Wavelet transform coherence for magnitude and

phase spectrum prediction from high frequency

transient signals
Partial discharge in transformers

Jeyabalan Velandy Jayalakshmi Surendran

Hitesh Suryavanshi Global R & D centre, IGATE Global Solutions
Electronics and telecommunication Crompton Greaves limited, Igate Knowledge Park
Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Institute of Kanjur Marg (E), Mumbai, India. Navi Mumbai, India.
Engg & Tech, jeyabalan27@gmail.com jayalakshmi.surendran@igate.com
Nanded, India jeyabalan.velandy@cgglobal.com
hitesh.suryavanshi@rediffmail.com

Abstract—Identification of partial discharge (PD) is an
important diagnostic tool for reliable decision of transformer
during impulse test. Since, transformer is not accessible directly
to investigate the pass or fail criteria of the transformer due to
PD or any other major faults. Only the measured high frequency
nature of current signals (winding responses) due to different
impulse test sequences can help to decide the fault through any
synchronization principles of whether two time domain or
frequency domain responses are statistically independent or not.
Extracting such actual information becomes difficult if the
transformer is nonlinear and non stationary. Hence, to study the
features of the measured non stationary nature of current signals
due to PD, wavelet transform coherence analysis is performed.
The spectrum of magnitude and phase are extracted from the
measured current signals to identify the PD for showing the
efficacy. To prove the feasibility of the analysis, 22 kV interleaved
winding is utilized.
Keywords—Transformer, Impulse testing, Partial discharge,
Transient signals, Signal processing analysis, spectrum analysis.
I. INTRODUCTION
During manufacturing of transformers, great care has to be
exercised to guarantee that the transformer is not damaged due
to the transient over voltages at continuous operating voltage.
For a successful operation of transformer, the winding
insulation has to withstand the high electric stress during
operation at site without any major damage for expected life
time [1-4]. Hence, to assess the ability of the transformer
insulation for withstanding the lightning over voltage,
lightning impulse test is performed at High voltage test
laboratory by using Marx’s generator. Impulse testing of
transformers after assembly is one of the accepted tests at
factory for assessment of their winding insulation strength to
surge over-voltages. During impulse testing of transformer,
the winding insulation failure is the predominant part of faults
and poses the highest risk for all types of transformer failures.
Insulation failures result is two kinds of winding faults in a
transformer namely series fault (between the turns or sections)
and shunt faults (between the winding) and earthed
components like tank, core etc., [4, 5]. Identification of these
insulation failures is easier for testing engineer. In general, one
of the insulation failures in transformer are due to the gradual
deterioration of insulation, which are mainly due to partial
discharge (PD). Hence, PD failure identification during the
impulse test is one of the challenging tasks for testing
engineers. A reliable method to identify PD source in
transformer would generally contribute to a better diagnostic
tool for insulation failure. In this paper, wavelet transform
coherence analysis is performed through interval dependent
denoising method. The signatures (magnitude and phase) of
the measured high frequency nature of transient signals are
extracted through wavelet transform coherence analysis.
II. PARTIAL DISCHARGE IN TRANSFORMERS
When the transformer insulations are highly stressed, the
voids present within the solid or liquid or gaseous insulation
generate PD [5, 6]. PDs are small electrical sparks (discharge)
between two conducting materials resulting from the localized
dielectric breakdown of a small portion (void) in the
insulation. Once initiated, PD causes progressive deterioration
of insulating materials ultimately leading to electrical
breakdown completely [6]. PD can occur in any electrical
equipment due to high electrical stress and it may occur
anywhere within the transformer winding where the insulation
becomes weak.
When PD is initiated in a transformer, high frequency
transient pulses appear at a particular portion within the
winding insulation and persist for wide range of pulse
durations (few ns-5µs). The main causes of PD in power
transformers are overvoltage, over heating, chemical or
mechanical deterioration of the materials, particles in the oil,
static electrification, defect in the insulation, a loose
connection and floating objects arcing under the oil etc. [4, 6-
8]. Hence, PDs are considered to be harmful in insulation
systems and it can be prevented through careful design, proper
selection of materials and material process [9]. The PD signal
detection is one of the main challenges for power utilities and
equipment manufacturers during impulse test.
 III. MEASUREMENT OF HIGH FREQUENCY NONSTATIONARY
TRANSIENT SIGNALS DURING IMPULSE TEST
