Oil Analysis An Important Tool for Transformer Diagnosis

Conference on Electrical Power Equipment Diagnostics Bali, Indonesia Thomas Prevost

31 October 2013

Oil Analysis

Study and test the oil to determine the condition of overall insulation system
1. 2. 3.
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Dissolved Gas Analysis DGA Oil Quality Furans

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Oil Diagnostics

Oil Quality

DGA
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Source of Gas Byproducts of Faults

Oil
Hydrogen Hydrocarbons

Cellulose
Carbon Oxides Water

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Oil - Byproducts
Methane

H H C H
Ethylene Ethane

H H

C C

H H

H H C H

H C H H

Heating Heating

H HH H Heating C C C C C H H HH H H
Arcing Corona

H C C H
Acetylene
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H H
Hydrogen
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Degradation of cellulose
Carbon Monoxide Carbon Dioxide

Heating

H OH O H H

OH H O O

CH2OH O H H O OH H
Heating

Section of Cellulose Molecule

H H O

CH2O

O H H
Water

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DGA Analysis

1. Fault Gas Levels 2. Rate of Gas Generation (Trend) 3. Ratio of Gas Levels

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Gases reported: Fault Gases Methane Ethane Ethylene Acetylene CH4 C2H6 C2H4 C2H2 Atmospheric Gases Nitrogen Oxygen N2 O2

Carbon Monoxide CO Carbon Dioxide CO2

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Sources of Fault Gases in Transformers Thermal Faults:

Normal Operating Temperature: Carbon Monoxide CO Carbon Dioxide CO2 150 C 500 C: 150-250 C : Relatively large quantities of low molecular weight hydrocarbons Hydrogen H2 Methane CH4 250-350 C : Increasing hydrogen relative to methane Ethane C2H6 350-500 C : Still increasing hydrogen and ethylene Ethylene C2H4
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Sources of Fault Gases in Transformers Electrical Faults:

Partial Discharges: Oil: Cellulose: Arcing: Oil: Acetylene, Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen, Carbon Monoxide

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Combustible Gas Generation vs. Approximate Oil Decomposition Temperature

Partial Discharge (Not Temperature Dependent) Range of Normal Operation Hot Spots Arcing Conditions

Hydrogen (H2)

(Of increasing temperature)

Ethane (C2H6) Ethylene (C2H4)

CH4>H2 250o

C2H6>CH4 C2H4>C2H6
150o

Gas Generation (Not to Scale)

Approximate Oil Decomposition Temperature above 150oC

IEEE and IEC Codes to Interpret Incipient Faults in Transformers, Using Gas in Oil Analysis, by R.R. Rogers C.E.G.B, Transmission Division, Guilford, England. Circa 1978.
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700o

C2H2>10% of C2H4

500o

Acetylene (C2H2)

Trace

350o

800o

Methane (CH4)

65o

200o

300o

DGA Diagnostic Methodology

1. Determine if DGA results are Normal
1. Single sample compare results to C57.104-2008 Table 1 2. If greater than condition 1 then retest sample within two months
1. 2. 1. 2. Verifies results from first test Establishes gas generation rate Calculate gas generation rate Compare rate to values in C57.104-2008 Table 3

3. Greater than one sample

1. Sampling interval 2. Action 2. If DGA results are abnormal then follow various methodologies to determine fault type and possible cause.
1. Key gas 2. Gas ratios

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IEEE C57.104-2008 Table 1 Dissolved Key Gas Concentration Limits (L/L (ppm))
H2 Hydrogen 100 CH4 Methane 120 C2H2 Acetylene 1 C2H4 Ethylene 50 C2H6 Ethane 65 CO Carbon Monoxide 350 CO2 Carbon Dioxide 2500

Status Condition 1

TDCGb 720

Condition 2

101-700

121-400

2-9

51-100

66-100

351-570

2500-4000

721-1920

Condition 3

701-1800

401-1000

10-35

101-200

101-150

571-1400

400110000 >10000

19214630 >4630

Condition 4

>1800

>1000

>35

>200

>150

>1400

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IEEE C57.104 2008 Table 3 Gas Generation Rates

