Transformer Dissolved Gas Analysis Guide
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heroTransformer Dissolved Gas Analysis Guide
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heroDissolved Gas Analysis of Transformer
Transformer oil sample analysis is a useful, predictive, maintenance tool for determining transformer
health. Along with the oil sample quality tests, performing a dissolved gas analysis (DGA) of the
insulating oil is useful in evaluating transformer health. The breakdown of electrical insulating
materials and related components inside a transformer generates gases within the transformer. The
identity of the gases being generated can be very useful information in any preventive maintenance
program. There are several techniques for detecting those gases and DGA is recognized as the most
informative method. This method involves sampling the oil and testing the sample to measure the
concentration of the dissolved gases.
The two principal causes of gas formation within an operating transformer are electrical
disturbances and thermal decomposition. All transformers generate gases to some extent at normal
operating temperatures. Insulating mineral oils for transformers are mixtures of many different
hydrocarbon molecules, and the decomposition processes for these hydrocarbons in thermal or
electrical faults are complex. The fundamental chemical reactions involve the breaking of carbon
hydrogen and carbon-carbon bonds. During this process, active hydrogen atoms and hydrocarbon
fragments are formed. Interpretation of the results obtained for a particular transformer requires
knowledge of the age of the unit, the loading cycle, and the date of major maintenance such as
filtering of the oil.
Applicable standards for interpretation
The IEC standard 60599
The ANSI IEEE standard C57.104
Duval Triangle.
TDCG.
Provide guidelines for the assessment of equipment condition based on the amount of gas present,
and the ratios of the volumes of pairs of gases.
Overheating windings typically lead to thermal decomposition of the cellulose insulation.
In this case DGA results show high concentrations of carbon oxides(monoxide and dioxide).
In extreme cases methane and ethylene are detected at higher levels.
Oil overheating results in breakdown of liquid by heat and formation of methane, ethane
and ethylene.
Corona is a partial discharge and detected in a DGA by elevated hydrogen.
Arcing is the most severe condition in a transformer and indicated by even low levels of
acetylene.
Point on wave switching /controlled Switching
Transformers are key component for electrical energy transfer in power system. Stability and
security of the transformer protection are important to system operation. At the time of transformer
energization, a high current will be drawn by the transformer. The mentioned current is called
transient inrush current and it may rise to ten times the nominal full load current of transformer
during operation. Energization transients can produce mechanical stress to the transformer, cause
protection system malfunction and it often affects the power system quality and may disrupt the
operation of sensitive electrical loads such as computers and medical equipment connected to the
system. Reduction and the way to control of energization transient currents have become important
concerns to the power industry for engineers. One of the methods to reduce inrush current is use of
point on wave switching at the time transformer is initially connected to supply. It is called
controlled switching or point-on-wave switching. In the point on wave switching, the energization of
three phases is controlled according to the residual flux which remains in the transformer.
Conventionally, controlled switching or point on wave switching was the method being used to
counter this problem, but this method required the knowledge of residual fluxes of transformer
before energization which is quite tedious to get. So a technique has been proposed to mitigate
inrush current in three phase transformer, by a process called refluxing. High inrush currents can
result in voltage dips and tripping of differential current relays both leading to a power quality
reduction.
Controlled switching:
Operation of a switching i.e. circuit breaker device at a specific, pre-determined point in relation to
the power frequency voltage.
Equivalents: Synchronized switching / Point-on-Wave switching
CSD is an important tool for switching transformer/reactors in a controlled manner Absence of CSD
poses high risk to key equipment Incorrect relay settings can also cause problem to expand
exponentially - Correct setting to be ensured Operation to be regularly checked/ analyzed.