THE UNCERTAINTY IN POWER TRANSFORMER FAULT DIAGNOSTICS USING

CONVENTIONAL TESTING METHODS

Yogendra Dev Vashishtha*, Paul Ascione* and Qi Su**

* Power and Water Authority

** Monash University

Abstract

The average age of power transformers in Australia is about 25-35 years. Conventional oil tests,
dissolved gas analysis (DGA) of oil, dielectric loss angle (DLA or tanδ) of winding and recovery
voltage monitoring (RVM) are among many diagnostic techniques available. Power and Water
Authority (PAWA) of Northern Territory refurbished five 66 / 11 kV, 10—30 MVA, 24—33 years
old transformers. From the test results it is observed that a transformer which has very good
results from these diagnostic tests and even has minimum moisture content in the winding
(from RVM) may still have very poor mechanical integrity. Winding cellulose paper may be
aged to such an extent (assessed from degree of polymerisation; DP) that any sudden force or
transient would cause failure. DP test is very difficult to perform regularly to ascertain
mechanical integrity of winding paper. Furan analysis is another alternative to DP. Most of the
times Furans are not detected and there is no universal correlation available for DP and Furans.
Also, both ageing and moisture content influence Furans. Frequency response analysis (FRA)
gives information regarding winding movement but it does not give much information about
mechanical integrity of a winding which is essential for transformer reliability. This paper also
compares moisture contents in the winding assessed from RVM and estimated from oil PPM
(using Norris diagram) and estimated from winding DLA (based on Gussenbauer’s relationship).
It appears that moisture content from RVM needs further validation and research to
separate out ageing and moisture effects.

1. INTRODUCTION

Transformers represent a high capital investment in a conclusive. There is a possibility that charging current
transmission substation at the same time as being a may also correlate with insulation resistance (IR) as
key element determining the loading capability of the we found RVM following polarisation index (PI).
station within the network. With appropriate
maintenance, including insulation reconditioning at
the appropriate time, The technical life of a 2. BACKGROUND
transformer can be in excess of 60 years. The end of
life, however, can be strategic or economic. 2.1 The major factors involved in transformer
Quantitative, risk based approach can be used to aid insulation life are:
costly investment decisions involving transformer life,
otherwise made from a subjective viewpoint. • Insulation moisture content
Diagnostic systems have been listed under three
categories as portable / periodic, continuous on-line • Extent of oil oxidation
and specialist support [1]. There are various on-line
monitors for load, operating conditions, gas-in-oil and • Extent of cellulose degradation—water, CO,
moisture-in-oil are available these days [5]. Dissolved
gas analysis (DGA) is the main condition monitoring CO2 and furans
technique used at Power and Water Authority
(PAWA) in the Northern Territory. Recovery Voltage • Insulation Structure compression
Monitoring (RVM) has been found as a better
technique to estimate moisture content in the winding MOISTURE, OXYGEN and HEAT are the three
paper insulation and its ageing. However, RVM does ageing accelerators.
not distinguish between moisture content and
degradation of paper. Some experiments have been
reported correlating charging current with paper
ageing. Due to very limited work, these are not very
2.2 Transformer Life Assessment Indicators: 2.4 Condition Monitoring Methods:

