2301

NINTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSRJM

ON HIGH VOLTAGE ENGINEERING
August28

September 1, 1995

GRAZ CONVENTION CENTER

AUSTRIA, EUROPE

ISH

ANALYSIS OF RF INTERFERENCE
IN VACUUM iNSULATING SYSTEMS
BY MEANS OF ANALOG AND DIGITAL MEASURING METHODS
W Ziomek,

H MocickaGrzesiak*,

I D Chalmers**

*Poznafi University of Technology, The Institute of Electrical Power Engineering

Pozna, POLAND
**University of Strathclyde, Centre for Electrical Power Engineering
Glasgow, UNiTED KINGDOM
Abstract
The paper concerns a problem of radio-frequency
interference (RH) generated by a complex high-voltage
insulating system, i.e. an extinguishing chamber of a vacuum
interrupter. Typical RFI measurement systems with receiving
antenna and spectrum analyser have been used to investigate
prebreakdown phenomena in the vacuum extinguishing
chamber. The experimental results allow to decide whether the
vacuum chamber may be a source of RH. Moreover, a strong
relationship between breakdown voltage and the RFI level in
prebreakdown stage as well as the dependence of
microdischarge frequency spectrum upon the residual gas
pressure have been shown.

The research has been carried out for the extinguishing

chamber of a vacuum interrupter. For a long vacuum gap (over
10 mm) and also in some cases for interelectrode distances from
transient range (1... 10 mm), the most characteristic
prebreakdown phenomena are microdischarges. In this paper
the electromagnetic field and the frequency spectrum of the
pulsed current of RFI generated by microdischarges have been
analysed, for ac and dc voltage. The typical RH measurement
systems via antenna as well as by the spectrum analyser
measuring microdischarge current have been used to investigate
prebreakdown phenomena in the extinguishing chamber for the
voltage level much higher than the rated voltage.

2. Experimental
1. Introduction
Radio-frequency interference (RFI) is a term for short
pulse voltage and current oscillations. RH may propagate in the
air as an electromagnetic wave or move along transmission line
wires as a current wave. In this case, wires act as a waveguide
and as a transmitting antenna. All kinds of partial discharges in
solid and fluid insulation, corona discharge, microdischarges in
reduced-pressure gas insulation and in vacuum could be the
sources of potentially very strong interference. For that reason,
the working voltage of a high-voltage device ought to be much
lower than the voltage at which partial discharges occur. The
RH generated by a high-voltage system may be considered an
unwanted phenomenon, to be reduced or eliminated. On the
other hand, however, the RFI is a useful source of information
about the insulating system, since the interference results from
different kinds of partial discharges and therefore can be used to
characterise the partial discharge sources.
In general, two methods of measuring the RF interference
are used. In the first, a system of receiving antennas is used to
measure the electromagnetic field of interference in a
surrounding space. In the second method, the voltage across the
measuring impedance is observed, caused by the interference
current in the circuit. The first method allows fur remote
measurement, while in the second method the RFI generating
object must be connected with an RFI meter. In open space only
the first method is used. In an electromagnetically insulated lab
both methods may be used [I].

In the first stage of investigation the interference field

was measured by an analog RH meter (the measuring range
0.14-300MHz, voltage range 0-120dB where 0dB corresponds
to 1 mJi). The RH analog meter is a selective microvoitmeter
yielding the quasi-peak value of the input voltage. The meter
was used to measure the voltage induced in the measuring
antennas. The interference level, measured for frequency which
was being changed in a continuous way, was automatically
recorded by an X-Y recorder. In general, the level of
interference generated by the tested objects decreased with the
increase in the measuring frequency. Beyond the 30 MHz
frequency the RFI level dropped below 0 dB. Therefore the
investigations for the analog RF meter were conducted for the
frequency range l4OkHz-3OlvfHz.
In order to su,press the RH propagating in the air, the
test room was specially shielded. The walls, floor and ceiling
were covered by a 1 mm thick steel sheet, which ensured the
suppressing of the magnetic component of the interference field.
Next, all surfaces were additionally covered by 0,1 mm
aluminium foil, in order to improve the suppression of the
electric component of the interference field. To suppress the
interference current in the supply network wires, tow-pass LC
filters were used, while the RH meter was supplied from a V
type artificial network. Also, only 30% of the voltage range of
the 100 kV (rius), 50 Hz test transformer was used to ensure an
appropriately low level of partial discharges in the said
transformer (about 0.O5pC) [2].

