IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation

Vol. 19, No. 4; August 2012

1431

Partial Discharge Criterion in AC Test of Oil-immersed

Transformer and Gas-filled Transformer in Terms
of Harmful Partial Discharge Level
and Signal Transmission Rate
Shigemitsu Okabe and Genyo Ueta
Tokyo Electric Power Company
4-1, Egasaki-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-8510, Japan

ABSTRACT
The soundness of a power transformer under an operating voltage is evaluated in partial
discharge (PD) test of long-duration induced ac voltage test. The acceptance criterion for
this PD test is 500 pC according to IEC standard; however, few basic data backing this
criterion are available. To establish a clear criterion for this PD test, the authors initially
conducted a study on the harmful PD level of materials themselves constituting the
insulation of an oil-immersed transformer and a gas-filled transformer. This PD level was
evaluated based on the rate of decline in the lightning impulse breakdown voltage using the
insulating materials themselves and the element models simulating the insulating structure
which had been exposed to a PD. Consequently, it emerged that insulations of both types of
transformers were degraded if exposed to a PD of 7,000 pC to 10,000 pC. With the safety
factor for this PD value taken into account considering the long-term operation and the
structural difference of an actual transformer, 5,000 pC was deemed as the harmful PD
level at the PD occurrence position. Subsequently, using a winding model of a transformer,
PD signal propagation characteristics inside the winding were investigated through actual
measurement and analysis. As a result, it was found that the PD having occurred inside the
winding is measured as the signal significantly damped depending on the position of
occurrence. The transmission rate was 2.2% for an oil-immersed transformer and 2.8%
for a gas-filled transformer in the respective lowest cases. What should be controlled in the
PD test of an actual transformer is the value of the harmful PD level at the PD occurrence
position multiplied by the transmission rate at the PD detection position. Therefore, the
conclusion was reached that the acceptance criterion in the test should be set to 5,000 pC
2.2% = 110 pC or less for an oil-immersed transformer and 5,000 pC 2.8% = 140 pC or
less for a gas-filled transformer, respectively.
Index Terms Oil-immersed power transformer, gas-filled power transformer, ac test,
partial discharge, insulation degradation, signal transmission rate, harmful partial
discharge level, acceptance criterion.

1 INTRODUCTION
THE insulation performance of a power transformer is
verified by a lightning impulse withstand voltage test and a
long-duration induced ac voltage test [1, 2]. The lightning
impulse withstand voltage test mainly verifies the surge
overvoltage whereas the ac test verifies the normal operating
voltage and temporary overvoltage during operation. Of these,
in the ac test, the partial discharge (hereafter, PD) magnitude is
generally measured [3]. The acceptance criterion for this PD test
is 500 pC according to the IEC standard [1, 2] and 100 pC
according to JEC standard [4, 5], differing from each other with
Manuscript received on 4 October 2011, in final form 14 May 2012.

the grounds for the criterion not necessarily clarified. This

criterion value should be determined based on the PD
magnitude at the PD occurrence position that damages the
insulating materials and the signal transmission rate to the
measurement position in the test in principle; however, few
data backing this criterion are available. To establish the PD
acceptance criterion based on clear grounds, the PD level that
degrades the insulation itself and the PD signal propagation
characteristics when measurement is conducted must be
clarified.
This series of research ultimately aims to study the harmful PD
level for an oil-immersed power transformer and a gas-filled
power transformer in the test. As the first step, a study was

1070-9878/12/$25.00 2012 IEEE

1432

S. Okabe and G. Ueta: Partial Discharge Criterion in AC Test of Oil-immersedTransformer and Gas-filled Transformer

conducted on the PD magnitude at the PD occurrence position

that damages the insulating materials for an oil-immersed
transformer and a gas-filled transformer, respectively [6-9]. In
the study, using an insulating material model and an insulating
structure model of a part where PD might potentially occur, the
relationship of the magnitude and duration of the PD with the
degradation of the insulating materials was quantitatively
evaluated based on the rate of decline in the lightning impulse
breakdown voltage. As a result, it emerged that insulations of the
oil-immersed transformer and the gas-filled transformer were
degraded if a PD of about 7,000 pC to 10,000 pC had occurred.
As the second step, a study was conducted on the PD signal
propagation characteristics inside a transformer through the
experiment by producing the winding models for an oil-immersed
transformer and a gas-filled transformer as well as EMTP (ElectroMagnetic Transients Program) analysis using their equivalent
circuits [10-13]. In these studies, the transmission rate to the
detection position, such as the test terminal and coupling capacitor
on the high voltage side and the neutral point terminal, was
investigated with the PD occurrence position, such as the position
between sections or against ground, as a parameter. As a result, it
was found that the signal was detected as significantly damped to a
level of several percent depending on the occurrence and
measurement positions of the PD.
In this paper, the PD acceptance criterion in the test is studied
based on the harmful PD level at the PD occurrence position and
the transmission rate from the PD occurrence position to the
detection position. Since details such as the experimental
conditions were described in the previous reports [6-13], the
present paper focuses on the typical results and study based on
the same.

