.

ENVIRONMENTAL HUMIDITY CONDITIONS FOR ENCLOSED HIGH-VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR

NEW TEST PROCEDURES, DEFINITIONS AND SERVICE EXPERIENCE

K.-H. Krefter

D. Konig

H. Gremmel

High-Voltage Laboratory
Vereinigte ElektrizitatsTechn. University Darmstadt werke Westfalen, Dortmund
Federal Republic of Germany Federal Republic of Germany

CALOR-EMAG AG
CAUIR-EMAG AG
Ratingen
Ratingen
Federal Republic of Germany

"electrolytical partial discharge erosion",

initiated by micro partial discharges (1),
(2). Figure 1 explains schematically the
various stages of this mechanism. Even on
technically clean epoxy resin surfaces
moisture layers with low layer conductivity
under high-voltage stress may give rise to
the start of micro partial discharges
leading to a stepwise developing erosion
process according to Figure 1. Further in
the process during the late stage af ageing
partial arcs across thermally dried zones
will appear and contribute to the erosion
phenomena.

Sumnary
1. A survey is given about investigations
carried out during the last ten years.
It was found that condensation of
humidity from the surrounding air will
always lead to partial discharge
currents at the surface of insulating
components in enclosed high-voltage
switchgear.
2. IEC Publication 721 has presented a new
catalogue of classes for the definition
of environmental conditions. Definitions
used up to now should be replaced by the
new classes.

The role of conductive pollution for

instance by salty deposits at seaside
locations, chemical dust in industrial
areas et., is still under investigation.
Depending on the actual surface conditions
of an insulator a strong increase of the
contamination level by means of brine
polluted layers of a very high volume
conductivity surprisingly leads only to a
more or less moderate increase of the
resulting layer conductivity (2).

3. IEC Report No. 932 presents different

test procedures to simulate the influence of condensation on insulating
components of mtal-enclosed highvoltage switchgear. The philosophies
behind the different procedures are
explained.

4. Test procedures with defined humidity

conditions can be carried out only with
an especially developed test equipment.
The lay-out and the main components are
described.

Number, design and characteristics of

enclosures preventing more or less the
ingress of outdoor climate into the
switchgear compartments are of
great
importance with respect to the actual
environment, in which the insulation system
has to work and which may essentially
differ from the outdoor climate conditions.
In the general case three different
environmental zones exist for an indoor
switchgear installation. The insulating
components are situated in climate zone I,
separated by the switchgear enclosure from
the indoor climate inside the building,
i.e. from climate zone 11. Outside the
building the outdoor climate (zone 111)
exists. Special installations are known,
which have no separate switch room (zone
I11 and zone I1 are identical) or where
there is a direct contact between live
parts and the indoor climate (zone 11 and
zone I are identical).

5. Modern types of switchgear are expected

to be less sensitive with respect to
environmental conditions. For existing
switchgear measures are proposed to
increase or maintain safety and
reliability in service. A new diagnostic
system is under test.
Fundamentals
Modern insulation systems of air insulated
enclosed switchgear for 'indoor
use are
characterized by a compact integrated
design with the application of solid
insulating materials such as epoxy resins,
which can withstand the internal dielectric
stresses for a long time with high
reliability. Compared to outdoor insulation
the dielectric surface stresses of this
type of insulation system are much higher,
but no problems exist in case of dry and
clean surface conditions of the solid
insulating Components. These conditions are
for instance specified for type and routine
tests as well as for commissioning tests.

When discussing the influence of environmental conditions on enclosed high-voltage

switchgear three main items should be kept
in mind:

However, simultaneous stresses by high

humidity and/or pollution can start micro
discharges on the solid insulation surfaces, which may lead
depending on the
type of insulating material under stress
to a more or less rapid ageing of the
insulation surface. During the last few
years fundamental research work has been
done and
is being
continued, which
establishes a very early stage of ageing by
the mechanism of the socalled

H.-J. Straube

47

a precise definition of the environmental

service conditions
the important role of enclosures as
substantial parts of a switchgear,
a correct simulation of "natural" service
conditions in climate zone I during
ageing tests.

TABLE I

New definitions of normal and special

service conditions for enclosed highvoltage switchgear

Low air temp.