2301-2

In order to reduce the corona discharge in the highvoltage part of the measuring system, large diameter pipe
conductors were used, and electrodes which control the electric
field distribution were placed on the wire connectors. All
elements of the measuring equipment and additional equipment
were careflully one-point grounded by very short copper wires

too

RF level [da)

EEilWZF

[31,

The second part of research was carried out using a

Hewlett-Packard Spectrum Analyser with the frequency range 01.5 GHz for dc voltage applied to the vacuum gap. A voltage
signal was taken from a 200 MI? resistor being in series with the
vacuum gap. The spectrum analyser is a digital device enabling
to obtain the frequency spectrum of the measuring signal by
multiple sweeping of a viewing window across the whole
frequency spectrum by a system of band-pass filters. During each
sweep the obtained filtered signal is stored and added to e,cisting
in a memory of the analyser. When the measured signal is
repetitive then the spectrum has the continuous form, if the input
signal is the pulsed one with non-repetitive, random
characteristics, the obtained frequency spectrum contains the
multiple pulses irregularly spread over the frequency range.
The tested objects in both cases were the extinguishing
chambers of a vacuum interrupter for medium voltage. The
contacts were made of Cu-Cr sinter material. The nominal
distance of contacts was 12-14 mm, but it was possible to change
the contact distance from 0 to 16 mm during the experiment. In
the extinguishing chamber, for high enough voltage there can
appear various kinds of partial discharges: on the outer surface
of the insulating envelope (in the air), between open contacts
and on the inner surface (in vacuum). Partial discharges are one
of the causes of RFI.

= -*

-:

I
0.1
0.1

liHil

Li

j
10

100

Frequency [MHz]
Fig.1.

The level of RF Interference generated by the

extinguishing chamber of vacuum interrupter under
voltage of 30 kV (rms), interelectrode distance 6 mm,
frequency range 0.14-30 MHz. Measurements with a wire
antenna placed 0.5 m form the chamber using the analog
RF meler.

3. Results and discussion

The first experiment was conducted by measuring the
voltage induced in an antenna by the interference
electromagnetic wave. The wire antenna used was placed 0.5 m
away from the tested chamber [4]. Fig. I shows the level of
interference generated by the extinguishing chamber for
frequency ranging between 0.1
30 MHz. The interelectrode
distance in the chamber was 6mm and voltage was 30kV. Fig.2
presents, for chosen range of measuring frequency, the level of
RET generated by investigated object and additionally the level of
RFI produced by background. The level of the latter interference
is very low and therefore proves that the test room and the
measuring system were well prepared for the experiment.
...

The high level of interference generated by the

extinguishing chamber is due to the fact that the voltage was 2,5
times higher than the rated voltage, and the interelectrode
distance 2 times shorter than the rated distance. For nominal
rating, i.e. 12 kV voltage and 12 mm interelectrode distance, the
interference generated by a well conditioned chamber was too
small to be measured, which means that the vacuum
extinguishing chamber at working voltage is very safe in the
aspect of electromagnetic compatibility and the generating of RE
interference.
The application of the R.F1 measurement method yields
valuable information about the state of a high-voltage system
with vacuum insulation. Electric strength is a very important
quantity characterizing a high-voltage insulating system. Electric
strength in vacuum, however, is an ambiguous notion, In a series
of breakdowns, almost each breakdown occurs at a higher
voltage value than previous one
a conditioning effect is
observed. The electric strength measurement procedure actually
changes the said electric strength of the vacuum gap.
-

