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03
Ireneusz URBANIEC, Paweł FRĄCZ
OPOLE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, INSTiTUTE OF ELEKTROENRGETICS,
Prószkowska 76, Budynek 2, 45-578 Opole
Application of UV camera for PD detection
on long rod HV insulator
Abstract
The aim of the research works, results of which are presented in this paper,
was to determine the feasibility and to indicate the application scope of
optical method in the diagnosis of high-voltage (HV) long rod insulators.
Diagnosis of technical condition of HV insulators is critical, because the
insulation system undergoes aging processes, which cause deterioration of
the insulating properties. The measurements were performed during test
under laboratory conditions using an UV camera. Corona partial
discharges occurring on the long rod insulator were registered, while the
supply voltage value was increased. The presented analyses consider
dependencies of the supply voltage value on the count number of UV
photons emitted by partial discharges occurring in long rod insulator made
of porcelain.
Keywords: surface partial discharges, PD measurement, optical method,
UV camera, HV insulator diagnosis.
1. Introduction
In recent years, more and more research centers are involved in
the measurement of partial discharges (PD) that may be generated
on devices for transmission and distribution of high voltage
electricity. Corona discharges are one of the three PD types, which
are connected with voltage breaks, not causing, however, short
circuit in the device. There exist also surface discharges (SPD),
associated mainly with contamination on the insulator surface and
inner discharges, associated with degradation inside the insulation
material. Corona discharges are created by flow of electrical
current, e.g. in the air, from the discharge electrode, which is at
high voltage. The high voltage is producing ionization of air
causing plasma around the electrode. The ions carry the load in
place of a lower potential. For diagnostic tests related to the
assessment of the technical condition of high-voltage transmission
lines and power equipment, professional cameras that allow
registration of UV radiation are widely used. [1-8]. These cameras
enable for detection and localization of corona, arc and surface
partial discharges, which occur on high and medium voltage
devices. Such discharges generate among others ultraviolet (UV)
radiation. The most unfavorable effect of corona discharges is
their negative impact on the insulation, which leads to damage the
insulating elements, and thus, to the immobilization of whole
energy transmission systems. Hence, the aim is to prevent the
corona and eliminate them at the early stage. In the next phase
arcing and permanent damage occur. Even the presence of small
discharges in one place can cause adverse effects. This is because
the current flow and pollution cause the formation of corrosive
substances, which enhance deterioration of the insulators and
allow moisture to access inside the material and faster progressive
degradation. Localization of corona discharge is a useful warning
message prior to their visualization, similar to detection of
problems using infrared techniques. UV camera detects and
locates corona by detecting the UV signal generated during
discharges. The discharges are counted and the number of counts
is given as result. This allows one to determine the level of
discharge from a safe distance without the need of turning off the
object.
In following some examples of similar research is stated here.
The authors of paper [9] used a CoroCAM camera, produced by
the CSIR from South Africa, in order to determine the relationship
between the number of UV radiation photons, and the size of the
amplification of the supply system, and the distance between the
source of PD, and the place of positioning the recording camera.
In [10], the same authors discuss the advantages and
Measurement Automation Monitoring, Mar. 2015, vol. 61, no.
disadvantages of the use of optical methods for diagnosis of high
voltage equipment and gave examples of typical defects. Similar
studies using the CoroCAM camera are presented in [9, 11-13].
The problem of calibration of the measurement system when using
this type of camera for to measure the UV radiation emitted by
corona discharges is considered in a diploma thesis in [14]. Also
other camera types are applied for the measurement of UV
radiation applied to the PD detection: Lilin6, CornoaScop and
DayCor [9]. Construction and operation of the DayCor camera,
which enables the detection and measurement of corona PD, at
a distance of 100 m from the emission source in daylight is
described in detail in the paper [15]. In the paper [16] design,
basic parameters and functional properties of a camera applied for
measurement of electromagnetic waves emission in the infrared,
visible light and ultraviolet are presented. Authors have performed
these studies during diagnostic testing of high voltage overhead
lines and electrical equipment. In the opinion of the authors the
described camera can successfully be used for diagnosis of
electrical insulators, for the presence of corona and detection of
local overheating.
The aim of the research works, results of which are presented in
this paper, was to determine the feasibility and to indicate the
application scope of UV camera type DayCor from Ofil Ltd for
detection of corona discharges generated on long rod HV insulator
made of porcelain.
2. Measuring setup and methodology
The measurements were performed during tests under laboratory
conditions using an UV camera. The applied UV camera (Fig. 1),
DayCor Superb, enables for corona and arcing detection by
daytime. The camera has the following parameters: minimum UV
sensitivity: 31018 W/cm2, minimum discharge detection: 1.3 pC
at 10 m, minimum RIV detection: 10.7 dBµV at 10 m. The camera
uses detectors that simultaneously record images in two bands:
UV (in the range from 250 nm to 280 nm) and visible. The
measurement principle is based on counting the number of PD
using an UV radiation sensitive matrix, and imposing the image
on the visible picture of the tested object, which is obtained by
using standard CCD matrix that is sensitive to visible light. After
one image is imposed to another, the precise image of PD intensity
is obtained, while the remaining part of the picture represents the
picture in visible light. The lens and optical filter that are used in
the camera have been optimized to illustrate the PD effect and its
surroundings in the visible light. During measurements, the
recorded pictures were displayed directly on a color LCD screen,
and then recorded on the SD memory card as images.
The object studied – a long rod HV insulator (Fig. 1), was
powered by an assay system enabling continuous adjustment of
the applied voltage in the range from 0 to 60 kV. The power
supply consisted of a control panel and testing transformer. The
control panel (Fig. 2) consisted of the following elements:
autotransformer, overcurrent protection and a digital voltmeter to
measure the voltage value. The voltage regulated by the
autotransformer was forwarded to the primary winding of the
single phase testing transformer of type TP60, rated with
220/100000 V/V. From its secondary winding through the water
resistor used for limiting the short-circuit current the tested long
rod insulator was powered. In experiments a standard control
panel which allows for manual adjustment of the voltage was
applied.
Measurement Automation Monitoring, Mar. 2015, vol. 61, no. 03
The number of counts, associated with corona discharges
occurring on the long rod insulator was registered, while the
supply voltage value was decreased. The performed analyses
consider estimation of dependency of the voltage value on the
number of discharges, generated on the object. A single
measurement, for each voltage value, lasted for 3 minutes.
Fig. 1. The object under study and UV camera for measurement of optical signals
Fig. 2. The view of the applied control panel
3. Analysis of gathered signals
Example result showing optical signals represented by count
number registered by the UV camera during one trail by which the
supply voltage was set to 0.82%Up (16.8 kV) is presented in Fig.
3. The dots in the figure depict the particular values measured by
the camera. The bold line depicts the arithmetical mean over the
data.
Fig. 3. Example of registered count number values registered during experiment
where the supply voltage value was equal to 0.82%Up
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In Fig. 4 the count number values gathered from all performed
trails are presented in dependence from the supply voltage value.
One can recognize a characteristic exponential growth of the cont
number with accordance to rising voltage value. This dependence
was confirmed by regression analysis using Gauss-type model
given by eq. (1). In Fig. 4 we can also recognize two outliers: one
in the positive and the other in the negative direction. These values
were taken in the analysis, but had not a significant impact on the
achieved result.
The applied Gauss-type model is given by eq. (1). The estimates
were calculated using a data set containing arithmetical means
over all data samples gathered for each voltage value. The
gathered result is depicted in Fig. 5.
2
 tB 
 