A. Assimilation of high frequency transient signals
To analyze the efficacy of the proposed analysis,
experimental studies are performed on 22kV transformer
windings (interleaved winding) by creating a live discharge
across each winding section from section 1 to section 8
(tapping). A 120kV, 250kJ impulse voltage generator (MWB-
make) is used for generating the standard lightning impulse
voltage (LI). Figure 1 shows the experimental test setup for
generation of impulse voltage waveshape (front time 1.2µs
and tail time 50µs).
By applying standard LI across the entire winding of
transformer, live discharges are generated across different
tappings of the winding. Tappings are provided to create a live
discharge across the sections. When a discharge is created
across any section (tapping), current passing through the
winding is in the form of a single spike (PD pulse)
representing the discharge pulse across the section [9]. The
plane-needle electrode configuration is used to create a live
discharge across any section. The type of discharge across the
section is dependent on the dielectric medium between the
electrodes, gap between the electrode, magnitude of applied
voltage, temperature, moisture in the solid and liquid
insulation etc.. The impulse PD responses are measured across
the current measuring of shunt resistor (RL).
The impulse voltage is increased till a discharge across the
electrodes occurs, thus generating PD pulse across a section of
the winding. The occurrence of PD is observed as high
frequency oscillations in the winding response [4]. In practice,
the occurrence of PD is also input to the transformer winding.
If the effect of PD with different durations is considered
during an input excitation, the transformer winding is
considered as Multiple-Input and Single-Output (MISO)
system. During impulse fault condition, the transformer
winding is no longer a Single-Input and Single-Output (SISO)
system, but a MISO.
T – Transformer, 230V/100kV, D1, D2 – Diodes, 140kV, 20mA, CS –
Charging Capacitor, 2500pF, S – Sphere Gap, CD1, CD2 – Capacitive
divider, 1200pF.
Figure 1. Impulse voltage generation and live discharge
generation experimental test setup.
B. Noise removal from high frequency transient signals
Generally, events such as PD or minor structural
deformations affect the winding response at high frequency
region [9]. A number of sophisticated methods have been
developed for PD measurement and data processing methods.
The often encountered difficulty in PD measurement is to
discriminate PD signals from various noises. The fundamental
issues with various electrical methods are lesser Signal-to-
Noise Ratio (SNR) at higher frequencies. Therefore,
sophisticated digital filtering method is required to fit the
purpose of detecting PD signals correctly. Hence, it would be
useful to develop a method that can work under circumstances
of improving the SNR. Amongst the various denoising
methods that have been developed for removing the noise,
wavelet based denoising method have gained some acceptance
[8, 10-12]. Hence, considering the signal dynamics interval
dependent denoising method is effectively utilized in this
study [11].
The wavelet transform is a multi-resolution analysis to
analyze non-stationary nature of transient signals in both time
domain and frequency domain. There are many wavelets
utilized effectively to adopt for high frequency nature of
transient signals [8,10]. Generally, the effectiveness of the
wavelet de-noising approach depends on the selection of the
mother wavelet and an adequate thresholding of the detail
wavelet coefficients. The thresholds values are calculated for
each level separately. In case of interval dependent de-noising,
thresholds are calculated based on the levels and intervals.
Therefore, noise is efficiently removed especially in the
transient signals where constant thresholds do not perform
optimally.
Figure 2 shows the applied impulse voltage waveshape
(positive wave shape). Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show the
denoised responses of the interleaved winding due to with
discharge and without discharge across the winding section 7
respectively. Similarly, Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show the
denoised responses of the interleaved winding due to with
discharge and without discharge across the winding section 5
respectively. The enlarged view of high frequency oscillations
due to PD is shown in Figures 3(b) and 4(b). Similarly,
discharges are created across all the sections (1 to 8).
Amplitude
(kV)
time in µs
Figure 2. Applied impulse wave shape
From the winding responses, one can observe that there is a
definite difference in the winding responses due to injection of
live PD across the winding sections. In general, the measured
PD signals can be categorized into capacitive components,
traveling wave component (propagation of pulses along the
conductor) and oscillating component. These components are
strongly dependent on the design of the transformer and PD
defect location.
Amplitude (kV)

Amplitude (kV)
Amplitude (kV)
Amplitude kV)

