Power Transformers

3 Power Transformers
3.1 Introduction
Due to ever-increasing pressure to reduce costs, the power industry is forced to
keep old power facilities in operation as long as possible. In most European
countries, about one third of the transformers are over 30 years old. Even
transformers older than 50 years are still in service. A regular check of the
operating conditions becomes more and more important with the advancing age
of transformers. The Dissolved Gas Analysis is a proven and meaningful method
for finding a fault as soon as possible if increased proportions of hydrogen and
hydrocarbon gases are found in the oil. This way, important preventative
maintenance can be performed in time to avoid an unexpected total failure.

DGA analysis and interpretation of results [3.1]

On the left are gases the oil specialist looks for in the gas-in-oil-analysis. On the
right are possible origins of these gases. When these gases exceed the levels
shown in the middle columns, the analyst uses the transformer history, the type
of gases present, as well as the relative amounts, to determine any indication of
transformer problems.

Gas Normal Abnormal

ppm 1) ppm

Hydrogen H2 200 500

Overheated Oil
Corona
Arcing

Acetylene C 2 H2 5 15

Methane CH4 50 120

Ethylene C 2 H4 80 170 Cellulose

Ethane C 2 H6 35 75

Carbon CO 200 1) 500

monoxide 2)

Carbon CO2 2000 2) 3500

dioxide 3)

53
 CP TD1 Reference Manual V 1.4

Legend:
Major gases
Minor gases

1)
ppm = parts per million by volume (gas/liquid)
2) Previous limits for CO were 500 and 700 ppm
3)
Previous limits for CO2 were 2000 and 10000 ppm
Behind the absolute value of gas content are the quotients of the gas
components, which also allow for additional information (table 3-1) [3.2].
Table 3-1:
Dissolved Gas Analysis C2 H2 CH C2 H4
[3.2] Type of fault ------------- ----------4- -------------
C2 H4 H2 C2 H6

PD Partial discharge < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.2

D1 Discharge with low energy >1 0.1 - 0.5 >1
D2 Discharge with high energy 0.6 - 2.5 0.1 - 1 >2
T1 Thermal fault T < 300°C < 0.01 >1 <1
T2 Thermal fault T < 700°C < 0.1 >1 1-4
T3 Thermal fault T > 700°C < 0.2 >1 >4

54
 Power Transformers

Possible Faults and possible finding

Table 3-2:
Possible Faults and Key gases Possible Faults Possible Findings
possible finding [3.3]
H2, possible trace of Partial discharges Weakened insulation
CH4 and C2H6. (corona) from aging and electrical
Possible CO. stress
H2, CH4 (some CO if Low energy discharges Pinhole punctures in
discharges involve paper (sparking). May be static paper insulation with
insulation). discharges. carbon and carbon
Possible trace amounts [Link] carbon
of C2H6. particles in [Link]
loose shield, pour
grounding of metal
objects.
H2, CH4, C2H6, C2H4 High energy discharges Metal fusion (poor
and the key gas for (arcing). contacts in tap changer
arcing C2H2 will be or lead connections).
present perhaps in large Weakened insulation
amount. If C2H2 is being from aging and electrical
stress. Carbonized oil.
generated, arcing is still
Paper destruction if it is
going on. CO will be
in the arc path or
present if paper is being
overheated.
heated.
H2, CO. Thermal fault less than Discoloration of paper
300°C in an area close insulation. Overloading
to paper insulation and/or cooling problem.
(paper is being heated). Bad connection in leads
or tap changer. Stray
current path and/or stray
magnetic flux.
H2, CO, CH4, C2H6, Thermal fault between Paper insulation
C2 H 4 300°C and 700°C. destroyed. Oil heavily
carbonized.
All the above gases and High energy electrical Same as above with
acetylene in large arcing. Thermal fault of metal discoloration.
amounts. 700°C and above. Arcing may have caused
a thermal fault

