PD test equipment

[jaimse00]

Hi all,

I am working for a power utility in Aus & have been asked to look into introducing offline partial discharge testing.

Starting off, I was hoping that people on the forum would be able to give me some initial direction as to: the main vendors for this sort of equipment (doble, omicron, others?) relative strengths perhaps and some of the practically important things that I should be comparing (An important one at this stage is training and engineering support).

The main application would be MV switchgear, but if there are products that cover other assets (cables, CT/VTs, TFs) well, then so much the better.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
James.

 

[ScottyUK]

EA Technology in the UK have a fair bit of experience in PD monitoring at distribution voltages. They have commercialised some products, and offer some decent training. Perhaps a little far for you to travel though.

 

[VLFit]

The different items you mention will require different approaches: cable vs SG for example. For SG and transformers, motors, etc there are many companies you can go to. You mentioned a couple of good companies already. Try IRIS Power from Canada. Formally Adwell and now part of Qualitrol

 

[Zogzog]

Why offline?

 

[jaimse00]

Hi all, thank for the responses.
Scotty, I'm aware of EA Tech and a lot of their instruments - they have a branch down here now.
The EA kit is good for a lot of things, but probably best as a screening tool (do you have any experience using TEV on double skin switchgear?). Direct measurement still seems the acid test.
(P.S. I'll ask my boss if he's happy for me to head over to the UK for training - probably not going to be able to quote the answer here though).

VLFit - thanks for that, I'll look up Iris. Is their instrument tailored to a specific asset class: rotating machines, cable, TFs, etc - or does it really not matter if the tester knows what they're looking at?

Zogzog
Offline testing (direct measurement) I figure to be the best means of evaluating insulation condition, even if it is difficult to turn things off & field measure in practice.
The intention would be to employ it as commissioning & specialist test. We have seen a couple early life failures of plant that I suspect could have been picked up by PD tests before they went into service.

 

[VLFit]

Iris offers several models that can be used for various applications. A look at their web page will give you your answer. As for off line vs on line, if you can take the time to perform off line tests, there is no question that there are more diagnostic tests that can be performed with the load de-energized than if live. There are good live tst to but they can't be as diagnostic as off line methods.