kHz

Fig. 2. Exemplary recordingfrom the analog meter; the level of

RF Interference generated by background (1) and the
vacuum chamber under 30 kV (rms); interelectrode gap 6
mm, frequency range 300-850 kHz.
Therefore other quantities characteristic for the prebreakdown
stage are needed, such that there is a definite relationship
between these quantities and the electric strength. Moreover, the
measurement of these quantities must not change the state of the
system [5]. For the purpose of this research as prebreakdown
quantity describing the insulating system state, the level of RET
generated by a vacuum chamber under preselected voltage in
prebreakdown stage has been chosen. The experiment shows
that there exists a relation between breakdown voltage in
vacuum and the RET level in prebreakdown stage (Fig.3).

2301

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Fig. 4. Typical recording from the spectrum analyser; the

microdischarge pulse level in the flmction of measuring
frequency during 60 s observation time; sweep time 2Oms,
viewing window band 1 MHz, frequency range 0-1500
MHz, attenuation 10dB, signal rate IOdB/div, upper line
0 dB (250 mV); measuring resistance 200 .t2
measurements for 14 mm vacuum gap at 70 kV and
pressure i0 Pa.

0
S
I
L
S

,uuu

so

so

sie

Number of microdiseharge pulses

1.20

1 F1

RP Int.rfermnce Lru.1 LEdBI

Fig.3. Relation between the breakdown voltage Ub 1kV] and the

level L [dB] of RF interference generated by the vacuum
chamber in prebreakdown stage at 30 kV; measuring
frequency 180 kHz, interelectrode distance 6 mm.
2 = 0.7)
Ub = 8.06 106 L
26 (determination coefficient r

100

.:

-.

z
E4ZI

The big value of the determination coefficient proves the

existence of a close relation between the breakdown voltage and
the RFI level in prebreakdown stage. Therefore it may be
expected that the measurement of the RFI level in the
extinguishing vacuum chamber will allow the prediction of the
breakdown voltage. Moreover, there is a possibility of a remote
investigation, without connecting the tested object to the
measuring system, however a calibration method is required.
In a second stage of research the frequency spectrum of
the R.F interference current in an external circuit caused by
microdischarges in a vacuum chamber was analysed. The
investigation was conducted for the vacuum chamber with
electrode separation of 4,6,8,10,12,14 mm and for residual
pressure ranging from i to 100 Pa. The dc voltage applied
to the vacuum gap was 65 kVand 70kv.
The typical record of frequency spectrum is shown in
Fig.4. From numerous measurements for varied pressure and
electrode distance results, that for pressures below 0.2-0.6 Pa,
the microdisoharge pulses are randomly spread over the whole
frequency range without the distinct influence of pressure and
the electrode separation on the frequency spectrum form [6].
The number of microdischarge pulses on the frequency spectrum
increased with the increase of the applied voltage (Fig.5). In
Fig.5 another phenomenon is shown that for the critical pressure
of 0.2 Pa, the sudden increase of the microdischarge activity
takes place and with increase of the pressure over this critical
value, the microdischarges disappear. This extinction of
microdischarges depends on the electrode separation and could
be utilised as a test method for evaluation of the vacuum state.
This phenomenon is reported in [6].

l.000E04

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1
!: fij

mit.z : t=
:

l.000E03

:f...::

0.01

0.1

Pressure [Pa]
s--

85 kV

70

Fig.5. The number of microdischarge pulses spread over the

completefrequency range (up to 1500 MHz) in afitnction
of resithial pressure for 14 mm vacuum gap at voltage of
65kV and 70kV

