ans2004 Very Low Frequency (VLF) Withstand Testing - The Basics Very Low Frequency (VLF) Withstand Testing - The Basics EA Stev2.Seling.eotiow O18 037 0 What is a Very Low Frequency Withstand Test? A Very Low Frequency (VLF) Withstand Test is an AC Withstand Test usually carried out at a frequency between 0.1 Hz and 0.01 Hz. This kind of test is suited for testing high capacitance loads such as cable and rotating machinery. This is a pass fail test i.e. bad cable will fail during testing rather than in service. The Theory Basic electrical theory: xc = i2*pirf*c) Where: Xc = Capacitive reactance (Q) f = Frequency (Hz) C = Capacitance (F) It can be seen that capacitive reactance, which is the resistance across the power supply output, is inversely proportional to frequency. By reducing the frequency the capacitive reactance is increased.ansoas Very Low Frequency (VL) Wiad Tsing -The Bases More basic electrical theory: | = wr Where: | = Current (A) V = Voltage (V) R = Resistance (Q) The lower the frequency, the higher the capacitive reactance (Xc). The higher the Xc the lower the current and power needed to apply a voltage. Example: A length of power cable with capacitance of 1 uF needs to be tested at 34 kV peak. Power frequency testing (50 Hz): Using the above formulae it can be calculated that the capacitive reactance would be 3.183 kQ so the required current would be 10.68 A. Therefore, to test a 1 UF cable at a frequency of 50 Hz the test set would have to be able to give 363 kVA. When you consider that a 30 kV, 40 kVA AC test set can greatly exceed 620 kg it puts into perspective the size an AC test set would have to be to produce 363 kVA. VLF Testing (0.1 Hz) Testing the same length of cable at 0.1 Hz would generate 1.59 MQ of capacitive reactance and the required current would be 21 mA. Therefore testing the same length of cable at 0.1 Hz would require 0.714 kVA, which is 500 times less than at a power frequency of 50 Hz. ansuts2001 Very Low Frequency (VL) Wiad Tsing -The Bases This allows the size of the test apparatus to drop from something like this: To 5 something like this High Voltage Inc. VLE- 3AE: hitpsswwikecin.comipulseivery-low-roquency-vitwithstand-tosting-basicssteve-colins 37ans2004 Very Low Frequency (VLF) Withstand Testing - The Basics Most test sets have a frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 0.01 Hz and the most desirable test sets will select the optimum frequency based upon the capacitance of the cable. The capacitance of the cable is dependent upon its construction materials and its length. As cable length increases so does the capacitance so dropping the frequency allows kilometres of cable to be tested. Does this difference in test frequency range have any effect on test results? This was reported on in the National Electric Energy Testing, Research and Applications Center (NEETRAC) report “Estimating the Impact of VLF Frequency on Effectiveness of VLF Withstand hitpsswwinkecin comipulsoivery-low-requency-vitwithstand-tosting-basic.stove-colins anans2004 Very Low Frequency (VLF) Withstand Testing - The Basics Diagnostics" by N. Hampton et al (2014). This report concluded “.. there is no distinguishable difference between failure rates on test for the common VLF test frequencies of 0.05 Hz and 0.1 Hz, from data obtained through laboratory and field tests, and all insulation types.” What size VLF test set is required? Acceptance test voltages are generally 2.5 - 3 times the line to ground system voltage. A list of field test voltages from 5 kV to 69 kV can be found in IEEE 400.2. How long should a VLF test last? According to IEEE 400.2 VLF tests should last between 15 and 60 minutes with a recommended minimum duration of 30 minutes. This length of time hasn't just been plucked out of the air; there is some theory behind it. According to IEEE 400, when testing at 3 times the line to ground system voltage the tree growth rate of XLPE at a 0.1 Hz sinusoidal test voltage is 10.9 - 12.6 mm/h. A 15 kV 133% cable has an insulation thickness of 5.9 mm. Therefore in a 30 minute test nearly all defects will grow to failure. What is a Tree? At stressed points in insulation where there are protrusions, voids or contaminants a phenomenon called treeing may occur. Treeing is the preferred name due to the branch like structure of these trees. There are two types of tree effect: Water tree: Produced by electro-oxidation fuelled by electrical stress and water ingress within insulation. Water trees do not emit partial discharges so PD testing cannot be used to test for the presence of water trees. During service conditions the growth of water trees is extremely slow taking years to completely penetrate the insulation. Like protrusions, voids and contaminants, water trees act as stress enhancements. They can increase the local electrical field and also create local mechanical stresses. If these electrical and/or mechanical stresses are high enough an electrical tree can initiate. hitpsswwinkecin.comipulseivery-low roquency-vitwithstand-tosting-basicssteve-coling 87ansr0at ory Low Frequency (VLF) Wibstand Testing The Basis Electrical tree: Micro-channels of carbonisation or non-insulation found within insulation that is irreversibly damaged. Electrical treeing will lead to a completed failure path and failure of insulation relatively quickly. Below is an electrical tree that is growing from a water tree. nd Why not just test at DC? DC has been used to test paper insulated lead covered (PILC) cable for many years. Therefore it is understandable that DC continued to be used as solid dielectric cable became prevalent. Unfortunately the first solid dielectric cable started to prematurely fail 15 - 20 years after being installed. After extensive testing and research it was found that solid dielectric cable is prone to develop water trees. DC testing at high voltages creates negative space charges within these trees, as highlighted below. ee im input hitpsswwinkecin.comipulseivery-low roquency-vitwithstand-tosting-basicssteve-coling arsrs2001 Very Low Frequency (VL) Wiad Tsing -The Bases When the testing is complete and the DC is removed these trapped negative space charges remain. When the AC is reapplied a high difference in potential exists at points in the insulation where these trapped negative space charges are found. These areas that are already suffering from heightened electrical and mechanical stresses are prone to turn into electrical trees. Once this point has been reached the cable will fail because the damage is irreversible. DC test sets cannot be used as a voltage source for Tan Delta or Partial Discharge testing. These diagnostic tests are usually carried out at a frequency of 0.1 Hz. hitpsswwinkecin.comipulseivery-low roquency-vitwithstand-tosting-basicssteve-coling Ww