0% found this document useful (0 votes)

97 views63 pages

IEEE Guide For Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Uploaded by

cristian noguera

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

0% found this document useful (0 votes)

97 views63 pages

IEEE Guide For Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Uploaded by

cristian noguera

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 63

IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge

STANDARDS
Field Diagnostic Testing of
Shielded Power Cable Systems

IEEE Power and Energy Society

Developed by the
Insulated Conductors Committee

IEEE Std 400.3™-2022

(Revision of IEEE Std 400.3-2006)

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte Biblioteca. Downloaded on April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3™-2022
(Revision of IEEE Std 400.3-2006)

IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge

Field Diagnostic Testing of
Shielded Power Cable Systems

Developed by the

Insulated Conductors Committee

of the
IEEE Power and Energy Society

Approved 3 December 2022

IEEE SA Standards Board

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte Biblioteca. Downloaded on April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Abstract: The diagnostic testing of new or service-aged, installed shielded power cable systems,
which include cable, joints, and terminations, using electrical partial discharge (PD) detection,
measurement, and location is covered by this guide. PD testing, which is a useful indicator of
insulation degradation, may be carried out online or by means of an external voltage source. The
testing of compressed gas insulated cable or termination systems is not covered by this guide.

Keywords: accessory, cable, cable system testing, cable testing, commissioning, condition
assessment, diagnostic testing, field test, IEEE 400.3™, partial discharge testing

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5997, USA

Copyright © 2023 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

IEEE is a registered trademark in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, owned by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
Incorporated.

PDF: ISBN 978-1-5044-9410-6 STD25939

Print: ISBN 978-1-5044-9411-3 STDPD25939

IEEE prohibits discrimination, harassment, and bullying.

For more information, visit https://www.ieee.org/about/corporate/governance/p9-26.html.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in an electronic retrieval system or otherwise, without the prior written permission
of the publisher.

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte Biblioteca. Downloaded on April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Important Notices and Disclaimers Concerning IEEE Standards Documents

IEEE Standards documents are made available for use subject to important notices and legal disclaimers.
These notices and disclaimers, or a reference to this page (https://standards.ieee.org/ipr/disclaimers.html),
appear in all standards and may be found under the heading “Important Notices and Disclaimers Concerning
IEEE Standards Documents.”

Notice and Disclaimer of Liability Concerning the Use of IEEE Standards

Documents
IEEE Standards documents are developed within IEEE Societies and subcommittees of IEEE Standards
Association (IEEE SA) Board of Governors. IEEE develops its standards through an accredited consensus
development process, which brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to
achieve the final product. IEEE Standards are documents developed by volunteers with scientific, academic,
and industry-based expertise in technical working groups. Volunteers are not necessarily members of IEEE
or IEEE SA and participate without compensation from IEEE. While IEEE administers the process and
establishes rules to promote fairness in the consensus development process, IEEE does not independently
evaluate, test, or verify the accuracy of any of the information or the soundness of any judgments contained in
its standards.

IEEE makes no warranties or representations concerning its standards, and expressly disclaims all warranties,
express or implied, concerning this standard, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability,
fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. In addition, IEEE does not warrant or represent that the
use of the material contained in its standards is free from patent infringement. IEEE standards documents are
supplied “AS IS” and “WITH ALL FAULTS.”

Use of an IEEE standard is wholly voluntary. The existence of an IEEE Standard does not imply that there
are no other ways to produce, test, measure, purchase, market, or provide other goods and services related to
the scope of the IEEE standard. Furthermore, the viewpoint expressed at the time a standard is approved and
issued is subject to change brought about through developments in the state of the art and comments received
from users of the standard.

In publishing and making its standards available, IEEE is not suggesting or rendering professional or other
services for, or on behalf of, any person or entity, nor is IEEE undertaking to perform any duty owed by any
other person or entity to another. Any person utilizing any IEEE Standards document, should rely upon his or
her own independent judgment in the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances or, as appropriate,
seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the appropriateness of a given IEEE standard.

IN NO EVENT SHALL IEEE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: THE
NEED TO PROCURE SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS;
OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE PUBLICATION, USE OF, OR RELIANCE
UPON ANY STANDARD, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE AND
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGE WAS FORESEEABLE.

Translations

The IEEE consensus development process involves the review of documents in English only. In the event that
an IEEE standard is translated, only the English version published by IEEE is the approved IEEE standard.

3
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Official statements

A statement, written or oral, that is not processed in accordance with the IEEE SA Standards Board Operations
Manual shall not be considered or inferred to be the official position of IEEE or any of its committees and shall
not be considered to be, nor be relied upon as, a formal position of IEEE. At lectures, symposia, seminars,
or educational courses, an individual presenting information on IEEE standards shall make it clear that the
presenter’s views should be considered the personal views of that individual rather than the formal position
of IEEE, IEEE SA, the Standards Committee, or the Working Group. Statements made by volunteers may not
represent the formal position of their employer(s) or affiliation(s).

Comments on standards

Comments for revision of IEEE Standards documents are welcome from any interested party, regardless of
membership affiliation with IEEE or IEEE SA. However, IEEE does not provide interpretations, consulting
information, or advice pertaining to IEEE Standards documents.

Suggestions for changes in documents should be in the form of a proposed change of text, together with
appropriate supporting comments. Since IEEE standards represent a consensus of concerned interests, it is
important that any responses to comments and questions also receive the concurrence of a balance of interests.
For this reason, IEEE and the members of its Societies and subcommittees of the IEEE SA Board of Governors
are not able to provide an instant response to comments, or questions except in those cases where the matter
has previously been addressed. For the same reason, IEEE does not respond to interpretation requests. Any
person who would like to participate in evaluating comments or in revisions to an IEEE standard is welcome
to join the relevant IEEE working group. You can indicate interest in a working group using the Interests tab in
the Manage Profile and Interests area of the IEEE SA myProject system.1 An IEEE Account is needed to access
the application.

Comments on standards should be submitted using the Contact Us form.2

Laws and regulations

Users of IEEE Standards documents should consult all applicable laws and regulations. Compliance with
the provisions of any IEEE Standards document does not constitute compliance to any applicable regulatory
requirements. Implementers of the standard are responsible for observing or referring to the applicable
regulatory requirements. IEEE does not, by the publication of its standards, intend to urge action that is not in
compliance with applicable laws, and these documents may not be construed as doing so.

Data privacy

Users of IEEE Standards documents should evaluate the standards for considerations of data privacy and
data ownership in the context of assessing and using the standards in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations.

Copyrights

IEEE draft and approved standards are copyrighted by IEEE under US and international copyright laws. They
are made available by IEEE and are adopted for a wide variety of both public and private uses. These include
both use, by reference, in laws and regulations, and use in private self-regulation, standardization, and the
promotion of engineering practices and methods. By making these documents available for use and adoption
1
Available at: https://development.standards.ieee.org/myproject-web/public/view.html#landing.
2
Available at: https://standards.ieee.org/content/ieee-standards/en/about/contact/index.html.

4
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
by public authorities and private users, neither IEEE nor its licensors waive any rights in copyright to the
documents.

Photocopies

Subject to payment of the appropriate licensing fees, IEEE will grant users a limited, non-exclusive license to
photocopy portions of any individual standard for company or organizational internal use or individual, non-
commercial use only. To arrange for payment of licensing fees, please contact Copyright Clearance Center,
Customer Service, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 USA; +1 978 750 8400; https://www.copyright
.com/. Permission to photocopy portions of any individual standard for educational classroom use can also be
obtained through the Copyright Clearance Center.

Updating of IEEE Standards documents

Users of IEEE Standards documents should be aware that these documents may be superseded at any time
by the issuance of new editions or may be amended from time to time through the issuance of amendments,
corrigenda, or errata. An official IEEE document at any point in time consists of the current edition of the
document together with any amendments, corrigenda, or errata then in effect.

Every IEEE standard is subjected to review at least every 10 years. When a document is more than 10 years old
and has not undergone a revision process, it is reasonable to conclude that its contents, although still of some
value, do not wholly reflect the present state of the art. Users are cautioned to check to determine that they have
the latest edition of any IEEE standard.

In order to determine whether a given document is the current edition and whether it has been amended through
the issuance of amendments, corrigenda, or errata, visit IEEE Xplore or contact IEEE.3 For more information
about the IEEE SA or IEEE’s standards development process, visit the IEEE SA Website.

Errata

Errata, if any, for all IEEE standards can be accessed on the IEEE SA Website.4 Search for standard number and
year of approval to access the web page of the published standard. Errata links are located under the Additional
Resources Details section. Errata are also available in IEEE Xplore. Users are encouraged to periodically
check for errata.

Patents
IEEE Standards are developed in compliance with the IEEE SA Patent Policy.5

Attention is called to the possibility that implementation of this standard may require use of subject matter
covered by patent rights. By publication of this standard, no position is taken by the IEEE with respect to the
existence or validity of any patent rights in connection therewith. If a patent holder or patent applicant has
filed a statement of assurance via an Accepted Letter of Assurance, then the statement is listed on the IEEE
SA Website at https://standards.ieee.org/about/sasb/patcom/patents.html. Letters of Assurance may indicate
whether the Submitter is willing or unwilling to grant licenses under patent rights without compensation
or under reasonable rates, with reasonable terms and conditions that are demonstrably free of any unfair
discrimination to applicants desiring to obtain such licenses.

3
Available at: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/browse/standards/collection/ieee.
4
Available at: https://standards.ieee.org/standard/index.html.
5
Available at: https://standards.ieee.org/about/sasb/patcom/materials.html.

5
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Essential Patent Claims may exist for which a Letter of Assurance has not been received. The IEEE is not
responsible for identifying Essential Patent Claims for which a license may be required, for conducting inquiries
into the legal validity or scope of Patents Claims, or determining whether any licensing terms or conditions
provided in connection with submission of a Letter of Assurance, if any, or in any licensing agreements are
reasonable or non-discriminatory. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the
validity of any patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, is entirely their own responsibility.
Further information may be obtained from the IEEE Standards Association.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

IEEE Standards do not guarantee or ensure safety, security, health, or environmental protection, or ensure against
interference with or from other devices or networks. IEEE Standards development activities consider research
and information presented to the standards development group in developing any safety recommendations.
Other information about safety practices, changes in technology or technology implementation, or impact
by peripheral systems also may be pertinent to safety considerations during implementation of the standard.
Implementers and users of IEEE Standards documents are responsible for determining and complying with
all appropriate safety, security, environmental, health, and interference protection practices and all applicable
laws and regulations.

6
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Participants

At the time this guide was completed, the F04 Working Group had the following membership:

Jody P. Levine, Chair

Joshua Perkel, Secretary

Manfred Bawart Craig Goodwin William Larzelere

Boguslaw Bochenski Jun Guo Henning Oetjen
Dominique Bolliger Nigel Hampton Benjamin Quak
Sudhakar Cherukupalli Jean Carlos Hernandez-Mejia Johannes Rickmann
Maria Dlagnekova Rene Hummel Charles Shannon
Jean Francois Drapeau Michael Joseph Jason Souchak
Mark Fenger Benjamin Lanz Jade Wong
Daniel Goetz Steffen Ziegler

The following members of the individual Standards Association balloting group voted on this guide. Balloters
may have voted for approval, disapproval, or abstention.

John Ainscough George Gela Sean Parsi

Saleman Alibhay Nadim Giotis Bansi Patel
Kraig Bader Daniel Goetz Satyam Patel
Justin Bardwell Jalal Gohari Howard Penrose
Thomas Barnes Craig Goodwin Joshua Perkel
Earle Bascom III Todd Goyette Benjamin Quak
Martin Baur Steven Graham Ion Radu
Manfred Bawart Jun Guo Eric Rasmussen
Boguslaw Bochenski Ankur Gupta Lakshman Raut
Dominique Bolliger Robert Hampton Johannes Rickmann
Kenneth Bow Hamidreza Heidarisafa Wesley Roggentine
Rich Boyer Jean Carlos Hernandez-Mejia Bartien Sayogo
Jeffrey Britton Lee Herron Dennis Schlender
Koti Reddy Butukuri Lauri Hiivala Charles Shannon
William Byrd Werner Hoelzl Michael Smalley
Thomas Campbell Richard Jackson Jerry Smith
Zhiman Chen Michael Joseph John Smith III
Peter Coors Yuri Khersonsky Gary Smullin
Joseph Damm Robert Konnik Chasen Tedder
Kurniawan Diharja Jim Kulchisky David Tepen
Gary Donner Mathieu Lachance Peter Tirinzoni
Neal Dowling Chung-Yiu Lam Nijam Uddin
Jean Francois Drapeau Benjamin Lanz James Van De Ligt
Donald Dunn William Larzelere John Vergis
Michael Faughnan Jody P. Levine Detlef Wald
Mark Fenger Lonnie Martinez Wayne Walters
Jorge Fernandez Daher Rachel Mosier Lanyi Wang
Carl Fredericks Ali Naderian Jahromi Yingli Wen
Ravindra Ganatra Arthur Neubauer Nicholas Zagrodnik
Shubhanker Garg Aaron Norris Ying Zhang
Lorraine Padden

7
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
When the IEEE SA Standards Board approved this guide on 3 December 2022, it had the following
membership:

David J. Law, Chair

Ted Burse, Vice Chair
Gary Hoffman, Past Chair
Konstantinos Karachalios, Secretary

Edward A. Addy Johnny Daozhuang Lin Mark Siira

Ramy Ahmed Fathy Kevin Lu Dorothy V. Stanley
J. Travis Griffith Daleep C. Mohla Lei Wang
Guido R. Hiertz Andrew Myles F. Keith Waters
Yousef Kimiagar Damir Novosel Karl Weber
Joseph L. Koepfinger* Annette D. Reilly Sha Wei
Thomas Koshy Robby Robson Philip B. Winston
John D. Kulick Jon Walter Rosdahl Daidi Zhong

*Member Emeritus

8
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Introduction

This introduction is not part of IEEE Std 400.3-2022, IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of
Shielded Power Cable Systems.

This document is intended to provide cable system owners and test operators a working understanding
of partial discharge (PD) testing and guidance on performing PD tests on cable systems in the field. The
discussion includes the theory and background on the generation and detection of PD, descriptions of common
defect types, and information on sensors and detection equipment used to identify and localize PD sources.
These PD sources can be excited by subjecting the cable system to voltages generated under normal operation
(online) as well as by external voltage sources with various waveshapes.

Of significance since the 2006 edition are the recommended test protocols, including pass criteria, for PD
testing of extruded cable systems. These protocols were developed based on typical practices employed
with commercially available test-voltage sources, for both new and aged cable components. While the test
protocols do not cover every situation and there continues to be debate over voltage-source equivalence, this
guide represents a reasonable set of parameters based on the working group’s considerable experience.

Acknowledgments

The following individuals have provided substantial contributions to this document but were not members of
the working group at time of ballot: Peter Coors, John Densley, Ed Gulski, Eberhard Lemke, Frank Petzold,
and Mark Walton. The working group is grateful for their efforts.

Figure 5, Figure 7, and Table 3 are from CDFI Phase 2 Final Report and reprinted with permission from
Georgia Tech NEETRAC, Chapter 7, “Medium Voltage Cable System Partial Discharge,” © 2015.

9
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Contents

1. Overview�� 11
1.1 Scope�� 11
1.2 Purpose�� 11
1.3 Word usage�� 11
1.4 Background�� 12

2. Normative references�� 13

3. Definitions, acronyms, and abbreviations�� 14

3.1 Definitions�� 14
3.2 Acronyms and abbreviations�� 15

4. Overall PD process�� 16

5. PD initiation�� 16
5.1 General�� 16
5.2 Type and location of defects�� 17

6. PD signal propagation�� 20

7. PD detection (PD measurements)�� 22

7.1 General�� 22
7.2 Sensor types�� 22
7.3 Noise�� 23

8. Measuring PD in the field�� 25

8.1 General�� 25
8.2 Pretest information�� 25
8.3 Voltage sources�� 26
8.4 Performance assessment (sensitivity check)�� 30
8.5 Test conditions (voltage levels and duration)�� 35

9. Interpreting PD measurements�� 44
9.1 General�� 44
9.2 Presence of PD�� 44
9.3 PD location�� 45
9.4 PD severity�� 47

10. Reporting�� 49
10.1 General�� 49
10.2 Documenting the test�� 50
10.3 Insulating materials�� 51
10.4 Operating conditions�� 51

11. Safety�� 52
11.1 General�� 52
11.2 Preparation and test configuration�� 53
11.3 Test day coordination�� 53

Annex A (informative) Partial discharge (PD) and water trees�� 54

Annex B (informative) PD voltage profile examples�� 55

Annex C (informative) Bibliography�� 58

10
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge
Field Diagnostic Testing of
Shielded Power Cable Systems

1. Overview
1.1 Scope
This guide covers the diagnostic testing of new or service-aged, installed shielded power cable systems, which
include cable, joints, and terminations, using electrical partial discharge (PD) detection, measurement, and
location. PD testing, which is a useful indicator of insulation degradation, may be carried out online or by
means of an external voltage source. This guide does not cover the testing of compressed gas insulated cable
or termination systems.

1.2 Purpose
This guide describes diagnostic methods capable of detecting and locating PD from defects and damage in
installed shielded power cable systems. The results of PD tests can be used to assess the condition of cables
and accessories.

1.3 Word usage

The word shall indicates mandatory requirements strictly to be followed in order to conform to the standard
and from which no deviation is permitted (shall equals is required to).6,7

The word should indicates that among several possibilities one is recommended as particularly suitable,
without mentioning or excluding others; or that a certain course of action is preferred but not necessarily
required (should equals is recommended that).

The word may is used to indicate a course of action permissible within the limits of the standard (may equals
is permitted to).

The word can is used for statements of possibility and capability, whether material, physical, or causal (can
equals is able to).

6
The use of the word must is deprecated and cannot be used when stating mandatory requirements; must is used only to describe
unavoidable situations.
7
The use of will is deprecated and cannot be used when stating mandatory requirements; will is only used in statements of fact.