Scale
Scale

Scale
Scale

Scale
Scale

Scale
Scale

time in µs
Figure 3. Responses of the interleaved winding and wavelet
spectrum analysis due to with discharge, R(t) and without discharge,
across the winding section 7.
time in µs
Figure 4. Responses of the interleaved winding and wavelet
spectrum analysis due to with discharge R(t) and without discharge
S(t) across the winding section 5.
 IV. ANALYSIS OF HIGH FREQUENCY NONSTATIONARY
TRANSIENT SIGNALS DURING IMPULSE TEST
A several high frequency transient signals that are
encountered during impulse test fall into the type of non
stationary signals whose statistical properties constantly
change with respect to time. Such non stationary signals make
the Fourier based analysis limited when temporal interaction
information of how the transient signal frequency components
evolve with time is necessary to be looked at. In general, there
is a trade off between spectral and temporal resolution based
on the window length. Short window provides a poor spectral
resolution and good temporal resolution and vice versa for
long window. Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) uses a
fixed window to the signal. Hence, it cannot provide good
resolution in both time and frequency domain [8]. Therefore,
the utilization of Fourier based analysis is limited to stationary
signals only and temporal interactions are missed [8, 10].
Alternatively, wavelet transform provides a useful approach in
investigating non-stationary signals which is usually regarded
as an optimal solution to the time and frequency resolutions
[8]. Advantages of the wavelet transform over the
conventional transfer function method are demonstrated and it
appears that the wavelet transform is better suited for the
detection of PD [13].
In general, the time varying natures of the measured signals
are divided into two components. One has high frequency
oscillations and other has lower frequency signals. Based on
type of the fault at various locations within the winding, the
nature of the transient signals may vary in higher frequency
components or lower frequency components. Hence, an
attempt has been made to utilize wavelet transform to adjust
the band of analysis so that the high frequency and low
frequency components can be precisely detected for fault
identifications [13, 14]. Wavelets can also provide higher
precision time resolution for short duration higher frequency
signals as well higher precision frequency resolution for long
duration low frequency signals [8]. To analyze the usefulness
of the wavelet transform for PD signal detection, the normal
winding response due to reduced impulse voltage, S(t) and one
with PD response due to Full wave voltage, R(t) are utilized.
A. Continuous wavelet transform (CWT)
The wavelet transform can be used to analyze time series
that contain non stationary power at many different
frequencies [14-17]. The CWT decomposes the time series
into time-frequency space, enabling the identification of both
the dominant modes of variability and how those modes vary
with time. The CWT of the time series of the measured normal
winding response S(t) with respect to wavelet (ψ) is defined as
Wd ,ψ (s, m) = S(m) × ψ s ( m) (1)
Where, m is the discrete sample. ψs is the Wavelet at the
scale s. S(m) is the bounded over the period of measured time
interval.
In general, the results of the wavelet analysis of a signal
(S(t) or R(t)) are highly correlated to the choice of the wavelet
[16]. In this study, Morlet wavelet is used to provide a good
balance between time and frequency localization [8, 15-17].
Figures 3(c) and 3(d) show the continuous wavelet transform
of the measured winding responses due to with discharge, R(t)
and without discharge, S(t) across the winding section 7
respectively. Similarly, Figures 4(c) and 4(d) show continuous
wavelet transform of the measured winding responses due to
with discharge and without discharge across the winding
section 5 respectively. From these Figures, it is found that
CWT has expanded a time series into frequency space where
high frequency oscillations can be seen in a highly intuitive
way due to PD at 15.45 µs (for section 7) and 15.75 µs
(section 5).
B. Cross wavelet transform (XWT)
If the testing engineers are interested to understand and
characterize the responses of the transformer, CWT may be
sufficient. One of the common ways of obtaining information
about the transformer insulation during impulse test is based
on comparison of the recorded voltage waveshapes and
winding responses between RFW (Reduced Full wave) and
rated FW voltages or between successive measurements at FW
voltage. Therefore, to analyze the synchronization between the
signals due to different impulse sequences CWT analysis is no
