRODUCTION
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standards and guidelines have been developed which address
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not subject to the voltage stress distribution that is exposed WHVWLQJUHSDLUFDQEHFDUULHGRXW7KHLPSDFWRIIDLOXUHGXULQJ
WR XQGHU QRUPDO RSHUDWLQJ FRQGLWLRQV %HVLGHV WKDW '& WHVWV offline testing is much smaller compare to a sudden failure
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detecting defects in cables because DC tester has no diagnostic 3' PHDVXUHPHQW ZKLOH WKH FRPELQDWLRQ RI9/)7' DQG 3'
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VLF TD is a diagnostic test to evaluate the overall condition of a FRQGLWLRQDVVHVVPHQWRIFDEOHQHWZRUN
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WRWKHFDSDFLWLYHFXUUHQWÀRZLQJLQDFDEOH7KHUHVLVWLYHFXUUHQW III.CASE STUDY
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Below figure shows PD activities with PD inception voltage
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illustration for TD measurement
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condition
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PLQXWHVDW[8R7KHWHVWSURFHGXUHKDVEHHQGRQHDFFRUGLQJ power utilities have implemented Full MWT into their standard
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can be tested using below guideline:
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The general guidelines are shown below:
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the withstand test
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while most of the degraded joints are associated with water
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TD measurement is useful and reflects the overall condition
of the cable as well as to indicate the presence of wet joints
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some of the additional tests including the step voltage method
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REFERENCES
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Full MWT is a withstand test to measure TD and PD *75&3URMHFW1R(5
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YDOXDEOHLQIRUPDWLRQIRUFRQGLWLRQDVVHVVPHQW7KHWHVWGXUDWLRQ First Author
FDQDOVREHVKRUWHQHGZKLOHWKHUHOLDELOLW\RIWKHFDEOHFDQVWLOO Belle Valerie WongZDVERUQLQ&KLQDUHFHLYHG%6FGHJUHH
EHHQVXUHG in Mechanical and Automation Engineering from The Chinese
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