2 HARMFUL PARTIAL DISCHARGE LEVEL

AT THE POSITION OF OCCURRENCE OF
THE PARTIAL DISCHARGE
This section reviews the main points of references previously
stated [6-9] concerning the PD level that degrades the insulating
materials themselves used in an oil-immersed transformer and a
gas-filled transformer. This PD level is evaluated based on the rate
of decline in the lightning impulse breakdown voltage using the
insulating materials themselves and the element models simulating
the insulating structure which have been exposed to a PD.

the probability of occurrence of the PD that degrades the

insulating materials is considered low. For insulation between
sections, even though the electric field exceeds that between
turns and a PD might possibly occur in the case of, for
example, a manufacturing defect, the probability is lower as
compared with the main insulation. For insulation against
ground, PD is unlikely to occur because the electric field is
much lower than that inside windings.
Consequently, for an oil-immersed transformer, a study was
conducted focusing on the harmful PD level of the main insulation.
The study used the oil-impregnated PB itself as the insulating
material model [6] and the model simulating the structure of the
main insulation as the insulating structure model [7].
2.1.1 INSULATING MATERIAL MODEL
Five 0.8 mm thick PBs were placed on a 2 mm thick PB to
adjust the thickness of the insulating material model to 6 mm,
equivalent to the PB of an actual transformer in thickness. This 6
mm thick sample was then immersed in oil and degraded in the
PD exposure test with the PD magnitude and the voltage
application duration as parameters [6].
Figure 1 illustrates the PD test setup. In the test, applied
voltages were adjusted to set the initial PD charges to specified
value and then the voltages were maintained for specified
duration of time. Since the PD magnitude was on a downward
trend as the time elapsed in this constant-voltage PD test, the
initial PD charge can be regarded as the maximum PD charge.
As an example of the damage pattern of the test PB, Figure 2
shows the result of voltage application for 4 hours with a PD of
20,000 pC [6]. When the test PB had been exposed to PD
exceeding 20,000 pC, significant black discoloration as shown
in the figure was observed on the surface of the test PB and its
range expanded over time. This black discoloration is caused by
the carbonization of the PB fiber, which is electrically
conductive and has no dielectric strength. As for the internal
condition, following observation using transmitted light, a treelike pattern was confirmed. This was considered to be gas
generated by the PD, which remained inside the PB. Figure 3
shows the relationship of the tree-like pattern size (maximum
diameter) with the PD magnitude and the voltage application
duration [6]. When the size of the tree-like pattern is compared
with respect to the PD magnitude, it emerges that there is little
Micrometer dial

C2

Insulating bolt
=2 mm
R1 mm

Oil gap
approx. 1 mm

2.1 OIL-IMMERSED POWER TRANSFORMER

The insulation elements of a power transformer can be
roughly classified into, for example, the main insulation
between windings, the insulation between turns and sections
inside the winding, and the insulation against ground, such as
that between the winding and the tank or core. Of these, a
dominant insulation part is the main insulation [14, 15] in
order to study the degradation caused by a PD in the ac
withstand voltage test of an oil-immersed transformer. This
main insulation comprises the press-board (hereafter, PB) and
the oil gap. Conversely, for insulation between turns among
that inside windings, since the electric field applied to the
insulating materials is low under normal ac operation voltage,

6 mm (bottom in 2 mm
+ 5 sheets in 0.8 mm)

Insulating support

Pressure plate

=80 mm

PD measurement
system
C1
Bushing
Securing ring

Test PB
=100 mm
High voltage plane electrode

ac high voltage

Figure 1. Partial discharge degradation test setup for insulating material

model.

Vol. 19, No. 4; August 2012

(b) PB inside by transmitted light

Maximum diameter of tree-like pattern (mm)

Figure 2. Example of damage pattern of press-board after ac voltage

application for 4 hours with maximum partial discharge of 20,000 pC.