11
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

1.4 Background
PDs are small electric sparks or discharges that may occur at defects in the insulation, at interfaces or surfaces,
between a conductor and a floating conductive component (not connected electrically to the high voltage
conductor or to the ground conductor), or between floating conductive components. PD occurs if the electric
field is high enough to cause ionization of the medium in which the components are located. The discharges do
not bridge the insulation between conductors completely, and the defects may be entirely within the insulation,
along interfaces between insulating materials (e.g., at accessories), or along insulation surfaces (terminations
or potheads).

PD characteristics depend on the type, size, shape, and location of defects, the insulating material, the applied
voltage, and the cable temperature, and they can vary in magnitude or repetition rate with time. The potential
damage caused by PD depends on several factors and can range from negligible to causing failure within
seconds to years.

Advances in digital (electrical) measurement technology, both in the time and frequency domains, have
improved the effectiveness of PD measurements, especially in environments where high background noise
levels exist that are in the same frequency band as that of the PD. This has led to an increasing number of PD
measurements being performed on cable systems in the field, particularly on medium-voltage systems.

The purpose of such measurements is to use PD characteristics (such as location, extinction voltage, etc.) as
a tool for assessing the conditions of the cable and accessories. The remaining life of the cables cannot be
predicted with great accuracy; however, new cable systems are expected to be free of PD. This technology
cannot determine with complete confidence that a specific cable is in very good condition with essentially
no probability of failure in the near future, as failure can be caused by phenomena that do not generate PD.
However, the PD measurement can, at times, predict with a high level of confidence that a given cable is in
very poor condition and is likely to fail in the near future.

This guide provides background information on PD detection and location techniques for users of PD
testing services of cables with laminated or extruded insulations, and it provides background information
on the interpretation of PD data. In this guide, cable may also refer to a cable system that includes cables and
accessories.

PD measurements are used in a variety of environments (field, laboratory, and factory) and for multiple
purposes (qualification, quality assurance, and condition assessment). It is important to understand the basic
differences between these environments, as the metrics and noise mitigation strategies are quite different.
These differences are discussed in Table 1.

12
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Table 1—Testing environments and their respective objectives

Location Test type Description
Tests conducted on new or aged accessories and cable together as a
cable system to study the interactions between them from a research
Research perspective. The research is commonly focused on investigating design
issues and/or estimation of the aging and degradation mechanisms
Laboratory that a cable system as a whole experiences during its service life.
Industry standard tests completed to ensure the effectiveness
Qualification of the manufacturing processes, equipment, and procedures
used to produce cable system components for field use.
Quality assurance Tests carried out on new accessories or cable to verify
Factory
(factory or that they comply with industry standards. Tests are
(manufacturer)
routine tests) performed routinely as part of the production line.
Tests deployed to check the integrity of the individual
components (cable and accessories), their interfaces, and the
Field Commissioning
cable system as a whole, including damage that could have
(utility, generation, occurred during installation and/or workmanship issues.
or industrial)
Tests intended to detect deterioration and to verify the serviceability
Maintenance
of cable systems in service for some length of time.

The primary difference between field and factory tests is that factory tests are performed on unaged cable or
accessories, while field tests are performed on complete cable systems that include both cable and accessories
installed together as a system. Field tests are performed on systems with new and aged components, thus
making them the more challenging to undertake.

2. Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document (i.e., they must
be understood and used, so each referenced document is cited in text and its relationship to this document is
explained). For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the
referenced document (including any amendments or corrigenda) applies.

IEC 60060-3, High-voltage test techniques—Part 3: Definitions and requirements for on-site testing.8

IEC 60270, High-voltage test techniques—Partial discharge measurements.

IEC 60885-3, Electrical test methods for electric cables—Part 3: Test methods for partial discharge
measurements on lengths of extruded power cables.

IEEE Std 4™, IEEE Standard for High-Voltage Testing Techniques.9,10

IEEE Std 400.2™, IEEE Guide for Field Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems Using Very Low Frequency
(VLF) (less than 1 Hz).

IEEE Std 400.4™, IEEE Guide for Field Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems Rated 5 kV and Above
with Damped Alternating Current (DAC) Voltage.

8
IEC publications are available from the International Electrotechnical Commission (http://www.iec.ch) and the American National
Standards Institute (https://www.ansi.org/).
9
IEEE publications are available from The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
(https://standards.ieee.org/).
10
The IEEE standards or products referred to in this clause are trademarks of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

13
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

3. Definitions, acronyms, and abbreviations

3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply. The IEEE Standards Dictionary
Online should be consulted for terms not defined in this clause.11

charge magnitude: See: partial discharge (PD) magnitude.

commissioning test: Test applied to a newly installed cable circuit to verify that the cable circuit is installed
correctly and is able to work satisfactorily.

damped ac (DAC): Starting from a (negative or positive) maximum voltage level and having damped
sinusoidal oscillations around the zero level. It is characterized by the peak value, VDAC, the circuit natural
frequency, fr, and the damping factor, Df.

maintenance test: Test made during the operating life of a cable circuit in order to detect deterioration in the
cable circuit or to check workmanship after a repair.

narrow band (NB): Partial discharge (PD) detection circuit with a midband frequency between 50 kHz and
1 MHz and bandwidth in the range of 9 kHz to 30 kHz.

near power frequency (NPF): Continuous sinusoidal voltages in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 300 Hz.
Frequencies as low as 10 Hz may be used for very long cable lengths, for example, submarine cables.

partial discharge extinction voltage (PDEV): The applied voltage at which repetitive partial discharges
(PDs) cease to occur in the test object when the applied voltage is gradually decreased from a higher value at
which PD pulse quantities are observed.

partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV): The applied voltage at which repetitive partial discharges (PDs)
are first observed in the test object when the applied voltage is gradually increased from a lower value at which
no PDs are observed.

partial discharge (PD) magnitude: Magnitude associated with a PD pulse received and recorded by a
measuring system. This may be reported as a voltage or charge. In the case of a reported charge, a suitable
pulse injector is used to inject pulses of known charge into the cable system and measuring system to establish
the scaling for the measuring system.

partial discharge (PD) repetition rate: The total number of PD pulses recorded in a selected time interval or
number of cycles divided by the duration of this time interval or number of cycles. Usually, only pulses above
a specified magnitude or within a specified range of magnitudes are considered.

phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) pattern: A visual representation of partial discharge (PD) pulse
activity (number and magnitude) during a specified time relative to the ac cycle phase position.

prestress test: A test or part of a test during which a high enough voltage is applied for a sufficient time to
initiate partial discharges (PDs) in potentially life-limiting insulation defects.

NOTE—This is the highest applied voltage for a particular PD test sequence and should never be greater than the specified
withstand level of the component with the lowest withstand rating.12

11
IEEE Standards Dictionary Online is available at: http://dictionary.ieee.org. An IEEE Account is required for access to the dictionary,
and one can be created at no charge on the dictionary sign-in page.
12
Notes in text, tables, and figures of a standard are given for information only and do not contain requirements needed to implement this
standard.

14
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

pulse height distribution: Number of pulses within a series of equally spaced windows of pulse magnitude
during a specified measuring time.

temporary overvoltage (TOV): An oscillatory overvoltage associated with switching or faults (e.g., load
rejection and single-phase faults) and/or nonlinearities (e.g., ferroresonance effects and harmonics) of
relatively long duration, which is undamped or slightly damped.

time-domain reflectometry: A technique whereby one or more fast low energy pulses are injected into
the cable system and the resulting reflections from changes in characteristic impedance are recorded. This
provides information on system configuration, length, and potential diagnostics.

U0: Phase-to-ground voltage based on component rating for acceptance tests or system nominal voltage for
maintenance tests.

ultra-wideband (UWB): Partial discharge (PD) detection circuit with a detection bandwidth greater than
500 kHz with no specific definition. No direct correlation with apparent charge level can be established.

very low frequency (VLF): Continuous, alternating sinusoidal or cosine-rectangular voltage with a
recommended fundamental frequency of 0.1 Hz.

wideband (WB): Partial discharge (PD) detection circuit with a lower-limit frequency in the range of 30 kHz
to 100 kHz, an upper-limit frequency less than 500 kHz, and bandwidth in the range of 100 kHz to 400 kHz.

withstand test: A test on a cable/accessory/circuit at a particular voltage for a specified time under specified
conditions. To pass the test, the object under test shall not fail or flashover.

3.2 Acronyms and abbreviations

DAC damped ac
EHV extra-high voltage
EPR ethylene propylene rubber
FTRC frequency tuned resonant circuit
HV high voltage
ITRC inductively tuned resonant circuit
NB narrow band
NPF near power frequency
PD partial discharge
PDEV partial discharge extinction voltage
PDIV partial discharge inception voltage
PRPD phase-resolved partial discharge
TOV temporary overvoltage
UWB ultra-wideband
VLF very low frequency
WB wideband
XLPE cross-linked polyethylene

15
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

4. Overall PD process
Partial discharges (PDs) are a consequence of local breakdown, either as a result of an electric field
enhancement within or on the surface of the insulation or from a region of low breakdown strength such as
an air void or cavity (throughout this document void and cavity are used interchangeably). PDs appear as
individual events of very short duration that are always accompanied by emissions of light, sound, and heat as
well as electromagnetic pulses. They also often result in chemical reactions (see Boggs and Densley [B10]13).

The overall process for determining a cable system condition assessment based on PD tests includes the
following elements:

a) Initiation: Generation of a PD when a sufficiently large defect present in the cable system, filled with
gas at an appropriate pressure and exposed to an electric field close to the dielectric strength of the gas,
experiences a momentary breakdown
b) Propagation: The process by which an electrical signal generated by a PD event is altered by the cable
system (via dispersion and attenuation) as the signal travels away from the PD source along the cable
system length
c) Detection: The use of a sensor and measurement system with sufficient sensitivity to detect the signal
produced by a PD source within the cable system
d) Interpretation: Knowledge rules and tools used to locate and identify the PD source as well as a means
of assessing the severity/criticality of the defect
e) Reporting: The conveyance of results of a PD test to the cable system owner with enough information
for the owner to decide on any remediation to be pursued

The PD process elements described above constitute the primary structure of this guide. The focuses of this
guide are the practices used in the detection, interpretation, and reporting of PD tests conducted in the field. The
inclusion of the generation and propagation elements are meant to provide the user with sufficient background
knowledge to understand the issues surrounding PD testing practices. This should aid the user in determining
which approaches he/she wishes to undertake in assessing his/her cable system.

5. PD initiation
5.1 General
In cable systems, PD occurs in voids or interfaces between insulating and semiconducting surfaces. These
are generally considered to be of the Townsend type of discharge. Such a discharge requires the following
conditions to occur:

— A gas-filled void of sufficient size

— Low enough pressure within the void
— Electric field greater than the breakdown strength of the gas (inception stress)
— An available free electron

The process requires a free electron (e.g., from cosmic rays) to be accelerated through the void by an electric
field with sufficient energy to cause additional electrons to be freed when it collides with another molecule.
This sets off an avalanche that progresses across the void, generating a discharge, local heating, and erosion of
the surrounding material. The void must be large enough so that it can catch a free electron, but once discharges
are established, there will be electrons available to initiate a discharge from the charges deposited on the
13
The numbers in brackets correspond to those of the bibliography in Annex C.

16
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

surface by previous PD. The pressure inside the void must also be low enough so that there is enough distance
between molecules for the electron to achieve enough kinetic energy to start the avalanche. The electric field
must also be sufficiently high (inception) to accelerate the electron fast enough so that its energy is able to
break loose additional electrons upon collision. All these conditions are interdependent and, therefore, allow
for a variety of conditions that can generate discharge.

This basic description encompasses a variety of defect types that can be found at accessory locations and
in extruded and laminated cable systems. The following discussion provides additional information on the
specific types of defects that can be identified using PD measurements.

5.2 Type and location of defects

The type of defect and the nature of the insulation structure in which the defect is located affect the discharge
signal that is generated and, therefore, the interpretation of PD data. It is well known that defects in cable
systems can result in premature failure, so it is important to be able to locate the defects and to determine
the type of defect. Defects can be inadvertently introduced into cables or accessories during manufacture,
storage, handling, transportation, and installation, or they can develop as the cable system ages in service
while exposed to electrical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental stresses. Some defects do not produce
PDs. Typically, defects will cause PD only if the local electric stress at the defect exceeds the inception stress
in that particular material and geometry.

5.2.1 Typical PD sources in accessories

Less than ideal conditions during installation can lead to the inclusion of defects within accessories in the
field. Typical defects that can result in PD are as follows:

— Loose insulation-joint interfaces, especially in the absence or migration of silicone grease, and at
indentations made into the insulation during joint installation
— Incorrectly assembled accessories (e.g., misalignment, improper positioning, installation scratches,
contamination, and voids)
— Knife cuts or bruises produced by splicing tools, especially at the edges of semiconducting shield
cut-backs
— Incorrectly positioned termination stress relief components
— Contamination such as moisture, metal oxide (sandpaper grains), or insulation shield material
— Voids in molded products due to manufacturing issues or improper shrinkage of accessory components
— Insufficient electrical contact between the cable connector and the inner semiconducting layer or
between the ground/neutral bond and the outer semiconducting layer
— Contaminated outer surfaces
— Terminal connector hardware (corona)

Modern accessories are designed to have a mechanically stable dielectric interface, but if the device is the
wrong size or there is a significant installation defect, differences in thermal expansion and contraction of
the cable and accessory components can cause interfacial cavities at high or low temperatures and especially
during cooldown periods after high-temperature operation. The cable loading further affects the pressure
and, thus, the cavity dimensions as well as PD characteristics: partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV),
partial discharge extinction voltage (PDEV), magnitude, and repetition rate. Different types of discharges
can be identified by their phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) patterns, but it is not an exact science.
For example, discharges resulting from a discontinuity in the connector or shield of a splice or a cable can
resemble a corona discharge.

17
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

5.2.2 Typical PD sources in extruded cables

Typical defects in extruded cable systems that can be sources of PD include the following:

— Voids or cavities within the insulation or at interfaces between the insulation and the semiconducting
shields, including knife cuts, gouges, cavities due to poor extrusion, or cracks in the insulation shield
— High-resistance insulation shield or broken neutral
— Electrical trees initiated from protrusions, voids, or water trees

These defects are discussed in more detail below.

5.2.2.1 Voids/cavities within the insulation or at interfaces between the insulation and the
semiconducting shields

These defects are characterized as gas-filled holes within either insulation or between the insulation and
semiconducting shields. The gas is typically air but can also include gaseous byproducts from the cross-
linking process (methane, acetophenone, etc.). The type of gas, shape, size, location, and pressure conditions
within the void all affect the discharge behavior of these defects.

The conditions within voids and cavities change in time as the discharge process erodes the walls and increases
the pressure (temporarily) within the defect. This, in turn, produces different pulse shapes and can impact the
inception stress. Discharges detected at lower stresses can disappear temporarily unless the stress is increased
to reignite the process.

Both the PD magnitude and the repetition rate increase with cavity surface area. Multiple discharges can
occur within the same cavity if the surface area is large; with time, however, as the conductivity of the cavity
surfaces increases, the multiple discharges can merge into a smaller number of larger magnitude pulses. The
PD magnitude will also increase with cavity depth. Therefore, any thermal expansion and contraction with
cable loading that affects the cavity dimensions will affect the PD. In smaller diameter spherical cavities,
discharges can cease with time as the walls of the cavity become conductive or if the pressure of the gas in the
cavity increases. Raising the test voltage can reignite the discharge sites.

Flat cavities can occur at interfaces, such as the insulation/semiconducting shields. At voltages well above the
PDIV/PDEV, discharge in such flat cavities can consist of a large number of spatially distributed discharges.
Wideband detection can be able to resolve them in time as separate events. With conventional low-frequency,
narrow-bandwidth PD detectors (midband frequency between 50 kHz and 1 MHz and bandwidth in the range
of 9 kHz to 30 kHz; see IEC 60270:2000 [B21]), the individual discharges cannot be distinguished, and
pulse superposition can take place, resulting in a much greater measured PD magnitude and much lower PD
repetition rate than actually occurs. Cavities adjacent to a semiconducting shield or a conductor can have a
polarity bias on the PRPD pattern (larger or more pulses on the positive or negative half cycle).

The usual progression of damage in cavities due to PD is the gradual erosion of the surfaces, the creation
of pits, and the eventual formation of surface tracks or electrical trees, which can grow relatively rapidly to
breakdown and failure of the cable.

5.2.2.2 High-resistance insulation shield or broken neutral

The resistivity of the semiconducting insulation shield of an unjacketed extruded cable can increase
significantly if the shield becomes contaminated with an organic liquid such as transformer oil, gasoline, or
the preservatives used in some wood utility poles. Such contamination is most likely to occur at the base of
a utility pole, where the cable enters the ground, or in industrial chemical plants. A high resistivity insulation
shield causes an increase in the electric stress at the neutral wires/tapes; consequently, PD can occur between
the neutral wires/tapes and the outer insulation semiconducting shield.

18
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

This type of PD activity can sometimes be identified through the pulse repetition rate, phase angle, dominant
polarity, pulse sequence, and pulse height distribution with relatively high magnitudes. In some cases, this
does not initiate an electrical tree in the insulation and does not lead to failure, so trending can be beneficial for
this type of defect. External PD can also occur if the neutral wires are broken due to corrosion, in which case,
a continuity test of the cable neutral may also be performed. Damage to the cable due to external discharges of
this type has been reported (Abdolall et al. [B2]). However, such PD is less likely to occur for a jacketed cable,
unless the integrity of the jacket has been compromised.

5.2.2.3 Electrical trees initiated from protrusions, voids, or water trees

Protrusions or contaminants within the insulation or at the insulation/semiconducting shield interfaces

produce local increases in the electric stress. If the stress becomes sufficiently large, an electrical tree can
be initiated. At the site of an electrical tree, the insulation is damaged irreversibly, PD can be present, and
complete insulation breakdown is only a question of time for nonlaminated insulation if the PDEV is less than
operating voltage. In general, electrical trees are more difficult to initiate than to grow; therefore, an electrical
tree, once initiated, tends to grow to failure by PD whenever the PDIV is exceeded.

Cavities usually generate electrical trees prior to failure. An electrical tree, once initiated, often grows rapidly
if discharge activity is allowed to persist (i.e., PDEV is less than operating voltage), leading to a failure in a
relatively short time ranging from minutes to some weeks, depending on the insulation material and operating
conditions. A positive detection and identification of an electrical tree should require immediate replacement
or repair.