"C
O C
High air temp.
Low rel. humidity
%
High rel. humidity
%
Low abs. humidity g/m'
High abs. humidity g/m'
Change of temp. OC/min
Low air pressure
kPa
High air pressure kPa
Solar radiation
W/m'
Heat radiation
Movement of
surr. air
m/s
Condensation
Wind driven rain, snow
Water other than rain
Icing

During the last few years a new basis for

such definitions was created by Technical
Committee No. 7 5 of IEC and published in
IEC-Publication 7 2 1 .
Part 3 of this
publication offers a catalogue of a large
number
of
classes
of
environmental
conditions. Each class is characterized by
three main parameters:

Classification of climatic
conditions (as per IEC 7 2 1 - 3 - 3 )

Environmental
parameter

Whenever
on
high-voltage
switchgear
technical problems occur due to environmental influences a strong demand for more
precise and also for more stringent
definitions of service conditions arises.

type of product application,

with identification by first digit 1 for
storage, 2 for transport, 3 for use
indoors, 4 for use outdoors etc.

Class

..

3K4

3K5

3K6

+5
+40
5
95
1
29
0.5
70
106
700

-5
+45
5
95
1
29
0.5
70
106
700

-25
+55
10
100
0.5
29
0.5
70
106
1120

*)

*)

..

*)

1.0 1.0 1.0

Yes Yes Yes
No
No Yes
*)

*)

*)

No

Yes

Yes

* ) Notes are not reproduced

kind of correlating environmental

influences
with identification by letter B for
biological conditions, C for chemically
active substances, K for climatic
conditions, M for mechanical conditions

nor permanent service conditions ;*!. Both

definitions include the possibility of
condensation, but not as a frequent event.
National
and
international
technical
committees responsible for high-voltage
installations in buildings and for highvoltage switchgear are therefore invited to
agree on a new definition for "normal
service conditions" selected from IECpublication 7 2 1 - preferably from class
3K5.
Also classes for special service
conditions should be selected. 3K5 will
cover the situation in the vast majority of
switchgear buildings according to the
current constructional practice and the
natural climatic conditions in central
european distribution systems.

degree of severity of environmental

influences,
with identification by a further digit.

In the sense of the present topic the

classes of climatic conditions - K - for use at weather protected locations - 3 are of main interest. Table I shows a part
of the assortment of classes available to
define the climatic conditions for indoor
use.
It is important to mention that the values
listed for environmental parameters in
table I are not to be regarded as limiting
values, that means they may be exceeded for
a very short duration or in rare cases. But
it also means that none of these values is
expected to be maintained as a permanent
service condition. The fraction of time
when the specified value is exceeded is
usually regarded to be less than 0,Ol. The
probability of exceeding two parameters at
the same time is expected to be only 0.0001
as a consequence.

Harmonized and accepted definitions of

service conditions, however, do not yet
establish rules for design or even testing
of
switchgear
under
environmental
influences. They may be regarded as a first
step
to
establish
relevant
testing
procedures.
New ageing tests on enclosed high-voltage
switchgear according to IEC-Report No. 932
WG 4 of IEC SC 1 7 C has worked out test

procedures with respect to environmental

humidity conditions. This work is going to
be published as IEC-Report No. 9 3 2 .

Further IEC-Publication 7 2 1 gives information for each climatic condition parameter which value is to be expected taking
into account different types of open-air
climates and different types of buildings.

The philosophy behind the proposed tests is

as follows: Though the existence of longtime ageing phenomena due to severe climate
conditions is well known since many years
and has been reported in several papers for instance at the Cired Conferences - ,
there is still a lack of coordinated work
in establishing suitable tests. Based on
some available experiences mainly in two
countries two different ageing procedures A
und B are proposed. The basic idea behind
these tests is common and more or less
conventional: with the help of climatic

Normal service conditions for metalenclosed high-voltage switchgear for indoor

use were specified since 1 9 8 0 in IECPublication 694 in clause 2 . 1 . 1 .
comparison of the climatic conditions
specified in IEC-Publication 6 9 4 to those
of class 3K5 of the new catalogue is
demonstrated in the climatogram of Fig. 2.
The ranges defined by the two sets of
parameters are not differing considerably.
This is to be considered regarding also the
above explanation that the environmental
parameters of the new definitions are
neither strict limitations
A

---__--__-_--_
Consequently in the authors' opinion
may still remain the basis for the
temperatur rise test parameters.
**)
40C