300
5000 pC
10000 pC
15000 pC
20000 pC
50000 pC

250
200
150
100
50

1h2h4h

0
0.1

10

100

1000

ac PD application duration (minute)

Figure 3. Relationship of the voltage application duration and the partial
discharge with the size of the tree-like pattern.

difference in the case of 15,000 pC or less whereas the size

becomes larger in line with the PD magnitude in the case of
20,000 pC or more. When the size is compared with respect to
the voltage application duration, the tree-like pattern becomes
larger with the increase in voltage application duration, and
such characteristics were more pronounced in the case of
20,000 pC or more.
In the lightning impulse breakdown test, a surface layer was
detached from the sample degraded by the PD to obtain the
breakdown voltage. Figure 4 shows the result of the lightning

Particle (copper wire)

PB plate for adjustment

100%=New (No PD)

C1

80

PD measurement
system

60

C2

PB insulating spacer
2 mm 2 sheets
Bushing
Test PB
ac high voltage

(a) Test setup

5000 pC
10000 pC
15000 pC
20000 pC
50000 pC

40
20

PB plate for adjustment

1h2h4h

0
0.1

10

100

PB spacer

4 mm Oil gap

Breakdown voltage (%)

100

250 mm square

23 mm

(a) PB surface by external light

impulse breakdown test [6]. In each test condition, 5 samples

were tested and the average values were plotted in the figure.
The vertical axis indicates the relative value to the breakdown
voltage of a new sample not exposed to a PD as 100% (the
same description method also applies to Figures 6, 7, and 9).
For the insulating material model, when the threshold value
for the harmful PD level was set to 90%, in the case of a PD
of 10,000 pC or less, the breakdown voltage decreased little,
even if it was exposed to a PD for 4 hours. Conversely, it
emerged that, in the case of a PD of 20,000 pC or more, the
breakdown voltage declined significantly if the voltage had
been applied for about 10 minutes.
2.1.2 INSULATING STRUCTURE MODEL
For the insulating structure model, as illustrated in Figure
5a, PB plain plates were placed opposite to each other via a
PB insulating spacer to simulate the main insulation structure.
Since no PD occurs in the normal model, even if voltage
equivalent to the test voltage for the actual transformer is
applied, the infiltration of metallic particles in the PB
insulating spacer as a manufacturing defect was simulated to
generate PD as shown in Figure 5b [7].
In the PD test, similarly to the insulating material model, a
constant-voltage PD test was conducted. A visual check after
the test revealed hardly any visible change in the case of a PD
of 10,000 pC. Similarly to the insulating material model, black
discoloration was observed in several samples in the case of a
PD of 20,000 pC or more and the puncture breakdown
occurred in some cases while the voltage was applied.
Similarly to the material model, the lightning impulse
breakdown test results were evaluated by the relative value to
the breakdown voltage of a new sample. Figure 6 shows the

3 mm

Length between the

holes is 120 mm

1433

1 mm

IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation

1000

ac PD application duration (minute)

Figure 4. Residual impulse withstand voltage of press-board material model
after ac partial discharge test.

Side view
Particle (copper wire)

Figure 5. Partial discharge degradation test setup for insulating structure

model.

1434

S. Okabe and G. Ueta: Partial Discharge Criterion in AC Test of Oil-immersedTransformer and Gas-filled Transformer

results of the lightning impulse breakdown test [7] together

with those for the material model in Section 2.1.1. The
number of samples is 5 to 14 in each test condition. Since the
breakdown occurred in some samples while the voltage was
applied in the case of a PD exceeding 20,000 pC, an
evaluation was made based on the values estimated according
to the Weibull distribution. For the insulating structure model,
in the case of a PD of 10,000 pC, the breakdown voltage was
almost equivalent to that of a new sample. A PD of 20,000 pC
was considered to be at a level that influenced the insulation
performance because the puncture breakdown occurred in
some cases during the PD test even though the breakdown
voltage did not decrease significantly. When a PD was 50,000
pC, the breakdown voltage was obviously decreased.

Breakdown voltage (%)

100

100%=New (No PD)

80
10000 pC
20000 pC
50000 pC
5000 pC
10000 pC
15000 pC
20000 pC
50000 pC

60
40
20

Structure
model
Material
model
1h2h4h

0
0.1

10

100

1000

ac PD application duration (minute)

Figure 6. Residual impulse withstand voltage after ac partial discharge test.

2.1.3 HARMFUL PARTIAL DISCHARGE LEVEL OF

OIL-IMMERSED POWER TRANSFORMER
Based on the above test results, a study was conducted on
the harmful PD level at which insulating materials themselves
of an oil-immersed transformer were degraded. In the case of
a PD of 10,000 pC, no apparent change was observed in either
the insulating material model or the insulating structure model,
nor did the lightning impulse breakdown voltage decrease.
When a PD exceeded 20,000 pC, black discoloration appeared
due to the carbonization of the PB, and the breakdown
occurred in some cases during the PD test for the insulating
structure model. The lightning impulse breakdown voltage
also tended to be obviously decreased.
Based on the above, the harmful PD level of an oilimmersed transformer is deemed to be between 10,000 pC and
20,000 pC, where the insulation performance of the PB is
degraded, and 10,000 pC on a conservative side.
2.2 GAS-FILLED POWER TRANSFORMER
For an oil-immersed power transformer, it was deemed that
the degradation due to a PD occurs at the main insulation, and
the mixing-in of particles was simulated in the case of the
insulating structure model because no PD occurred under a
clean condition. On the other hand, in the case of the main
insulation of a gas-filled power transformer, particles, if any,
fall down due to its structure, meaning a PD is unlikely to

