You are on page 1of 10

AVO INTERNATIONAL

Power Factor Testing


Some Unknown Facts

Agenda
Power Factor (PF) vs. Voltage
Negative Power Factor Values
Temperature Correction Factors for PF Readings

POWER FACTOR vs. VOLTAGE

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

Power Factor vs. Voltage


PF test is typically performed at 10 kV or values
equivalent to 10 kV are obtained
Why not 25 V or 25 kV?
What test voltage is good enough?

Power Factor vs. Voltage


Oil-paper type insulation system
Power Factor vs. Voltage
0.58
0.57

Three Phase two winding


Oil filled Transformer
Delta-Delta
13.8/2.4 kV, 3.75 MVA

0.56
PF (%)

0.55
0.54
0.53
0.52
0.51
0.50

CHL + CHG

0.49
0.48
0

4
Voltage (kV)

PF shows a flat response as a function of test voltage


5

Power Factor vs. Voltage


Solid or dry type insulation
Tip up Test

Power Factor (%)

0.7
0.6
Phase A-G

0.5

Phase B-G

0.4

Phase C-G

0.3

2000 HP, 4000V 3-


induction motor

0.2
0

50

100

150

% of rated Line to Neutral Voltage

The amount of increase in PF value as a function of


voltage corresponds to the degree of ionization taking
place in voids.
6

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

Power Factor vs. Voltage

Tip up test helps in estimating the presence of voids in


dry type insulations.
7

Power Factor vs. Voltage


10 kV test voltage provides immunization against
electrostatic interference and electrical noise in HV
substations.

Four repeat UST


measurements on a
grading capacitor in a
765 kV Substation

A HV test signal provides better signal to noise ratio


(SNR) for precise and accurate measurements.

NEGATIVE POWER FACTOR VALUES

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

Negative Power Factor Values


Specimens like bushings, three winding transformers , inter
phase insulation of rotating machinery sometimes exhibits
negative PF values.
PF values cannot be negative. It is a phantom value.
It is caused when phase angle of measuring current exceeds
reference voltage by more than 90 deg.
This happens typically because of introduction of surface
leakage current
10

Negative Power Factor Values


IT = Test Current
INET = Total Current
Is
= Surface Loss Current

11

Negative Power Factor Values


Specimens with low capacitance values
(smaller current) are more susceptible to
this surface loss current and can lead to
negative PF values.

Vector diagram with different magnitude of current INET


and purely resistive loss current Is

12

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

Negative Power Factor Values


Important to understand the source of negative PF values
Some specimens exhibit negative values by virtue of
their design
Following best testing practices, one should eliminate all
external effects
Repeated negative values after following best testing
practices may point towards some contamination/
moisture or a bad insulation system

13

Temperature Correction Factors


for PF Readings

14

Temperature Correction Factors


PF values are highly dependent on temperature.
IEEE C57.12.90 section 10.10.4 Note 3 (b) states that
Experience has shown that the variation in power factor with
temperature is substantial and erratic so that no single correction
curve will fit all cases.

It is imperative to only compare a specimens PF values


that are either taken at a similar temperature or corrected
to the same temperature accurately.

15

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

16

Temperature Correction Factors


Each specimen is unique in its construction, design and
ratings. They are each subjected to different kinds of
stresses, loading and environmental conditions.
Temperature correction factor values are highly
dependent on insulating material, their structure, ageing,
presence of moisture or contamination and various other
factors.
The available temperature correction factor data is based
upon the average value.

17

Temperature Correction Factors

Temperature dependence of different transformers with different levels of ageing


18

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

Temperature Correction Factors


The average correction would introduce some error into
the corrected value, as each specimen is unique.
New transformers have relatively weak temperature
dependence and use of standard tables would over
compensate.
An aged transformer, becomes highly temperature
dependent .
Average correction values to 20 C lie somewhere
between these two extremes.
19

Temperature Correction Factors


Average temperature correction values
can lead to incorrect trending of results
and inaccurate estimation of the remaining
healthy life of the object.

Any alternative??

20

Temperature Correction Factors


IEEE C57.12.90 section 10 states that When the insulation
power factor is measured at a relatively high temperature and the
corrected values are unusually high, the transformer should be
allowed to cool and the measurements should be repeated at or near
20 C.

Use Dielectric Frequency Response (DFR) method to


accurately determine the unique and individual
correction factors for each specimen.

21

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

Dielectric Frequency Response

22

Temperature Correction Factors


The determination of temperature correction factors using DFR
method is based on the fact that a power factor measurement at a
certain temperature and frequency corresponds to a measurement
made at different temperature and frequency.
With DFR technique, individual temperature correction factors can
be determined and values can be accurately corrected to 20 C
The big advantage of this technique is that PF values can now be
measured at any insulation temperature ranging from 5-50 C and
still can be corrected to 20 C accurately and precisely.

23

Case Study
Grading Capacitor @ 400 kV Sub
Historical measurement (Dec 18th 2009):

Tan Delta @ 18 C & 50 Hz = 0.375 %


New measurement (May 28th 2010) :

Tan Delta @ 30 C & 50 Hz = 0.657 %

24

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

25

Historical measurement (Dec 18th 2009):


Tan Delta @ 18 C & 50 Hz = 0.375 %

26

Temperature Correction Factors


With the help of Power Factor vs. frequency, Power
Factor vs. temperature can be plotted
With DFR technique, individual temperature correction
factors can be determined and values can be accurately
corrected to 20 C
The big advantage of this technique is that PF values can
now be measured at any insulation temperature ranging
from 5-50 C and still can be corrected to 20 C
accurately and precisely.
27

08/17/01

AVO INTERNATIONAL

Voltage Dependence and Tip-up Testing


Tip-up testing, allows a user to see how much power factor increases with voltage level
or to investigate a potential cause of a high power factor reading.

Various high voltage components may have an isolation that is


voltage dependant. Oil-immersed power transformers
normally do not have any voltage dependence, so tip-up
testing is not a common practice

However, a voltage dependence can occur from defects such

as contamination, connection problems and partial discharge.


In these cases a tip-up test is very useful.

DELTA4000 has embedded technology, called Voltage

Dependence Detection, (patent pending) that automatically


detects voltage dependence in a single insulation test at a
certain voltage and suggest the user to consider performing a
tip-up test.

VDD is based on harmonic analysis of the measurement


signal.

28

Conclusions
Electric apparatus have failed and will continue to fail because of
insulation deterioration.
Power factor readings are dependent on various different factors
and it is very important to understand the effect of these factors.
Test voltage, electrostatic interference, temperature, humidity,
surface losses and various other parameters can greatly influence
the PF readings.
A better understanding of the impact of these varying parameters
would help in obtaining accurate PF measurements.

29

Thank You !!

QUESTIONS ??
30

08/17/01

10

You might also like