Transformer oil testing

Transformer oil testing

WATER CONTENT

Water, in minute quantities, is harmful in power equipment because it is attracted to the places of greatest electrical stress and this is where it is the most dangerous. Water accelerates the deterioration of both the insulating oil and the paper insulation, liberating more water in the process (heat catalysed). This is a never ending circle and once the paper insulation has been degraded(loss of mechanical strength) it can never (unlike the oil) be returned to its original condition. Origins of Water Water can originate from two sources. Atmospheric Via the silica gel breather (dry silica gel is always blue). Via leaks into the power equipment, i.e. bad gasketing, cracked insulation, a loose manhole cover, a ruptured explosion diaphragm etc. (if oil can get out, water can get in). Internal Sources Paper degradation produces water. Oil degradation produces water. Wet insulation contaminates the oil, (temperature dependent).

INTERFACIAL TENSION

The Interfacial Tension (IFT) measures the tension at the interface between two liquid (oil and water) which do not mix and is expressed in dyne/cm. The test is sensitive to the presence of oil decay products and soluble polar contaminants from solid insulating materials. Good oil will have an interfacial tension of between 40 and 50 dynes/cm. Oil oxidation products lower the interfacial tension and have an affinity for both water (hydrophilic) and oil. This affinity for both substances lowers the IFT. The greater the concentration of contaminants, the lower the IFT, with a badly deteriorated oil having an IFT of 18 dynes/cm or less.

POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL

Polychlorinated biphenyl’s (PCB) is a synthetic transformer insulating fluid, that has found its way into mineral insulating oil via cross contamination . POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL: Non-specific methods that determines Chlorine in oil, as all PCBs contain some amount of Chlorine. This test is susceptible to false positive results, i.e. the test indicates the presence of PCB when actually there is none present. POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL: Specific method (ASTM D4059-Gas chromatography/Electron Capture) that differentiates between PCBs and a related compound e.g. trichlorobenzene. All commercially produced PCB are complex mixtures of many different congeners (A congener is a PCB molecule containing a specific number of chlorine molecules at specific sites) Analysing for PCB, therefore, is not a case of simply finding an easily quantifiable compound, but of quantifying a complex mixture of compounds. The main reasons for stopping further use are the environmental risks.

PCB is very stable and its degradation process is slow, it is also Biological accumulative in the food chain. PCB liquid is not more toxic than many other common fluids. The lower the figure, the higher the toxicity Chemical LD50 g/Kg PCB 8.7 Trichloroethylene 5.2 Acetone 9.8 Methyl alcohol 12.9 Polychlorinated dibenzofuranes <0.001 Far more serious are the risks of a fire or an explosion. At temperatures around 500 degrees C extremely toxic compounds Polychlorinated dibenzfuranes are formed. Small amounts of these compounds have been found at accidents where transformers and capacitors have been exposed to fire or have exploded. Even if the amounts have been extremely small and have caused no personal injuries, it has been necessary to perform very extensive and costly decontamination work.

Evaluation of Transformer Solid Insulation

The mechanical properties of insulating paper can be established by direct measurement of its tensile strength or degree of polymerization (DP). These properties are used to evaluate the end of reliable life of paper insulation. It is generally suggested that DP values of 150-250 represent the lower limits for end-of-life criteria for paper insulation; for values below 150, the paper is without mechanical strength. Analysis of paper insulation for its DP value requires removal of a few strips of paper from suspect sites. This procedure can conveniently be carried out during transformer repairs. The results of these tests will be a deciding factor in rebuilding or scrapping a transformer. Furaldehyde Analysis Direct measurement of these properties is not practical for in-service transformers. However, it has been shown that the amount of 2- furaldehyde in oil (usually the most prominent component of paper decomposition) is directly related to the DP of the paper inside the transformer. Paper in a transformer does not age uniformly and variations are expected with temperature, moisture distribution, oxygen levels and other operating conditions. The levels of 2-furaldehyde in oil relate to the average deterioration of the insulating paper. Consequently, the extent of paper deterioration resulting from a "hot spot" will be greater than indicated by levels of 2-furaldehyde in the oil.

ACIDITY OR NEUTRALISATION NUMBER(NN)

Acids in the oil originate from oil decomposition/oxidation products. Acids can also come from external sources such as atmospheric contamination. These organic acids are detrimental to the insulation system and can induce corrosion inside the transformer when water is present. An increase in the acidity is an indication of the rate of deterioration of the oil with SLUDGE as the inevitable by-product of an acid situation which is neglected. The acidity of oil in a transformer should never be allowed to exceed 0.25mg KOH/g oil. This is the CRITICAL ACID NUMBER and deterioration increases rapidly once this level is exceed.

TRANSFORMER OIL GAS ANALYSIS

Test Method IEC 567 Transformers are vital components in both the transmission and distribution of electrical power. The early detection of incipient faults in transformers is extremely cost effective by reducing unplanned outages. The most sensitive and reliable technique used for evaluating the health of oil filled electrical equipment is dissolved gas analysis (DGA). . Insulating oils under abnormal electrical or thermal stresses break down to liberate small quantities of gases.The qualitative composition of the breakdown gases is dependent upon the type of fault. By means of dissolved gas analysis (DGA), it is possible to distinguish faults such as partial discharge (corona), overheating (pyrolysis) and arcing in a great variety of oil-filled equipment. Information from the analysis of gasses dissolved in insulating oils is valuable in a preventative maintenance program. A number of samples must be taken over a period of time for developing trends. Data from DGA can provide

• Advance warning of developing faults.

• A means for conveniently scheduling repairs.

• Monitor the rate of fault development

NOTE : A sudden large release of gas will not dissolve in the oil and this will cause the Buchholtz relay to activate.

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

By separating and quantifying (measuring) the gasses found dissolved in the oil, the specialist can identify the presence of an incipient fault (early warning). The amounts and types of gases found in the oil are indicative of the severity and type of fault occurring in the transformer. The separation, identification and quantification of these gases requires the use of sophisticated laboratory equipment and technical skills and therefore can only be conducted by a suitably equipped and competent laboratory. Other higher hydrocarbon gases are produced, but these are not generally considered when interpreting the gas analysis data. ORIGIN OF GASES IN TRANSFORMER OIL Fault gases are caused by corona (partial discharge), thermal heating (pyrolysis) and arcing. PARTIAL DISCHARGE is a fault of low level energy which usually occurs in gas-filled voids surrounded by oil impregnated material. The main cause of decomposition in partial discharges is ionic bombardment of the oil molecules. The major gas produced is Hydrogen. The minor gas produced is Methane. THERMAL FAULTS 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). A thermal fault at low temperature (<300deg/C) produces mainly Methane and Ethane and some Ethylene. A thermal fault at higher temperatures (>300deg/C) produces Ethylene. The higher the temperature becomes the greater the production of Ethylene. ARCING is a fault caused by high energy discharge. The major gas produced during arcing is acetylene. Power arcing can cause temperatures of over 3000deg/C to be developed. NOTE : If the cellulose material (insulating paper etc.) is involved , carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are generated. A normally aging conservator type transformer having a 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.