 C 
GaussModel (t )  A  exp (1)
where: t - time, independent quantity, min, A,B,C – model
coefficients, which were estimated in the regression analysis.
Fig. 4. Spectra of UHF band for 28 kV: a) background; b) PD spectra
The values of model coefficients were estimaed by means of the
Least Squares method. The estimates and the 95% confidence
bounds are given in Table 1.
Tab. 1. The estimated coefficient values
Coefficient name Estimated value 95% confid. bounds
A 175900 67970; 283800
B 51.75 46.28; 57.23
C 12.25 10.29; 14.22
In order to evaluate the goodness of the estimated model
parameters statistic measures were calcutated, as given in Table 2.
The SSE - summed square of residuals value, measures the total
deviation of the response values from the fit to the empirical
response values. A value closer to 0 indicates that the model has a
smaller random error component, and that the fit will be more
useful for prediction. In our case this value is high what indicated
that the model is not appropriate for prediction purposes. The R2
value measures the variation of the data. This value is the square
of the correlation between the response values and the predicted
response values. A value close to one indicate that a greater
proportion of variance is accounted by the model. In out case the
fit explains 99.86% of the total variation in the data about the
average. The RMSE – root mean square error, is the standard error
of the regression. Similar to SSE this value if closer to one
indicates a more usful model for prediction.
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Tab. 2. The estimated goodness parameter values

Two examples of the achieved results depicted histograms and
Name of the goodness parameter Value
the model estimated through regression are presented in Fig. 6-7.
SSE  t  yt  ~
yt  First example depict a bad correlation and the second one a good
2
1.07e+7
correlation. In Fig. 8 all determination coefficient calculated for
t  yt  ~yt  all datasets are presented. Basimg on the results it was stated that
2

R2  1  0.9986 despite good correlated trend (Fig. 5), not always are the particular
t  yt  yt 
2
data samples normally distributed (using Normal Distribution).