occur at the main insulation. In addition, in the event of

occurrence of a PD at the main insulation, breakdown is most
likely to result, hence the main insulation is not considered a
dominant part in the verification of insulation by the PD test.
Therefore, it is the PD in the insulation inside windings
caused by, for example, particles that should be verified in the
test of a gas-filled transformer.
To this end, for a gas-filled transformer, the materials used
for the insulation inside windings, i.e. the insulation between
turns and sections, were used. To be specific, these were
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, used for the insulating
coating of windings, and Nomex board, used as a key spacer
between sections. Since little is known of the degradation of
various insulating materials caused by a PD in SF6 gas, an
experiment was also conducted for a PB used for, for example,
the basic cylinder between windings [8]. As insulating
structure models, those simulating the insulation structures
inside windings, i.e. the section-to-section and turn-to-turn
insulating structures, were used [9].
2.2.1 INSULATING MATERIAL MODEL
Used for the insulating material model were PET films (50
m 40 sheets), Nomex boards (2 mm 1 or 2 sheets), and
PBs (0.8 mm 5 sheets). These samples were installed in a
tank filled with SF6 gas at 0.5 MPa (absolute pressure) and
degraded in the PD exposure test with the PD magnitude and
the voltage application duration as parameters [8].
As for the damage pattern caused by a PD, in the case of
PET film, the white discoloration due to the loss of clarity (so
called clouding) was observed when the PD was about 8,000
pC or less. When the PD exceeded about 8,000 pC, the black
discoloration appeared due to the carbonization of PET film.
Similarly, in the case of Nomex board, the black
discoloration appeared when the PD was about 8,000 pC or
more. Conversely, in the case of a PB, no damage such as
discoloration could be confirmed, even if it had been exposed
to the maximum PD of 32,000 pC in the test. These
characteristics differed from those of an oil-impregnated PB.
It is considered attributable to the fact that the energy by a PD
could escape more easily into the surrounding area in the gas
rather than the oil, resulting in no damage to the material at
the PD magnitude in this experiment.
In the lightning impulse breakdown test, a surface layer
was detached from the sample degraded by the PD to
investigate the breakdown voltage. Figure 7 shows the test
results for PET film as a representative case [8]. In the case
of PET film, if the sample had been discolored black, the
breakdown voltage was significantly decreased. In the case
of Nomex board, the breakdown voltage was not
significantly decreased if the black discoloration was only
on the surface, but did drop considerably if the black
discoloration had progressed into the inside. The PD level
that decreased the breakdown voltage of these materials was
about 7,600 pC for PET film and 7,000 pC for Nomex
board, respectively. Conversely, in the case of a PB, even if
it had been exposed to a significant level of a PD, no
apparent damage was observed and the breakdown voltage
remained constant at the same level as that of a new PB.

No damage

Breakdown voltage (%)

120

Vol. 19, No. 4; August 2012

Black
discoloration

Clouding

100
80

Clouding
Harmful partial discharge
level (7600 pC)

60
40

Black
discoloration

No damage
or clouding
Black
discoloration

20
0
0

2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

Maximum partial discharge (pC)

Figure 7. Residual impulse withstand voltage of PET films after ac partial

discharge test.

2.2.2 INSULATING STRUCTURE MODEL

Of the insulating structure models, for the turn-to-turn
model, two rectangular copper wires coated with PET film
were produced, which were mutually opposed in order to
construct the model. For the section-to-section model, three
PET-coated rectangular copper wires were lined up to
simulate a single section. Subsequently, two sections were
opposed to each other via a set of Nomex key spacers to
construct the model. In the PD exposure test, each structure
model included particles that simulate manufacturing defects
in order to generate a large PD. These particles were provided
assuming various conditions of mixing into an actual
transformer. As an example, Figure 8 exhibits a section-tosection model structure with a particle bridging between
sections. These samples were installed in a tank filled with
SF6 gas at 0.5 MPa (absolute pressure) and degraded in the
PD exposure test with the PD magnitude and the voltage
application duration as parameters [9].
High voltage
applied

