Skip to content

 MCQ
 Basics
o
o
o
o
o
o
 Power Systems
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
 Machines
o
o
o
o
 Electronics
o
o
o
o
 Tools
o
o
o
o
o
 Search
Tan Delta Test | Loss Angle Test | Dissipation Factor
Test
January 2, 2019 by Electrical4U
Principle of Tan Delta Test
A pure insulator when is connected across line and earth, it behaves as a
capacitor. In an ideal insulator, as the insulating material which acts as
dielectric too, is 100 % pure, the electric current passing through the insulator,
only have capacitive component. There is no resistive component of the
current, flowing from line to earth through insulator as in ideal insulating
material, there is zero percent impurity.
In pure capacitor, the capacitive electric current leads the applied voltage by
90o.
In practice, the insulator cannot be made 100% pure. Also due to the aging of
insulators, the impurities like dirt and moisture enter into it. These impurities
provide the conductive path to the current. Consequently, an electric leakage
current flowing from line to earth through the insulator has a resistive
component.
Hence, it is needless to say that, for good insulator, this resistive component of
electric leakage current is quite low. In another way, the healthiness of an
electrical insulator can be determined by the ratio of the resistive component
to the capacitive component. For good insulator, this ratio would be quite
low. This ratio is commonly known as tanδ or tan delta. Sometimes it is also
referred to as dissipation factor.

In the vector diagram above, the system voltage is drawn along the x-axis.
Conductive electric current i.e. resistive component of leakage current, IR will
also be along x-axis.
As the capacitive component of leakage electric current IC leads system
voltage by 90o, it will be drawn along y-axis.
Now, total leakage electric current IL(Ic + IR) makes an angle δ (say) with y-axis.
Now, from the diagram above, it is cleared, the ratio, IR to IC is nothing but
tanδ or tan delta.

NB: This δ angle is known as loss angle.

Method of Tan Delta Testing
The cable, winding, current transformer, potential transformer, transformer
bushing, on which tan delta test or dissipation factor test to be conducted, is
first isolated from the system. A very low-frequency test voltage is applied
across the equipment whose insulation to be tested. First, the normal voltage
is applied. If the value of tan delta appears good enough, the applied voltage
is raised to 1.5 to 2 times of normal voltage, of the equipment. The tan delta
controller unit takes measurement of tan delta values. A loss angle analyzer is
connected with tan delta measuring unit to compare the tan delta values at
normal voltage and higher voltages and analyze the results.
During the test, it is essential to apply test voltage at a very low frequency.
Reason of applying Very Low Frequency
If the frequency of the applied voltage is high, then capacitive reactance of the
insulator becomes low, hence the capacitive component of electric current is
high. The resistive component is nearly fixed; it depends upon applied
voltage and conductivity of the insulator. At high frequency as capacitive
current, is large, the amplitude of the vector sum of capacitive and resistive
components of electric current becomes large too.
Therefore, required apparent power for tan delta test would become high
enough which is not practical. So to keep the power requirement for this
dissipation factor test, very low-frequency test voltage is required. The
frequency range for tan delta test is generally from 0.1 to 0.01 Hz depending
upon size and nature of insulation.
There is another reason for which it is essential to keep the input frequency of
the test as low as possible.
As we know,
That means, dissipation factor tanδ ∝ 1/f.
Hence, at low frequency, the tan delta number is higher, and the
measurement becomes easier.
How to Predict the Result of Tan Delta Testing
There are two ways to predict the condition of an insulation system during
tan delta or dissipation factor test.
First, one is, comparing the results of previous tests to determine, the
deterioration of the condition of insulation due to aging effect.
The second one is, determining the condition of insulation from the value of
tanδ, directly. No requirement of comparing previous results of tan delta test.
If the insulation is perfect, the loss factor will be approximately the same for
all range of test voltages. But if the insulation is not sufficient, the value of tan
delta increases in the higher range of test voltage.

From the graph, it is clear that the tan and delta number nonlinearly increases
with increasing test very low-frequency voltage. The increasing tan&delta,
means, high resistive electric current component, in the insulation. These
 results can be compared with the results of previously tested insulators, to
take the proper decision whether the equipment would be replaced or not.

Related Articles

 Polarization Index Test or PI Test

 Measurement of Insulation Resistance

 Electrical Insulator Testing |…

 High Voltage Testing | Low…

 Get Access To Our Newsletter
Want to learn more?

Enter your email below to receive FREE informative articles on Electrical &
Electronics Engineering

Join for Free

6 thoughts on “Tan Delta Test | Loss Angle Test | Dissipation
Factor Test”

1.
VENKAT B
February 11, 2019 at 2:52 am | Reply
Very good &easily understandable article. Thanks for sharing


Electrical4U
February 15, 2019 at 11:51 pm | Reply
No worries Venkat – thank you for your kind words.

2.
Amit Moitra
February 20, 2019 at 12:53 pm | Reply
Very useful and easily understandable article.


Electrical4U
February 23, 2019 at 1:08 am | Reply
 Thank you Amit – very happy to hear!

3.
Kaishnair
February 22, 2019 at 4:29 am | Reply
Very good and very clearly explained article.Thanks for sharing.


Electrical4U
February 23, 2019 at 4:47 am | Reply
No worries at all Kaishnair. Happy to hear you found the information
helpful!
Leave a Comment

Comment

Name EmailWebsite
Post Comment

Induction Motor Braking Regenerative Plugging Dynamic Braking of

Induction Motor
Concept of Power Electronics
Faradays Laws of Electrolysis – First and Second Laws (Equations &
Definition)
Synchronous Condenser
Test for Thickness of Insulation of Power Cable
Electroencephalography | EEG
Vector Group Test of Power Transformer

Please feel free to contact us if you’d like to request a specific topic.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an
affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees
by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Full disclaimer here.
© 2019 Electrical4U
Scroll back to top