Dissolved Gas Analysis and Oil Condition Testing
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Product Information Dissolved gas analysis and supervision of oil condition in transformers and reactors Transformers Diagnostic Services at ABB performs dissolved gas analysis and supervision of oil condition in power transformers, reactors, instrument transformers, circuit breakers and oil- insulated cables. This product information is divided into the following sections: 1. Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) 2. Supervision of oil condition 3. Sampling and frequency of analyses 4. Ordering of tests Figure 1. Test vessels. 1. DISSOLVED GAS ANALYSIS (IEC 60599) TCG – total combustible gas content (H2, CH4, C2H4, C2H6, For many years the method of analysing gases dissolved in C2H2, CO, C3H6, C3H8) the oil has been used as a tool in transformer diagnostics in order to detect incipient faults, to supervise suspect trans- All these gases except oxygen and nitrogen may be formed formers, to test a hypothesis or explanation for the prob- during the degradation of the insulation. The amount and the able reasons of failures or disturbances which have already relative distribution of these gases depend on the type and occurred and to ensure that new transformers are healthy. severity of the degradation and stress. Finally, DGA could be used to give scores in a strategic rank- ing of a transformer population used in condition assessments 1.1 Procedure of transformers. The DGA procedure consists of essentially four steps: In this respect the dissolved gas analysis is regarded as a − sampling of oil from the transformer fairly mature technique and it is employed by several ABB − extraction of the gases from the oil transformer companies around the world either in own plant − analysis of the extracted gas mixture in a gas chromatog- or in cooperation with an affiliated or independent laboratory. raphy, GC. − interpretation of the analysis according to an evaluation The idea with dissolved gas analysis is based on the fact that scheme. during its lifetime the transformer generates decomposition gases, essentially from the organic insulation, under the influ- The oil samples should preferably be taken in the moving ence of various stresses, both normal and abnormal. oil so that the gas generated somewhere easily and rapidly is transported from the point of generation to the sampling The gases that are of interest for the DGA analysis are the point. Suitable locations are valves in the cooler/radiator cir- following: cuit. To take samples from these locations is not always pos- sible because of design limitations. Other places from which H2 – hydrogen to draw samples are the cover, bottom valve, the conservator CH4 – methane and from the Buchholz relay. C2H4 – ethylene C2H6 – ethane In addition, it is very important that the sampling is made in C2H2 – acetylene such a way that the contamination of the sampling vessel is C3H6 – propene held at a minimum and that gas are not lost during sampling C3H8 – propane or transportation to the laboratory. CO – carbon monoxide CO2 – carbon dioxide O2 – oxygen N2 – nitrogen The removal of the gases from the oil can be accomplished by − Determination of the gas level, either determined in ppm or ml various methods: gas. − Determination of rates of increase („production rates“), in − partial degassing (single-cycle vacuum extraction) ppm/day or ml gas/day − total degassing (multi-cycle vacuum extraction) − stripping by flushing the oil with another gas. Around the world and during the years several different − by the headspace technique in which gases are ”equalized” schemes have been proposed as evaluation schemes for the between a free gas volume and the oil volume. DGA. The most commonly known schemes are the one pro- posed by Rogers forming the basis for the ANSI method and ABB Transformers Diagnostic Services in Ludvika uses the the scheme laid down in IEC Publication 60599. Both these headspace method (figure 2). methods are using ratios between gas concentrations. After extraction the extracted gas mixture is fed into adsorp- In order to get a feeling for DGA interpretation the ”key-gas tion columns in a GC where the different gases are adsorbed method” is appropriate (figure 3). and separated to various degrees and consequently reaches the detector after different periods of time. One looks for the most prominent gas - the one which differs most from a tacitly expected „normal“ level (or change). For In this way the gas mixture is separated into individual chemi- instance, at overheating of cellulose the main decomposition cal compounds, identified and their concentrations in volume gases are CO and CO2. At a partial discharge of corona H2 gas STP/volume oil is calculated and expressed in ppm. is formed (PD in cellulose involves the formation of carbon ox- (STP=standard temperature and pressure). ides). At a more severe electric discharge such as arcing C2H2 is formed (normally also H2 is formed with smaller amounts of It should be emphasized that this extraction and analysis may methane and ethane. If CO is present cellulose is involved). involve analytical errors which mean that it may be difficult to Finally, at overheated oil it is the hydrocarbons that are formed directly compare the results from two different laboratories. – normally the saturated hydrocarbons such as C2H6 at lower One should not jump from one lab to another but try to stick temperatures and unsaturated such as C2H4 at higher tem- to one well-reputed lab. peratures. Acetylene indicates very high temperatures. 