Rectangular
copper wire

Not damaged

120
100

100 mm

80
60

Both damaged
40

No spacer damage
(PET damaged)
Black discoloration
on spacer

Both PET and

spacer

0
0

PET
damaged

Only spacer damaged Spacer

damaged

20

Key spacer

Either
Both damaged
damaged

None damaged

Straight part of 250 mm

A

1435

As for the damage pattern due to a PD, in the case of the

turn-to-turn model, hardly any change was visible, even if the
model had been exposed to a PD of 10,000 pC or more. The
turn-to-turn voltage was low in the first place and a voltage
several tens of times more than the ac test voltage had to be
applied in order to generate a PD exceeding 10,000 pC, even
if a particle existed. Consequently, in actual fact, for the turnto-turn model, the harmful PD level need not essentially be
considered. In the case of the section-to-section model,
damage to the PET film and/or the key spacer was observed if
the model had been exposed to a PD of about 10,000 pC.
When the PD magnitude was further increased, both were
discolored black in all cases [9].
Subsequently, the lightning impulse breakdown voltage was
investigated using each insulating structure model degraded
by a PD. For the turn-to-turn model, a sample degraded by a
PD of 8,000 pC was used. This sample was barely degraded in
the PD test and the breakdown voltage was almost the same as
that of a new one. For the section-to-section model, as shown
in Figure 9, even if the PET coating was damaged, the
breakdown voltage barely decreased if the damage to the key
spacer was minor [9]. On the other hand, even if the PET
coating was undamaged, the breakdown voltage significantly
decreased if the key spacer was damaged. The threshold value
of a PD that caused this breakdown voltage to decrease was
about 10,000 pC on a conservative side.

Breakdown voltage (%)

IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation

4000
8000 12000 16000
Maximum partial discharge (pC)

20000

Figure 9. Residual impulse withstand voltage of section-to-section insulating

model after ac partial discharge test.

35 mm
To PD measurement system
Key spacer

4.0 mm

10 mm

Particle of
copper wire

2.2 mm
A-A view on arrow

0.6 mm

PET: 50 m
10 turns (lap winding)

Magnified view

Figure 8. Section-to-section insulating structure model with particle that

bridges the entire length between sections.

2.2.3 HARMFUL PARTIAL DISCHARGE LEVEL OF

GAS-FILLED POWER TRANSFORMER
Based on the experimental results above, the harmful PD
level that degrades the insulating materials themselves of a
gas-filled transformer is studied here. For the PET film
material itself used for the insulation between turns, a PD of
7,600 pC was deemed harmful; however, the harmful PD level,
including the insulating structure, can be deemed as 10,000
pC or more. A PD of 10,000 pC or more is unlikely to occur
between turns under normal ac test voltage and thus need not
essentially be considered. For the insulation between sections,

S. Okabe and G. Ueta: Partial Discharge Criterion in AC Test of Oil-immersedTransformer and Gas-filled Transformer

3 SIGNAL TRANSMISSION RATE TO THE

MEASUREMENT POSITION IN THE TEST
This section focuses on, assuming an actual PD test, a
signal transmission rate of a PD having occurred inside the
transformer toward each measurement position. The PD
transmission rate is obtained through the experiments using
the winding models actually constructed as well as EMTP
analysis using their equivalent circuits [10-13].
The PD transmission rate is evaluated based on the
reference value obtained in the calibration test similar to the
actual PD test [1-5]. In the evaluation process, the PD signal
for calibration is initially injected against ground on the high
voltage terminal of the winding model to measure the output
signal at various measurement terminals. The value obtained
in this calibration test is reference. The actual measured value
obtained with the input position of the PD signal as a
parameter with respect to this reference value is evaluated as
the PD signal transmission rate (measured value/reference
value).
3.1 OIL-IMMERSED POWER TRANSFORMER
For an oil-immersed power transformer, the transmission
rate was obtained in the event of occurrence of a PD between
windings (main insulation), between sections, and against
ground. Figure 10 illustrates the circuit configuration of a 500
kV-class transformer winding model used in the study [10, 11].
This circuit configuration is a model constructed based on the
experiment. Three positions were used to inject the PD signal,
namely the first injection against ground such as toward the
tank and core at the series winding, the second injection

Medium voltage terminal

Bushing test terminal

(M-BgTT)

300 pF

Series winding

8300 pF
Shunt winding

Tertiary winding

Core

ERA
or GND

High voltage terminal

300 pF

ERA
or GND

16500 pF

ERA
or GND

Bushing test terminal

(H-BgTT)

300 pF
Neutral point terminal
(NPT)

Figure 10. Circuit configuration of a 500 kV class oil-immersed transformer

to measure the propagation characteristics of the PD signal.