PD does not occur during the initiation and growth of water trees as such defects are filled with water and not
gas. Discharge may occur if a water tree alters the stress distribution to the point where PD can initiate in the
remaining unaltered insulation and form an electrical tree. The likelihood of causing a water tree to initiate
an electrical tree during a field PD test increases with the test voltage magnitude and the test duration and
can depend on the voltage waveform and frequency. Any PD at a water tree implies the existence of one or
more electrical trees or voids at that water tree. An electrical tree initiated from a water tree can be from an
overvoltage such as lightning, a switching surge, or a field test. Alternatively, at operating voltage, water tree
progression in the surrounding insulation could increase the local electric stress enough to initiate an electrical
tree. Also see Annex A for information on water trees.

5.2.3 Typical PD sources in fluid-impregnated cables

Fluid-impregnated cables, such as paper-insulated lead-covered (PILC), cables are more resistant to PD than
extruded cables due to the self-healing property of the insulating fluid. Typical sources of PD are as follows:

— Fluid-deficient butt gaps, soft areas of the insulation, and voids or cavities due to poor impregnation
— Dry, brittle, and cracked paper
— Metallic contamination
— Waxing of the fluid (wax formation due to degradation hinders fluid flow that can lead to void
formation)
— Sites of carbonized tracks (e.g., surface tracking across layers)
— Water in the insulation
— Leakage of fluid at gaskets or due to holes in the sheath

PD activity in gas-filled bubbles will generate additional gases, changing the shape of the bubbles, which,
in turn, affects the PD characteristics. It is not unusual for PD in laminated insulation to move from one
location to another due to the transient behavior of gas bubbles. Repeated discharges in one location will cause

19
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

carbonization of the paper and the initiation of tracking. The tracking may follow the interfaces between paper
layers, cross the butt gaps, and, thus, extend axially along the cable.

In belted cables, mainly at medium voltage, where the cores are not individually shielded as they are in higher-
voltage cables, the area between the three cores becomes a high risk for deterioration due to PD. This happens
particularly during heavy loading, which may cause core separation. Another problem with this type of belted
cable at higher voltages is the high tangential stress causing discharge activity between the layers and finally
resulting in a failure. Typically, the application of individual screening of the cores (Hochstaedter layer or
H-type cable), which transforms the electric field between conductors to a radial field for each conductor,
solves this problem in an effective way.

The discharge magnitudes can be significantly (greater than 10 times) larger in laminated cable insulation
than what is typically detected in extruded systems. It should be noted that there are no reference PD data on
new laminated cables because PD testing is not required as part of routine factory testing. Newly produced
laminated cable was not traditionally tested for PD behavior, because discharge activity was not considered a
relevant quality standard for new laminated cable—as it certainly has been for extruded cable. The use of PD
testing as a diagnostic tool for laminated cable is relatively recent, and test protocols are determined on a case-
by-case basis.

6. PD signal propagation
Discharge sources can be located anywhere within a cable system, but there are limits to the number of access
points where a user may install a sensor for detecting PD. The electromagnetic pulse produced by a PD event
translates into traveling waves for which the shielded cable system acts as a waveguide. Unfortunately, power
cable systems are not ideal waveguides, so the pulses distort as they propagate away from their sources. The
distortion is caused by several types of cable system losses, which are frequency dependent. The longer the
cable system, the greater the distortion (see Hartlein et al. [B16]). The physical processes that characterize the
changes are well known and defined: skin effect, dielectric loss, reflection, and radiation (see Hartlein et al.
[B16]). These physical processes are represented by two major sources of PD pulse distortion:

— Attenuation: Loss of energy that reduces the magnitude of the pulse

— Dispersion: Different propagation velocities for different frequency components within the pulse,
which smear the original pulse shape

Multiple pulses can be detected in the same discharge event, resulting from reflections at the system ends and
other significant impedance changes. Detection of reflections can assist in source location.

Attenuation refers to the pulse energy that is lost as a function of the distance traveled by the pulse and its
frequency spectrum. In a cable system, attenuation is due to losses in the bulk insulation and propagation
through the resistance of the conductor, neutral, and semiconductive screens. Normally, attenuation increases
with frequency. Energy losses can be quite high for frequencies on the order of a few megahertz. As a
consequence, fast PD pulses can only travel limited distances (because of their high-frequency components)
before they are attenuated to a level at which they can be hidden by the background noise.

Dispersion refers to the phenomenon where the various spectral components of a pulse propagate at different
velocities in a given medium. Higher-frequency components travel faster than lower-frequency components.
The distortion appears as a phase shift of each of the individual frequency components of the PD pulse and
generally results in lower-amplitude, longer-duration pulses as compared to pulse shapes at their sources.
Dispersion distorts PD pulse shape without loss of energy.

Both attenuation and dispersion are illustrated in Table 2.

20
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Table 2—Effects of attenuation and dispersion on PD pulses

Phenomenon Observations Graphical example

Increased
pulse width

Attenuation Reduced energy

Reduced
amplitude

Dispersion Increased
pulse width

Constant energy

Reduced
amplitude
Attenuation
and Increased
dispersion pulse width

Reduced energy

Because of these phenomena, as well as any surge impedance changes from splices, all PD pulses lose
amplitude and change shape as they propagate. The extent of the change is determined by the pulse’s initial
spectral composition, the cable design, and the cable condition. This further complicates the interpretation
stage as pulses from the various defect types will likely appear different, depending on where they originated
in the cable system.

In some cases, high attenuation, for example, is used as an advantage for examining accessories in high-
voltage (HV) and extra-high-voltage (EHV) cable systems in which a sensor is installed at each accessory. In
this case, PD signals are unlikely to travel far enough to reach the nearest accessory. Therefore, users are able
to assume with reasonable confidence that the source of any discharge activity is relatively close to the sensor.

21
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

7. PD detection (PD measurements)

7.1 General
Assuming a PD pulse is generated and then propagates to a sensor location, a variety of sensors and data
acquisition systems are used in field measurements for detecting discharges.

7.2 Sensor types

Two groups of sensors are used for PD measurements as follows:

a) Sensors for PD detection: Transducer that responds to an input PD quantity by generating a functionally
related output, usually in the form of a mechanical or electrical signal
b) Sensors for PD synchronization: Transducer that detects the energizing high voltage and provides a
low-voltage electrical signal to synchronize the incoming PD signals with the ac waveform

PD measurements are most commonly performed using both sensor types. The cable system design and
accessibility may favor one sensor type over another.

A variety of PD detection sensors are used as follows:

— Capacitive: The PD signal is detected through a high-voltage, low-inductance coupling capacitor.

Depending on the measuring circuit design, the same capacitor can provide the voltage level and/or
the PD signal. It is primarily used for offline measurements, although it is technically possible to use in
online measurements as well. Because it connects with the high-voltage terminal, the sensor shall be
able to withstand all applied test voltages.
— Inductive: The PD signal is detected through the induction principle, most commonly in the form of
a high-frequency current transformer (HFCT ). This type of sensor may also be used for online and
offline application and is generally connected to the cable system metallic shield.
— Piezoelectric: PDs generate micromechanical surges that then propagate through the cable system and
can be detected. In this case, the sensor is deformed by the wave, and the deformation generates an
electrical signal.
— Acoustic: Similar to the piezoelectric sensor, the acoustic sensor detects the sonic wave that propagates
through the surrounding air/soil and converts this to an electrical signal.
— Electromagnetic (EM): An antenna detects the PD signal as EM energy radiating through a gap in the
metallic shielding (or by the shielding itself), usually near accessories.

Two voltage synchronization sensor types are used as follows:

— Capacitive: The synchronization signal is detected through a high-voltage, low-inductance coupling

capacitor. Depending on the measuring circuit design, the same capacitor can provide the voltage level
and/or the PD signal. It is primarily used for offline measurements, although it is technically possible
to use in online measurements as well. Because it connects with the high-voltage terminal, the sensor
shall be able to withstand all applied test voltages.
— Inductive: The PD synchronization signal is obtained by the sensor through the induction principle.
The most common low-frequency inductive device is the Rogowski coil. The Rogowski coil detects
the current flowing in the cable system and generates a corresponding voltage signal. It is necessary,
therefore, to adjust the signal phase from the Rogowski coil to account for the phase difference between
the current and energizing voltage to provide the correct voltage reference. This type of sensor may be
used for online and offline applications.

22
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Service and equipment providers may use/recommend different sensors, depending on the circuit configuration,
accessibility, noise environment, sensor bandwidth, and other equipment constraints. There is no single “best”
sensor that is suited to all situations.

7.3 Noise
Noise includes all signals that are detected by the PD measuring system but are not PDs generated within
the test object. Noise can be either continuous and band limited, such as radio traffic, or appear as pulses
from welding apparatus, vehicle ignition systems, electronic switching devices, surface discharges on nearby
power system components, and even PDs from the test supply system.

When the cable PD test is performed offline, any signals measured before the voltage is raised on the test
object can be considered noise. Some noise sources, however, can show voltage dependence, so not all signals
that are voltage dependent can be considered internal PD. It can be quite difficult to distinguish some pulse-
type noise from PD in the cable system being tested.

Even where signals are recognized as noise, they can still inhibit the detection of PD. Noise can limit the
visibility of PD signals in an analog display or the triggering readiness in a digital detection system. The
sensitivity of the measuring system is determined by the smallest PD source that can be distinguished from
the noise. It is affected not only by the bandwidth and magnitude of the noise, but by the repetition rate of both
noise and PD pulses.

All noise rejection methods should be used with caution and their effect on sensitivity reported. When noise
rejection techniques are applied during a test, an additional pulse injection sensitivity check should be
completed afterward, with all the employed noise rejection methods still active. Ideally, all the available noise
rejection methods should be assessed to determine their effect on sensitivity before performing the PD test.

7.3.1 Types of noise

Subclause 7.3.1 explains different types of noise.

7.3.1.1 White noise

White noise is present in all frequencies of the spectrum, although the magnitude can vary depending on the
environment. Generally, the greater the proximity and number of electric devices in the vicinity of the test
system, the higher the amount of white noise. Since white noise is effectively constant across the measuring
frequency spectrum, it is sometimes called the background noise floor.

Generally, white noise is measured in millivolts (mV) or displayed as an effective picocoulomb (pC) value
following the pulse injection calibration method, depending on the type of PD measuring instrument. A
background noise floor of less than 1 pC is typically only attainable in shielded rooms or at great distance away
from electrical devices (e.g., in the remote areas).

7.3.1.2 Phase-locked disturbances

Thyristors—for example, insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT ), MOS controlled thyristor (MCT ), metal-
oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET ), triode for alternating current (TRIAC)—are often
used in controls for rotating electrical machines, such as motors, generators, or even HV test sources. These
controls use different methods to supply certain voltages and voltage shapes to electrical machines; for
example, the phase-fired control (PFC), sometimes called a phase angle control, will turn voltages on and off
at certain angles of a 50/60-Hz cycle. This will result in a large ΔV/Δt, which can introduce unwanted pulses
to PD measurements.

23
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Very often, these signals come in multiples of two in the power frequency cycle, with equal numbers at constant
phase spacing in the positive and negative half cycle. Some PD measurement systems offer the possibility to
“gate out” such pulses, either graphically or physically, by using an external trigger signal. When doing so,
one should ensure that the amount of gated time in a 50/60-Hz cycle is < 2% of the time (see IEC 60270:2000
[B21] in order to not mask PD signals.

7.3.1.3 Stochastic noise/other noise

Noise that does not fit the characteristics of white noise or phase-locked noise usually shows a stochastic
distribution of signals over time. Very often, this noise is dominant in many different frequency spectra and
raises the effective noise floor, resulting in interference, and impacts the ability to obtain a target sensitivity
during the PD test. It is sometimes possible to isolate these signals using mathematical algorithm-based filter
methods.

7.3.2 Coupling methods

There are three ways for noise to couple into the cable system under test.

7.3.2.1 Air

Airborne noise couples into the test object, where the terminations and other connected devices serve as
antennae. There are very limited practical means to provide any shielding in a field test.

7.3.2.2 HV side coupling

Noise comes from the HV supply side, either generated in the HV winding, connections, and controls or
coupled through the voltage supply from its power source. This kind of noise may be reduced by appropriate
filters/inductances (isolation and shielded transformers) between the HV supply and the test object.

7.3.2.3 Ground/earthing

Noise coming from the grounding system is usually created by other electrical devices connected to the same
grounding system. Under certain conditions, it is possible to use a separate ground for the HV source, the test
object, and the measuring apparatus.

7.3.3 Noise rejection

Next to the physical reduction of noise coupling into the test object, noise rejection can be achieved either by
eliminating the noise sources (e.g., switching off the electrical devices) or by inhibiting their coupling into the
PD measuring system. Different methods are available to reduce the impact on the PD test.

7.3.3.1 Physical triggered gating

An additional sensor is used to detect the pulse-type noise, inhibiting the PD testing apparatus to detect,
measure, or display the noise for a certain gated time interval. This time should be as small as possible, < 2% of
the time. If the time interval is too large, real PD can go undetected, reducing the effective sensitivity.

7.3.3.2 Spectral filtering

Some PD measurement systems enable the user to choose specific frequency bandwidths to measure or
ignore. While this reduces the amount of available PD signal energy, if the corresponding noise reduction is
greater, and there remains enough PD signal to be above the background noise floor, overall sensitivity can be
improved.

24
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

7.3.3.3 Digital post processing

Sometimes a combination of different methods is used to reduce the impact of noise signals to the PD test.
Some PD testing apparatuses can differentiate multiple signal sources by means of particular temporal/spectral
or shape characteristics or the nature of coupling between various sensors, particularly between phases of a
multisensor system. Note that these systems also may be considered a type of gate and care should be taken
to ensure that not so much of the incoming signal is eliminated that legitimate PD signals are unlikely to be
detected.

Time-of-flight source location is another method of separating internal PD from external noise. Care should be
taken in employing this technique. Some signals that appear to be in a termination can be propagating in from
one end, and some sources that appear to be in the middle of the cable can be common mode noise coupling
into both terminations at the same time.

These and other postprocessing digital signal processing techniques still require that internal PD pulses be
captured with sufficient integrity and in sufficient numbers to be recognized. Even the most sophisticated noise
rejection techniques can have a legitimate PD signal swamped out by large, highly repetitive noise sources.
Users should discuss the techniques their test operator or equipment manufacturer employs to understand their
impact on the test results.

8. Measuring PD in the field

8.1 General
The measurement of PD in the field is a complicated subject that involves significant skill and experience. The
concepts discussed in the preceding sections should be understood because their implications greatly impact
the results of field tests. This section describes the practical aspects of performing a PD test in the field.

8.2 Pretest information

To facilitate the testing process, detailed information needs to be obtained from the cable owner. This
information is discussed in the following sections.

8.2.1 Cable system characteristics

The most basic information a cable owner should provide includes rated and operating voltage, insulation type
(extruded versus laminate), approximate cable lengths involved, availability of power for test set on site, and
ability to access and isolate cable segments.

8.2.1.1 Cable configuration

This includes information on whether the system is single or three phase (is each phase individually shielded
or is there one single shield over all three phases), whether the system is radial or looped, whether the system
is direct buried or in duct, and other information pertaining to the cable routing, particularly with branched
circuits.

8.2.1.2 Termination/separable connector type and accessibility

Information is needed on ratings and whether the termination is live- or dead-front, in a switching cabinet or
substation housing, on a pole-top, in sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), or other.

Separable connectors should be identified by type, voltage class, and current class and have suitable mating
components available both for capping (if disconnected from equipment) or energizing through. Separable

25
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

connectors may not be PD tested “open”—that is, unplugged and without mating components—to help ensure
insulation integrity during the test.

It is also necessary to know about accessibility of terminations and associated connection, both for energizing
an offline test supply with sufficient isolation from live components on the system and for installation of
external PD sensors.

Any connected equipment, either associated with the power system or specific to the test, shall be able to
withstand the test voltage and should be recognized as a possible source of PD that could interfere with the
test. Power system equipment such as transformers (including potential transformers), surge arresters, and
certain types of switchgear may need to be disconnected.

8.2.2 Preliminary inspection and/or testing

A physical inspection by the testing organization of the cable system to be tested is helpful and is highly
recommended. A relatively quick and inexpensive preliminary test is recommended, including a sensitivity
test, to determine whether a) the cable construction is such that very high attenuation is expected or b) the
neutral is suspected of not being continuous or of being ineffective. The preliminary test may be effectively
performed by means of low-voltage reflectometry. If the attenuation is so high that the reflected pulse is hardly
visible or if the neutral or shield is not continuous, a high-voltage PD test may not be warranted, as PD signals,
especially those with low magnitude, can go undetected.

8.2.3 Pretest conference

Before PD testing, a conference with the cable operator is useful and recommended. During this conference,
the following items (8.2.3.1 and 8.2.3.2) should be discussed.

8.2.3.1 Test protocol

The PD test protocol and the results of any preliminary screening tests should be reviewed. Specifically, the
test voltage level should be discussed, and an agreement should be reached for its maximum allowable value
and the duration of its application. The advantages and limitations of the particular PD test method used should
be clearly conveyed to the cable owner. The cable owner should approve the test protocol and clearly state any
conditions that would require its revision.

8.2.3.2 Safety

The safety procedures, as described in Clause 9, should be reviewed and agreed upon. This includes safety
equipment, switching and blocking practices, suitable clearances and isolation, grounding, responsibility for
control of the cable under test, and safety of the public.

8.3 Voltage sources

The purpose of the test voltage is to produce PDs at insulation defects in the cable, terminations, and/or splices.
A test supply should do the following:

— Generate a voltage waveform that produces PD behavior with characteristics close to, if not identical
to, those occurring under a power frequency voltage waveform
— Allow the applied voltage to be varied
— Be easy to transport to site, connect to the test object, and connect to a power source (if required)

26
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Voltage sources that are used for PD measurements in the field fall into the following two categories:

— Near-power-frequency (NPF) sinusoidal voltage sources

— Alternative voltage sources of various waveshapes

These voltage sources and their specific characteristics with regard to PD testing are described in the following
subsections. Comparisons of the various voltage sources are given in IEEE Std 400™-2012 [B29].

