ICMflex

With the unique concept of the ICMflex instruments, the entire acquisition hardware is placed on high voltage potential right at the position where the signals are. Thus, no signal cables are needed, as the instrument is fully self-contained and battery operated. The instrument is fully remote controlled via high-speed Bluetooth or fibre optic communication.

Unique Concept

The ICMflex instrument family is available with different options and for different voltage levels. Additionally, the self-contained ICMflex acquisition unit can be placed on any third-party coupling or reference capacitor. The option TD offers tanδ and power factor (PF) measurements. The option PD provides partial discharge measurements according to the IEC 60270, whereas the option LOC includes partial discharge location for power cables. Finally, the optional high voltage T-filter for sensitive partial discharge measurements can reduce disturbance signals from a high voltage supply.

The detachable Li-MH battery provides more than eight hours of continuous operation while a second battery is charged. Any high voltage AC source can be used, including resonant test sets and VLF high voltage sources.

Testing distribution-class cables in a field environment become an easy and inherently safe task. The ICMflex unit is placed between the high voltage source and the cable to be tested – no further leads are required. The ICMflex unit can be equipped with a high voltage filter to accommodate noisy high voltage sources. Thus, with one unit requiring only high voltage and ground connection, all essential measurements on laid power cable are performed in one step: Tanδ, partial discharge, and partial discharge location.

Offline testing of generator and motor stator coils is simplified in the same way. With any high voltage source used, the critical AC measurements on the stator coil are done simultaneously: Tanδ, PF, and partial discharge.

Option TD (Tan Delta)

The tan delta analyser uses an unbalanced bridge formed by internal shunt capacitors, the reference capacitor and the device under test. Here, the ICMflex software shows tanδ, PF, capacitance, voltage, and frequency.

Option PD (Partial Discharge)

With the option PD, the ICMflex software offers a meter display according to IEC 60270, an oscilloscopic display of the partial discharge activity, and a coloured φ-q-n pattern based on the data received via Bluetooth fibre-optic connection. Placing the quadrupole and acquisition unit on high voltage potential improves the sensitivity and avoids noise pickup on signal cables.

Option LOC (Location on Cable)

The partial discharge location option uses high speed (100 Msample) sampling of the PD pulses travelling the cable. The analog bandwidth of 20 MHz enables precise location and mapping of the discharge activity along the cable.