between sections in the series winding, where a relatively high

voltage was applied to the inside of the winding, and the third
injection between the series and shunt windings as a main
insulating part. To measure the PD signals, ERA device [16],
a form of general purpose equipment, was used. The PD
signal was measured at three positions, namely the high
voltage bushing test terminal (H-BgTT), the medium voltage
bushing test terminal (M-BgTT), and the neutral point
terminal (NPT).
Figure 11 shows a representative case of the relationships
between the PD occurrence position and the transmission rate
at each measurement position [11]. Where a PD occurred
against ground, the transmission rate at each measurement
terminal was relatively high. Conversely, in the event of
occurrence of a PD between windings, the transmission rate
was as low as 10% or so in some cases. In the event of
occurrence of a PD between sections, the component
circulating between the PD occurrence sections is significant,
resulting in the low transmission rate at each measurement
terminal.
Assuming the measurement at the H-BgTT, the minimum
transmission rate was 3.6%. At some other measurement
positions, the transmission rate was even lower, down to 2.2%
in one case. Accordingly, it emerged that the signal was
detected as one significantly damped to a level of about 1/28
to 1/45 in some cases, depending on the PD occurrence
position. Based on the above, where a PD of, for example,
5,000 pC occurs inside a transformer, it may possibly be
detected as a small one of 5,000 pC 3.6% (2.2%) = 180 pC
(110 pC) in the test.

400
300

H-BgTT, first peak

M-BgTT, first peak
NPT, first peak

H-BgTT, full wave

M-BgTT, full wave
NPT, full wave

Between windings

Between sections

Against ground

80
60

200

40

100

20

A11-G A15-G A19-G A00-B5 A15-B3 A00-11 A14-15 A18-19

Between sections

a PD that damages Nomex board used for a key spacer is

considered harmful. For the Nomex board itself, a PD of
7,000 pC was deemed harmful; in addition, considering the
insulation structure as well, the harmful PD level was deemed
at 7,000 pC to 10,000 pC.

Transmission rate (Apparent charges) (%)

Against ground and between windings

1436

PD occurrence position
Figure 11. Relationship between the PD occurrence position and the
transmission rate. The transmission rate is evaluated using both the peak value
at the first peak and the crest value during the period up to 200 s referred to
as full wave. (Left axis: Against ground and between windings, Right axis:
Between sections)

3.2 GAS-FILLED POWER TRANSFORMER

For a gas-filled power transformer, as mentioned in Section
2.2, it is crucial to consider a PD between sections on the high
voltage winding side in terms of the position of occurrence.
Therefore, a high voltage winding model of a 275 kV-class
transformer shown in Figure 12 was produced to obtain the
PD transmission rate through experiments and EMTP analysis
using the equivalent circuit [12, 13]. Figure 13 exhibits the

Vol. 19, No. 4; August 2012

image of the PD measurement circuit. The positions of

occurrence of a PD were mainly between sections but also
included those between turns and against ground. The
measurement positions of a PD were the bushing test terminal
(BgTT), the neutral point terminal (NPT), and the coupling
terminal, and the ERA device was used for measurement.
Figure 14 shows as an example of the transmission rate in
the event of occurrence of a PD between sections [13]. When
a PD occurs between sections, the component circulating
between the PD occurrence sections is significant, as is the
case for an oil-immersed transformer, resulting in the low
transmission rate at each measurement terminal. Assuming the
measurement at the BgTT, the minimum transmission rate was
2.8%. Accordingly, it emerged that the signal was detected as
one significantly damped to a level of about 1/35 in some
cases, depending on the PD occurrence position. In the event
of a PD against ground, the transmission rate generally
exceeded that of a PD between sections and the minimum
transmission rate was 4.0%. In the event of a PD between
turns, the signal component that reaches the measurement
terminal diminishes because the signal immediately circulates
between the PD occurrence turns. Eventually, the transmission
rate was less than 1% in some cases.

Figure 12. Winding model of a 275 kV gas-filled power transformer.

High voltage
terminal, U

Coupling
terminal

Section 1

NPG-1

300 pF
300 pF

Section 20

Section 40
300 pF

ERA

Bushing test terminal,

BgTT

16500 pF
ERA

Neutral point
terminal, NPT

ERA

Figure 13. Circuit to measure the propagation characteristics of the PD signal.

Transmission rate (Apparent charges) (%)

IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation

1437
Analysis, BgTT
Experiment, BgTT
Analysis, NPT
Experiment, NPT

100
80
60
40
20
0

U-ground

1-2

19-20

39-40

PD occurrence position
Figure 14. Transmission rate of the PD signal occurrence between sections.