8.3.1 System voltage (power frequency)

Normal phase-to-ground operating voltage (system voltage) may be used in online PD measurements (see
8.5.2 for a discussion of the process).

8.3.2 NPF voltage sources

Continuous, NPF sinusoidal voltage sources have the advantage of duplicating the cable system operating
voltage waveform with the flexibility of increasing the voltage magnitude above normal operating voltage.
For the purpose of this guide, NPF voltage sources are sources to generate a sine wave of frequency ranging
from 20 Hz to 300 Hz (as low as 10 Hz for submarine cables) when connected to the cable systems under
investigation.

The simplest power frequency test circuit uses the system voltage to energize the cable, known as online PD
detection. This has special considerations that are discussed in 8.5.2.

Specialized test supplies allow the voltage to be varied and are fault current limited to help minimize any
damage that could occur in the event of insulation breakdown during testing. To keep the size and weight
suitable for field transportation, series resonant test sets are generally used. The two types of power frequency
series resonant test systems commercially available for field PD measurements are as follows:

— Frequency tuned resonant circuits (FTRCs)

— Inductively tuned resonant circuits (ITRCs)

Both the FTRC and the ITRC test sets are generally larger and heavier than the alternative voltage sources.

8.3.2.1 FTRCs (20 Hz to 300 Hz sinusoidal)

FTRC test systems have no moving parts and may be smaller in size than ITRC test sets for test power levels
above 8 MVA.

A disadvantage of some frequency converter systems used in FTRC test sets is that they employ high-power
electronic switching converters. The switching of such converters produces conducted and radiated noise
pulses in the PD measuring spectrum. Figure 1(a) is an example with four switching pulses per period. For
those types of frequency converters, it is necessary to filter the noise pulses out of the HV test circuit or to
gate them electronically in the measuring circuit. Signal gating blocks PD measurements during part of the
sine wave, as shown in Figure 1(b). If the gating blocks part of the relevant PD signal, it may be possible to
phase shift the switching pulses by detuning the frequency slightly. An example is given in Figure 1(c) and
Figure 1(d).

The degree of detuning required for a significant phase shift is generally very slight and depends on the desired
phase shift, how close the load is to the tuning limit, and the quality factor of the test circuit.

27
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Figure 1—Inverter noise pulses (a) without gating and (b) with gating; inverter pulses
(c) 25 degree shifted by a slight detuning and (d) shifted pulses with gating

8.3.2.2 ITRCs (system frequency)

ITRCs are variable inductors that tune with a movable ferrous core. These do not produce switching pulses
that interfere with PD measurements, although there may be some motor or brush noise during tuning and
voltage adjustment, which is normally filtered at the source. Mains coupled PD noise may be suppressed
by conventional low-voltage filters. The HV inductor in this type of source acts as a natural filter in the PD
measuring band. Voltage variation is gradual and smooth and facilitates accurate determination of PDIV and
PDEV.

ITRC systems contain moving parts that can require maintenance and adjustment over time. ITRC systems are
generally limited to 15 MVA in single units at any voltage rating. Multiple units may be run in series or parallel
for increased voltage or current.

8.3.3 Alternative voltage sources

For the purpose of this guide, alternative voltage sources refer to field PD test supplies generating voltages
that may be nonsinusoidal, have frequencies other than NPF, or are pulsed and not continuous. As compared to
50/60-Hz voltage stresses, the PD inception conditions, PD magnitudes, and PD patterns can be different (see
IEEE Std 400-2012 [B29]).

8.3.3.1 Very low frequency (VLF)

Commercially available very low frequency (VLF) voltage sources are lighter and smaller than NPF voltage
sources. Unlike dc voltage sources, the VLF waveform has regular polarity changes and is unlikely to produce
harmful space charges in the extruded dielectric (Steennis et al. [B46]). Like other switching voltage sources,
these can produce pulse-type noise that requires filters at the output of the voltage source or phase gating on
the PD signal.

28
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

The VLF voltage shapes as well as procedures for withstand and diagnostic testing are given in
IEEE Std 400.2™.14

8.3.3.1.1 VLF voltage with sinusoidal waveshape

Modern, sinusoidal VLF sources generally provide load-independent, smooth, sinusoidal ac test voltages at a
nominal frequency of 0.1 Hz. Switching noise is usually suppressed with integrated filters.

Given the low rate of change of voltage associated with the VLF sinusoid, the PD repetition rate per second is
likewise reduced. This can be a disadvantage in a very noisy environment where a small number of PD pulses
can be difficult to distinguish from the noise. It can be an advantage, however, where multiple PD sources
might otherwise interfere with each other during time-of-flight source location—multiple PD sources occur
more often in laminated dielectrics (Hetzel and MacKinlay [B18]).

8.3.3.1.2 VLF voltage with cosine rectangular waveshape

Cosine rectangular VLF has a frequency of 0.1 Hz, but the waveform has a fast (NPF) polarity reversal
followed by a dc plateau of approximately 5 s. Electronic noise from switching may be suppressed by gating or
even used as a marker for the start of polarity reversal (Figure 2 and IEEE Std 400.2).

Figure 2—PD pattern of an interfacial defect at (a) 0.1 Hz VLF cosine rectangular voltage and
(b) 50 Hz sinusoidal voltage

The NPF polarity reversals can produce PD patterns similar to those under power frequency, as shown in
Figure 2.

8.3.3.2 Damped alternating current (DAC)

Damped alternating current (DAC) voltage sources are lighter in weight and have lower power requirements
than NPF excitation sources. IEEE Std 400.4™ addresses DAC voltage testing in the NPF range from 20 Hz
to 500 Hz.

Damped alternating voltages are generated by charging the cable system to a predetermined voltage level then
discharging the test object’s capacitance through a suitable inductance. During the charging stage, the test
object is subjected to a continuously increasing ramp voltage. During the discharging stage, the test object
experiences a damped oscillating wave. An example of a series of DAC excitations is given in Figure 3. Note
that the timescale is compressed during the charging phase, which is typically several seconds to 100 s. Refer
to IEEE Std 400.4 for guidance on charging time.

There is no switching noise during a DAC excitation, as there is no active power supply connected.

14
Information on references can be found in Clause 2.

29
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Figure 3—Series of DAC excitations (charging phase compressed versus discharge phase)

As DAC testing is not continuous but based on short voltage excitations, a proper triggering/synchronization
between the DAC voltage source and the PD detection unit should be provided (see Gulski et al. [B15]).

Figure 4—Principles of determination of PDIV during DAC testing (Wester [B50]); PDIV is
based on the lowest-voltage DAC excitation in which any PD activity is observed

PDIV is based on the PD pattern analysis as illustrated in Figure 4. PDIV occurs at the lowest maximum-
applied-peak-voltage at which there is any detectable PD.

PDEV was historically determined from the decaying wave—the peak voltage of the last half cycle in which
there is any detectable PD (see 8.2 in IEEE Std 400.4™-2015 [B30]). The dependency of this procedure on the
quality factor of the test circuit could lead to unrepeatable results.

Therefore, it is recommended to define PDEV as the highest voltage at which there is no PD in 10 consecutive
DAC excitations. The overall determination procedure is the same as with other voltage sources, as described
in 8.5.1. For comparison of PDIV and PDEV levels with sinusoidal sources, including the recommended test
levels in 8.5.1.4.2 of this guide, the peak values of the excitation should be divided by √2.

8.4 Performance assessment (sensitivity check)

The detection sensitivity in any test method is defined as the capacity to respond to changes in the variable that
it is measuring. The sensitivity may be understood as the smallest absolute amount of change in the measured
variable that can be detected by the measuring equipment, limited by the external noise in the operating
environment. The main goal of this check is to establish the smallest pulse amplitude and width that can be
detected. It is found by injecting a known pulse into the cable system at various locations and recording the
results.

30
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

8.4.1 Factory-style test methods according to IEC 60270, IEC 60885-3, and ANSI/ICEA
T-24–380

High-voltage PD testing of shielded power cables and some accessories is a routine test performed in the
factory in a controlled environment with low background noise levels prior to shipping. The measurements
are done with a calibrated measurement system, and the standards require at least a signal-to-noise ratio of 2:1
to allow easy identification of test related PD (ANSI/ICEA T-24–380-2013 [B1]). The measurement circuit
has a defined frequency response and bandwidth according to the limits described in IEC 60270. The PD
magnitudes measured are integrated quantities. The measurement is of the apparent charge and may only be
measured at the ends of the cable. The actual PD at the discharge site cannot be measured directly. The factory-
style test circuit has many limitations for use in the field.

The preferred configuration for a factory-style PD test in the field is as follows:

— The cable is relatively short and has no splices or branches.

— The cable is of one type continuously such that the impedance changes are not significant.
— The ambient noise level is low or below the PD level to be measured. This includes noise from radiated
sources, capacitively coupled sources, or ground induced sources.
— Standard gating window circuits may be applied.
— A PD-free test source and calibrated PD measurement system are used, and a coupling capacitor may
be connected to one or both ends of the cable.

If PDs are detected, narrow-band factory-style PD detection has no means of PD site location. For PD site
location, see methods described in 9.3.

8.4.2 Ultra-wideband (UWB) test methods

High-voltage PD testing of shielded power cables in the field generally cannot meet the above criteria for
factory-style testing, and other methods have been developed to be able to detect PD events inside a cable
system. These systems are called ultra-wideband (UWB). These systems measure quantities that do not
relate to the PD values measured in the factory unless a calibration is done according to IEC 60270, with an
IEC 60270-compliant measuring system, to show a correlation between the UWB-recorded value and the
actual charge injected for calibration. The technical specifications for UWB systems may differ from PD
measurement systems that are designed to meet IEC 60270 and IEC 60885-3:

— UWB sensors, such as high-frequency current transformers and coupling capacitors integrated
into cable accessories, have wider frequency response than factory-style high-voltage PD coupling
capacitors and integration circuits.
— The measurement and recording systems are also UWB, and most systems are able to selectively adapt
the measuring bandwidth to reduce the effect of fixed noise signals.
— The processing equipment may process the digitized data recorded to analyze and separate damaging
PD signals from many forms of noise.
— Calibration takes the form of a sensitivity check with special pulse generators that have defined rise
time and pulse width characteristics. For some PD detection systems, such as fast sensors installed on
joints, it can be difficult for a pulse injected at the termination to reach them.

31
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

8.4.3 Offline tests

The calibration (in the case of factory-style testing) or sensitivity check (in the case of UWB testing) tries to
establish the relationship between the amplitude of injected charge values or pulses (Ai) and the amplitude
of the resulting measured charge values or pulses (Am) as detected by the measurement equipment. This is
illustrated in Figure 5. PD magnitude measurements performed according to IEC 60270 are expressed as
charge in picocoulombs (pC), while PD magnitude measurements performed with UWB systems are typically
expressed in voltage as millivolts (mV).

Figure 5—Correlation of pulse injection and measured pulse amplitude for establishing
sensitivity check (Perkel and Hernandez-Mejia [B42])

Calibrations and/or sensitivity checks are performed by injecting signals from a pulse generator into the cable
system to simulate propagating PD. Pulse injections are performed first at the near end, where sensitivity is
greatest and pulse response is most accurate. This will confirm if the PD detection equipment is installed and
operating correctly and is able to detect a known signal. Where possible, a far-end injection may be performed
to assess the system sensitivity to a possible PD source remote from the detection equipment, as compared to
background noise. This is particularly important to make any claims of overall system sensitivity. A far-end
pulse reflection may also be used, but only if the incident pulse is not used as a timing reference.

8.4.3.1 Factory-style PD systems

For factory-style systems using a coupling capacitor, a PD pulse calibrator meeting the requirements of
IEC 60270 is used to inject known PD pulses into the near and far end of the cable to establish the minimum
detectable level above the background noise level. In general, a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 2:1 is
recommended to ensure that PD events are not masked by the ambient noise. Window circuits may be used to
filter fixed noise sources as long as the window width is within the requirements of IEC 60885-3.

8.4.3.2 UWB systems

For a given pulse width, the lowest amplitude of the injected pulse is determined. The injection starts with the
highest possible amplitude and is reduced until the measured pulse amplitude falls beneath the background
noise level. This amplitude and the fixed pulse width represent the sensitivity of the PD measuring system
under these particular test conditions. This level is normally measured in volts (V) or millivolts (mV).

32
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

For a given pulse amplitude, the narrowest pulse width of the injected pulse is determined. The injection
starts with the widest possible pulse, and the width is then decreased until the measured pulse amplitude
falls beneath the background noise level. This value and the pulse width represent the sensitivity of the PD
measuring system under these particular test conditions.

There are several ways to deploy the sensitivity check for field PD measurements, including terminal (single-
ended and double-ended) and distributed measurements. The details of the sensor placement and connections
for the various options appear in Table 3.

Table 3—Illustration of the approaches for sensitivity check deployment for PD

measurements on power cable systems (Perkel and Hernandez-Mejia [B42])
Deployment
Injector and PD measuring equipment located at the same end with coupling capacitor
Provides
external, low
impedance
path for
injected pulses
to reach sensor

Reflection
from far end
required to
quantify
cable system
attenuation
and dispersion
Injector and PD measuring equipment located at the same end without coupling capacitor

Inductive
sensor used on
termination
ground lead

Reflection
from far end
required to
quantify
cable system
attenuation
and dispersion

Injector and PD measuring equipment located at different ends with coupling capacitor

Attenuation
and dispersion
effects
observed

Quantifies
ability to
detect PD
from far end

Table continues

33
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Table 3—Illustration of the approaches for sensitivity check deployment for PD

measurements on power cable systems (Perkel and Hernandez-Mejia [B42]) (continued)
Deployment
Injector and PD measuring equipment located at different ends without coupling capacitor
Inductive
sensor used on
termination
ground lead

Attenuation
and dispersion
effects
observed

Quantifies
ability to
detect PD
from far end
Injector located at one end and PD measuring system located at a splice
Distributed
measurement

External
inductive
sensor or
internal
capacitive
sensor at splice

Attenuation
and dispersion
effects
observed

May be
difficult to
send a fast
enough pulse
to simulate
a PD source
at the splice

If more than one PD sensor is used simultaneously during the test (e.g., for dual-ended or distributed
deployment), then the sensitivity check should be performed from the injection location to each of the PD
measuring systems present in the cable system during the simultaneous acquisition of the PD signals by using
the approaches presented in Table 1.

8.4.4 Online tests

Pulse injection is not feasible during online testing without special pulse injection circuits compatible with
high-voltage operation. Where multiple PD sensors are employed, it is possible to inject a PD-like pulse in
one sensor and detect it in another. To make a sensitivity claim with online pulse injection, the sensor response
should be compared to an offline, direct pulse injection on the same system. If only an offline pulse injection
is performed, it may be used to show the sensor response, but the overall detection sensitivity is unlikely to
reflect the online noise environment.

34
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

8.4.5 Cautionary notes on sensitivity assessments

While there may be many factors beyond the test operator’s control that can affect the sensitivity of a PD test,
it is important that the sensitivity be accurately represented by the test operator so that the system operator may
have confidence in the results, particularly where no PD is detected. The test operator should:

— Provide a description of the method used to perform the sensitivity assessment, and the corresponding
result for each measurement/cable circuit.
— Perform the sensitivity assessment procedure with the full measurement system connected to the cable
system and in the same noise environment as the actual PD test.
— Determine sensitivity with single-shot pulse injector or a repetitive signal with no time reference to
the measuring instrument, not even the incident pulse on a far-end reflection, such that no averaging or
other time-referenced noise mitigation measures that are inappropriate to PD detection are employed.
Time referenced techniques may be used to demonstrate the shape response or transfer function of a
sensor but not to demonstrate noise rejection of a measuring system.
— Where demonstrating sensitivity for the entire cable system, ensure that sensitivity check pulses are
injected at the most remote end of the system. If a far-end reflection from a near-end injection is used
to demonstrate sensitivity to remote PD sources, the detection system should recognize a similar-sized
pulse without using the incident pulse as a time reference.
— Use a very limited phase gating window (< 2% of time; IEC 60270:2000 [B21]).
— For UWB systems, use a pulse injection system with a shape that is adequately PD-like (i.e., a definable
pulse) in order to not unreasonably favor a bandwidth-limited system.

8.5 Test conditions (voltage levels and duration)

Two general approaches are available to energize cables to detect PD sites in installed cables: offline and
online testing (Ahmed and Srinivas, 2001 [B5]). Offline testing is carried out using a separate voltage source
after the cable has been removed from service (CIGRE WG D1.33 Task Force 05 [B12] and Mashikian [B37]).
Online testing is carried out during normal operation of the cable system, with the system power connected
(Ahmed and Srinivas, 1998 [B4]). Online testing may be conducted with the cable system loaded (at operating
temperature) or unloaded (voltage only).

Some advantages of offline PD testing are as follows:

— PDIV and PDEV may be measured if a variable voltage source is used.

— PD characteristics may be obtained at different voltages, which can aid in the identification of certain
types of defects.
— Impact of noise from the utility power system is reduced.

Some advantages of online PD testing are as follows:

— PD characteristics may be obtained at different cable currents (load conditions) and at different times,
which can aid in the identification of certain types of defects.
— Tests may be performed without having to take the cable out of service, assuming local work rules
permit and the necessary connections are accessible.
— No additional voltage source equipment is needed to test.

35
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Some PD test equipment and methods are designed to only detect the existence of PDs and not locate their
sites. Other PD test equipment and methods can detect and locate PD sites. Only the latter are covered in this
guide.

The following subclauses describe the recommended practice for PD testing using either offline or online
methods.

8.5.1 Offline tests

Offline PD tests are conducted as either acceptance tests (new systems) or maintenance tests (aged systems).
The use of external voltage sources (see 8.3.2 and 8.3.3) allows for PD measurements to be made at different
voltage levels, including those above the normal operating voltage of the cable system.

Acceptance tests are discussed in 8.5.1.1, and maintenance tests are discussed in 8.5.1.2.

8.5.1.1 Acceptance tests

PD acceptance tests are typically based on component ratings rather than system voltages and are intended
to verify as-new performance of complete cable systems at commissioning. The maximum applied voltage
for the system is based on the component with the lowest withstand rating. Cables and different types of
accessories have different PDEV criteria, so PD location can be critical to determining if a cable system meets
these criteria.