48

test chambers such test conditions are to

be created that liquid layers on the
insulating surfaces of enclosed switchgear
appear. Further stress parameters are the
test voltage (rated voltage) and the test
duration, the latter being different for
level 1 and level 2 ageing tests. The
creation of liquid layers requires climate
cycles with rapid changes of temperature
and humidity. In order to create a distinct
and long wet period which lasts as long as
possible, these changes are choosen as much
more rapid than they would occur under
"natural" conditions in Europe. The type of
liquid layer created by the two different
procedures A and B is different, too. In
case of procedure A pure condensation will
occur, while in case of procedure B
additional contamination by continuously
atomizing demineralized salt water solution
will take place. The application of a
diagnostic procedure after the ageing test
will clarify, whether the test has been
passed successfully or not.

at the deepest spot of the floor. Observation windows in the door are equipped
with heaters to prevent condensation.
The overall arrangement of
equipment is shown in figure 3.

the

test

The three-phase test voltage is applied

from a 120 kVA-transformer set outside the
test bay via three porcelain bushings in
one of the polyester walls. The voltage may
be adjusted to every value up to 45 kV
(value between phases). The voltage is kept
constant to the adjusted value by AVR
control.
In the upper part of the test bay four
atomizer nozzles are installed. Pressurised
air is fed directly or via a humidifier to
the nozzles. Deionized water is provided
from a constant level container of 60 1.
The conductivity of the spray fluid can be
kept constant at a value between 1 pS/cm
and 20.000 W / c m by automatically adding of
a premixed NaCl brine. The capacity of the
spray system is 30 1 water per hour.

Additionally, however, IEC-Report No. 932

contains as a new idea the introduction of
a so called penetration test also combined
with a diagnostic procedure, which might
enable to decide without expensive and time
consuming ageing tests, whether there is a
chance to hamper the ingress of the
environmental climate by the barrier
"enclosure" to such a degree that no
relevant influences on the insulation
system
can
be
recorded.
After
the
penetration test, performed as a pollution
treatment by means of a salty fog
atmosphere, partial discharge and leakage
current
measurements
may
serve
as
diagnostic tools. During the diagnostic
procedure climatic cycles are applied,
which simulate the strongest climate
stresses known in Europe, but do not
overstress the equipment by too rapid
temperature changes. Thus, it can be found
out, if an ingress of humidity and/or
pollution in electrically stressed areas
has taken place that leads to a change in
the
electrical
performance.
If
no
significant influence is recorded the
ageing test may be omitted. Although up to
now, only few studies performed on enclosed
switchgear
bays
are
available, they
encourage to proceed in that new way of
testing. Further experience is highly
appreciated.

For the air conditioning of the test bay an

inforced
air
circulation system
was
installed. The heating system has a power
rating of 9 kW. The boiling unit for the
humidifying of the air has also a rating of
9 kW. Cooling and/or dehumidifying is
achieved by a water cooler of 12 kW at
2OOC. The operating range of the test
equipment is between +lOC and +60C and
between 30 % and 95 % of relative air
humidity.
The test cycles are controlled by a
programmable micro processor unit. The
different cycles to be applied are stored
and can be started on request. The program
is not restricted to controlling switches
and valves of the climatic test cycles, it
also starts in time the units of the
climate control system and raises the test
voltage to the set value. Test procedures
may be performed over several days without
the presence of any personnel.
For measuring and recording temperature,
humidity, conductivity and RMS-value of
test voltage 8 chanels are provided with a
sampling rate of 1000 per second.
Leakage current and oscillation of test
voltage can be recorded by 8 chanels with a
bandwidth o f 100 kHz in order to evaluate
the ohmic component of the current. For
recording and evaluation a PC can be used.

A test equipment for ageing and diagnostic

test
procedures
according
IEC-Report
No. 932

Experience has
shown that
for Test
Procedure A the full ratings of heaters,
boilers and cooling units are required. To
achieve 95 % of relative humidity at 5OoC a
water content of 86 g per kg of air is
necessary. Also the requested rate of
change of temperature of 30 K/h make the
large power ratings of the equipment
necessary.

For test procedures as specified in IECReport No. 932 a complicated and expensive
test equipment is necessary. When the
authors started the development, a test bay
was available from ageing and humidity
tests according Appendix E of IEC-Publication 466(17C(C.O.)33/0ctober 79).
The volume of the testbay is 18 m 3 . The
dual walls and doors are made of glasfiber
reinforced polyester plates with a 4 0 mm
air gap as a thermal insulation. The roof
with an inclination of 30" is from PVC with
an additional thermal insulation of polystyrene. The floor is covered with ceramic
tiles on a thermal insulating pavement. A
sink to remove condensed water was provided

Test Procedure B can be performed easier.

