Oil-immersed Power Transformers Condition Diagnosis with Limited Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) Data

Andri Febriyanto *)
PT. Indonesia Power, Semarang Generation Business Unit, Tambak Lorok Power Station, Central Java, 50127, Indonesia

Tapan Kumar Saha

School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

Abstract-For a vertically integrated utility in a developing country, the diagnosis of oil-immersed power transformers condition is not frequently performed due to limited budget and lack of past historical data. Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) for oil samples has been the most widely used diagnosis tool for transformer condition assessment for many years. However, the interpretation of DGA results becomes very difficult and uncertain when only one or two sets of data are available. The aim of this paper is to address the issue of DGA interpretation with very limited test data. This paper will present DGA tests results from 38 power transformers in a developing country and will propose a maintenance decision making procedure using the IEC 60599-2007 and Duvals Triangle schemes. Limitation of the methodology proposed in this paper and further possible development will also be highlighted in this paper.1

Several recent DGA data along with historically available data can be used to evaluate and diagnose the condition of an aged transformer. However, these are not easy to implement by a regulated utility authority in a developing country where the reliability is not the main concern. Delivering the energy to the end users is a key objective. The main concern is to supply the power to a large population, where the growth is tremendous. Condition assessment becomes a challenging task, due to the limited budget and lack of past historical data. The aim of this paper is to address the issue of DGA interpretation with very limited test data. This paper presents DGA tests results from 38 power transformers in a developing country and will propose a maintenance decision making procedure using the IEC 60599-2007 and Duvals triangle. Limitation of the methodology proposed in this paper and further possible development will also be highlighted in this paper.

I.

INTRODUCTION

Oil-immersed power transformers are one of the most critical and expensive assets in power network. These are sealed equipments with major parts (core, coils) are being immersed in oil. Analysis of transformer oil is frequently used for transformer condition assessment. This is often done by useful test on transformer oil, known as Dissolved Gas-in-Oil Analysis, DGA [1]. 2

II. A BRIEF REVIEW ON IEC 60599- 2007 IEC 60599- 2007 provides practical guides in interpreting dissolved gas-in-oil in electrical equipment. This standard guide gives high diagnostic accuracy by using ratio-based diagnostic method [1, 5]. Using this guide, three main steps are followed to diagnose the condition of a transformer [3]. 1) Typical values evaluation The DGA data from a particular transformer must be evaluated by two typical values: typical concentration values and rate of increase of different gases. If at least one gas is above its typical concentration value, the corresponding transformer is considered as a transformer

The author *) would like to acknowledge with thanks to PT. Indonesia Power for the opportunity to pursue Master of Engineering Program in School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Queensland during 2007-2008, through the master degree scholarship program based on SK Direksi No.93.K/010/IP/2006.
2

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with incipient fault diagnosis and evaluation must be followed by a ratio-based diagnostic method and single gas ratio method. IEC 60599- 2007 introduces gas typical concentration value as shown at Table I. This standard strongly recommends that every individual network must build their own typical concentration values, since nature of each network will differ from one to another. However, if there are no other experience and data available, those values may be used as initial guidelines [2].
TABLE I RANGES OF 90% TYPICAL GAS CONCENTRATION VALUES OBSERVED IN POWER TRANSFORMERS IN PPM [3] All Transformers NO OLTC Communicating OLTC C2H2 2-20 60-280 H2 50-150 CH4 30-130 C2H4 60-280 C2H6 20-90 CO 400-600 CO2 3800-14000

%CH4 = [CH4/(CH4+C2H4+C2H2)]x100% %C2H4 = [C2H4/(CH4+C2H4+C2H2)]x100% %C2H2 = [C2H2/(CH4+C2H4+C2H2)]x100%

(4) (5) (6)

BGR and Duvals Triangle can be represented in graphical form where the ratios become the coordinates of the point in the graph (Fig. 1 and 2). The point will give diagnosis on a particular incipient fault in transformer. Note that the red dot on the graphical representation informs the type of fault condition for particular transformer. Six types of incipient faults can be diagnosed. Those are partial discharge (PD), low energy discharge (D1), high energy discharge (D2), thermal fault type T1 (Temp.< 300C), thermal fault type T2 (300C < Temp.<700C) and thermal fault type T3 (Temp.>700C). Possible X-wax deposition on paper insulation, inducing pinhole and puncture in paper may become evident for this type of partial discharge fault. Discharge of low energy fault can be caused by punctures through paper, carbonization of the paper surface or carbon particles in oil as in the diverter tank of OLTC. Discharge of high energy fault may include power followthrough on the equipment which will be evidenced by paper destruction and carbonization, metal fusion and also carbonization in oil. Brownish paper will be the evidence for thermal fault with temperature below 300C. For thermal fault with temperature at 300C < T < 700C paper carbonization become the evidence. Oil carbonization, metal coloration or metal fusion are the evidence for thermal fault with temperature above 700C.