It is known [7) that microdischarges are current pulses

with duration of j
s and amplitude up to several
hundreds j.A, with a frequency of occurrence 0.1 100 i/s. Let
us consider as a typical microdischarge pulse the single current
pulse which lasts for
s with front-time of 10.6 s and
amplitude of 500 mA: the corresponding frequency spectrum of
this pulse obtained using Fourier transform, is presented in Fig.6.
We see that the calculated spectrum has the frequency range up
to a few MHz only, what can suggest that in real conditions (see
Fig.4, where the frequency range is extended to 1500 MHz) the
microdischare pulses have more steep fronts, presumably in the
order of 10 s. Further research is required to establish the
relationship between the microdischarge image in the time
domain and in the frequency domain.
-

2301

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References

[1) CISPR Publication 1. Specification for CISPR radio

interference measuring apparatus for the frequency range
0,15 IvlHzto 30MHz, Geneva, 1963

4-

1.

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4.

4
+

4
+

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4

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1.ZBc.86
r (1,)

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Z,57e*a6

+11
1
+

3.61e.G1+

[2] W. Ziomek Relation between breakdown voltage and

parameters characterizing prebreakdown phenomena in
selected vacuum insulating systems (Polish), Ph.D. thesis,
Pozna University of Technology, 1992
[3] N.Hylten-Cavallius, High Voltage Laboratory Planning
ASEA Haefely, 1986
-

[4] W. Ziomek, H. Mocicka-Grzesiak Radio

frequency
Interference Generated by High Voltage System with
Vacuum Insulation, XVIth !nt.Symp.on Discharges and
Electrical Insualtion in Vacuum (Moscow-St.Petersburgh,
Russia), conf.proc.: USA
SPIE Proceedings Series
vol.2259, 23-3 0 May 1994
-

a.eee.ee

Fig. 6.

6.lle.B5

1.Zflt.86
I (us)

1.92e9b

Z.57e.Bf.

The theoretical frequency spectrum obtained using a

Fourier transform for a single current pulse lasting for
10-5 s with the front time of 10-6 sand the amplitude of
500 pA; the upper characteristics concerns the
component amplitudes [A] of the frequency spectrum,
whereas the lower figure shows corresponding phase of
the component pulses [deg].

[5] W. Ziomek, H.Mocicka-Grzesiak, Relations of breakdown

voltage and prebreakdown microdischarge parameters in
vacuum, IEEE Transaction on Electrical Insulation, Vol.28,
No4, pp.481-487, August 1993
[6) ID Chalmers, W Ziomek Relationship between residual gas
pressure and microdischarge activity in vacuum, to be
published in Proc. of 9th International Symposium on High
Voltage Engineering, Graz, Austria, 1995
[7]R V Latham, High Voltage Vacuum Insulation; The Physical
Basis, Academic Press, London, New York, Sidney, 1981

4.. Conclusions
The investigations of the RF] generated by the
extinguishing chamber of the vacuum interrupter yielded the
following results:
(i) For zero load current and for open contacts, the
interference level depends strongly on the interelectrode distance
and on the voltage.
(ii) For nominal rating, i.e. 12 24 -36 kV voltage and 12
mm interelectrode distance the RH generated by a well
conditioned chamber is too low to be measured. However, when
the interelectrode distance decreases and the voltage. increases,
the interference increases up to tens of dB ( 50 60 dB..fb the
30 kV voltage).
-

The RFI measurement method may be successfully used to

investigate prebreakdown phenomena in high-voltage systems
with vacuum insulation. The investigations have shown a strong
relation between the breakdown voltage in vacuum and the RF
interference level measured at preselected voltage in
prebreakdown stage of the system. Using a digital spectrum
analyser, the critical residual gas pressure in a vacuum chamber,
preceding the failure of electric strength can be found.

Addresses of authors:
Prof. H.Mocicka-Grzesiak
Dr W Ziomek
Pozna University of Technology
The Institute of Electrical Power Engineering
3a Piotrowo Str., 60-965 Pozna, POLAND
Prof. I I) Chalmers
University of Strathelyde,
Centre for Electrical Power Engineering
204 George Str. Glasgow, GI I XW, UK