Testing Procedure of Tan Delta MEasurement

Test procedure for measurement of Tan delta and
Capacitance of equipments.
1. Scope: This covers the method of measuring the dielectric loss properties of
the insulation system of equipments by measuring the Tan delta and Capacitance values.
2. Definition: Tan delta is the tangent of the dielectric loss angle of an insulation
system. It is also referred to as dissipation factor or dielectric loss factor.
3. Significance of Tan delta value in insulation systems:
In an insulation system, the dielectric loss is given by V2 WC tan delta watts. If
the dielectric power loss is more, the dielectric strength of the insulation would be
reduced. The Tan delta is affected by moisture, void and ionization in the Insulation.
Hence it is indicative of the quality of insulation.
4. Principle of Tan delta and Capacitance measurement for HV equipments.
4.1 The High Voltage electrical equipments have conductors HV and LV separated by an
insulating medium. It can also be a conductor or winding with an HT terminal and the LV
terminal connected to ground. These systems can be represented as two and three
terminal capacitors. An example of a two terminal capacitor is the bushing of an
equipment. The central conductor is one terminal and the mounting flange (ground) is the
other terminal. An example for a three terminal capacitor is a bushing with a Tan delta
test tap. In this case the central conductor is one terminal, the test tap is the second
terminal and the mounting flange is the third terminal. Likewise most of the HV
equipments can be visualized as capacitors with simple and complex insulation systems
and these can be measured with a test set that can measure both grounded and
ungrounded specimens.IV
4.2 The Vector Relationship:

I
IC
Ir V
In the ideal case, the capacitance current leads the voltage by 90'. But in practice,
in all insulation systems, there exists a loss current Ir which is small in magnitude but in
phase with the voltage, as shown above. The total current I, therefore leads the voltage by
an angle which is less than 90. The angle by which it is less than 90 is known as the
loss angle delta and in all practical cases, the magnitude of Ic and I are same as Ir is very
small and the power factor and dissipation factor tend to be the same.
In the above diagram Dissipation factor = tan delta; As the important
characteristic of a capacitor is its dissipation factor, it is measured and monitored as a
diagnostic test of insulation systems.
5. Application:
The test is conducted on the following:
(1) Power and Auto Transformer Bushings
(2) Power and Auto Transformer Windings
(3) Generator stator coils
(4) Current and Potential Transformers.
(5) CVTs
(6) Any other HV equipment where insulating condition is to be tested.
6. Periodicity:
The test is done at the time of commissioning and thereafter yearly and on actual
requirement depending on the conditions of the equipment
The circuit connections are given as shown above depending on whether the specimen is
grounded or floating. The Input voltage is raised gradually through a variac till the
desired HV Voltage is reached for the specimen. The bridge circuit consists of a
differential transformer, R-C network, known standard capacitor (Cn) and the unknown
specimen (Cx) under test. The same HV voltage is applied to both the known and
specimen capacitors. The currents through the two capacitors pass through the differential
Transformer, which is balanced by means of adjustment of the bridge capacitors, which
are provided with multiplication selectors. Once the bridge is balanced for the
capacitance value the capacitance selected is read directly from the multipliers. The tan
delta is then adjusted to get the balanced horizontal position in the Oscilloscope. The
value of Tan delta is also directly read from the bridge Tan delta selector with appropriate
decimals.
Precautions:
(1) It is always preferable to conduct the Tan delta test after the IR value test has
been done and found satisfactory.
(2) The test voltage should not exceed the rated voltage of the equipment, under test.
(3) Adequate safety precautions are to be taken when the test is on; inadvertent entry
to testing area must be prevented by proper measures.
(4) Bushings etc. should be well cleaned and the test must be carried out in dry
weather condition.
(5) Make sure the input voltage variac is in the 'O' position before the start of the test
.(6) Interference from neighboring live lines should be minimum. Modern kits with
interference suppression circuits are preferred while testing in yards etc.
(7) For Generator windings and higher capacitance specimen's the variac and the
testing Transformer should be of higher rating to carry the increased charging current.
Test value Interpretation:
In the case of Bushings the ISS prescribes a maximum value of 0.007 for oil
impregnated condenser bushings and 0.020 for noncondenser bushings. These are values
for new bushings and for bushings, windings and other equipments that are in-service
trend monitoring is the best suggested course for proper analysis of the test results.
Reference:
1. MWB Tan delta and Capacitance kit operating manual. 2. IS2099-1973.

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Test procedure for measurement of Tan delta and

4.2 The Vector Relationship:

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