The severity of one particular fault may be diagnosed by evaluating the rates of gas increase. This may be done by considering the typical rate of gas increase for the combustible dissolved gas in oil. The fault is decided to be severe or active fault if at least the rate of gas increase for one gas is above its typical rate of gas increase (Table II)
TABLE II RANGES OF 90% TYPICAL RATE OF GAS INCREASE OBSERVED IN POWER TRANSFORMERS (PPM/YEAR) [3] All Transformers NO OLTC Communicating OLTC C2H2 0-4 21-37 H2 35-132 CH4 10-120 C2H4 32-146 C2H6 5-90 CO 260-1060 CO2 1700-10000

2)

Ratio-based diagnostic methods

Two main ratio-based diagnostic methods are used in IEC 60599- 2007, they are Basic Gas Ratio (BGR) and Duvals Triangle Methods. The three ratios for BGR Method are [3] R1 = C2H2/C2H4 R2 = CH4/H2 R3 = C2H4/C2H6 And coordinates for Duvals Triangle Methods are [3] (1) (2) (3)

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Figure 1.a. BGR (C2H2/C2H4,CH4/H2)

on Sumatra Island, Indonesia. They are located in the area which has ambient temperature between 23-32C and humidity between 61-98% along the year. Note that all transformers are equipped with On Load Tap Changer (OLTC) facilities. Several data limitations were considered during evaluation on power transformer conditions. These include 1. The DGA result data were based on a single measurement data. No previous data were available. 2. No laboratory accuracy was mentioned on the DGA report. 3. The network has no typical concentrations and no rate of gases increase values for their power transformers. 4. No transformer fault history data. 5. No oil treatment history data. 6. No oil preservation sealing system data. 7. No OLTC operation data. For example, Table IV shows the DGA data from one transformer, T-031. This kind of data for a particular transformer was used to diagnose its condition.
TABLE IV DGA DATA FROM TRANSFORMER T031 Content (ppm) Gases H2 CH4 C2H4 C2H6 C2H2 O2 N2 CO CO2 <5 63 23 18 <1 6431 62433 816 4316

Figure 1.b. BGR (C2H2/C2H4,C2H4/C2H6)

3)

Single Gas Ratio Method.

IEC 60599- 2007 also introduces Single Gas Ratio which used as a complement for those main ratios. The ratios are CO2/CO, O2/N2 and C2H2/H2. The CO2/CO ratio below 3 will inform the insulation paper involvement. O2/N2 ratio below 0.3 provides information about the oxygen consumption in oil, which relates with thermal fault types. C2H2/H2 ratio above 2 to 3 shows the communication possibility between OLTC diverter tank and main transformer tank.

IV. DIAGNOSIS RESULTS Using typical concentration values in IEC 60599- 2007, the DGA data from 38 in-service transformers show that 27 power transformers are classified as healthy transformers while the other eleven transformers are classified as transformers with incipient faults and requires diagnosis.

Figure 2. Duvals Triangle

III. THE LIMITED DISSOLVED GASES-IN-OIL ANALYSIS (DGA) DATA Dissolved Gas in Oil Analysis data have been gathered from 38 in service oil-immersed power transformers. These power transformers are operated at the transmission network

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80% 70% 60% Numbers ofTransform 50% ers (%) 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

71%

TABLE VI SINGLE GAS RATIO INTERPRETATION RESULTS ON 11 FAULTY TRANSFORMERS Single Gas Ratio Results Tag. Paper Excessive O2 Communica Involvement Consumption ting OLTC
29%

healthy

considered fault

Transformers Diagnosis

Figure 3. Typical concentration values evaluation result

Rate of increase of different gases evaluation could not be performed since the DGA data were only single data. No previous data were available. The eleven transformers with incipient fault diagnosis were then evaluated using two main ratio-based diagnostic methods, BGR and Duvals Triangle. In this step, the type of fault in a particular transformer could be diagnosed (Table V).
TABLE V MAIN RATIO-BASED INTERPRETATION RESULTS ON 11 FAULTY TRANSFORMERS DGA Interpretation Results Transformers Basic Gas Ratios Duvals Triangle T-003 T-006 T-008 T-009 T-012 T-022 T-023 T-027 T-031 T-032 T-034 T2 T2 T2 No Diagnosis D1 T2 T3 T2 T2 T2 D1/D2 T3 T1 T1 T2 D1 T1 T1 T1 T2 T2 D+T