4 EVALUATION OF PARTIAL DISCHARGE

ACCEPTANCE CRITERION IN THE TEST
Section 2 evaluated the PD magnitude at the PD occurrence
position that damaged insulating materials used for a power
transformer and determined the harmful PD level. Section 3
evaluated the transmission rate of the PD signal that occurred
at various positions inside the winding relative to the
measurement position and obtained the minimum transmission
rate. These results are summarized in Table 1. Based on these,
this section studies the PD acceptance criterion in the PD test.
4.1 OIL-IMMERSED POWER TRANSFORMER
For an oil-immersed transformer, consideration must be
given to the PD at the main insulation in the test, and the
harmful PD level as an insulating material was deemed to be
10,000 pC. Even though no experiment of a PD between
sections was conducted because the main insulation in the
experiment was prioritized, a PD might possibly occur
between sections as discussed for a gas-filled transformer. For
a PD between sections, the PD level that degrades a key
spacer is considered harmful according to the experimental
results of a gas-filled transformer. A PB material is generally
used for a key spacer of an oil-immersed transformer and its
harmful PD level is considered about 10,000 pC, which is the
same as that for the main insulation. Through the evaluation
of these PD levels of 10,000 pC using a safety factor of two
times considering the long-term operation and the difference
in the insulating design by manufacturers, it is considered
reasonable to determine 5,000 pC as the harmful PD level at
the PD occurrence position. The minimum transmission rate
of the PD that occurred between windings and between
sections to the high voltage bushing test terminal was 3.6%. It
even declined to 2.2% at one point at some other measurement
terminals. Therefore, the acceptance criterion in the test is
considered to be set to 5,000 pC 3.6% (2.2%) = 180 pC (110
pC) or less.
Based on the results above, the acceptance criterion of 500
pC according to the IEC standard [1] might result in the
degradation of the insulation performance and the acceptance
criterion of 100 pC according to the JEC standard [4, 5] is
considered reasonable.

1438

S. Okabe and G. Ueta: Partial Discharge Criterion in AC Test of Oil-immersedTransformer and Gas-filled Transformer

Table 1. Harmful PD level at the PD occurrence position and transmission rate of the PD signal to the measurement terminals of an oil-immersed transformer
and a gas-filled transformer.

Type of power
Insulation part
transformer
Main insulation
Oil-immersed
power
transformer

Significance in verifying the

insulation by the PD test
High

Harmful PD level at the PD occurrence position

Material model

Structure model

Transmission rate of the

PD to each measurement
terminal

Press board: 10,000 pC

10,000 pC

10% or more
Minimum values
H-BgTT: 3.6%
M-BgTT: 2.2%

Section-tosection

Medium

Considered to be about 10,000

pC even though no direct
experiment was conducted

Turn-to-turn

Low: The possibility of

occurrence of a PD is low

Low: Structurally, the

Main insulation possibility of occurrence of a PD
is low
PET film: 7,600 pC
Gas-filled
Section-topower
Nomex board: 7,000 pC
High
section
transformer
Press board: 32,000 pC
Low: The possibility of
Turn-to-turn
occurrence of a PD is low

4.2 GAS-FILLED POWER TRANSFORMER

For a gas-filled transformer, consideration must be given to
the PD between sections in the test, and the harmful PD level
as an insulating material was deemed to be 7,000 pC to 10,000
pC. By evaluating this value using a safety factor of 1.4 to 2
times considering the long-term operation and the difference
in the insulating design by manufacturers, it is considered
reasonable to set the harmful PD level at the PD occurrence
position to 5,000 pC as is the case for an oil-immersed
transformer. The minimum transmission rate of the PD that
occurred between sections above to the measurement position
was 2.8%. Therefore, the acceptance criterion in the test is
considered to be set to 5,000 pC 2.8% = 140 pC or less.
Based on the results above, the acceptance criterion of 500
pC according to the IEC standard [2] might result in the
degradation of the insulation performance and the acceptance
criterion of 100 pC according to the JEC standard [4, 5] is also
considered reasonable for a gas-filled transformer, as is the
case for an oil-immersed transformer.

10,000 pC
10,000 pC or more

Minimum value
BgTT: 2.8%
Less than 1.0% in some
cases

(2) For a gas-filled power transformer, the PD level that

degrades the materials constituting the insulation was 7,000
pC to 10,000 pC. Using a safety factor of 1.4 to 2 times,
5,000 pC was deemed to be the harmful PD level. In an
actual test, this PD signal is obtained as one damped, in the
worst case, to about 2.8% depending on the PD occurrence
position. Consequently, the PD acceptance criterion in the
test is considered to be set to 140 pC, which is obtained by
multiplying these, or less.
(3) Based on the results above, it is considered
reasonable to set the harmful PD level to be controlled in
the PD test of an oil-immersed power transformer and a
gas-filled power transformer to 100 pC. This acceptance
criterion of 100 pC is a valid value backed by a series of
research.

REFERENCES
[1]

5 SUMMARY

[2]

In this paper, a study was conducted on the PD acceptance

criterion in the test for an oil-immersed power transformer and
a gas-filled power transformer. This acceptance criterion was
evaluated based on the PD magnitude at the PD occurrence
position that damages the insulating materials and the signal
transmission rate to the measurement position in the test.
The examination results are summarized as follows:
(1) For an oil-immersed power transformer, the PD level
that degrades the materials constituting the insulation was
10,000 pC. Using a safety factor of two times, 5,000 pC was
deemed to be the harmful PD level. In an actual test, this PD
signal was obtained as one damped, in the worst case, to about
2.2% to 3.6% depending on the PD occurrence position.
Consequently, the PD acceptance criterion in the test is
considered to be set to 110 pC to 180 pC, which is obtained
by multiplying these, or less.