1.2 Interpretation This scheme can also be used to understand the evaluation- There are several different approaches how to explain and schemes based on ratios. interpret the analysed gas composition and to diagnose the condition of the transformer. Essentially the following methods For instance, the IEC method uses three ratios: are at hand: C2H2 CH4 C2H4 − Identification of the key gas. The key gas identifies a parti- C2H4 H2 C2H6 cular problem, e.g. H2 indicate partial discharges (PD). − Determination of ratios between gases, normally between CH4/H2 is used to discriminate between a thermal fault and gas levels. an electric fault. C2H2/C2H4 indicates the presence of a strong discharge or very severe electric problem and C2H4/C2H6 is an indication of the oil temperatures. 1. Overheating of cellulose CO, CO2 2. Overheating of oil increasing temperature C2H6 C2H4 C2H4 CH4 CH4 CH4 C2H2 3. Partial discharges (PD) increasing intensity H2 H2 C2H2 4. Discharges C2H2, H2 Figure 2. Headspace gas chromatography instrument for the analysis Figure 3. Characteristic key-gases, principal layout. of gases in insulation oil. 2 Dissolved gas analysis and supervision of oil condition in transformers and reactors 1.3 Application There are a number of different tests devised for detecting How often one should take oil samples depends on the im- changes in electrical properties and chemical composition of portance of the transformer. the oil. Some are made in order to obtain information about the status of the oil itself, while others are made mainly for − When we suspect a fault (e.g. abnormal sounds). the assessment of the status of the cellulose insulation. Only − In case of signals from gas or pressure relay. the most commonly used and important measurements are − Directly after, and within some weeks, after a short circuit. discussed here. − When a transformer essential to the network is taken into operation, followed by further tests after some months in 2.1 Electrical properties operation. 2.1.1 Breakdown voltage (IEC 60156) − After an obvious overloading of the transformers The ability of the oil to withstand electrical stress is obviously an important parameter in itself. A lowering of the breakdown The analysis results are documented in reports that are sent voltage is usually due to the presence of particles in the oil, in to the customer. All recent and historical results and recom- particular in combination with a large water content (figure 4). mendation are also available by a Web service (iTrafo). 2.1.2 Dielectric dissipation factor, tan δ (IEC 60247) 2. SUPERVISION OF OIL CONDITION This is a measure of the dielectric losses of the oil (figure 5). Even though it is generally acknowledged that dissolved gas These losses are due mostly to conductivity of the oil. It is analysis is normally the most powerful tool for diagnostic not as such a very important parameter for the operation of purposes, and for the detection of incipient faults in a trans- the transformer (unless the value is extremely high), but it is a former, it is also very important to monitor the general status good indication of the presence of dissolved metal ions and of the insulating oil. The oil may become contaminated with acids. water, particles and other foreign substances. There is also a continuous ageing of the oil and the solid insulating with the formation of water, acids and sludge. Apart from impairing the insulating properties, these oxidation products also cause accelerated degradation of the cellulose insulation. Figure 4. Breakdown voltage measurement cell. Figure 5. Apparatus for measurement of dielectric dissipation factor (tan δ). Dissolved gas analysis and supervision of oil condition in transformers and reactors 3 2.2 Chemical properties 2.3.2 Interfacial tension (“IFT”) (ASTM D971-99) 2.2.1 Water content (IEC 60814) The interfacial tension between oil and water is a measure of Some buildup of water content is inevitable, due to the aging the amount of polar contaminants and degradation products. processes mentioned above. There may also occur leakage of It is a useful indicator of aging, and a good complement to the water into the transformer by various mechanisms. Measure- acidity, because, as opposed to the latter, it is also influenced ment of the water content of the oil also allows the estimation by non-acidic oxidation products (figure 8).