Cooling may be achieved by heat exchange
through the walls of the test bay. Inforced
cooling should not be applied since it
results in considerable dehumidification.
Thus
temperature
decay
will
be
an
exponential function curve.

49

The Penetration Test is carried out with

the same testing
equipment
as
test
procedure B. The main advantage lies in the
far shorter test duration compared to the
two ageing test procedures.

in mechanical oscillations (noise) which

can be recorded by means of accustic
sensors. These shall be attached to the
earth potential area of the insulating
component, either to the insulating surface
itself
or
to
mechanically
connected
grounded metal parts.

Environmental humidity stress on enclosed

high-voltage
switchqear
in
practical
service
~

The ideal way of attaching the sensor is

via especially provided threads, but in
order only to detect and localise partial
discharges the sensor may be connected,
even to live parts, via a sufficiently long
glasfibre rod which is pressed against the
surface of the component. By comparative
measurements on identical components faulty
pieces can be detected and eliminated.
Practical application of this system will
be continued to gain further experience.

From a modern design of high-voltage

switchgear a user will expect that it
withstands environmental influences of
various kinds as well as fulfils all
electrical
requirements.
The
improved
knowledge about fundamental physics of
climatic influences and the new testing
procedures
described
above
will
be
important tools to achieve this target.
An analysis of failures of the last 20
years which occurred on switchgear applying
solid insulating material to a high degree
reveals the following main causes
-

With
improved
climatic
condition,
systematical checking for weak points and
consequent maintenance measures, experience
demonstrates, that safe and
reliable
service of a system can be achieved also
with switchgear of older origin.

extreme climatic conditions with high

rate of change of temperature, high
humidity content of the air and condensation on live parts and insulating
components

pollution on the surface of insulating

components caused by solid or gaseous
pollution of the air

mechanical damages of solid insulating

components, occassionally occurring as
a consequence of mechanical tension
stress.

References

1. B. Muller, 1985, "Untersuchungen zum

Oberflachenverhalten von stabformigen
Thesis Techn. UniverIsolatoren
sity Darmstadt
...I1,

2. D. Konig, P. Rasch, 1988, "Surface discharges on epoxy resin model post insulators ...I1, Conference Record of the
IEEE International Symposium on
Electrical Insulation, Boston, June 5-8,
pp. 54-59

In cases of correlation of such influences

partial discharge
currents may
cause
gradual deterioration and erosion of the
surface and
may
finally result
in
disruptive discharges and short-circuit
arcs.
Security and reliability of older switchgear installations in service should be
improved by influencing the climate of the
live parts area, by determining any weak
points and by preventive maintenance
measures as required by the actual state.
The improvement of climatic conditions can
be achieved by constructional measures on
the building (insulation, reduced ingress
of outdoor climate) and by heating. In
practical
service good
results were
achieved with heaters controlled depending
on temperature and humidity content of the
surrounding
air.
In
the
course
of
preventive
maintenance
the
switchgear
should be cleaned at regular intervals and
visual checks should be made of any
critical
components
(bushings, cable
terminations).
Recently a diagnostic system was developed
* ) to investigate the dielectric state of a
switchgear in
service. The operating
principle makes use of the fact that
failures on insulating components are
frequently announced by increased partial
discharges (PD). Partial discharges result

---------* ) by the "Institut fur Energieversorgung",

Dresden, GDR.

50

Moisture layers on insulating

surfaces

Abs.

air humidity

g/m

I Rise of micro partial discharges1

I

I and NOX
I
Formation of HN03
Generation of

I
1

O3

1
I

Electrolytical partial

I discharge erosion
I

Formation of
dissolved nitrate

Electrochemical

conductivity

Increase of the leakage current

Formation of thermally dried

zones bridged by partial arcs,
late stage of ageing

Figure 1 Ageing mechanism in the early

stage

F i g u r e 2 Clinatogram

I
G
Air

Water

1
2
3
4

- Test bay
- Transformers
- Bushings
- Atomizer Nozzles

6
7
8

Deionizer
Humidifier
Constant-level container
NaCl brine

Figure 3 Test Equipment

51

10
11
12
13
14

- Air circulation
- Heater
-- Humidifier
Cooler
- Dehumidifier
- Water cooling unit