Dielectric Breakdown Voltage Testing IEC 60156 for New and In-service Mineral

Insulating Oil
Over the past several weeks, we have been discussing testing insulating oils for dielectric breakdown voltage. Aside
from a brief description of the IEC method, we have so far provided information on just the two ASTM standard
methods, D877 and D1816. In the final installment regarding this topic, we are going to discuss the IEC method from
Standard 60156, including values used in IEC standards for unused and in-service mineral oil. Lets start with a brief
review of the differences in how this method is run.
Standard 60156 uses electrodes that are similar geometrically to the VDE electrodes used in ASTM D1816. The
spherical electrodes are spaced 2.5 mm apart, and the rate of voltage increase is 2,000 volts per second. The
method in standard 60156 allows the optional use of an impeller operating in similar fashion to the one described for
D1816 except that it operates at 250 to 300 rpm. The IEC method also allows use of a magnetic stirrer operating at a
similar rate if there is no significant chance that magnetic particles will be removed from the oil. The presence of
magnetic particles would affect dielectric breakdown in the transformer, so removal of those particles by the stirrer
during the analysis would yield unrepresentative values.
Values for dielectric breakdown voltage obtained on purified and installed oil using the IEC 60156 method are
typically considerably higher than those obtained using the two ASTM methods. Frequently, for properly maintained
transformers, the breakdown voltage from the test may exceed the maximum reportable by the instrument. Many
dielectric meters report a maximum voltage of 60 kV. This is generally sufficient for evaluating new oil from a supplier
or in-service oil. For oil being processed for installation, or if a more precise value is required for in-service insulating
oil, use of a dielectric breakdown voltage instrument that measures to higher values is advisable.
Conditions that affect the IEC method dielectric breakdown voltage determination are essentially the same as those
that affect the D1816 dielectric measurement. The test is sensitive to moisture, oxidation of the oil, contamination of
the oil my non-dielectric materials, and suspended particles. Dissolved gas content of the oil also may affect the
results obtained by this method as is the case with D1816, but the depression of the dielectric breakdown voltage
values is not as significant for the IEC method.
IEC lists 60156 values in two standards. The international industry specification for unused oil is IEC 60296, Fluids
for electrotechnical applications Unused mineral insulating oils for transformers and switchgear. In that standard,
the specification calls for unused oil, as received in bulk from the supplier, to have a minimum dielectric breakdown
voltage value of 30 kV as determined by 60156. This standard also indicates that the oil received from the supplier
must measure a minimum value of 70 kV after vacuum filtration in the laboratory. These values are from the third
edition of the standard, dated 2003. There is a working group currently working to revise this standard, but changes
to the dielectric breakdown voltage values are not expected.
Dielectric breakdown voltage is also addressed in IEC 60422, Mineral insulating oils in electrical equipment
Supervision and maintenance guide. For new oil in new equipment after filling but prior to energizing, the standard
lists acceptable values for dielectric breakdown voltage as indicated in this table:

Minimum Dielectric Breakdown Voltage Values

Using 60156

Equipment

72.5 kV

Voltage
Dielectric kV

> 72.5 kV

> 270 kV

170 kV
> 55

> 60

> 60

IEC 60422 also lists Good, Fair, and Poor values for oil in transformers that are in service. These values for dielectric
breakdown voltage are indicated in this table:

In-service Dielectric Breakdown Voltage Values

For Mineral Oil-filled Transformers Using 60156
Equipment

72.5 kV

Voltage

> 72.5 kV

> 270 kV

170 kV

Good kV

> 40

> 50

> 60

Fair kV

30-40

40-50

50-60

Poor kV

< 30

< 30

< 60

For in-service transformers, IEC 60422 includes recommendations for continuing normal monitoring if 60156 values
are Good according to the table above. If values are Fair, more frequent sampling and cross checking with other
tests are recommended. Those other tests include moisture content, particle count distribution, dissipation factor or
resistivity, and acid number. If values are Poor, the standard recommends that the oil be reconditioned to return it to
good condition. This information is from the third edition of the standard, dated 2005. This standard is also currently
being revised, but changes to the dielectric breakdown voltage values are not expected.
As is the case with other methods of determining dielectric breakdown voltage, the test is sensitive to the temperature
of the oil being tested. In order to obtain reproducible and valid results, the test should not be run on hot oil out of an
oil processor or in-service equipment.
This ends our discussion of dielectric breakdown voltage determinations. We will start another topic next week.