INSULATION RESISTANCE OF TRANSFORMERS

Melvin Koshy

Introduction
IR test is a non-destructive test to analyse quality of transformer insulation system Absorption ratio, Polarisation Index, Step Voltage etc. correlate IR results Components of Insulation current (total insulation current) Capacitance current Absorption current Leakage current

Capacitance current
Dielectric system encountered can be considered as a capacitor Like capacitors, charging current decreases from a high value to a low value in a short period as insulation is getting charge to full voltage Charging current can be expressed as

E Ic = e R

t RC

E C R t

Open circuit Voltage Capacitance Resistance Time constant

Absorption current
Due to imperfect dielectric caused by polarization charges Absorption current initially starts from a high value but decreases at a slower rate than capacitor charging current

Leakage current
Resistive loss Comprises leakage current either through the insulation or over leakage surfaces Total insulation current

IT = I c + I a + I l

How to measure IR?

One minute test Gives IR value corresponding to one minute IR values depend on applied voltage temperature etc. hence any measurements should be taken under identical conditions such as same applied voltage, instrument etc. IR values taken at different temp are brought to base temp of 20C Temperature correction factors are applied

Contd
IR values may be checked periodically for a transformer Large reduction in values warraties investigation for the cause For every 10C rise in temp, IR value is reduced to half

Temperature correction factor

Temp C
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Correction factor
0.25 0.36 0.5 0.72 1.0 1.4 1.98 2.8 3.95

Temp C
40 45 50 55 60 65 70

Correction factor
3.95 5.6 7.85 11.2 15.85 22.4 31.75

Interpretation of IR results
Absorption current varies with time, hence one minute withstand alone will not give any reliable indication of quality of insulation structure For a good dielectric system, IR value increases with time as current decreases Hence Absorption Ratio and Polarisation Index are factors can be used to interpret IR result Polarisation Index and Absorption Ratio are independent of temperature

Absorption ratio
Absorption ratio (k) IR v a lu e a t 6 0 se c . k = R v a lu e a t 1 5 se c .

a fte r th e a p p lic a tio n o f D C v o lta g e

In the initial measurement, insulation system can be considered to comprise paper & oil Hence Insulation Current is given by

It = I l + I a e

(t / )

Contd
When the insulation is wet, leakage current is very large compared to absorption current Hence Absorption Ratio is nearly = 1 When the insulation is dry, absorption time constant becomes high and leakage current is negligible

Polarisation Index
If absorption time of a transformer is very high, there will be a large difference between IR values after 60 sec. Therefore 10 minute IR value gives more reliable data on properties of insulation Polarisation Index is given by
IR v a lu e a t 6 0 0 se c . k = R v a lu e a t 6 0 se c .
a fte r th e a p p lic a tio n o f D C v o lta g e

PI value greater than 1.5 is acceptable

Step Voltage Test

Used to detect weak and moist insulation One minute IR value is measured by applying voltages are in the order of 1 to 5 times i.e. 500V and 2500V DC Decrease in IR value of 25% or greater at higher test voltage is an indication of excess moisture

IR values
IR value of winding to ground with other winding grounded or between windings in Megaohms at 20C for oil filled transformer is given by
CE IR = P
E per phase voltage rating of winding C 0.8 for unguarded terminal 1.6 for guarded terminal P kVA rating of transformer

Recommended values of IR CBIP Recommendations No. 198: 1987

Rated voltage Minimum safe IR value in Megaohm at the of winding temperature
30C Upto 6.6 kV 6.6 to 11 kV 11 to 33 kV > 66 kV 200 400 500 600 40C 100 200 250 300 50C 50 100 125 150 60C 25 50 65 75

melvinkoshy@gmail.com