TDCG Levels (L/L) Condition 4 >4630 TDCG Rate (L/L /day) >30 10-30 <10 Sampling Intervals and Operating Procedures for Gas Generation Rates Sampling Interval Daily Daily Weekly Operating Procedures Consider removal from service. Advise manufacturer Exercise extreme caution. Analyze for individual gases. Plan outage. Advise Manufacturer Exercise extreme caution. Analyze for individual gases. Plan outage. Advise manufacturer. Exercise caution. Analyze for individual gases. Determine load dependence.

Condition 3

19214630

>30 10-30 <10

Weekly Weekly Monthly Monthly Monthly Quarterly Monthly

Condition 2

7211920

>30 10-30 <10

Condition 1

720

>30

Exercise caution. Analyze for individual gases. Determine load dependence. Continue normal operation.

10-30 <10
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Quarterly Annual

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Factors influencing the interpretation of results: Type of faults:

-PD: partial discharges of the corona-type. -D1: discharges of low energy. -D2: discharges of high energy. -T1: thermal fault (T < 300C). -T2: thermal fault (300 C < T < 700C). -T3: thermal fault (T > 700C). -DT: mixtures of discharges and thermal faults. -S: stray gassing of oil (T < 200 C), catalytic reactions (not related to faults).

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Typical faults in the equipment:

-PD: corona partial discharges in voids or gas bubbles (poor drying, impregnation). -D1: partial discharges of the sparking type, tracking in paper, small arcing, arc breaking in LTC oil. -D2: short circuits with power follow-through, flashovers, tripping, gas alarms; extensive damage, metal fusion.

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Typical faults in the equipment:

-T3: large circulating currents, shorts in laminations, carbon particles in oil. -T2: circulating currents, defective contacts, carbonization of paper. -T1: overloading, insufficient cooling. -S: stray gassing , catalytic reactions on wet metal surfaces.

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Mixtures of faults
-mixtures of faults sometimes occur rather than pure faults and may be more difficult to identify with certainty. -for instance, mixtures of faults D1 and T3 may appear as faults D2 in terms of gas formation.

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Energy/ temperature required to produce gases:

-Low energy/temperature: H2, CH4, C2H6, CO, CO2. -High temperature: C2H4. -Very high temperature/energy: C2H2. -In practice, always mixtures of gases are formed.

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Fault identification methods

-Key gas -Rogers -Duval Triangle -CO and CO2 (paper involvement in faults) -O2/N2 (hot spots, membrane leaks) -C2H2/H2 (OLTC leaks)

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IEEE C57.104-2008 Key Fault Gases

Partial Discharge Oil Cellulose Hydrogen Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide

Pyrolysis Low Temperature Hydrogen, Methane, Ethane High Temperature Hydrogen, Ethylene, Methane, Ethane Cellulose Low Temperature Carbon Dioxide High Temperature Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide Oil

Arcing Hydrogen, Acetylene, Methane, Ethane, Ethane, Ethylene (Acetylene is most significant)
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Possible Faults

Possible Reasons

Rogers Ratio

DGA Diagnosis (Duval)

Oil Quality Tests Tests the condition of the insulating fluid. Use results for maintenance action No action Recondition Reclaim Replace Use the results to access the condition of the Insulation System Dielectric Strength Power Factor Moisture Acid Furans
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Oil Quality Tests Several standards are referenced for oil quality tests and result interpretation:
IEC 60422 Mineral Insulating Oil in Electrical Equipment Supervision and Maintenance Guide

IEEE Guides C57.106-2006 Guide for Acceptance and Maintenance of Insulating Oil in Equipment C57.152 IEEE Guide for Diagnostic Field Testing of Fluid Filled Power Transformers, Regulators, and Reactors

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Dielectric, Physical and Chemical Analysis

