Diagnostic techniques of

Transformers healthiness .
Electrical Power System
Power Transformer
 Solid Insulation

•The life of the insulation is the life of the transformer.

•Insulation is the weakest link in the transformer.

•Insulation system is the most important part of the

transformer to maintain.

•Requires early and prompt attention.

 P A P E R!

PROVIDES…

•Mechanical Strength

•Dielectric Strength

•Dielectric Spacing
 Properties of Kraft Paper

•Mechanical strength 117,000 kPa

•Dielectric strength 1000 volts/mil

(1600 volts/mil when oil impregnated)

•Cost Effective
 Relationship: DP to Tensile Strength
DP Tensile (kPA)
New paper 1,200 117,000

New paper in a new transformer 1,000 105,000

Life n Service
End of reliable life 200 30,000
 Paper weakens as it ages

What causes cellulose molecules to depolymerize?

•Heat

•Oxygen

•Water

•Oil oxidation by-products

 Four Functions of Insulating Liquids :

•Protect the Paper Insulation

•Provide Dielectric Strength

•Provide Heat Transfer (Cooling)

•Testing of oil Serves as a Diagnostic Tool for the Condition of the

Equipment
 Testing in-service oil.

• First routine interval.

– Purposes of routine testing:
– Oil aging and oxidation
– Contamination
– Routine monitoring or operation
– Evaluate condition of solid insulation
• How well is the oil continuing to fulfill its functions?
• Non routine testing.
 Screen Testing
The "screen test" is a collection of

•Physical

•Electrical

•Chemical tests

for the transformer oil.

 Liquid Screen Tests

•Neutralization Number

•Interfacial Tension (IFT)

•Specific Gravity.

•Color and Appearance

•Dielectric Breakdown Strength

 Liquid Screen Tests
(Monitoring tests)

•Neutralization Number and IFT measure oil aging and

oxidation.

•Specific Gravity and dielectric primarily look for

contamination by materials.

•Color and Appearance tests are done mostly to identify

unusual conditions.
 Color

Determination of the color is used mainly for

manufacturing control purposes. It is an
important quality characteristic since color is
readily observed by the user of the product. In
some cases, the color may serve as an indication
of aging and presence of contaminants.
 . Good Oils
NN 0.00 - 0.10
IFT 30.0 - 45.0
Color Pale Yellow
•The four functions of insulating oil is to
provide cooling, insulation, protection
against chemical attack and prevention
of sludge buildup.

•The first category is Good in which

these functions are efficiently provided.
 .Proposition A Oils
NN 0.05 - 0.10
IFT 27.1 - 29.9
Color Yellow

• The second category Proposition A

provides all the required function , a drop in
IFT to 27.0 may signal the beginning of
sludge in solution.
 . Marginal Oils
NN 0.11 - 0.15
IFT 24.0 - 27.0
Color Bright Yellow

• The insulating oil in the third category,

Marginal Oils is not providing proper
cooling and winding protection. Organic
acids are beginning to coat
 Bad Oils
NN 0.16 - 0.40
IFT 18.0 - 23.9
Color Amber

The categories 4 to 6 Bad Oils, sludge has

already been deposited in and on
transformer parts in almost 100 percent of
these units. Insulation damage.
 Very Bad Oils
NN 0.41 - 0.65
IFT 14.0 - 17.9
Color Brown

reduced cooling efficiency with higher

operating temperatures characterized the
Very Bad and Extremely Bad categories.
Extremely Bad Oils
NN 0.66 - 1.50
IFT 9.0 - 13.9
Color Dark Brown

Oils in Disastrous Condition

NN 1.51 or more
Color Black

The last category “Disaster City”

the concern should be how
much life remains in the
transformer, not just the oil
condition.
Stages of Oil Oxidation
 Density, Color, Visual

Color, ASTM D1500, typical

value 0,5

Specific Gravity, ASTM D1298,

typical value 0,890
 Dielectric Breakdown

• Is a physical test that measures the breakdown voltage of an

insulation liquid.
• The dielectric breakdown test serves as an indicator to the presence
of contaminating agents such as
• Water,
• Dirt,
• Moist cellulosic fibers, and
• Conducting particles in the insulating liquid.
One or more of these items present in significant concentrations will
contribute to a low dielectric breakdown value.
Dielectric Breakdown ASTM D877

Detect free H2O +

Particles, Acceptable
limit for serviced aged
oil: 25 kV /2.5mm
Limit for new oil: 30 kV
 Acidity

•This test is used to estimate the total acid value of the

transformer insulating liquid.