Table 4 in 8.5.1.4.2 provides recommended applied voltage levels based on accessory standards, and more
detail may be found in those standards. Where the component manufacturer provides guidance, this is to be
used instead. These levels are intended to apply to effectively grounded systems or where the components
are rated to accommodate overvoltages expected in noneffectively grounded systems. Unusual overvoltages
beyond the component ratings or other specific conditions beyond the scope of this document may require a
custom test protocol by agreement between the purchaser, installer, and manufacturer. If no other guidance is
available, then these are suggested values.

Conduct an acceptance test as follows (refer to acceptance test criteria based on new component ratings in
Table 4):

a) Determine the prestress voltage level for each component in the system. This is based on the
component types (cable, terminations, separable connectors, and joints) and voltage rating.
b) Select the prestress voltage level by identifying the lowest level from item a). This level should be
applied to the full cable system.
c) Select the voltage source to be used for testing (sinusoidal NPF or alternative voltage sources—see
8.3.2 and 8.3.3).
d) Determine the prestress duration for the selected voltage source.
e) Determine the recommended PDEV for each component in the system. There should be no PD
originating from these components at voltages below their recommended PDEV.
f) Perform the acceptance test using the voltage profile (Figure 6) and durations specified in Table 4.

For all voltage classes, new extruded cables are expected to have no detectable PD up to the rated cable
withstand voltage. The applied cable system voltages recommended in this guide are below the cable
withstand ratings, so there is never expected to be PD originating from the cable itself (i.e., there should be
no PD inception in the cable) unless a defect is present. Any system with PD activity that is determined to be
produced in the cable should not be accepted by the user.

36
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

According to CIGRE Technical Brochure 728 [B11], experience has shown that PD measurements performed
during acceptance testing of HV and EHV systems with a prestress voltage level of 1.7 U0 provide a high
probability of exciting PD in life-limiting, installation-related defects in a cable system’s insulation. While
standards such as IEC 60840:2020 [B25] and IEC 62067:2022 [B26] allow for acceptance testing at
voltage levels lower than 1.7 U0 (Table 10 of IEC 62067:2022 [B26]), it is recommended to perform the PD
measurements at 1.7 U0 with a guiding criterion that, if PD is detected in the accessories, the PDEV should be
≥ 1.5 U0 (see Table 4; IEC 60840:2020 [B25] and IEC 62067:2022 [B26]).

NPF acceptance testing of EHV cable systems with rated voltages higher than 230 kV at a test voltage of 1.7
U0 may require multiple resonant test systems. Practical constraints such as availability of or accessibility for
test equipment can limit the test voltage to less than 1.7 U0. In these situations, it is important to consider that
reducing the prestress voltage also reduces the probability of detecting life-limiting defects.

8.5.1.2 Maintenance tests

For older or otherwise compromised cable systems where there is concern regarding test damage, or where
component ratings are unknown, the circuit may be tested for basic operating performance using a maintenance
test.

Maintenance tests utilize reduced voltage magnitudes, as compared to acceptance tests, and are generally
based on the operating voltage of the system, which should be taken as the reference voltage U0 for the purpose
of selecting maintenance test voltages. It is reported common practice that the PDEV should be at least 1.05
times the expected operating voltage (see 8.5.1.3 for additional information).

Conduct a maintenance test as follows (refer to maintenance test criteria based on operating voltage in Table 4):

a) Determine the prestress voltage level for each component in the system. This is based on the
component types (cable, terminations, separable connectors, and joints) and operating voltage.
b) Select the prestress voltage level by identifying the lowest level from item a). This voltage level should
be applied to the full cable system and is lower than that recommended for new systems.
c) Select the voltage source to be used for testing (system voltage, sinusoidal NPF, or alternative voltage
sources; see 8.3.1, 8.3.2, and 8.3.3).
d) Determine the prestress duration for the selected voltage source.
e) Determine the recommended PDEV for each component in the system. There should be no PD
originating from these components at voltages below their recommended PDEV.
f) Perform the maintenance test using the voltage profile (Figure 6) and durations specified in Table 4.

For situations in which repairs are performed and new components are combined with existing cable systems,
it may not be possible to verify new components to as-new condition using acceptance test parameters. A
reduced voltage test based on the maintenance test approach is still useful to detect severe defects in new
components.

Some cable systems use unique grounding methods to accommodate other broader system design or operation
issues. This may require users to consider different PDEV criteria. In systems with high-impedance grounded
neutrals, phase-to-phase voltage could temporarily be applied phase-to-ground when faults occur, and
this temporary overvoltage (TOV) need not be considered as operating voltage (IEEE Std C62.22™-2009
[B33]). PD inception can occur during the TOV, but if it is not long enough for the PD to cause damage, the
PD extinguishes as the voltage decays to normal and cable operation continues. Repeated TOVs can have
a cumulative effect that leads to an alteration of the defect (shape, size, pressure, etc.), which can reduce
PDEV and PDIV with successive events, such that periodic or continuous online PD testing are recommended
for critical systems. These systems require careful consideration, and a general recommendation cannot

37
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

be defined. In addition, some systems could be subjected to system overvoltages with significant extended
durations (beyond 1 min), such as follows:

— Extended overvoltages due to regulation or reactive power problems (typically 10%).

— Abnormal operation with phase-to-phase voltage applied phase-to-ground, on systems with
ungrounded or high-impedance grounded neutrals (noneffectively grounded cable systems). Note that
effective or noneffective grounding does not refer to the cable shield grounding method but to the
connected cable system ground, that is, the transformer grounding as it affects the operating voltage
stress on the main cable insulation. These situations (e.g., delta with one corner grounded) is outside
the scope of this guide and require special consideration for test voltage application.

Ideally, as with new systems, the test voltage should be raised beyond PDEV to excite any PD sources that can
have PDIV greater than PDEV. Users may be reluctant to stress older systems for fear that elevated voltage can
excite a new PD source that then continues to discharge below the acceptable PDEV, possibly below operating
voltage. The compromise for HV and EHV systems is a one-stop test protocol (CIGRE Technical Brochure
728 [B11]), in which the applied voltage is elevated significantly beyond operating voltage, although possibly
not enough to cover every possible overvoltage transient, but no PD is permitted at the maximum test level. To
increase the probability of PD inception without increasing the voltage stress, the hold period may be extended
to withstand test duration.

Table 4 provides minimum practical guidelines for a useful PD test where avoiding causing damage during
test is of particular concern, but the test still provides some confidence that the cable system is in serviceable
condition.

8.5.1.3 Offline PD test sequence

Regardless of the test objective (acceptance or maintenance), offline PD tests follow a general sequence as
follows:

a) Voltage ramp-up to maximum test voltage and, optionally, if PD is observed, determination of PDIV
b) Prestress (conditioning) voltage hold so that any excitable PD sources that can be present have
sufficient time to begin discharging (maximum test voltage)
c) Voltage ramp down and hold to determine PDEV (pass/fail criterion) for accessories and cable

The basic test sequence is shown schematically in Figure 6. Additional sequences detailing various
contingencies during testing are provided in Annex B.

The following subclauses define each stage in Figure 6.

8.5.1.3.1 Ramp-up and determination of PDIV

This phase may be conducted in as many steps as appropriate to determine the PDIV of any observable PD
sources. In some cases, not all sources which are present will discharge during the voltage ramp, but they can
do so during or after the prestress period. For these cases, the PDIV is the prestress voltage level.

PDIV is defined in IEC 60270 as:

the applied voltage at which repetitive partial discharges are first observed in the test object when the
voltage applied is gradually increased from a lower value at which no partial discharges are observed.
In practice, the inception voltage is the lowest applied voltage at which the magnitude of a PD pulse
quantity becomes equal to or exceeds a specified low value.

38
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Figure 6—Offline testing voltage profile (step durations depend on voltage source in use)

For field testing, where the noise environment is unpredictable and variable, “specified low value” is not
predetermined but refers to the lowest observable PD level. This lowest observable level should be reported
for each test or acquisition.

For DAC testing, PDIV is the lowest voltage at which PD is observed in three consecutive excitations.

IEC 60270 defines a rate/magnitude function for repetitive discharges, related to a base rate of 100 pulses per
second on 50 Hz, representing one pulse per half cycle at 50 Hz. For field tests where this is not measured
specifically, repetitive refers to PD sources that do not have noticeable breaks in activity. For DAC sources, PD
inception has occurred where three consecutive excitations show PD activity (Morshuis et al. [B39]).

Each step should have sufficient duration (for continuous voltage sources) or number of excitations (for DAC)
to achieve inception of susceptible PD sources.

The voltage steps may be increased at any convenient interval(s), but it is recommended to determine PDIV to
a resolution of 10% of U0. If larger steps are being used, then once PD is detected, lower the voltage until the
PD source extinguishes and raise the voltage again in smaller steps to record the inception voltage.

There can exist multiple PD sites with multiple PDIVs. Note the PDIV of each source along with a description
of the source and its location, if it can be determined.

Where the test has no withstand requirement and the observed PD activity is severe enough that there is a
possibility of breakdown, reduce the applied voltage. Record the maximum test voltage.

39
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

8.5.1.3.2 Prestress voltage

The purpose of the prestress voltage period is to apply a high enough voltage for a sufficient time to produce
inception of PDs in potentially life-limiting insulation defects. This is the highest voltage applied for a
particular PD test sequence and should never be greater than the specified withstand level of the component
with the lowest withstand rating. In some cases, due to the limits on withstand voltage or available test time,
these criteria may not be met for all components in a cable system, and some important PD sources might not
be excited during the test.

Some life-limiting defects can have long latency times for PD inception, particularly where the allowed
maximum test voltage does not exceed the expected PDEV by 1.15 times, the lowest of all factors
recommended in industry design and routine tests (IEEE Std 48™-2020 [B27], IEEE Std 404™-2012 [B31],
IEEE Std 386™-2016 [B28], IEC 60502-1:2021 [B22], IEC 60502-2:2014 [B23], IEC 60502-4:2010 [B24],
IEC 60840:2020 [B25], and IEC 62067:2022 [B26]). Best results are achieved by prestressing with a full
withstand test (at or above the prestress levels shown in Table 4) and then measuring PDEV. Where a withstand
test is not prescribed, the reduced durations may be employed, with additional risk that a potentially life-
limiting defect might not be excited.

Users should report the following:

— Prestress applied voltage magnitude

— Prestress duration or number of excitations
— Time (or excitation) at which PD occurred (if detected during test)

8.5.1.3.3 Ramp-down and determination of PDEV

The PDEV is the critical performance characteristic for PD tests in extruded cable systems. New systems
should have no observable PD below PDEV levels specified by the component manufacturers and industry
standards. For minimal confidence in old systems, there should be no PD at maximum operating voltage.

PDEV is defined in IEC 60270 as:

the applied voltage at which repetitive PDs cease to occur in the test object, when the voltage applied
to the object is gradually decreased from a higher value at which PD pulse quantities are observed. In
practice, the extinction voltage is the lowest applied voltage at which the magnitude of a chosen PD
pulse quantity becomes equal to or less than a specified low value.

Continuous voltage sources may be lowered in increments to avoid voltage source noise during voltage
adjustment. For DAC, the same procedure as continuous voltage sources may be applied by using repetitive
DAC excitations. If necessary, the user may raise the voltage beyond inception again (as long as the agreed
maximum test voltage is not exceeded) and lower it as often as necessary to confirm the extinction voltage.
Where PD is not extinct above the recommended extinction voltage in Table 4, hold continuous voltage
sources at this level for up to 60 s to wait for extinction or apply 10 DAC excitations at this level and ensure
there is no PD.

If extinction at the recommended PDEV level is not achieved, provide some assessment of the existing PD site,
such as location, and possibly repetition rate and magnitude with respect to the noise floor at various voltages.

40
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

8.5.1.4 Offline PD test voltage

8.5.1.4.1 Offline test voltage definition

This guide refers to all test voltages as factors of cable system line-to-ground rms voltage, this being either
component rated line-to-ground voltage or the cable system operating voltage. It is possible to define the
applied test voltage differently for different waveshapes. This section provides the voltage definition for each
offline voltage source.

U0 is defined as the rms phase-to-ground voltage, which is 1/√3 of the phase-to-phase voltage. In this guide,
test voltages refer to U0, based on the component ratings for new equipment (acceptance tests) or the nominal
system voltage for old installations (maintenance tests). It is important to apply the equivalent maximum
voltage stress across the insulation material for all voltage waveforms and measuring techniques. Since power
frequency is sinusoidal, the relationship of sinusoidal test voltages—NPF and sinusoidal VLF—to U0 is direct.
For nonsinusoidal voltages such as DAC or VLF cosine-rectangular, the peak voltage of the applied waveform
is related to the peak voltage of power frequency at U0, giving a correction factor of √2, that is, 1.41.

Example: An operator plans to apply a 1.8 U0 test voltage to a cable rated 35 kV. U0 = 35/√3 = 20.2 kV, and
1.8 × U0 = 36.4 kV. The peak test voltage is: 36.4 × √2 = 51.4 kV. The various test voltage sources would be
energized as follows:

— NPF: 36.4 kV rms

— VLF sinusoidal: 36.4 kV rms or 51.4 kV peak
— VLF cosine rectangular: 51.4 kV peak
— DAC: 51.4 kV peak

Where there are components with different voltage ratings in the circuit, the maximum test voltage should
never exceed the withstand level of the component with the lowest withstand rating. Many PD detection
systems have sufficient source location capability to distinguish between the cable and accessories, so the
different components may have different acceptable PDEV levels. New extruded cables are not expected to
have any PD up to the rated withstand voltage; therefore, any PD detected from new cable is considered a test
failure, and there is no need to define a PDEV.

The measurement of the test voltage should be made with an approved and calibrated measuring system
appropriate for the applied waveform, as described in IEEE Std 4™, IEC 60060-3, IEEE Std 400.2, and/or
IEEE Std 400.4.

41
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

8.5.1.4.2 Test voltage levels and durations

Based upon the definitions above, Table 4 defines the recommended test voltage magnitudes and durations for
determining the absence of discharge activity.

For acceptance testing, it is recommended that the PD test be performed as part of a withstand test, with
withstand test voltage levels and duration serving as the prestress phase. Where withstand test levels and
durations are not specified, the values below are suggested. If a withstand test is not desired, then the prestress
durations as recommended for the maintenance test may be used.

Table 4—–Voltage magnitudes and durations for all offline PD tests

(IEEE Std 400.4-2015 [B30], IEEE Std 48-2020 [B27], IEEE Std 404-2012 [B31],
IEEE Std 386-2016 [B28], IEC 60840-2020 [B25], and IEC 62067-2022 [B26])
Maintenance tests,
Acceptance tests,
> 5-year-old
New cable system
system (based on
(based on new component ratings)
operating voltage)
PDEV
Cable system, lower limit PDEV
Test source Prestress voltage Prestress
Voltage class (accessories lower limit
only)
1.5 U0
1.8 U0
Voltage U < 69 kV All (1.28 U0 for 1.3 U0 1.15 U0a
(1.5 U0 for IEEE Std 386)
IEEE Std 386)
U ≥ 69 kV All 1.7 U0 1.5 U0 1.4 U0 1.4 U0
Recommended Reduced
time
U < 69 kV NPF 5 min 1 min 1 min 1 min 1 min
Duration U ≥ 69 kV NPF 30 min 5 min 1 min 5 min 1 min
U < 69 kV VLF 15 min 5 min 2 min 5 min 2 min
U ≥ 69 kV VLF 30 min 5 min 2 min 5 min 2 min
10 consecutive 10
10 excitations 10 consecutive
All DAC 50 excitations
excitations with no PD excitations excitations
with no PD
a
Criterion includes allowance for some effects of different grounding approaches as discussed in 8.5.1.2.

An acceptance test is considered failed if there is any sustained PD activity in the cable during the test. The
PDEV lower limit applies to accessories only. Similarly, for maintenance tests of systems operating at or
above 69 kV, the prestress voltage and the PDEV are the same, so there should be no detectable PD during this
test for the system to pass.

The PDEV-lower-limit duration is the amount of time the voltage is held at this level to wait for extinction to
occur, or the number of excitations by which the extinction criterion should be met, for the test to be considered
passed.

42
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

8.5.2 Online tests

Online tests utilize normal phase-to-ground operating voltage (system voltage) as the test voltage. These tests
may be performed at ambient temperature (unloaded) or at elevated temperature if the cable systems under test
are under load.

8.5.2.1 Online test voltage definition

Both acceptance and maintenance tests are conducted at the same test voltage. However, the temperature of
the cable system can be higher than ambient since the system may be loaded or unloaded at the time of testing.

8.5.2.1.1 Acceptance test conditions

The test voltage is the normal system operating voltage and so is fixed at U0, and the temperature is most likely
at ambient as the cable system has yet to be placed into operation.

Acceptance tests with online PD measurement require sufficient time to prestress the cable system in order
to produce inception of PDs in potentially life-limiting insulation defects. A common practice is to perform
the PD test during a 24-h soak test, during which the cable system is energized at operating voltage without
load. Since the PD activity could be intermittent, the PD test needs to be performed multiple times during the
24-h soak test. Alternatively, a temporary PD monitoring system may be installed to monitor the PD activities
throughout the entire test period.

The acceptance test with online PD measurement on new cable systems is a “go” or “no-go” test. The insulation
system of a new cable system should not have any PD activity at system operating voltage.

Online PD testing is, in general, not recommended for acceptance testing as there is significant risk of not
detecting life-limiting defects. It is not unusual for defects to fail after many months at operating voltage.

8.5.2.1.2 Maintenance test conditions

The test voltage is the normal system operating voltage and so is fixed at U0. The cable system temperature
may be selected to be either ambient (if disconnected from load) or normal operating temperature. The normal
operating temperature will depend on the design of the cable system and current carried by the cable system at
the time of testing.

In qualifying cable system components (IEEE Std 48-2020 [B27], IEEE Std 404-2012 [B31], IEEE Std 386-
2016 [B28], etc.), the effect of temperature is explored as part of the testing. Substantial performance
differences in voltage tests can occur when systems are at operating temperature versus ambient temperature.

