From: Goyal, Ajay

Date: 01/14/06 17:15:50

To: mskkumar@igcar.ernet.in
Subject: Diagnostic Insulation Testing

Department:
Kind Attn: Mr.M.S. Karthikumar

Diagnostic Insulation Testing

Introduction
A major cause of equipment failure is breakdown of the insulation. A range of diagnostic techniques
can be applied to monitor insulation condition in order to take timely maintenance action. Each test
gives one perspective on the overall condition of the equipment and their combination can form a
more complete picture than is provided by a single test.
In the practical operational world there is not the time to completely analyse a piece of equipment
and choices have to be made on the appropriate test strategy for different types of equipment.

Insulation Degradation
There are 5 basic initiators for degradation of the insulation; electrical and mechanical stress,
chemical attack, thermal stress and environmental contamination. Normal cycles of operation will
lead to 'aging' through these mechanisms. The aging of insulation is a slow process of degradation
as these factors interact with each other in a gradual spiral of decline.
The rate of this insulation deterioration is of increasing interest to engineers dealing with electrical
supply networks such as those in Europe and the USA, where large parts of the network were
installed 30 or 40 years ago in a burst of investment in the infrastructure.

Testing
As insulation deteriorates leakage current may increase, the dielectric loss characteristic will
change and the degree of polarisation will alter. Insulation tests look for a change in one of these
responses to indicate the deterioration.

Go/NoGo Diagnostic Insulation Tests

The traditional insulation resistance test is the simplest way to gain an overall indication of the
condition of the insulation. Although the Insulation Resistance test can be applied as a simple
Go/NoGo test, it can also be used to give more extensive diagnostic information. The most
common voltages applied for non-destructive d.c. insulation tests are 2.5 and 5 kV (defined in
BS6266 and IEEE43).

'Spot' Test
This is the simplest insulation test, giving a reading of Insulation Resistance in M. The test is
applied for a short, but specific period of time, after which a reading is taken. The time is typically
60 seconds (allowing the capacitive charging current to reduce).
On installation of the equipment, these readings will be compared to the required minimum
specification. Insulation resistance is significantly temperature dependent and correction factors
can be applied to show a trend more clearly from a history of insulation tests.

The factor to correct the temperature to 40C is given by;

Rcorrected = Kt x Rtest

where Kt,, the compensation factor, doubles for each 10C rise

d.c. Insulation Test Currents

The test current in the body of the insulation can be split into three components; the capacitance
charging current, the polarisation (or absorption) current and the conduction or leakage current. In
addition there may exist a surface leakage current, which it may be advantageous to remove from
the test result using the guard terminal of the Insulation Tester.

Capacitive Current
This is initially large, but goes to zero as the test piece is charged.

Polarisation Current
Caused by charges in the insulation material moving under the effect of the electric field or by
molecular di-poles lining themselves up with the applied field (orientational polarisation). It is greatly
affected by moisture or contamination in the insulation, as the water molecule has additional
orientational polarisation. This process takes much longer than the capacitive charging.

Leakage current
Steady (resistive) current through the insulation, which is usually represented by a very high
resistor in parallel with the capacitance of the insulation.
Figure 1. Insulation Test Currents

It is immediately apparent that the Insulation Resistance reading is time dependent. In general, it is mainly the
capacitive current that is seen in the first seconds after the test

is started, as the needle on your MEGGER(r) Insulation Tester climbs. Then, at the one minute period most
commonly used for a 'spot' test, the current is a combination of polarisation & leakage current. By 10 minutes
you are reading mainly leakage current, though it can take up to 30 minutes for polarisation effects to be
complete.

Discharge Currents
During the discharge phase the reverse occurs with the exception of the leakage current. There is
no test voltage so the leakage current is insignificant. The capacitive current decays quickly and
the re-absorption current takes several minutes, and perhaps hours, to reduce to zero.

Time-Resistance Tests (PI & DAR)

Time-Resistance tests take successive readings at specified times and have the great advantage
of being independent of temperature. They also help in the situation where past test records are
sketchy, as, being a ratio, they are also independent of the size of the equipment, although it is
always more valuable if a trend can be established. This is a lot easier with the time-resistance
(Polarisation Index and Dielectric Absorption Ratio) tests than with Spot Tests, as temperature
correction is unnecessary.
Good insulation generally shows an increase in resistance over the 10 minute period, but with
contaminated insulation the polarisation effects are masked by high leakage currents and the
readings are flat.
Table 1.
Test Result Analysis
Insulation Condition
PI
Definition

10 minute

DAR
60 seconds

TC
Resistance x

DD
Discharge current (at

Poor
Questionable
OK
Good

1 minute
<1
1 to 2
2 to 4
> 4

15 seconds
<1
1 to 1.4
1.4 to 1.6
> 1.6

Capacitance

60 s)/(V x C)

<100
100 to 800
800 to 2000
>2000

>4
2 to 4
<2

These values can give a guide to condition of insulation, although the figures are better interpreted
in the context of the equipment history. If a PI falls by 30% or more, then remedial action such as
cleaning, or further investigation, should be considered.