•As acid values increase, (usually due to oxidation of the oil), the
insulating quality of the oil decreases.

•In general, acidic by-products produce increased dielectric loss,

increased corrosivity, and may cause thermal difficulties
attributable to insoluble components called "sludge.“
Neutralization Number (Acidity) ASTM D974

Acceptable limit for

serviced aged oil: 0.2
mg KOH/g
Limit for new oil: 0.03
mg KOH/g
The acidity is caused by
oxidation byproducts
called polar compounds
Interfacial Tension

The interfacial tension test of electrical insulating fluids is an

indicator of the presence of polar compounds.

These compounds are considered by some to be an indicator of

contaminants of oxidation or deterioration of the materials of
transformer construction.
Interfacial Tension ASTM D971

Acceptable limit for serviced aged oil: 18

dynes/cm
Limit for new oil: 45 dynes/cm
 Water Content

The water content test detects the moisture content in parts per
million of the liquid insulation.
The electrical characteristics of an insulating liquid are dramatically
affected by its water content. A high water content may cause a
dielectric liquid unsuitable for some applications because a
deterioration in properties such as dielectric breakdown voltage
will occur. This test is suitable for evaluating filtration.
Water Content ASTM D1500

Karl Fisher Titration

Acceptable limit: 35
ppm
Tank breathing or paper
degradation
Furan Analysis ASTM D5837

Furanic compounds are

produced as the solid
insulation (cellulose)
deteriorates; measuring the
concentration of those
compounds gives indication
on the condition of the solid
insulation.
 Dissolved Gas Analysis
(Diagnostic test)

•Abnormal operation of transformers cause combustible fault

gases to form and to dissolve in the oil.

•Dissolved gas analysis extracts and analyses these gases.

•Qualitative and quantitative tools are used to interpret the

results.

•A complete DGA includes a diagnosis and a recommendation for

the next appropriate action.
 WHY DGA NECESSARY

1. Advance warning of developing fault

2. Determining the improper use of units

3. Status checks on new and repaired units

4. Convenient scheduling of repairs

5. Monitoring of units under overload

 Dissolved Gas-In-Oil Analysis
• The most important test that can be done on the liquid
insulation of a transformer is an annual Dissolved Gas Analysis
(DGA).
• This test can give an early indication of abnormal behavior of
the transformer. As the name implies, this test analyzes the type
and quantity of gases that are dissolved in the transformer oil.
Small samples of oil are taken for this test, using a clean,
moisture-free, gas-tight container — usually a 50 ml syringe. It is
very important that a DGA sample is kept air tight; otherwise the
gases that are dissolved in the liquid can escape into the
atmosphere, or external gases can be admitted, which would
invalidate the test results.
• The principal gases are hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
methane, ethylene, ethane, and acetylene.
• Certain quantities and combination of these
gases are indicative of: insulation
overheating/overloading, liquid overheating ,
partial discharge (corona), or arcing in the
transformer.
 Overheating Of Paper Insulation

• The paper insulation which is normally used to insulate the windings of a

transformer is a cellulose product. If a transformer becomes overloaded for
any reason, the windings will generate more heat and deteriorate the cellulose
insulation.

• A DGA test can identify an overloaded transformer by a test result showing

high carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and in extreme cases, even
elevated methane and ethylene.

• If a transformer is overloaded for a long period of time, the deteriorating

condition of the cellulose will shorten the life of the transformer. When the
cellulose insulation breaks down to the point where arcing starts to occur, the
transformer must be taken out of service.
 CELLULOSE AGING

KEY GASES: CARBON MONOXIDE AND CARBON DIOXIDE

• A normally ageing conservator type Transformer should have

a CO2/CO ratio of about 7.

• Any CO2/CO ratio above 11 or below 3 should be regarded as

perhaps indicating a fault involving cellulose provided the
other gas analysis results also indicate excessive oil
degradation.
 THERMAL FAULTS

KEY GASES: HYDROGEN, METHANE, ETHANE AND ETHYLENE

• A small amount of decomposition occurs at normal

operating temperatures. As the fault temperature rises, the
formation of the degradation gases change from methane
(CH4) to ethane (C2H6) to ethylene (C2H4).
• As the temperature increases so there is a gradual shift from
methane to ethane gas generation. As the temperature
increased further there will be a higher production of ethane
and ethylene.
• A thermal fault at low temperature, typically
lower than 300oC , produces mainly methane
and ethane with some ethylene.
• A thermal fault at higher temperatures,
typically higher than 300oC, produces ethylene.
The higher the temperature becomes the
greater the production of ethylene.
• Extremely high temperatures ~ 1000O C may
bring on the presence of acetylene.
 DISSOLVED GAS

CORONA

• Thermal heating (pyrolyses) gases to be produce in

Insulating Oil. This is due to Breakdown products of
the oil under Electrical & Thermal activities.
 Arcing

• Arcing is the most severe condition in a transformer because it

indicates a breakdown of the insulation. The presence of acetylene is
an indicator of arcing; and even low levels of this gas should cause
concern.
• If the arc occurs in the area of cellulose insulation, carbon dioxide and
carbon monoxide also will be elevated.