Prestress is not a concern for maintenance tests on cable systems that have not been recently de-energized for
maintenance work. Systems that have been repaired and have yet to be reenergized should utilize a 24-h soak
prior to the PD test as discussed for acceptance tests.

8.5.2.2 Online PD test sequence/prestress voltage

In maintenance tests, the cable system has already been stressed under the operating condition. There is no
need for additional prestress time.

43
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

8.5.3 Test limitations

PD testing limitations are caused by the following:

— Lack of detection or location sensitivity (taped metallic shields, inaccessible cable or accessories, etc.)
— Background noise from various sources, including test source, ground coupled noise, radiated, and/or
conducted noise
— Defective neutral conductor (excessively corroded, cracked wire/tapes, etc.)
— Inability to energize a long length of cable for offline testing
— Poorly trained test operators

Limitations associated with each type of PD test method or voltage source have already been discussed. An
assessment of these limitations and their consequences on the test results should be made, preferably before
initiating the test; however, if the limitations are discovered during the tests, they should be reported in the test
report. Of course, a correct interpretation of the results is essential. Under certain conditions, an assessment of
the level of PD severity is not possible. This should be clearly pointed out in a test report.

9. Interpreting PD measurements
9.1 General
The interpretation of PD measurements is a complex and evolving process. Extruded cable systems are
designed to be free of PD activity during normal operation and after exposure to typical transient voltage surges
(switching, lightning, thumping, etc.). Laminated cable systems—PILC, mass impregnated nondraining
(MIND), pipe-type, and so forth—can operate with PD activity. In these systems, the insulation system
consists of paper tapes, which are more immune to damage from discharge activity than extruded materials
and any voids present are likely to be filled in by the impregnant.

The key questions for field PD measurements are as follows:

a) Is there PD?
b) Where is the PD coming from?
c) How bad is it?

The presence of PD in a cable system is not generally viewed as healthy for the system. An analogy often
employed is that of tumors in human beings. Not all tumors are malignant, and, similarly, not all PD activity in
a cable system means the system is facing imminent failure. This is the most significant challenge facing PD
signal interpretation, as it is not presently clear how best to determine the severity once a PD site is identified.

9.2 Presence of PD
The presence of PD activity in a cable system is often determined by experienced test operators during the
test or shortly thereafter. In some cases, additional analysis is needed to ascertain the presence of low-level
discharge signals. The cable owner is encouraged to discuss the timing of reporting with the test operator.

44
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Figure 7—Reflectogram illustrating PD location in the time domain (Perkel and

Hernandez-Mejia [B42])

9.3 PD location
The location of PD sites is accomplished either in the time domain or in the frequency domain. The time-
domain approach is described below. Before testing, it is useful to establish the basic circuit topology using a
time-domain reflectometer because this identifies the locations of all critical components, including splices.

9.3.1 Splice prelocation

Before performing high-voltage PD testing, the cable splices need to be identified and located in order to
differentiate between PD signals emanating from a cable and PD signals from a splice. This is necessary
because of the differences in the insulating materials of cables and splices and, therefore, their relative
resistance to PD degradation.

For offline measurements, a low-voltage pulse, typically from a PD calibrator, is sent from the near end of
a cable and all its reflections are recorded. A mismatch between the characteristic impedances of the cable
and splices causes these reflections. An impedance mismatch can also be due to impedance changes caused
by extensive physical deformations, corroded neutrals, or heavy moisture absorption. The principle of time-
domain reflectometry (TDR) is used to locate the sites of abrupt impedance changes.

In online testing, the same technique as offline testing is employed with the exception that the low-voltage
pulse is injected into the energized cable via a current transformer, although with reduced sensitivity to
impedance mismatches.

45
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

9.3.2 Time-domain PD detection and location

Time-domain testing is usually performed offline, although online with multiple sensors is also possible.
Individual pulses are measured using a wide bandwidth detector of at least several tens of megahertz. Lower-
bandwidth detectors can result in the superposition of reflected pulses.

A common method of estimating the location of a PD in a cable uses the principle of time-domain reflectometry
(Mashikian et al. [B36]) as illustrated in Figure 7 (Perkel and Hernandez-Mejia [B42]). The application of test
voltage and PD measurements are implemented from one cable end (near end). A PD signal splits into two
equal signals that travel in opposite directions. The direct signal traveling toward the near end is recorded first
as Pulse I. The horizontal axis represents time. The signal traveling in the opposite direction is reflected at the
remote end and travels back to the near end where it is recorded as Pulse II. Using the difference, Δt, between
the arrival times of these two pulses and the velocity of pulse propagation, the PD location can be estimated.
In Figure 7, Pulse III represents the recording of Pulse I after it has undergone successive reflections at the
near and remote cable ends. Its time difference with respect to Pulse I is the cable round-trip time. The relative
distance of the PD site along the cable segment, as referred to the far end, is the ratio of Δt to the round-trip
time (the shorter Δt, the closer to the far end the PD site is).

For signals originating at a termination, it can be difficult to determine which termination is the source.
Experience with the likely pulse shapes, based on propagations properties, can be of help. A simultaneous
measurement of pulses at the near and remote ends is possible if a PD detector is installed at each end, and
the detectors are provided with means to synchronize their recordings and transmit them to a measuring
station where they are processed. The PD location is determined as a function of the PD pulse arrival time
at the various sensors. This method is useful for PD measurements on branched circuits and for very long
cable lengths. Technical and economic considerations can limit the number of branches that can be tested
simultaneously (van Schaik et al., Nordic Insulation Symposium [B48]).

For direct buried cables, an estimate of the PD site location from TDR is not sufficient to know where to
dig unless the routing is known exactly. Several instruments are commercially available to match the above-
ground location with the actual PD location along the cable, as estimated by the methods described previously.
Once the cable is unearthed, it is possible to pinpoint the exact PD site by means of specialized instruments,
provided the external metal shields or sheaths are removed. For cables buried in ducts, these steps are
unnecessary, as an entire section between two manholes will have to be pulled out.

Termination discharges can be identified by time-domain location methods and by means of special probes
(either acoustic or electric), although some instruments have been developed to isolate these discharges by
means of very high- frequency amplifiers/filters. These would detect signals emanating only from within short
distances, as cables rapidly attenuate very high-frequency signals.

In high-voltage cable applications, PD detection in joints and terminations may also be accomplished by
means of sensors capacitively coupled to individual joints and connected to very high-frequency bandpass
filters.

9.3.3 Location resolution

The resolution with which PD can be located is impacted by a number of factors (Zhifang et al. [B52]):

— The bandwidth and internal noise of the measuring instrument

— The attenuation of the cable
— The soundness of cable terminations
— The number and quality of splices
— The physical obstacles encountered at the cable termination sites that interfere with proper connections

46
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

— The analysis methods and procedures used to assess PD site location

— The background noise and its mitigation

If PD sites are identified in the cable between accessories, it is difficult to identify where to dig if the cable
route is not precisely known.

As the instrument bandwidth decreases or the cable attenuation and length increase, PD location resolution
decreases. In time-domain PD location, the exact time of arrival of a pulse is difficult to measure accurately,
so sophisticated methods are required. This introduces errors that increase with the length of the cable system.

9.4 PD severity
A variety of metrics have been proposed for quantifying the severity of individual PD sites. Many of these
metrics are proprietary to the test operators because they have, in some cases, developed the requisite databases
of defect type and PD property correlations. In other cases, the assessment is based on subjective information,
such as experience, and the results of laboratory testing.

The cable owner has a significant role in defining the level of risk he/she is able to accept.

A number of factors may be considered in the assessment of PD severity. Such factors include, but are not
limited to, the following:

— Source location—cable or accessory

— Extinction voltage relative to rated or operating voltage
— Repetition rate (number per cycle or number per second)
— PRPD pattern (indicating, e.g., surface, internal, or corona)
— Observed changes during the test (repetition rate, magnitude, etc.)
— Type of cable and accessories
— Circuit criticality
— PD magnitude

Numerous studies have attempted to correlate PD characteristics with various defect types in extruded cables
and accessories to determine whether a particular type of defect has unique PD characteristics (Kreuger
[B35], Suzuki and Endoh [B47], and Gulski [B14]). Earlier studies tried to relate quantities such as discharge
magnitude and discharge power to damage caused by PD without success. However, PRPD plots produce
patterns for which there are a myriad of interpretations, some widely recognized and others proprietary, to
determine the type of defect, the amount of damage caused by PD at the defect, and to assess the condition
of the cable system. Experience developed by correlating PD data with physical examination or dissection of
cable PD sites forms the basis of the know-how used to make PD severity assessments.

For laminated cables and their accessories, where PD can be tolerated for a long time due to the high PD
resistance of impregnated paper, the use of so-called guidelines (van Schaik et al., Jicable [B49]) can be an
effective tool to improve data interpretation. These guidelines describe the typical behavior of materials or a
combination of different materials under a discharge regime. For some components, a low magnitude with a
low PDEV can be a dangerous scenario, for example, if carbonized tracks (electrical treeing) have developed,
whereas for others, higher magnitude PD will not cause a near-term failure if the PDEV is substantially above
the operating voltage and the activity is contained in a PD-resilient material. These guidelines form the basis of
some recommendation criteria (van Schaik et al., Jicable [B49]).

47
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

There is a significant level of uncertainty in the interpretation of PD data with respect to predicting the future
performance of cable systems due to the statistical behavior of PD, such as the following:

— Some data are obtained from accelerated aging tests in the laboratory. There is always a question of the
validity of accelerated aging test data to predict the performance under normal service conditions. This
introduces some uncertainty in the application of accelerated aging data to field test data.
— Aging tests are usually performed on a limited number of test cables and accessories, with or without
artificial defects, so that not all types of cables, accessories, and defects are tested.
— There is usually a significant variation in the PD characteristics among similar test cables and
accessories, with or without artificial defects, that have been subjected to the same aging test
conditions. For example, it is not unusual in tests on five or more identical test samples to have an
order-of-magnitude variation in the time to failure.

Apart from the scatter in the PD characteristics for similar defects in the same cable system, there is further
variation in the PD characteristics with time under voltage.

The accuracy in interpretation of PD data varies with the defect type; for example, it is usually easier to predict
the damage and assess the condition of a cable for an electrical tree than for a cavity or void. This includes the
following:

— Reliable cable systems should exhibit no PD activity at elevated voltages. This, of course, assumes
that the background noise is low and that the sensitivity of the measurements is sufficient. It should
be noted that even a cable system with no PD at withstand voltage does not guarantee a long life.
For example, in operation following the test, a lightning surge could initiate an electrical tree, or an
accessory could suffer a mechanical deformation that weakens the insulation. Such events could result
in PD during operation and eventually cause failure. The probability of these conditions occurring is
small but not zero.
— Unreliable cable systems typically exhibit a low PDEV with well-defined PD characteristics such as
easily recognizable PRPD patterns similar to those known to occur at defects that degrade the cable
system (e.g., improperly installed accessories). It should be noted that recognizing phase-resolved
patterns or other characteristics is not always accurate, and the wrong identification of defects can
sometimes occur. However, these occurrences should decrease as more experience is gained.

The accuracy in interpretation of the PD data depends on the quality of the test results and the knowledge of
the interpreter. Where the cable system has PD activity that is not obviously severe, the long-term performance
of the cable cannot easily be determined. The accuracy is often affected by the sensitivity of the measurement,
which varies from location to location and also with time. For example, false positives can occur when the
PD detected is incorrectly identified as occurring within the cable system but it actually originates from an
external source or when the defect causing the PD has been incorrectly identified due to too high or too low
measurement sensitivity and/or high background noise. False negatives can occur if PD signals were missed,
for example, by insufficient sensitivity of the detection system, high background noise, operator error, or
high pulse attenuation along the cable system. Repeating the measurements on the same cable circuits can
sometimes reduce the risk of incorrect interpretation.

The accuracy in interpretation can be increased if the following criteria are met:

— All relevant information about the cable system is known. This includes the age and type of cable(s)
under test (insulation type, neutral type presence of jacket, cable design, etc.), the number and types of
accessories in the circuit of the cables, and the operating conditions (duct, direct buried, wet or dry or
both, incidence of surges, load conditions, previous failure behavior, etc.).

48
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

— Cable dissections are carried out on cable systems that do not meet the PD performance criteria in this
guide. This should help in the correlation between possible failure mechanisms and the measured PD
characteristics.
— Additional testing and eventual dissection are performed on cables and accessories removed from
service to establish correlations between PD characteristics and cable system performance, such as
time to failure.
— As more data are collected on cable systems in service, better correlations between PD measurements
and future performance can be established.
— Measurements are repeated periodically to obtain trends in the data. In this way the rates of change
of the PD characteristics can be determined, for example, changes in the PRPD patterns, discharge
magnitudes, PDIV, and so forth.

Experience and history are valuable assets that can assist in better interpreting the severity of PD. Greater
confidence in the accuracy in the data interpretation on particular cable circuits can be gained if periodic
measurements are made so that trends in the data can be established. When properly implemented, PD testing
is very useful for ranking cables in terms of which could perform better than others and prioritizing cable
repair or replacement.

10. Reporting
10.1 General
A number of quantities may be measured during a field test to quantify any identified PD; they are as follows:

— PD location (L, in meters or percent of total segment length, or index of accessories)

— PRPD plot (pulse count and/or magnitude versus phase)
— PDEV (offline tests)

A number of additional quantities may also be used to help improve the interpretation; they are as follows:

— PDIV (offline tests)

— PD magnitude (apparent charge in picocoulombs or level in millivolts)
— PD pulse count (n) or repetition rate (n/cycle or n/second)
— PD magnitude and/or pulse count versus location
— PD magnitude and/or pulse count versus applied voltage (offline tests)
— PD magnitude and/or pulse count versus location along cable length
— PD pulse shape factors (various methods of quantifying shape or spectral content)

Each of these characteristics affects the interpretation of PD data.

The existence of PD does not necessarily lead to failure, and the likelihood of and time to progress to failure
vary greatly.

49
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

The detected discharge magnitude may or may not play a significant role in determining the severity of the
defect, particularly when comparing different defects. For example, low-magnitude PD detected from an
electrical tree in extruded insulation may require an immediate repair or replacement; however, very-high-
magnitude PD between the cable neutral and ground shield can be tolerated in that same extruded insulation
system. If the defect location is known, the PD magnitude, along with other parameters, can give a general
indication of the condition of a defect in both extruded and laminated dielectric cables. There is usually a
statistical variation in the PD magnitudes when measurements are made over a short time for a particular
defect site. Variations of PD magnitude of up to 100% for a particular discharge site are common and could be
significant.

10.2 Documenting the test

The PD test operator should provide cable users with a report of the cables tested and the PD test results,
and in a quotation to provide such services or in standard marketing documentation, the PD test operator
should make clear the type of documentation that is provided. The PD test operator should give the cable user
recommendations on possible corrective action(s) to be taken. The report of the test results should include
the value of PD detection sensitivity and a reference to the method used in obtaining this value. The PD site
location results should also be provided with an assessment of the accuracy limits within which these results
may be interpreted under the conditions of the specific test. This becomes critical where the location is at or
near a splice.

Details to be included in the report are discussed in 10.2.1 and 10.2.2.

10.2.1 Cable system identification

The following information is desirable:

— Name of cable manufacturer (if available)

— Cable section identification (i.e., substation name, from switch number to switch number)
— Cable rated voltage and insulation percentage if applicable
— Cable insulation or insulations if mixed
— Operating voltage (indicate phase-to-phase or phase-to-neutral)
— Conductor type and size (if mixed, specify)
— Cable length
— Location and type of splices (provide a TDR trace)
— Cable vintage or year placed in service
— Neutral type (e.g., concentric wires, metal tapes, or flat strap) and size (e.g., full or one third)
— Sheath/armor type
— Type of installation (direct buried, duct, aerial, jacketed, unjacketed, etc.)
— Splice type(s), if available
— Termination type(s)

50
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

10.2.2 PD test results

The following information is recommended:

— Test date
— Date of the most recent previous test (if applicable)
— Estimated cable length
— Splice location(s)
— Background noise level
— Minimum resolvable PD signal magnitude (sensitivity) and how it was determined; for sensitivity
lower than expected, provide the reason(s)
— Test voltage levels
— PDIV for each PD site (offline tests)
— PDEV for each PD site (offline tests)
— At each test voltage level, the location of each PD site, along with the location method(s) and limits of
accuracy
— At each voltage and site location, the number of PD events per second or per cycle
— At each voltage and site location, a PRPD representation (magnitude versus phase angle for each PD
event recorded) or DAC excitation plots; specify the number of cycles included in the phase-resolved
diagram
— For a frequency-domain measurement, description of spectral characteristics and the estimated
location for each PD site; specify the limits of accuracy
— Any other diagnostic results pertinent to the test method used
— An indication of the severity of the PD behavior, if PD was detected, and recommendations on possible
corrective action to be taken

The format of data reporting may vary. For instance, some prefer reporting individual PD events in a three-
dimensional (3-D) form with location, magnitude level, and phase angle at which each PD is initiated.
Variations of this 3-D representation are also possible. Others prefer a set of two-dimensional representations
showing PD location with PDEV, magnitude versus phase angle for each PD site at each voltage level, and PD
repetition rate for each PD site at each voltage level.

10.3 Insulating materials

It is important to know the materials being tested to better interpret PD data as the resistance to damage by
PD depends on the insulating material. The order of PD resistance is: cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) <<
ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) << laminated (e.g., fluid-impregnated paper). Cable accessories, often made
with filled rubber, can have a high endurance to PD activity, provided this does not occur adjacent to extruded
cable insulation.

10.4 Operating conditions

Cable system operating conditions also influence PD characteristics. This includes electrical, thermal, and
environmental conditions.

51
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

The electric stress to initiate PD in cable systems comes from the operating voltage and transient overvoltages,
such as lightning or switching surges. Transients caused by thumping of cable systems during fault location
exercises, particularly when using excessively high voltages, can also initiate PD activity. The occurrence rate
and the magnitude of voltage transients depend on the structure of the electrical system and its geographic
location. A cable operating in Florida is exposed to more frequent lightning surges than a cable operating
in California. A system where frequent switching of capacitor banks is required tends to be exposed to
more severe switching transients than a system without capacitor banks. Cables connected to gas insulated
switchgear can experience very fast transients.