Time Constant (TC)

The time constant of the insulation is related to the basic characteristics of dielectric constant and
resistivity, as well as having some influence from polarisation. Trending this simple parameter
allows degradation to be monitored, with a reduction in TC showing problems in the insulation.

Discharge based tests

There are a range of techniques looking at the response of the insulation during its discharge.
These tests have all targeted the polarisation behaviour of the insulation, which is very sensitive to
moisture. As all three components of current (charging, polarisation and leakage currents), are
present during the charging phase of an insulation test, the determination of polarisation or
absorption current is potentially confused by the presence of the capacitive and leakage currents.
The discharge phase of the test can more rapidly remove these effects, giving the possibility of
interpreting the degree of polarisation of the insulation and relating this to moisture and other
polarisation effects.

The Dielectric Discharge (DD) Test

This test operates during the discharge of the dielectric, but is set up to be a simple and practical
test. The DD test was developed for generators, by EdF in France.
The insulator is charged for a sufficient time to be 'stable' (usually 30 minutes) This means that
charging and polarisation are complete and the only remaining component of the current is leakage
current. The insulator is then discharged and the resulting current is measured. This current
constitutes the capacitive discharges and the 'reabsorption currents', combining to give the total
'dielectric discharge'.
In order to make comparisons between equipment, the current is measured after a standard time
of 1 minute, which is much greater than the primary time constant of the capacitive discharge. The
result is not affected by surface leakage, which is effectively short-circuited.
The resultant current is dependent on the overall capacitance (C), the final test voltage (V) and the
degree of polarisation of the dielectric. During the discharge, the voltage and capacitance of the
equipment are measured so that the 'Dielectric Discharge' can be quoted as a simple number;
DD = I1 min / V x C

(mA/V/F)

The Dielectric Discharge can identify absorbed moisture in an insulation as this affects the
absorption behaviour of the dielectric and is masked by leakage effects if we try to measure it on
the charging cycle.

a.c. based tests

In a.c. testing, the polarisation current never has time to die away and, together with capacitive
current, predominates in the total dielectric loss. It is therefore also sensitive to moisture and
degradation of the insulation material.
Some a.c. tests do not require a high voltage test signal and so do not stress the insulation. This
means there is very little chance of damaging the dielectric.

Tan-Delta (Power Factor) Testing

The loss angle / tan delta / power factor of the insulation is more sensitive to small changes in the
condition of the insulation than the raw d.c. insulation resistance and in some circumstances this
may be important. It is therefore a very useful test for monitoring insulation condition from initial
installation. Comparing previous results is essential to be able to spot deterioration; a single result
cannot give much information.

The use of an a.c. source (often 2.5 or 10 kV) makes the Power Factor test set heavier and more
expensive than a d.c. tester. Also there is a limit to the capacitance that can be tested, but the early
warning given by monitoring this parameter makes it invaluable.

Summary
Diagnostic insulation tests allow more information to be gained from an insulation test which may
prove invaluable in a maintenance program. An a.c. test also provides early information that can
point to future insulation problems. Each type of test helps to give a more complete picture of the
condition of the insulation.

Table 2.

d.c.
charging
tests

d.c.
discharge
tests

Summary of Diagnostic Insulation Tests

Test Type

Definition

Insulation Resistance
(Spot test)
Polarisation Index (PI)

Single insulation value, often

after 60 s
Ratio of 10 min.:1 min.
insulation values
Ratio of 60 s:30 s insulation
values
Resistance Capacitance
Comparison of insulation at
different test voltages
Discharge current after 60 s/
(Volts Capacitance)
Discharge for 50% of charge
time. Measure peak, initial
slope and recovery voltage
Discharge characteristic after
60 s charge at 1 kV
Current & voltage
characteristics + capacitance
Leakage current (a.c.)

Dielectric Absorption
Ratio (DAR)
Time Constant
Step Voltage (SV)
Dielectric Discharge
(DD)
Recovery Voltage
/Polarisation Spectrum
Analysis
Isothermal Relaxation
Current Analysis
EDA Test
Flash (Hi-Pot)
Partial Discharge

a.c. tests
Power Factor/'Tan
Delta'
VLF (Very Low
Frequency)

Best Regards
Ajay Goyal
International Regional Manager - Southern Asia
P.O.Box No.12052 Mumbai - 400 053
T + 91 22 2631 5114. (Direct)
F + 91 22 2632 8004.
M + 91 9820300932.
E ajay.goyal@megger.com
www.megger.com

General condition, need

temperature compensation
Level of dirt/moisture, less
temperature dependent
Quicker version of PI
Figure of merit
Presence of cracks & holes
Level of absorbed dirt/moisture
State of transformer insulation
including moisture in oil and
paper
XLPE cable insulation condition

Motor & generator insulation

condition
Type tests with go/no-go trip
levels
Usually used for component
Measures small charges
testing
caused by voltage stress
Difference in the in-phase and Very sensitive to insulation
moisture and degradation
out-of-phase current
Insulation value at 0.1 Hz Non-destructive cable testing

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Copyright AVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 1998.

Megger

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