• Arcing can be generated in many areas of a transformer. Insulation

breakdown in the windings, from coil to coil or coil to ground, will
result in arcing.

•A loose connection also may cause arcing, but of greater significance

would be arcing due to insulation breakdown.
 How are fault gases produced?
Thermal & electrical stresses
Exposure to air
Cellulosic insulation starts degrading
Contaminant induced chemical reactions

Chain breaks
+
Molecular rearrangements
H2
Gases CH4
C2 H4
C2 H6
C2 H2
CO2
CO
 FAULT GASES

• Corona or partial discharge

• Pyrolysis or thermal

• Arcing.

• The most severe intensity of energy dissipation occurs with

arcing, less with
heating, and least with corona.
 Type of faults – Gases involved cont.

• In all types of faults, hydrogen is always

present.
• Faults with a very high energy content,
such as in electrical arcs, to form large
amounts of C2H2.
• Arcing is the most concerning type of fault
condition as it typically escalates to a
transformer failure.
 Type of faults – Gases involved cont.

• Low energy faults such as corona partial

discharges in gas bubbles, or low temperature
hot spots, will form mainly H2 and CH4.
• Faults of higher temperatures are necessary to
form large quantities of C2H4.
• DGA results would allow us to identify the
type of fault occurring in a transformer in
service.
 Every DGA starts with the sampling

• Every DGA starts with the sampling

• Appropriate sampling techniques are indicated on
ASTM D923, IEC 60567.
• Thousands of gallons in a transformer tank, syringe
only 50 ml., the sample must be as representative as
possible.
 Sampling Procedure

Flushing about 2 liters to ensure there is Allow the pressure in the tank to fill the
no free water or visible contaminants syringe up to the 10 cc mark (don’t pull
the piston)
 What do we do with the data?

• Many results interpretation techniques

– •IEC 60599 Ratios
– •IEEE C57.104, Limits, rates and TDCG
– •Rogers Ratios
– •Key Gas Method
– •Duval Triangle
– •Trend Analysis• “NEW GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETATION OF
DGA” CIGRE Task force 15.01.01,Octr 1999
– •Companies guidelines
– •More..
 Results interpretation – cont.

Main diagnostic methods:

• IEC ratio codes

• IEEE methods ( Dornenburg, Rogers and key gases methods )
• Duval Triangle

Gas ratios should be calculated only if at least one gas value is

above typical value.
 Trend Analysis
• Transformers are all different;
•The exact value of the DGA reading is not as important as the trend. If
the DGA is at a moderate level but holding steady, there is little concern.

• When the transformer is first energized, the DGA values will trend
toward the
“typical” value for that transformer and it should then stabilize;

• The actions to be taken after analysis depends on how fast the

problem is escalating, the criticality of the transformer and the
alternatives available;

• The risk of taking the transformer out of service too soon may result in
an internal inspection which turns up no evidence;
 EXAMPLE
• Suppose that a transformer is found to have recent
increases of 45 ppm of CH4, 90 ppm of C2H4, and 15
ppm of C2H2. Such a significant increase in C2H4 and
C2H2 is sufficient justification to suspect a fault and to
apply the Duval Triangle method.
• Calculate T = CH4 + C2H4 + C2H2 = 45 + 90 + 15 = 150.
• Express the amount of each gas as a percentage of T.
• CH4: 100*CH4/T = 100*45/150 = 30%
C2H4: 100*C2H4/T = 100*90/150 = 60%
C2H2: 100*C2H2/T = 100*15/150 = 10%
• Plot a point on the triangle which is 30% of the
way up the CH4 axis, 60% of the way down the
C2H4 axis, and 10% of the way across the C2H2
axis. The arrows next to each side of the triangle
show the direction of each axis.
• The point representing our gas data falls in the T3
fault zone, indicating a high-temperature thermal
fault (T3), which is typically a "hot metal" fault.
• .