Tan Delta-Measurements

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Loss Factor Measurements (tan delta)
Purpose:
Winding insulation consists primarily of capacitative configurations in which the winding copper represents one electrode and the
grounded casing the other. Dielectric losses result in the insulation on application of alternating current to a winding; these are
defined as the ratio of the converted active power to the reactive power and, on measurement of an insulation, indicate the extent to
which electrical energy is converted to heat in the insulation. In addition to unavoidable pole switching losses, conversion of active
power is caused by factors such as surface contamination, the condition of the binder in the insulation (usually epoxy resin in
modern insulation systems), the condition of the surface corona protection and, with increasing voltage, also by the onset of partial
discharges in microgaps in the insulation. Dielectric losses thus represent a measure of the production quality of an insulation on
the one hand, but also a measure of the ageing of the insulation induced due to thermal, electrical and thermomechanical loading
on the other. Loss factor measurements are therefore performed both as a quality assurance measure in new fabrication of
generator high-voltage components (phase connectors, individual bars, HV bushings as well as complete stator windings) as well
as on used stator windings in power plants for condition diagnosis and evaluating ageing. The relevant parameters for evaluating
the ageing condition are the initial loss factor values tan d0.2, the tan d increases D tan d / 0.2 UN and the winding capacitance.
Selection of detectable phenomena and condition characteristics of windings
- Curing of insulation binder, moisture content in insulation

- Thermal ageing of insulation binder
- Pronounced thermal ageing of end winding insulation in discontinuous insulation systems
- Surface moisture, surface contamination
- Elevated conductivity of surface corona protection, wear of surface corona protection
- Inadequate stator core grounding
- Inadequate impregnation of winding bars and phase connectors
- Thermomechanical ageing of insulation (delamination)
- Defective potential control of HV bushings.
Measurement procedure
- Measurement with a high-precision universal AC measurement system which measures the capacitive current through an ideal
reference capacitor and the current in the test object associated with the reactive power component and, from the phase shift of
both currents, calculates the loss factor tan d, as well as the test object capacitance (vectorial impedance measurement).
- Fully automated measurement of loss factors, capacitances and voltages (on individual conductors and the overall winding in
complete generator stator windings) between 0.1 UN and 1.0 UN in steps of 0.1 UN, or up to 1.4 UN for measurements as part of
quality assurance on new windings.
- Separate measurement of end winding components and slot components of the overall loss factor possible.
- Automatic calculation of loss factor increases.
Instrumentation and testing methods used for loss factor measurements
Mtronix MI 540 universal AC measuring system:
z Large loss factor measuring range (1 x 10-8 to infinite), high accuracy (± (2 x 10-5 + 2% indicated value at 50 Hz))
z Complete galvanic isolation between reference sensor, test object sensor and the controlling PC through a fiber optic
network and thus significantly greater reliability and measurement accuracy in high-voltage measurement tasks as well as no
generation of ground loops, reducing interference and thus improving sampling sensitivity
z Battery operation of sensors
https://pgneteu.eps.siemens.com/cms/cnt.nsf/EN/STFN20070907143844/$file/STFN20070... 11.02.2009
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z Automatic signal transit time compensation for all segments of the network
z Complete remote control of the sensors
z Enables ungrounded measurements (meter can be operated at voltage potential)
z Simultaneous display of loss factor, voltage, current in test object, test object capacitance and frequency of applied
alternating current
z Continuous recording of all data (measurement interval 300ms) or user-controlled recording of data possible
z Connection of PD measurement units possible through master/slave configuration, enabling simultaneous performance of
loss factor and partial discharge measurements.
- High-precision compressed gas capacitors as reference capacitors (reference circuit of measurement system).
- Depending on the test output requirement, which is determined primarily by the respective test object capacitance and the
maximum test voltage to be applied, various high voltage test systems with testing capacities of 25 kVA to 900 kVA and maximum
test voltages of 12 kV to 50 kV are used, which are themselves free from partial discharges (PD levels < 50 pC at UN of the test
system) due to their intended use as a test voltage source for loss factor measurements (as well as for partial discharge
measurements and high-voltage testing).
U/I phase shift across a capacitance test object - Loss factor of a generator stator winding as a function of applied AC
voltage - Components of the loss factor measurement system
Contact Information: Stefan Duerselen
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https://pgneteu.eps.siemens.com/cms/cnt.nsf/EN/STFN20070907143844/$file/STFN20070... 11.02.2009

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Seite 1 von 2

Loss Factor Measurements (tan delta)

Selection of detectable phenomena and condition characteristics of windings

- Curing of insulation binder, moisture content in insulation

- Automatic calculation of loss factor increases.

Instrumentation and testing methods used for loss factor measurements

Mtronix MI 540 universal AC measuring system:

Contact Information: Stefan Duerselen

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