T-003 T-006 T-008 T-009 T-012 T-022 T-023 T-027 T-031 T-032 T-034

No No No No No No No No No No No

Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No

No No No No Yes No No No No No Yes

After the implementation of Single Gas Ratio Method, complementary diagnosis has been achieved to support the diagnosis results from the main ratio-based diagnostic methods. Table VI has summarized those complementary diagnoses. From Table VI, particularly for excessive O2 consumption and communicating OLTC evaluations, single gas ratio evaluation completes the corresponding results from ratiobased diagnostic methods at Table V. Thermal faults in power transformers will be strongly indicated by an excessive consumption of O2. Arcing in the diverter OLTC activities can be classified as D1 type of fault. When communicating OLTC has been diagnosed, arcing type of fault must be diagnosed in the main tank oil. Misleading conclusions should be carefully considered in this condition, since the actual source of combustible gases, particularly acetylene (C2H2), is from diverter compartment and not from the main tank. On the other hand, paper involvement evaluations have contradictive results with their corresponding ratio-based diagnostic methods results. Paper should involve when power transformers have been subjected to thermal fault types. Oil temperature will reach values around and much above 300C during thermal fault types. At these temperatures, paper or cellulose insulation will start to decompose at around 105C and completely decompose and carbonize at temperature above 300C [5]. V. FUTURE IMPROVEMENT IN DIAGNOSING Section IV above shows that a limited DGA test data can provide a snapshot on power transformers condition. The power transformers can be classified as healthy transformers and transformers with diagnosed incipient fault. Information on insulation paper involvement, oil oxygen consumption and possibility for having leaks in OLTC diverter tank can be informed as well.

As can be seen, Duvals Triangle has successfully diagnosed fault for all eleven transformers. However, Basic Gas Ratios has failed to diagnose one transformer condition. These results supports to what already been mentioned as in [1, 5] that Duvals Triangle will always gives diagnosis while Basic Gas Ratios, in some cases, fails to give diagnosis.

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However, more comprehensive results in fault diagnosis can be established when the DGA data results are also been completed with 1. Multi point DGA result data, in order to analyze the severity and evolution of fault. 2. Typical values for power transformers in the corresponding network, including typical concentration values and typical rate of gas increase. 3. Transformer data, such as manufacture and operation year, loading data, fault history data, oil treatment history data, type of oil preservation system data, numbers of OLTC operation data. 4. Laboratory accuracy data from the laboratory who conduct the dissolved gas in oil analysis, in order to analyze the uncertainty of diagnosis (determines the confident level in diagnosing) [2]. 5. Another complementary test results data such as furanic compounds analysis or degree of polymerization measurement to analyze paper involvement. By combining all the mentioned information and data above, more confident engineering decisions on power transformers operation and maintenance strategies can be established.

VI. CONCLUSIONS By using proper interpretation guide, such as IEC 605992007, a limited DGA test data can provide a snapshot on power transformers condition. By this interpretation guide on limited DGA test data, the power transformers can be classified as healthy transformers and transformers with diagnosed incipient fault. Type of incipient faults information could also be given and used as an early warning for the corresponding faulty transformer. A snapshot on insulation paper involvement, oil oxygen consumption and possibility for having leaks in OLTC diverter tank can be informed as well. However, more confident engineering decisions on operation and maintenance strategies can be established when multiple point DGA data are available with other historical information and complementary test data. REFERENCES
[1]. L. R. Lewand- Doble Engineering Company, Techniques for Interpretation of Data for DGA from Transformers, IEEE Conference, 2006 [2]. M. Duval and J. Dukarm, Improving the Reliability of Transformer Gas-in-Oil Diagnosis, IEEE Elec. Insul. Mag. Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 2127, 2005 [3]. Mineral Oil-Impregnated Electrical Equipment in Service- Guide to the Interpretation of Dissolved and Free Gases Analysis, IEC Publication 60599 (2007). [4]. Oil-Filled Electrical Equipment- Sampling of Gases and of Oil for Analysis of Free and Dissolved Gases- Guidance, IEC Publication 60567 (2005) [5]. Serveron Corp., DGA Diagnostic Methods, Serveron White Paper, 2007

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