Another operating factor affecting PD activity is the cable loading during service. If an XLPE insulated cable
is operated at extreme temperatures or experiences localized heating (e.g., near overheating connectors)
significantly higher than the crystalline melting temperature, mechanical and structural changes could occur
in the insulation. These can affect PD characteristics. The size of some defects varies with cable loading so
that the PD magnitude can also vary with the cable loading. PD in some cases can disappear (extinguish)
as load conditions change. For a laminated cable, long-term operation at high temperatures can cause the
insulating fluid to migrate, resulting in new dry spots or filling in of previous ones. The extent of this depends
on the viscosity of the impregnating fluid and the temperature. In extruded systems, accessory interfaces can
lose interfacial tension during cool-down periods due to different thermal expansion/contraction rates, thus
weakening the strength of the interface and potentially generating surface PD.

When a cable circuit is taken out of service for offline PD testing, any PD activity is extinguished when the
voltage is removed. To reinitiate PD, the voltage profile described in Figure 6 and Table 4 should be employed.
On the other hand, if the cable is tested online without removing the voltage prior to testing, then those PD
sources that are active during normal service are probably already discharging at the time of the test, although
this can be intermittent if the PDEV is close to service voltage.

Environmental conditions can adversely impact accessory surfaces and seals. This can lead to tracking on the
surfaces of terminations and permanent damage. Water ingress at accessory seals in jacketed cable systems
can lead to metallic shield corrosion, which impacts high-frequency signal transmission. Both examples have
long-term ramifications that could be detected through the process of performing a PD test.

11. Safety
11.1 General
The use of safety procedures is a routine practice whenever high-voltage testing is performed (refer to the
National Electrical Safety Code® [B3]15 and IEEE Std 510™ [B32]). High-voltage testing, such as for
insulation resistance, loss factor, or withstand (hi-pot) are commonly practiced by cable owners whose staff
is trained to observe the necessary safety procedures. PD testing is often performed by a test operator with
assistance from the cable system owner. Where multiple organizations are involved, their safety practices
should be critically reviewed and a common set of safety procedures agreed upon.

The specific topics to be discussed and agreed upon include, but are not limited to, personal protective
equipment, training requirements, understanding of clearance requirements and exclusion zones, and
grounding practices. For offline testing, the access and connection method for the external supply should
be determined, including appropriate isolation from live components, disconnection of equipment not being
tested, and location of the test supply apparatus.

These are to be documented before the test and discussed during the daily meetings to help ensure that all
personnel are aware of the hazards and the sequence of testing.

National Electrical Safety Code and NESC are both registered trademarks and service marks of the Institute of Electrical and
15

Electronics Engineers, Inc.

52
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

11.2 Preparation and test configuration

The use of basic personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hard hats, safety glasses, hard-toe shoes, and
flame or arc-resistant clothing, is normally required by employer work rules and regulations such as NFPA-
70E [B40].

Contractors may be required to have specific training before going to site, such as corporate electrical
awareness, working at height (including providing their own harnesses), or confined space entry. A site
orientation may be given upon arrival.

Consideration should be given to the isolation required between the test voltage and live apparatus (i.e., a
single open disconnect switch could be inadequate). Any equipment that needs to be disconnected from the
circuit, such as potential transformers, surge arresters, and switchgear, should be noted and arranged. The
access point for the test supply should be determined in advance—including the source of power, the location
of all the supply equipment and connection conductors, temporary stands, and barriers—all taking into account
the necessary clearance requirements and access corridors. The need for special connection hardware, such as
separable connector caps and corona shielding devices, should be determined. The maneuvering of personnel
and aerial devices to perform connections and disconnections should be considered. The number and locations
of observers should be discussed.

Where possible, the cable grounding under test should be the same as it is in service and the test supply
grounded to the substation and not directly to the cable sheath. This helps to ensure that the cable has an
effective ground when it is put in service. If this is not possible due to construction staging or interference
problems during the testing, the special grounding provisions should be discussed with the owner and noted in
the test report.

11.3 Test day coordination

The daily safety meeting should include a review of the setup, test sequence, and any hazards. These include,
but are not limited to, the following:

— Description of the permit holders and the permit conditions, showing and explaining the isolation of
the test object from live components
— Review of hazards related to the site, such as open excavations, exclusion zones, clearance issues to
test equipment or live power equipment, working at height, and confined space requirements
— Review of the setup requirements and responsibilities for setting up the test area and making and
changing connections (including the test supply power source, grounding, the HV supply to the cable,
and sensors and instrumentation)
— Review the test procedure and personnel responsibilities during the test and placement of any necessary
observers to make sure that the test areas are kept clear
— Determine what signals are to be used by the test operators to inform all present that voltage is being
applied and that observers have a means to communicate to the operators if the test must be stopped

If there is a change to the situation or the procedure or someone notices an additional hazard, an additional
meeting should be convened to address the issue and ensure that all parties understand any changes or
clarifications.

53
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Annex A
(informative)

Partial discharge (PD) and water trees

Water treeing is the most important form of degradation that afflicts older XLPE and high-molecular-weight
polyethylene extruded cables. As a result, the phenomenon of water treeing has been studied extensively,
including means by which the degree of water tree-induced degradation can be assessed. Water treeing can
be described as a self-propagating dendritic pattern of electro-oxidation, which reduces the ac and impulse
breakdown strengths of extruded insulation and is the primary mechanism of degradation of extruded medium-
voltage distribution cables. Although studied extensively, the initiation and growth mechanisms of water
treeing are not clearly understood; they are not a single mechanism but complex interactions of chemical,
electrical, and mechanical phenomena that depend on the material and applied stresses (see Crine [B13], Ross
[B44], and Zeller [B51]). The visible manifestation of water treeing is strings of water-filled microcavities.
The water-filled microcavities are connected by electro-oxidized tracks, which are usually less than 0.1 mm in
diameter, which is too small to see (see Crine [B13], Moreau [B38], and Zeller [B51]).

The detection of water trees has been an important issue for some time, and attempts have been made to relate
dielectric loss and partial discharge (PD) characteristics to water treeing in both laboratory and field tests on
cable insulation (see Bahder et al. [B6] and Hvidsten et al. [B20]). Greater PD detection sensitivity can usually
be achieved in laboratory tests with the result that many tests have been performed on cables removed from
the field or on insulation samples molded and aged in the laboratory. Numerous researchers have attempted to
detect PD from water trees using both electrical and optical techniques. The laboratory electrical PD detection
systems often had sensitivities in the range of 0.01 pC to 0.1 pC (see Bahder et al. [B6]). Measurements have
also been made on cables removed from service after 5 to 13 years (see Kirkland et al. [B34]). In no case has
PD been detected from water trees, either using electrical or optical detection (see Bahder et al. [B6], Bamji
et al., 1984 [B7], Hvidsten et al. [B20], Kirkland et al. [B34], Nitta [B41], and Steennis and Kreuger [B45]),
unless an electrical tree formed from the water tree (see Rasikawan et al. [B43]).

The above results indicate that despite extensive efforts to find PDs from growing water trees, none has been
found. This is not surprising given the relatively low electrical field necessary for water tree initiation and
growth, typically 1 kV/mm to 2 kV/mm (25 V/mil to 50 V/mil). Even allowing for some stress enhancement
at the tip of a water tree, the electric stress at operating voltage will not be sufficient to sustain PDs in the
microcavities found in typical water trees [< 50 µm (< 2 mil)].

Water trees do not generate PD. However water trees can lead to electrical trees as a result of a lightning
impulse (see Bamji et al., 1991 [B8], Boggs et al. [B9], and Hopkinson [B19]) or as a result of ac voltage (see
Bamji et al., 1984 [B7] and Steennis and Kreuger [B45]). The likelihood of causing a preexisting water tree to
lead to an electrical tree during a field PD test increases with the test voltage and the test duration. In general,
electrical trees are more difficult to initiate than to grow, so that an electrical tree, once initiated, tends to grow
to failure by PDs. Thus, one can conclude that growing water trees do not generate PD signals, unless they give
rise to an electrical tree. Any PDs at a water tree imply the existence of one or more electrical trees at that water
tree.

54
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Annex B
(informative)

PD voltage profile examples

B.1 Example 1—PD detected (during ramp-up) that would be acceptable in
any accessory
Figure B.1 illustrates the test in which there is some PD noticed on ramp-up and PDIV is determined, prestress
period is held, and PDEV is determined on ramp down to be above the recommended PDEV for accessories.

Figure B.1—Example 1

B.2 Example 2—PD detected that would be acceptable only in certain accessories
Figure B.2 illustrates the test in which there is some PD noticed on ramp-up and PDIV is determined, prestress period
is held, and PDEV is determined on ramp down to be below the recommended PDEV for one type of accessory.

Figure B.2—Example 2

55
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

B.3 Example 3—PD initiates during a withstand test, with high PDEV
Figure B.3 illustrates the test in which there is no PD observed during ramp-up, but there is PD observed
during the prestress period. PDEV is determined to be above the recommended level for accessories.

Figure B.3—Example 3

B.4 Example 4—PDIV is below all PDEV pass criteria

Figure B.4 illustrates the test in which PD is observed on ramp-up, which appears to be increasing in severity
and determined to be a risk of breakdown. The test is truncated, and the recommended prestress voltage is
never applied, but PDEV is measured and determined to be below the recommended level for all types of
accessories.

Figure B.4—Example 4

56
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

B.5 Example 5—Limited retest after a deficiency is addressed

Figure B.5 illustrates the test in which initial test showed one PD source located to a termination, with PDEV
below the recommended level for that style of termination. If there is sufficient confidence to know there are
likely no other detectable PD sources elsewhere, then after minor adjustments to remove the cause of PD, only
this termination needs to be retested and repeating the full test sequence is not necessary.

Figure B.5—Example 5

B.6 Example 6—Old cable system with acceptable PD

Figure B.6 illustrates the test on old/unknown medium-voltage cable system with some PD above operating
voltage.

Figure B.6—Example 6

57
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Annex C
(informative)

Bibliography
Bibliographical references are resources that provide additional or helpful material but do not need to be
understood or used to implement this standard. Reference to these resources is made for informational use
only.

[B1] ANSI/ICEA T-24–380-2013 (R2019), Standard for Partial-Discharge Test Procedure.16

[B2] Abdolall, K., G. Halldorson, and D. Green, “Condition assessment and failure modes of solid dielectric
cables in perspective,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 18–24, 2002.

[B3] Accredited Standards Committee C-2, National Electrical Safety Code® (NESC®).17

[B4] Ahmed, N. H. and N. N. Srinivas, “On-line partial discharge detection in cables,” IEEE Transactions on
Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 181–188, 1998.

[B5] Ahmed, N. H. and N. N. Srinivas, “On-line versus off-line partial discharge testing in power cables,”
2001 IEEE Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, vol. 2, pp. 865–870, Nov. 2001.

[B6] Bahder, G. and C. Katz, “J., Lawson, and W. Vahlstrom, “Electrical and electrochemical treeing effect in
polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene cables,”,” IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems,
vol. PAS-93, no. 3, pp. 979–990, 1974.

[B7] Bamji, S., A. Bulinski, J. Densley, A. Garton, and N. Shimizu, “Water treeing in polymeric insulation,”
Conference Internationale des Grandes Reseaux Electriques Haute Tension (CIGRE), Paper 15–07, 1984.

[B8] Bamji, S., A. T. Bulinski, and J. Densley, “Final breakdown mechanism of water treeing,” 1991 Annual
Report of the Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, pp. 298– 305, 1991.

[B9] Boggs, S. A., R. J. Densley, and J. Kuang, “Mechanism for Conversion of Water Trees to Electrical Trees
under Impulse Conditions,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. PD-13, no. 2, pp. 310–315, 1998.

[B10] Boggs, S. and R. J. Densley, “Fundamentals of partial discharge in the context of field cable testing,”
IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 13–18, 2000.

[B11] CIGRE Technical Brochure 728, On-site Partial Discharge assessment of HV and EHV cable systems,
WG B1.28, 2018.18

[B12] CIGRE WG D1.33 Task Force 05, “Experiences in partial discharge detection of distribution power
cable systems,” Electra, vol. 208, pp. 35–43, June 2003.

[B13] Crine, J.-P., “Electrical, chemical and mechanical processes in water treeing,” IEEE Transactions on
Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 681–694, 1998.

[B14] Gulski, E., “Digital analysis of partial discharges,” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical
Insulation, vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 822–837, 1995.

16
ANSI publications are available from the American National Standards Institute (https://www.ansi.org/).
18
CIGRE publications are available at: https://e-cigre.org/.

58
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

[B15] Gulski, E., F. J. Wester, J. J. Smit, P. N. Seitz, and M. Turner, “Advanced partial discharge diagnostic of
MV power cable system using oscillating wave test system,” IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, vol. 16, no.
2, pp. 17–25, 2000.

[B16] Hartlein, R., N. Hampton, J. Perkel, J. C. Hernandez, S. Elledge, Y. del Valle, J. Grimaldo, and K. Deku,
“Applying Diagnostics to Enhance Cable Systems Reliability (Cable Diagnostics Focused Initiative (CDFI)
Project Phase II),” DOE Award No. DE-OE0000188, Technical Report, Georgia Tech Research Corporation,
NEETRAC, Feb. 2016.

[B17] Hernandez-Mejia, J. C., and J. Perkel, “Partial Discharge (PD) HV and EHV Power Cable Systems,” in
Cable Diagnostics Focused Initiative (CDFI) Project Phase II, Handbook. NEETRAC, Georgia Tech Research
Corporation, DOE Award No. DE-FC02–04CH11237, Feb. 2016.

[B18] Hetzel, E. and R. MacKinlay, Diagnostic field testing of PILC MV cable. Jicable, 1995, pp. 472–475.

[B19] Hopkinson, R. H., “Better surge protection extends cable life,” IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus
and Systems, vol. PAS-103, pp. 2827–2834, 1984.

[B20] Hvidsten, S., E. Ildstad, and J. Sletbak, “Understanding water treeing mechanisms in the development
of diagnostic test methods,” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 754–
760, 1998.

[B21] IEC 60270:2000+AMD1:2015 CSV, Consolidated version, High-voltage test techniques – Partial
discharge measurements.19

[B22] IEC 60502-1:2021, Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated voltages from
1 kV (Um = 1,2 kV) up to 30 kV (Um = 36 kV) – Part 1: Cables for rated voltages of 1 kV (Um = 1,2 kV) and 3
kV (Um = 3,6 kV).

[B23] IEC 60502-2:2014, Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated voltages from
1 kV (Um = 1,2 kV) up to 30 kV (Um = 36 kV) – Part 2: Cables for rated voltages from 6 kV (Um = 7,2 kV) up to
30 kV (Um = 36 kV).

[B24] IEC 60502-4:2010, Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated voltages from
1 kV (Um = 1,2 kV) up to 30 kV (Um = 36 kV) – Part 4: Test requirements on accessories for cables with rated
voltages from 6 kV (Um = 7,2 kV) up to 30 kV (Um = 36 kV).

[B25] IEC 60840:2020, Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated voltages above
30 kV (Um= 36 kV) up to 150 kV (Um = 170 kV) – Test methods and requirements.

[B26] IEC 62067:2022, Power cables with extruded insulation and their accessories for rated voltages above
150 kV (Um = 170 kV) up to 500 kV (Um = 550 kV) – Test methods and requirements.

[B27] IEEE Std 48™-2020, IEEE Standard for Test Procedures and Requirements for Alternating-Current
Cable Terminations Used on Shielded Cables Having Laminated Insulation Rated 2.5 kV through 765 kV or
Extruded Insulation Rated 2.5 kV through 500 kV.20

[B28] IEEE Std 386™-2016, IEEE Standard for Separable Insulated Connector Systems for Power
Distribution Systems Rated 2.5 kV through 35 kV.

19
IEC publications are available from the International Electrotechnical Commission (https://www.iec.ch/).
20
IEEE publications are available from The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
(https://standards.ieee.org/).

59
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

[B29] IEEE Std 400™-2012, IEEE Guide for Field Testing and Evaluation of the Insulation of Shielded Power
Cable Systems Rated 5 kV and Above.

[B30] IEEE Std 400.4™-2015, IEEE Guide for Field Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems Rated 5 kV
and Above with Damped Alternating Current (DAC) Voltage.

[B31] IEEE Std 404™-2012, IEEE Standard for Extruded and Laminated Dielectric Shielded Cable Joints
Rated 2.5 kV to 500 kV.

[B32] IEEE Std 510™, IEEE Recommended Practices for Safety in High-Voltage and High-Power Testing.

[B33] IEEE Std C62.22™-2009, IEEE Guide for the Application of Metal-Oxide Surge Arresters for
Alternating-Current Systems.

[B34] Kirkland, J. W., R. S. Thiede, and R. A. Reitz, “Evaluating the service degradation of insulated power
cables,” IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-101, no. 7, pp. 2128–2136, 1982.

[B35] Kreuger, F. H., E. Gulski, and A. Krivda, “Classification of partial discharges,” IEEE Transactions on
Electrical Insulation, vol. 28, no. 6, pp, 917–931, 1993.

[B36] Mashikian, M. S., R. Luther, J. C. McIver, J. Jurcisin Jr., and P. W. Spencer, “Evaluation of field-aged
crosslinked polyethylene cables by partial discharge location,” IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, vol. 9,
no. 2, pp. 620–628, 1994.

[B37] Mashikian, M. S., “Preventative maintenance testing of shielded power cable systems,” IEEE
Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 736–743, 2002.

[B38] Moreau, E., C. Mayoux, C. Laurent, and A. Boudet, “The structure characteristics of water trees in
power cables and laboratory specimens,” IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation, vol. EI-28, no. 1, pp. 54–
64, 1993.

[B39] Morshuis, P. H. F., R. Bodega, M. Lazzaroni, and F. J. Wester, “Partial discharge detection using
oscillating voltage at different frequencies,” Proceedings of the 19th IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement
Technology Conference, vol. 1, pp. 431–435.

[B40] NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.21

[B41] Nitta, Y., “A possible mechanism of water trees from water electrodes,” IEEE Transactions on Electrical
Insulation, vol. EI-9, no. 3, pp. 109–112, 1974.