longer sufficient and testing engineer needs to depend on
multivariate or at least bivariate analysis principles. To
understand the functioning of transformer insulation due to
impulse excitations, XWT is performed between the normal
winding response (Figure 3(a) or Figure 4(a)) and one with PD
response (Figure 3(b) or Figure 4(b)).
In general, XWT shows regions with high common power
and further reveals information about phase relationship
between the signals of interest. In this study, for analysis of
the covariance of time series of S(t) and R(t), the wavelet
spectrum WS(t) and WR(t) represented as
*
WSR (s, m) = WS (s, m ) WR (s, m) (2)
Here, * represents complex conjugation. The coscalogram
plot through |Wxy(s,m)| provides the coincident events over
the frequency for each time in the signals S(t) and R(t). The
phase angle of WSR describes the phase relationship between
the responses of S(t) and R(t) in time frequency space. Hence,
complex argument arg(WSR) can be interpreted as the local
relative phase difference of the two time series (S(t) and R(t))
[15,16].
The phase angle of coscalogram is a complex matrix and
then one can represent the phase angles as arrows to facilitate
the interpretations. Phase arrows show the relative phase of
the signals S(t) and R(t). Figure 3(e) shows the XWT between
S(t) and R(t) due to injection of PD across the winding section
7. Similarly, Figure 4(e) shows the XWT between S(t) and
R(t) due to injection of PD across the winding section 5. The
extracted phase spectrum due to injection of PD signal is
shown as arrows in the Figures 3(e) and 4(e). The horizontal
arrow pointing right side indicates signals are in phase, while
horizontal arrows pointing left indicate anti phase. The
weakest synchronization is found at 15.45 µs (for section 7)
and 15.75 µs (section 5).
 Figures 3(e) and 4(e) provide amplitude and phase
relationship between simultaneously measured signals of S(t)
and R(t). From the Figures 3(e) and 4(e), XWT is able to
detect correlation between strength of the signals as well as
the phases with it’s direction. The limitation of XWT is to
differentiate the region of fault (here PD) from the common
power in the spectrum over the period of measured time.
Hence, testing engineer needs to depend on wavelet transform
coherence (WTC) for proper identification of PD signals only.
WTC provides the correlation between the two wavelet
spectra preserving the phase information as that of XWT.
C. Wavelet transform coherence(WTC)
The classical coherence should sometimes be preferred to
provide the new insights into scale dependent degree of
comparison between S(t) and R(t). However, if the signals
include non stationary components the classical coherence
becomes invalid. Hence, WTC is performed in this study and
one can get bounded measure constrained with 0 to 1.
WTC is a function with zero mean that splits the data of
functions or operators into different frequency components
and then studies each frequency components with a good
resolution matched to its scale [16]. Therefore, WTC provides
the local correlation between two CWTs of the time series S(t)
and R(t). WTC is measure of the intensity of the covariance
between S(t) and R(t) in time frequency space unlike XWT
which is a measure of the common power and expressed as
H (s -1
W SR ( s , m )
2 carry out the research. The authors would like to express
2
R (s, m ) =
-1 2 -1
H (s W S (s , m ) ) H (s W R (s, m ) )
Coherence is identically 1 at all the scale and time if there is
a common power between the signals. Here, H is a smoothing
operator and it is achieved by a convolution in time and scale.
To assess the statistical significance of the estimated wavelet
transform coherence one has to rely on Monte Carlo
simulation methods. Hence, significance level of WTC is
determined using Monte Carlo method. The phase spectrum of
XWT between S(t) and R(t) is identical to that of WTC.
Figure 3(f) shows the WTC between the time series of S(t)
and R(t) across the winding section 7. Similarly, Figure 4(f)
shows the WTC between S(t) and R(t) across the winding
section 5. The similar analyses are performed for injection of
PD pulse across the remaining winding sections. From the
analyses, it is found that different magnitudes and phases are
appeared in the measured current response due to PD pulse
with respect to normal winding response S(t).
V. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
The detection and extraction of PD signals (magnitude and
phase information) through synchronization principles are one
of the challenging tasks for testing engineers during impulse
test. In this study, for analysis of high frequency transient