RMSE  t  yt  ~
yt  / n  m 
2
619

where: yt - empirical data registered at time t, ~

yt - estimated data
at time t, yt - mean over empirical data, n – number of data points
(n=31), m –number of coefficients (m=3), where n-m is the
residual degrees of freedom.

Fig. 6. Example graph showing histogram and estimated probability distribution over
dataset recorded during trail by constant supply voltage equal to 16.8 kV

Fig. 5. The measurement data in form of arithmetical mean values and the estimated
Gauss-type model

The next step in the analysis performed, regarded determination

and the stochastic nature of the considered phenomena. Each data
set gathered from particular trails was subjected to normal
distribution analysis. The histograms were calculated and then the
probability distribution was estimated. For this purpose the same
Gauss-type model was applied in this analysis with some
modifications regarding the coefficient values, as given in Table 3.
The equation (1) was modified to reduce the number of
coefficient. The new parameters which were estimated in the
regression analysis, was the µ and σ, which were different for each
dataset. For estimation the MVUE (minimum variance unbiased
estimator) algorithm was applied. Fig. 7. Example graph showing histogram and estimated probability distribution over
dataset recorded during trail by constant supply voltage equal to 32.8 kV
Tab. 3. The coefficients calculated in the dataset distribution analysis

Name of the coefficient and its form

1
A B C  2
 2π

The goodness of the applied model was evaluated using the square
of the correlation coefficient r, the so called determination
coefficient (2).

2


r 

i yi  y ~yi  ~y   

 , (2)
   y  y 2  ~
 i i
~
i yi  y  
2



where: r - value of the correlation coefficient, ~

yi - estimates of
the regression function, ~y - average over estimates ~ yi , yi –
Fig. 8. Example graph showing histogram and estimated probability distribution over
empirical data, yi - average over empirical data yi , i = 1..31 – dataset recorded during trail by constant supply voltage equal to 32.8 kV
number of samples.
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4. Conclusions
PD detection and localization is presently one of the
fundamental methods used in diagnosis of HV insulation systems.
In this paper research works regarding PD occurring on long rod
insulator made of ceramic are presented. The optical method was
used for detection and localization of corona discharges. Optical
signals in the UV range were registered with DayCor camera. The
measurements were performed under laboratory conditions,
complying with the required standards and measurements
methodologies.
The analysis results depict number of counts that are measured
with the UV camera and are connected to UV photons emitted by
PD occurring in the vicinity of the object under study.
Dependency of the supply voltage on the count number was
investigated. The gathered relations were evaluated using
statistical methods. Stochastic nature of the phenomena was
confirmed by mathematical regression using normal distribution.
Furthermore, a significant dependency of rising voltage on the
number of PD was also confirmed by mathematical modeling.
Although the designed model fits well to empirical data, the
gathered correlation coefficient values are not always high.
Optimal correlation values, such exceeding 0.65, were calculated
for the following voltage values: 26.4, 30.4, 32.8, 37.6 kV.
The presented results will be applied in further studies where
optical spectroscopy method will be used for detection of PD
occuring on the long rod HV insulator. The following experiments
will be performed only for those voltage values, for which the
highest correlation was calculated and where the voltage-count
number dependance is linear.
The work was co-financed from funds of the National Science Centre (NCN) as
part of the OPUS program, project no.: 2013/09/B/ST8/01736.
5. References
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_____________________________________________________
Received: 24.01.2015 Paper reviewed Accepted: 02.02.2015
M.Sc. Ireneusz URBANIEC
He received M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering in
2000, from the Opole University of Technology, Poland.
He is currently a Ph.D. student in electrical engineering
at the Opole University of Technology. His research
works are focused on detection and identification of
partial discharges occurring on high voltage insulators.
e-mail: i.urbaniec@interia.pl
Ph.D., D.Sc. Paweł FRĄCZ
He received the M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering in
1999, the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in 2006,
and the doctor science degree in 2011 from the Opole
University of Technology, Poland. He is an associate
professor and research fellow at the Opole University of
Technology, Poland. His research interests embody
spectrophotometry and acoustic emission studies in the
application for diagnosis of electric power devices.
e-mail: p.fracz@po.opole.pl