Dielectric measurements Break down voltage Break down voltage Power factor Physical properties Interfacial tension ASTM D 971 EN 14210 ASTM D 877 ASTM D 1816 ASTM D 924 IEC 60156 IEC 60247

Particle Count Sludge Water content Visual Specic gravity Color (lab) Color (eld) Chemical properties Polychlorinated biphenyl Acidity Dissolved gas

ASTM D 6786 ASTM D 1698 ASTM D 1533 ASTM D 1500 ASTM D 1298 ASTM D 1500 ASTM D 1524

IEC 60970

IEC 60814 ISO 2049 ISO 3675 ISO 2049

ASTM D 4059 ASTM D 974 ASTM D 3612

IEC 61619 IEC 62021 IEC 60599

IEEE Oil Classifications

Class I This group contains oils that are in satisfactory condition for continued use. Class II This group contains oils that do not meet the dielectric strength and/or water content requirement of Table 5 and should be reconditioned by filter pressing or vacuum dehydration. Class III This group contains oils in poor condition that should be reclaimed using Fullers earth or an equivelent method. Oils that do not meet the interfacial tension (IFT), dissipation factor, and neutralization number limits provided in table 5 should be reclaimed.

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IEEE C57.106-2006 Suggested Limits

If limits for: IFT Dissipation Factor Acidity are exceeded the oil should be reclaimed otherwise the oil can be reconditioned if the limits are exceeded.

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Moisture Content

Karl Fisher Titration

Requires approximately 10 mL of oil.

Results are in ppm (mg/kg)

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Interfacial Tension (IFT)

Measures the strength of the interface between the oil under test and water. Indicator of the presence of polar contaminents.

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Dielectric Strength

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Aging process : Cellulose depolymerization

CH2OH O O OH O OH

CH2OH OH OH O H O

OH

CH2OH

OH

CH2OH OH OH
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OH O OH OH O

CH2OH O OH O

CH2OH

OH
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Cellulose Degradation

CH2OH H O H OH H H O H OH O

Glucose Unit

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Degree of Polymerization
Measurement of intrinsic viscosity after dissolving the cellulose in a specific solvent. Gives an average measurement of the number of glucose units per molecular chain.

DP of Insulation Components prior to processing DP of Insulation Components following processing DP level considered as over-processed DP level considered end of life

~1200 ~1000 ~800 ~200

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Degree of Polymerization
Paper Insulation Aging in Mineral Oil

DP 1000

DP 733

DP 549

DP 405

DP 309

DP 181

Progressive aging with time

End of mech str.

Brittle & dark

Effects of aging: - darkening of color - loss of electrical and mechanical strength; trans. failure - shortening of cellulose chains DP lowered - paper becomes wetter, and acidic - by-products contaminate the oil
Source ABB Power Technologies, Inc.
IEEE Transformer Committee Panel Session October 25, 2005

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Degradation of Cellulose

CO
CARBON MONOXIDE

CH2OH O H H H C OH H
O H H CHO

HOH

WATER

H
HOH

H
HOH

OH

FURAN WATER WATER

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Furans

Most labs determine the concentration of five furanic compounds: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2-furaldehyde 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde 5-hydroxylmethyl-2-furaldehyde 2-acetyl furan 2-furfuryl alcohol (2FAL) (5M2F) (5H2F) (2ACF) (2FOL)

Note: 2FAL is stable for years while all other furanic compounds are less stable. They tend to form and then degrade to 2FAL over a time period of months.

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Correlation of DP with 2-FAL

2- Furfural vs. DP Correlation Plots

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Summary & Conclusions

DGA is a valuable tool to detect transformer problems Sample can be taken while transformer is in service Can trend fault gases Industry Acceptance

Oil Quality Testing can detect transformer problems as well as indicate maintenance actions Oil can be reconditioned or reclaimed Inceases life of insulation system Remove moisture, acids, particles etc. The remaining life of the insulation can be estimated with Furan analysis

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Questions

31 October 2013