55
 CP TD1 Reference Manual V 1.4

Transformer Faults
Table 3-3:
Transformer faults [3.3] Fault Examples
Partial discharges Discharges in gas-filled cavities in insulation,
resulting from incomplete impregnation, high
moisture in paper, gas in oil supersaturation or
cavitation (gas bubbles in oil), leading to X wax
formation on paper.
Discharge of low energy Sparking or arcing between bad connections of
different floating potential, from shielding rings,
toroids, adjacent discs or conductors of different
windings, broken brazing, closed loops in the
core. Additional core grounds. Discharges
between clamping parts, bushing and tank, high
voltage and ground, within windings. Tracking in
wood blocks, glue of insulating beam, winding
spacers. Dielectric breakdown of oil, load tap
changer breaking contact.
Discharge of high energy Flashover, tracking or arcing of high local energy
or with power follow-through. Short circuits
between low voltage and ground, connectors,
windings, bushings and tank, windings and core,
copper bus and tank, in oil duct. Closed loops
between two adjacent conductors around the
main magnetic flux, insulated bolts of core, metal
rings holding core legs.
Overheating less than Overloading the transformer in emergency
300°C situations. Blocked or restricted oil flow in
windings. Other cooling problem, pumps valves,
etc. Stray flux in damping beams of yoke.
Overheating Defective contacts at bolted connections
300°C - 700°C (especially busbar), contacts with tap changer,
connections between cable and draw-rod of
bushings. Circulating currents between yoke
clamps and bolts, clamps and laminations, in
ground wiring, bad welds or clamps in magnetic
shields. Abraded insulation between adjacent
parallel conductors in windings.
Overheating over 700°C Large circulating currents in tank and core. Minor
currents in tank walls created by high
uncompensated magnetic field. Shorted core
laminations.

56
 Power Transformers

Notes to table 3-3:

1. X wax formation comes from paraffinic oils (paraffin based). These are not
used in transformers at present in the United States but are predominate in
Europe.
2. The last overheating problem in the table says "over 700°C". Recent
laboratory discoveries have found that acetyl can be produced in trace
amounts of 500°C, which is not reflected in this table. We have several
transformers that show trace amounts of acetylene that are probably not
active arcing but are the result of high-temperature thermal faults as in the
example. It may also be the result of one arc, due to a nearby lightning strike
or voltage surge.
3. A bad connection at the bottom of a bushing can be confirmed by comparing
infrared scans of the top of a bushing with a sister bushing. When loaded,
heat from a poor connection at the bottom will migrate to the top of the
bushing, which will display a markedly higher temperature. If the top
connection is checked and found tight, the problem is probably a bad
connection at the bottom of the bushing.

In addition to the previous table 3-3, it should be taken into account that
overheating is often caused by bad contacts in the tap selector. In order to find
out the reason for high gas values, further tests have to be performed on the
transformer. Common test methods are:
• Winding resistance measurement
• On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC) test
• Turns ratio measurement
• Excitation current measurement
• Measurement of leakage reactance
• Capacitance and Dissipation factor measurement
All the mentioned tests can be done with CPC 100 + CP TD1. This instrument is
the ideal test and analysis instrument for transformer diagnosis with these
measuring possibilities.

57
 CP TD1 Reference Manual V 1.4

3.2 Capacitance and DF Measurement of

Transformer Windings
General
• The transformer must be taken out of service and completely isolated
from the power system.
• The proper grounding of the transformer tank has to be checked.
• The bushing high voltage terminals must be isolated from the connection
lines.
• All bushing terminals of one winding group, which means A, B, C (and
Neutral) of high voltage winding, A, B, C (and Neutral) of low voltage
winding and A, B, C (and Neutral) of tertiary winding have to be connected
by a copper wire (see figure 3-1).
Figure 3-1:
Three-winding
transformer with A (L) B (L) A (H) B (H) C (H) N (H)
connected winding
N (L) C (L)

B (T)
A (T)
C (T)
T

A B C

• The neutral terminals of all Y-connected windings with outside-connected

Neutral have to be disconnected from ground (tank).

58