Method Suitable for

Insulation moisture content in oil provides a simple WINDING:
method of estimating residual life. The following
guide may be useful (based on equilibrium water IR & PI Moisture &
content of paper as a function of water content of Contamination
impregnating transformer oil): DDF & Capacitance Moisture &
Contamination
3% Maximum acceptable Winding Ratio Faulted turns
Winding Resistance Conductor damage
4% Entering “ at risk “ zone Impedance & Losses Winding movement
Applied HV Poor dielectric
5 %--6 % Considerable risk of failure
Induced HV & PD Poor dielectric
PD ( acoustic & Detect and locate PD
7% Failure imminent
electrical)
Frequency Response Winding displacement,
For life assessment, emission associated with the
Analysis possible loose winding,
insulation ageing process is of interest, principally the
(Transfer Function) and core faults
levels of CO, CO2 and furans in the oil. Cellulose
degradation can be assessed by furan (HPLC) analysis
and preferably supported by degree of polymerisation Voltage Recovery Moisture in paper
(DP) for a more definitive assessment. DP test And ageing of paper
involves the removal of samples of paper from the Off-Line Test
winding insulation. Due to the need for internal access
and expensive analysis, the test is only recommended Vibration Analysis Slack winding &
on suspect transformer on the basis of DGA and other Mechanical faults
tests. DP is correlated to the tensile strength. The DP & Gel Permeation Insulation degradation
paper is considered to have no mechanical strength at OIL:
a DP of 150 to 200. New transformers have DP above
900. DGA & Ratio Detecting incipient
analysis faults
Furan Analysis Overheating and
2.3 The following methods of moisture ageing of paper
measurement are available: Water content Dryness
Resistivity, Acidity, Ageing of oil
a) Direct measurement of the water content in IFT
paper on a layer by layer basis by means of and DDF
Karl Fisher moisture meter (KFMM) using BUSHINGS:
‘four bar probe’. Tan Delta (DLA) Moisture &
contamination
b) Water content in winding established from
measurement of tanδ using Gussenbaeur’s Tan δ or dielectric loss angle (DLA) is a measure of
characteristics [4]. overall quality of insulation system in terms of
moisture and contamination.
c) Water content in winding established from
measurement of oil PPM using Norris
Diagram.
2.5 Recovery Voltage Method:
d) Water content in winding established from
RVM [6].
If the DGA analysis is performed correctly (proper
sampling, storage and calibration), most of the
incipient faults in the oil may be detected. The paper
insulation is responsible for containing most of the
moisture due to ageing and thermal stress. The paper
insulation may fail under high electrical stress or may
release moisture into the oil insulation. To detect
ageing or moisture content it is necessary to analyse
low frequency part of polarisation spectrum of
dissipation factor. A tanδ would have been sufficient
but finding a sinusoidal source voltage of 0.001 Hz is
very difficult [6]. The alternative is the recovery
voltage measurement.
It was found that IR & PI do not reflect complete
information on polarisation process. Cases were
reported where electrical motors having good PI were
found to have contaminated windings and also motors
having poor PI had no problems in the winding
insulation [2]. To resolve this, an one thousand
seconds charging and discharging test (dc absorption)
was developed. Recovery Voltage Method for
transformer seems to be developed from this test.
In RVM, winding is charged for known time and then
shorted to ground for pre-decided time. The recovery
voltage is then measured and dominant time constant
is achieved which is essentially a polarisation time
constant.
Charging current is given as the sum of displacement
current, the polarisation current and the conduction
current. Polarising current is dependent on material
property and state of ageing. The polarisation of
dielectric can be expressed as sum of various slow
polarisation phenomena like ion migration, slow
relaxation and interfacial polarisation. Care must be
taken in the interpretation of results of RVM, in
particular the relative effects of moisture, genuine
ageing and temperature [3].