[B42] Perkel, J., and J. C. Hernandez-Mejia, “Medium Voltage Cable System Partial Discharge” in Cable
Diagnostics Focused Initiative (CDFI) Project Phase II, Handbook. NEETRAC, Georgia Tech Research
Corporation, DOE Award No. DE-FC02–04CH11237, Feb. 2016.

[B43] Rasikawan, S., H. Ishihara, and N. Shimizu, “Comparison between water-treed and deteriorated
regions. Electrical tree precursor,” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. DEI-1, no.
4, pp. 597–603, 1994.

[B44] Ross, R., “Inception and propagation mechanisms of water treeing,” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics
and Electrical Insulation, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 660–680, 1998.

21
NFPA publications are available from Publications Sales, National Fire Protection Association (https://www.nfpa.org/).

60
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE Std 400.3-2022
IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

[B45] Steennis, E. F. and F. H. Kreuger, “Water treeing in polyethylene cables,” IEEE Transactions on
Electrical Insulation, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 989–1028, 1990.

[B46] Steennis, E. F., E. Hetzel, and C. W. J. Verhoeven, Diagnostic medium voltage cable test at 0.1 Hz.
Jicable, 1991, pp. 408–414.

[B47] Suzuki, H. and T. Endoh, “Pattern recognition of partial discharges in XLPE cables using a neural
network,” IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation, vol. 27, pp. 550–556, 1992.

[B48] Van Schaik, N., E. F. Steennis, W. Boone, and M. van Aartrijk, “Partial discharge diagnostics on very
long and branched cable circuits,” Nordic Insulation Symposium, Tampere, June 11–13, 2003.

[B49] Van Schaik, N., E. F. Steennis, and M. G. Kruithof, Partial discharge diagnostics as part of condition
based maintenance on MV power cables: yes or no? Jicable, 2003, pp. 241–246.

[B50] Wester, F. J., Condition Assessment of Power Cables Using PD Diagnosis at Damped AC Voltages.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Optima, 2004.

[B51] Zeller, H. R., “Noninsulation properties of insulation materials,” 1991 Annual Report of the Conference
on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, pp. 19–47.

[B52] Zhifang, D., P. K. Willet, and M. S. Mashikian, “Performance limits of PD location based on time-
domain reflectometry,” IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 182–188,
1997.

61
Copyright
Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte © 2023
Biblioteca. IEEE. All
Downloaded onrights reserved.
April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
RAISING THE
WORLD’S
STANDARDS
Connect with us on:
Twitter: twitter.com/ieeesa
Facebook: facebook.com/ieeesa
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/groups/1791118
Beyond Standards blog: beyondstandards.ieee.org
YouTube: youtube.com/ieeesa

standards.ieee.org
Phone: +1 732 981 0060

Authorized licensed use limited to: Universidad Del Norte Biblioteca. Downloaded on April 03,2024 at 15:10:16 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.

Ieee 400.2-2024
100% (2)
Ieee 400.2-2024
54 pages
IEEE - STD 400 3 2022 Guide For Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems 2022
83% (6)
IEEE - STD 400 3 2022 Guide For Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems 2022
63 pages
UL1699B
No ratings yet
UL1699B
1 page
Buddhism Introducing The Buddhist Experience 3rd Edition by Donald W. Mitchell Wei Zhi Instant Download
100% (1)
Buddhism Introducing The Buddhist Experience 3rd Edition by Donald W. Mitchell Wei Zhi Instant Download
19 pages
GUÍA IEEE STD C37.30.4™ 2018
No ratings yet
GUÍA IEEE STD C37.30.4™ 2018
33 pages
Ieee Recommended Practice For The Planning and Design of The Mic
No ratings yet
Ieee Recommended Practice For The Planning and Design of The Mic
46 pages
IEEE Guide For Fault-Locating Techniques On Shielded Power Cable Systems
No ratings yet
IEEE Guide For Fault-Locating Techniques On Shielded Power Cable Systems
64 pages
C57110 2018
No ratings yet
C57110 2018
68 pages
Clamp On Power Hitester: Offering A New Approach To Energy-Related Measurement
No ratings yet
Clamp On Power Hitester: Offering A New Approach To Energy-Related Measurement
12 pages
Ieee 979-2012
No ratings yet
Ieee 979-2012
99 pages
Calculation of Key Parameters of Installation of Microwave Dielectric Heating
No ratings yet
Calculation of Key Parameters of Installation of Microwave Dielectric Heating
4 pages
Dahua Smart PSS Users Manual V1.0.0
No ratings yet
Dahua Smart PSS Users Manual V1.0.0
87 pages
1-User Manual - GT1 Series 1.6-10kW
No ratings yet
1-User Manual - GT1 Series 1.6-10kW
29 pages
IEEE 4 Node Test Feeder
No ratings yet
IEEE 4 Node Test Feeder
9 pages
#Grace PESD's NFPA-70E
No ratings yet
#Grace PESD's NFPA-70E
12 pages
Summary IEEE STD 142-1991
100% (1)
Summary IEEE STD 142-1991
3 pages
ECE 2054: Fundamentals of EE II Dr. Mercede Outline of Topic 2 Course Notes Complex Frequency Analysis & Network Function
No ratings yet
ECE 2054: Fundamentals of EE II Dr. Mercede Outline of Topic 2 Course Notes Complex Frequency Analysis & Network Function
39 pages
1606 Xle240e
No ratings yet
1606 Xle240e
20 pages
Marantz 6270-Q Service Manual
No ratings yet
Marantz 6270-Q Service Manual
19 pages
Datasheet TrinaTracker Vanguard-1P
100% (1)
Datasheet TrinaTracker Vanguard-1P
2 pages
Multilin G500: Substation Gateway
No ratings yet
Multilin G500: Substation Gateway
129 pages
Test and Diagnosis System: VLF Sinus 45 KV
No ratings yet
Test and Diagnosis System: VLF Sinus 45 KV
2 pages
Instructions For Vacuum Circuit Breaker Type Abb R-Mag (OVB-DCM) 15.5 KV 1250/2000/3000 A
No ratings yet
Instructions For Vacuum Circuit Breaker Type Abb R-Mag (OVB-DCM) 15.5 KV 1250/2000/3000 A
56 pages
Analisis de Armonicos en SEP - Primera Parte - ETAP 11
No ratings yet
Analisis de Armonicos en SEP - Primera Parte - ETAP 11
265 pages
IEEE Guide For Investigation, Analysis, and Reporting of Power Circuit Breaker Failures
No ratings yet
IEEE Guide For Investigation, Analysis, and Reporting of Power Circuit Breaker Failures
59 pages
Nema TR1 TX
No ratings yet
Nema TR1 TX
27 pages
Cemento Conductor PDF
No ratings yet
Cemento Conductor PDF
8 pages
Fronius IG2000
No ratings yet
Fronius IG2000
92 pages
DS Isolator CATALOG
No ratings yet
DS Isolator CATALOG
12 pages
CENTERLINE Builder Installation and Registration Instructions V1.0
No ratings yet
CENTERLINE Builder Installation and Registration Instructions V1.0
4 pages
Zero-Sequence Current Distribution Along Transmission Lines
No ratings yet
Zero-Sequence Current Distribution Along Transmission Lines
10 pages
Doe 2016 Transformer
No ratings yet
Doe 2016 Transformer
20 pages
TCI-link Fittings
No ratings yet
TCI-link Fittings
24 pages
LTB Edf SK1-1 36-72.5 1hyb800001-005 en D23
No ratings yet
LTB Edf SK1-1 36-72.5 1hyb800001-005 en D23
2 pages
Hyundai - Induction Motors
No ratings yet
Hyundai - Induction Motors
8 pages
Utility-Scale PV Power Plant System Solutions
No ratings yet
Utility-Scale PV Power Plant System Solutions
24 pages
Norma Resistencia de Contactos PDF
No ratings yet
Norma Resistencia de Contactos PDF
2 pages
EDR 5000 Manual PDF
No ratings yet
EDR 5000 Manual PDF
700 pages
NMX J 549
No ratings yet
NMX J 549
138 pages
Ampacity of Low-Voltage Power Cables Under Nonsinusoidal Currents
No ratings yet
Ampacity of Low-Voltage Power Cables Under Nonsinusoidal Currents
11 pages
1234-2007 - IEEE Guide For Fault Locating Techniques On ... : Cable
0% (1)
1234-2007 - IEEE Guide For Fault Locating Techniques On ... : Cable
1 page
3.GD o Gen Mo 03
100% (1)
3.GD o Gen Mo 03
79 pages
Analisis de Armonicos en SEP - Segunda Parte - ETAP 11
No ratings yet
Analisis de Armonicos en SEP - Segunda Parte - ETAP 11
141 pages
Ieee 11 Maquinas Rotativas Vehiculos
No ratings yet
Ieee 11 Maquinas Rotativas Vehiculos
39 pages
Total Clearing Time-Current Characteristic Curves: Positrol Fuse Links-S&C Standard Speed
No ratings yet
Total Clearing Time-Current Characteristic Curves: Positrol Fuse Links-S&C Standard Speed
1 page
P3T32 Manual
No ratings yet
P3T32 Manual
350 pages
5.eee - Ijeee - Live - Shashank Tyagi
No ratings yet
5.eee - Ijeee - Live - Shashank Tyagi
6 pages
Rsti 58 Pii
No ratings yet
Rsti 58 Pii
6 pages
ERGON POWER S A C - Company Overview - November 2013
No ratings yet
ERGON POWER S A C - Company Overview - November 2013
66 pages
Multilayer Soil Analysis
No ratings yet
Multilayer Soil Analysis
9 pages
ION8650 - User Manual
No ratings yet
ION8650 - User Manual
228 pages
Square D I Line Panel
No ratings yet
Square D I Line Panel
32 pages
Descarga Los Books Color
100% (1)
Descarga Los Books Color
3 pages
Burndy Catalogue
No ratings yet
Burndy Catalogue
45 pages
Nerc Ltra 2023
No ratings yet
Nerc Ltra 2023
135 pages
Iec 60755 1 2022
No ratings yet
Iec 60755 1 2022
12 pages
IEEE Estandar para Capacitores Serie en Sistemas de Potencia
No ratings yet
IEEE Estandar para Capacitores Serie en Sistemas de Potencia
36 pages
Cameron & Dalton
No ratings yet
Cameron & Dalton
6 pages
IEEE STD ANSI-IEEE STD C57.92-1981
No ratings yet
IEEE STD ANSI-IEEE STD C57.92-1981
65 pages
ICEA T-30-520 (Ed1.0 1986.09)
No ratings yet
ICEA T-30-520 (Ed1.0 1986.09)
7 pages
ET0418848ENN en
No ratings yet
ET0418848ENN en
91 pages
Atividade Rítmica
No ratings yet
Atividade Rítmica
3 pages
Magnetohydrodynamics 1st Edition Peter A Davidson Andre Thess Eds Instant Download
No ratings yet
Magnetohydrodynamics 1st Edition Peter A Davidson Andre Thess Eds Instant Download
13 pages
European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research (Ejpmr)
No ratings yet
European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research (Ejpmr)
2 pages
GM Offer Letter-Himanshu Deep - FinanceF4
No ratings yet
GM Offer Letter-Himanshu Deep - FinanceF4
2 pages
Business Benchmark Advanced Workbook
100% (2)
Business Benchmark Advanced Workbook
44 pages
Proforma Invoice PT Castindo Multi Cahaya
No ratings yet
Proforma Invoice PT Castindo Multi Cahaya
2 pages
Full Download Cambridge International AS &amp A Level Mathematics Pure Mathematics 1 Coursebook Wei Zhi PDF
100% (4)
Full Download Cambridge International AS &amp A Level Mathematics Pure Mathematics 1 Coursebook Wei Zhi PDF
25 pages
Getty Images v. Stability AI Complaint
No ratings yet
Getty Images v. Stability AI Complaint
36 pages
Creative Teams and Managerial Responsibilities
No ratings yet
Creative Teams and Managerial Responsibilities
10 pages
Foley Is Good And The Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling Foley Mick pdf download
100% (1)
Foley Is Good And The Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling Foley Mick pdf download
30 pages
Pa 2 (Objective) English 9 Set A
No ratings yet
Pa 2 (Objective) English 9 Set A
7 pages
Led Zeppelin Complaint
No ratings yet
Led Zeppelin Complaint
23 pages
Traffic Presentation
No ratings yet
Traffic Presentation
30 pages
The Accounting Review May 2009 84, 3 Proquest One Academic
No ratings yet
The Accounting Review May 2009 84, 3 Proquest One Academic
31 pages
Peak 6 Worksheet-Fp-44d2bf6e
No ratings yet
Peak 6 Worksheet-Fp-44d2bf6e
10 pages
Global Creator Economy Platform Solution
No ratings yet
Global Creator Economy Platform Solution
10 pages
Crown of The Kobold King Sanctioning
No ratings yet
Crown of The Kobold King Sanctioning
5 pages
Typ. Balcony Drain Detail: Second Floor Plan
No ratings yet
Typ. Balcony Drain Detail: Second Floor Plan
1 page
KS2 English 2022 Reading Booklet
No ratings yet
KS2 English 2022 Reading Booklet
12 pages
Casturn (B)
No ratings yet
Casturn (B)
8 pages
Africa Rough Average Guideline Price List Samp01
No ratings yet
Africa Rough Average Guideline Price List Samp01
1 page
Article I BRAND AND TRADEMARK DISPARAGEMENT INSIGHTS FROM THE ONGOING FOODPHARMER VS. MONDELEZ CASE
No ratings yet
Article I BRAND AND TRADEMARK DISPARAGEMENT INSIGHTS FROM THE ONGOING FOODPHARMER VS. MONDELEZ CASE
6 pages
Abercrombie - Fitch Co. v. Hunting World, Inc.
No ratings yet
Abercrombie - Fitch Co. v. Hunting World, Inc.
6 pages
JESD22-B103B Vibration, Variable Frequency
No ratings yet
JESD22-B103B Vibration, Variable Frequency
16 pages
AWS D17.2-D17.2M-2013 Specification For Resistance Welding For Aerospace Applications
No ratings yet
AWS D17.2-D17.2M-2013 Specification For Resistance Welding For Aerospace Applications
58 pages
Building Sentences
100% (1)
Building Sentences
38 pages
Skylark Of Space The Complete Stories Edward E Smith download
100% (2)
Skylark Of Space The Complete Stories Edward E Smith download
41 pages
Unit 5 - IPR
No ratings yet
Unit 5 - IPR
96 pages

IEEE Guide For Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Uploaded by

IEEE Guide For Partial Discharge Field Diagnostic Testing of Shielded Power Cable Systems

Uploaded by

IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge

IEEE Power and Energy Society

IEEE Std 400.3™-2022

IEEE Guide for Partial Discharge

Insulated Conductors Committee

Approved 3 December 2022

IEEE SA Standards Board

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

Copyright © 2023 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

PDF: ISBN 978-1-5044-9410-6 STD25939

IEEE prohibits discrimination, harassment, and bullying.

Notice and Disclaimer of Liability Concerning the Use of IEEE Standards

Comments on standards should be submitted using the Contact Us form.2

Laws and regulations

Updating of IEEE Standards documents

Jody P. Levine, Chair

Manfred Bawart Craig Goodwin William Larzelere

John Ainscough George Gela Sean Parsi

David J. Law, Chair

Edward A. Addy Johnny Daozhuang Lin Mark Siira

Annex A (informative) Partial discharge (PD) and water trees����������������������������������������������������������������������� 54

1.3 Word usage

Table 1—Testing environments and their respective objectives

IEC 60270, High-voltage test techniques—Partial discharge measurements.

IEEE Std 4™, IEEE Standard for High-Voltage Testing Techniques.9,10

3. Definitions, acronyms, and abbreviations

charge magnitude: See: partial discharge (PD) magnitude.

3.2 Acronyms and abbreviations

— A gas-filled void of sufficient size

5.2 Type and location of defects

5.2.1 Typical PD sources in accessories

5.2.2 Typical PD sources in extruded cables

These defects are discussed in more detail below.

5.2.2.2 High-resistance insulation shield or broken neutral

5.2.2.3 Electrical trees initiated from protrusions, voids, or water trees

Protrusions or contaminants within the insulation or at the insulation/semiconducting shield interfaces

5.2.3 Typical PD sources in fluid-impregnated cables

— Attenuation: Loss of energy that reduces the magnitude of the pulse

Both attenuation and dispersion are illustrated in Table 2.

Table 2—Effects of attenuation and dispersion on PD pulses

Attenuation Reduced energy

7. PD detection (PD measurements)

7.2 Sensor types

A variety of PD detection sensors are used as follows:

— Capacitive: The PD signal is detected through a high-voltage, low-inductance coupling capacitor.

Two voltage synchronization sensor types are used as follows:

— Capacitive: The synchronization signal is detected through a high-voltage, low-inductance coupling

7.3.1 Types of noise

Subclause 7.3.1 explains different types of noise.

7.3.1.1 White noise

7.3.1.2 Phase-locked disturbances

7.3.1.3 Stochastic noise/other noise

7.3.2 Coupling methods

7.3.2.2 HV side coupling

7.3.3 Noise rejection

7.3.3.1 Physical triggered gating

7.3.3.2 Spectral filtering

7.3.3.3 Digital post processing

8. Measuring PD in the field

8.2 Pretest information

8.2.1 Cable system characteristics

8.2.1.1 Cable configuration

8.2.1.2 Termination/separable connector type and accessibility

8.2.2 Preliminary inspection and/or testing

8.2.3 Pretest conference

8.2.3.1 Test protocol

8.3 Voltage sources

— Near-power-frequency (NPF) sinusoidal voltage sources

8.3.1 System voltage (power frequency)

8.3.2 NPF voltage sources

— Frequency tuned resonant circuits (FTRCs)

8.3.2.1 FTRCs (20 Hz to 300 Hz sinusoidal)

8.3.2.2 ITRCs (system frequency)

8.3.3 Alternative voltage sources

8.3.3.1 Very low frequency (VLF)

8.3.3.1.1 VLF voltage with sinusoidal waveshape

Annex A (informative) Partial discharge (PD) and water trees�� 54