[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

IEC 60076-3, Power transformers Part 3: Insulation levels, dielectric

tests and external clearances in air, 2000.
IEC 60076-15, Power transformers Part 15: Gas-filled power
transformers, 2008.
IEC 60270, High-voltage test techniques - Partial discharge
measurements, 2000.
JEC 2200, Power transformers, 1995.
JEC 0401, Partial discharge measurements, 1990. (in Japanese)
S. Okabe, G. Ueta, H. Wada, and H. Okubo, Partial Discharge-induced
Degradation Characteristics of Oil-impregnated Insulating Material Used
in Oil-immersed Power Transformers, IEEE, Trans. Dielectr. Electr.
Insul., Vol. 17, pp. 1225-1233, 2010.
S. Okabe, G. Ueta, H. Wada, and H. Okubo, Partial Discharge-induced
Degradation Characteristics of Insulating Structure Constituting Oilimmersed Power Transformers, IEEE, Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul.,
Vol. 17, pp. 1649-1656, 2010.
S. Okabe, G. Ueta, H. Wada, and H. Okubo, Partial Discharge-induced
Degradation Characteristics of Insulating Materials of Gas-filled Power
Transformers, IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul., Vol. 17, pp. 17151723, 2010.
S. Okabe, G. Ueta, H. Wada, and H. Okubo, Deterioration
Characteristics Due to Partial Discharges in Insulating Structure
Constituting Gas-filled Power Transformers, IEEE Trans. Dielectr.
Electr. Insul., Vol. 17, pp. 1204-1213, 2010.

IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation

Vol. 19, No. 4; August 2012

[10] S. Okabe, G. Ueta, and H. Wada, Partial Discharge Signal Propagation

Characteristics inside the Winding of Oil-immersed Power Transformer Study Using the Three-Winding Transformer in the Air, IEEE, Trans.
Dielectr. Electr. Insul., Vol. 18, pp. 2024-2031, 2011.
[11] S. Okabe, G. Ueta, and H. Wada, Partial Discharge Signal Propagation
Characteristics inside the Winding of Oil-immersed Power Transformer Using the Equivalent Circuit of Winding Model in the Oil, IEEE, Trans.
Dielectr. Electr. Insul., Vol. 19, pp. 472-480, 2012.
[12] S. Okabe, G. Ueta, and H. Wada, Partial Discharge Signal Propagation
Characteristics inside the Winding of Gas-filled Power Transformer Experimental Study Using Winding Models in the Air, IEEE Trans.
Dielectr. Electr. Insul., Vol. 18, pp. 1658-1667, 2011.
[13] S. Okabe, G. Ueta, and H. Wada, Partial Discharge Signal Propagation
Characteristics inside the Winding of Gas-filled Power Transformer - Study
Using the Equivalent Circuit of the Winding Model, IEEE Trans. Dielectr.
Electr. Insul., Vol. 18, pp. 1668-1677, 2011.
[14] M. Ikeda, T. Yanari, and H. Okubo, PD and BD Probability Distribution
and Equi-Probabilistic V-t Characteristics of Oil-Filled Transformer
Insulation, IEEE, Trans. Vol. PAS-101, pp. 2728-2737, 1982.
[15] T. Yanari, M. Honda, M. Ikeda, Y. Taniguchi, and Y. Ebisawa, Problems
of Long-Term Reliability for UHV Transformer Insulation, IEEE. Trans.
Vol. PAS-102, pp. 1693-1701, 1983.
[16] M. Hikita, S. Okabe, H. Murase, and H. Okubo, Cross-equipment
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1439

Shigemitsu Okabe (M98) received B.Eng., M.Eng.

and Dr. degrees in electrical engineering from the
University of Tokyo in 1981, 1983 and 1986,
respectively. He has been with Tokyo Electric Power
Company since 1986, and presently is a group
manager of the High Voltage & Insulation Group at
the R & D center. He was a visiting scientist at the
Technical University of Munich in 1992. He has been
a guest professor at the Doshisha University since
2005, at the Nagoya University since 2006, and a
visiting lecturer at the Tokyo University. He works as a secretary/member at
several WG/MT in CIGRE and IEC. He is an Associate Editor of the IEEE
Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation.

Genyo Ueta received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from

Doshisha University in 2000 and 2002, respectively.
He joined Tokyo Electric Power Company in 2002.
Currently, He is a researcher at the High Voltage &
Insulation Group of R & D Center and mainly
engaged in research on insulation characteristics of
electric power equipment.