signals due to PD in transformer during impulse test, wavelet
transform coherence is used to provide the relationships
between the normal winding response and one with PD.
Initially, to reduce the influence of noise in the winding
responses for fault identification based on similarity measure,
measured responses are de-noised through interval dependent
wavelet denoising techniques in order to improve the SNR
[18]. When there is a PD due to high stress level, the changes
in the current signals will be short durations, low magnitude
and fast decaying transient signals are detected through WTC.
WTC is capable of clearly resolving even such minute
variations in the signals as a function of both time and
frequency. The results of this study show that the present
analysis can successfully detect the temporal and spectral
interactions between the normal signal and one with PD
signal. The proposed analysis of wavelet transform coherence
can be used to conclude if a transformer passes the impulse
test or not through visual interpretation of WTC spectrum.
WTC can successfully detect the PD pulse if the measured
PD signals are closer to noise magnitude through phase
spectrum and the method of amplitude and phase values can
be used to confirm the observations.
The proposed analysis is also useful for transformer
industry to detect the winding fault for any type and rating of
transformer.
Acknowledgment
The second author express his thanks to Division of High
Voltage Engineering, College of Engineering, Anna
University, Chennai for providing experimental test setup to
(3) gratitude to Crompton Greaves limited, Global R & D centre,
2
Kanjur Marg (E), Mumbai, India for granting permission to
publish the paper.
References
[1] IEC 60076-3, “Power transformers - Part 3: Insulation levels, dielectric
tests and external clearances in air”, 2009.
[2] IEEE C57.98-2011 “IEEE Guide for Transformer Impulse Tests”, 2011.
[3] CIGRE JWG 12/13/23.2, “Electrical Environment of Transformers”,
Paris, 2002.
[4] K.Karsai, D.Kerenyi and L.Kiss, “Large power transformer”, Elsevier
Science Publishers, New York., 1987.
[5] S. V. Kulkarni and S.A. Khaparde, “Transformer Engineering: design
and practice transformer engineering”, Marcel Dekker Inc.,
New York, 2004.
[6] E. Gulski, “Digital analysis of partial discharge”, IEEE Transactions on
Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Vol.2, No.5,
pp. 822-837, 1995.
[7] M.S.Naderi, G.B.Gharehpetian, M. Abedi and T.R.Blackburn,
“Modelling and detection of transformer internal incipient fault during
impulse test”, IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical
Insulation, Vol. 15, No.1, pp. 284-291, 2008.
[8] L. Satish, “Short time Fourier and wavelet transformers for fault
detection in power transformers during impulse test”, IEE Pro. Sci. &
Technology, Vol. 145, No. 2, pp. 77-84, 1998.
[9] F.H.Kreuger, “Partial Discharge Detection in High-voltage Equipment”,
Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd,
[10] S. K. Pandey and L. Satish, “Multiresolution signal decompostion: a
new tool for fault detection in power transformers during impulse tests”,
IEEE Trans. Power Del., Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 1194–1200, 1998.
[11] Ramesh Kumar, Prabhat Patel, “Signal Denoising with Interval
Dependent Thresholding Using DWT and SWT”, International Journal
 of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering (IJITEE), Vol.I,
Issue-6, pp.47-52, 2012.
[12] H.H. Sinaga, B.T.Phung and T.R.Blackburn,“Partial discharge
localization in transformers using UHF detection method”, IEEE Trans.,
Dielectr. Electr. Insul., Vol. 19, pp. 1891-1900, 2013.
[13] K. L. Butler and M. Bagriyanik, “Characterization of transients in
transformers using discrete wavelet transform”, IEEE Transactions on
Power Systems, Vol. 18, No.2, pp. 648-656, 2003
[14] P. Purkait, S. Chakravorti, “Pattern classificationof impulse faults in
transformers by wavelet analysis”, IEEE transaction on dielectrics and
electrical insulation, Vol. 9, No. 4, Aug. 2002.
[15] Z. Ge, “Significance tests for the wavelet cross spectrum and wavelet
linear coherence”, Ann. Geophys.,Vol. 26, pp. 3819-3829, 2008.
[16] A. Grinsted, J.C. Moore and S. Jevrejeva, “Application of cross wavelet
transform and wavelet coherence to geophysical time series”, Nonlinear
processes in geophysics, Vol.11, pp. 561-566, 2004.
[17] C. Torrence and Gilbert P. Compo, “A practical guide to wavelet
analysis”, Vol. 79, No. 1, pp. 61-78, 1998
[18] V. Jeyabalan, S. Jayalakshmi, “Interval dependent wavelet de-noising
technique for high frequency transient signals analysis during impulse
testing of transformers”, IEEE 9th International Conference on Industrial
and Information Systems (ICIIS), 2014.