2.6 Condition Monitoring Model [1]

Insulation DP of Failure Expert

Ageing Insulation Rate Assessment
Products Paper Data
In Oil Sample RVM

Data Base Of Statistical Analysis

Test Results

INSULATION AGE FAILURE PROBABILITY

RELIABILITY ANALYSIS

Remaining Reliable Life

Of Transformer
3. REFURBISHMENT DATA
Table 4
Five 66/11kV, 10-30MVA transformers of 24 --33
years old transformers were refurbished. Some of the 2-Furfural % Mechanical
important parameters are given in table 1, 2, 3 & 4. (PPM) DP Strength (from
DP)
1.10 200—250 25—35
0.49 250—350 35—55
Table 1 0.39 200—250 25—35
0.54 250—350 35—55
PI % Moisture % Mechanical
(from RVM) Strength (from 2-Furfurylalcohol, 2-Acetylfuran, 5-Methyl-2-Furfural
DP) and 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-Furfural were not detected
1.09 2.52 35—55 in all four cases.
1.79 2.10 35—55
1.80 1.74 35—55
2.34 1.56 35—55 4. DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
2.40 1.42 25—35
• It is observed from table 1 that RVM tends to
follow PI in this case. However, a conclusion
Table 2 can not be drawn based on this limited
number of observations. Essentially RVM
% Moisture % Moisture % Moisture does have DC absorption phenomenon and
estimated from estimated from estimated from may / may not follow IR / PI.
Oil PPM winding DLA RVM
(Norris (Cigre) • It is also observed that DP values (or
Diagram) percentage retention of mechanical strength)
2 2 1.74 do not correlate with any of the electrical
4 3 1.53 parameters. DP reflects ageing and remaining
2.5 2 2.52 mechanical strength of paper but it is not a
3.2 2.8 1.42 diagnostic test as such.
1.5 < 0.5 2.10
• From table 3, it is evident that moisture
percentage in the winding does not correlate
Table 3 to DP or mechanical strength retention.

% Moisture % Mechanical • From table 2, it is evident that percentage of

(from RVM) DP Strength (from moisture estimated from Norris diagram
DP) (based upon oil PPM and temperature) and
2.09 250—350 35—55 percentage moisture estimated from Cigre
1.53 250—350 35—55 publication (based upon winding DLA) tend
1.21 200—250 25—35 to agree to some extent. However, these do
2.38 250—350 35—55 not correlate with moisture percentage
2.18 250—350 35—55 estimated from RVM. This is due to the fact
that RVM is a total reflection of ageing of
Norris diagram gives estimated percentage of moisture cellulose paper and moisture content in the
in paper based upon moisture content in oil (PPM) and winding. There are no established methods
oil temperature. to separate these components.

Cigre paper has established a method to estimate
moisture in paper based upon winding tan δ (DLA)
and temperature.
• It appears from table 4 that Furan analysis
may, in some cases, give indication about
paper ageing. However, most of the times,
Furans are not detected and there is no
universal correlation available for DP and
Furans. Also, both ageing and moisture
content influence Furans.
5. CONCLUSION

Mechanical integrity of paper is very important to

ensure reliability of transformers. However at this
stage this is not conclusively reflected in any of the
electrical diagnostic tests available. There is a need for
further research to validate RVM results and establish
more effective method of estimating moisture content
in the cellulose paper winding.

6.0 REFERENCES:

1. D.ALLAN, “Condition Monitoring & Life

Assessment Of Aged Transmission / Sub-
Transmission Plant”, Lecture notes of the short
course program on Insulation Condition
Monitoring And Reliability Centred Maintenance
Of Electrical Plant. February 1997, Monash
University.

2. CAJETAN PINTO, “An Improved Method of

detecting Contamination of H.V. Stator Winding
in the Field", Proceedings of the 20th Electrical
Electronic Insulation Conference Boston, 1991,
pp. 55-59.

3. R.E.JAMES, “Assessment Of Electrical

Insulation”, Proceedings of the 1998 Residential
School in Electrical Power Engineering,
Tasmania.

4. I.GUSSENBAUER, “Examination of Humidity

Distribution in Transformer Models by Means of
Dielectric Measurements”, Cigre paper 15-02,
International Conference on Large High Voltage
Electric System, 1980.

5. THOMAS LEIBFRIED, “On-line Monitors Keep

Transformers in Service”, IEEE Computer
Application in Power, July 1998, pp 36-42.

6. SYED MOFIZUL ISLAM, “ Power Transformer

Condition Monitoring – Pacific Power
International and University of Newcastle
Developments”, Lecture notes of the short course
program on Insulation Condition Monitoring And
Reliability Centred Maintenance Of Electrical
Plant. February 1997, Monash University.