THE LATEST CIGRE NEWS AND PERSPECTIVE ON TRANSFORMERS.

CURRENT CIGRE ACTIVITY INCLUDING DISCUSSION AT THE PARIS SESSION AUGUST 2006.
Victor Sokolov Member of Strategical Group Cigre SCA2, member of WGs A2.24,A2. 26, A2.31,A2.32.D1.01;Convenor of WG A2.30 V.sokolov@kelman.ru

The main aims of CIGRE (INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON LARGE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS) The main aims of CIGRE are: Facilitate and develop the exchange of engineering knowledge and information, between engineering personnel and technical specialists in all countries as regards generation and high voltage transmission of electricity. Add value to the knowledge and information by synthesizing state-of-the-art and world practices Make managers, decision-makers and regulators aware of CIGRE's work. New CIGRE SC Organization CIGRE body consists of 16 Study Committees and Technical Committee in collaboration with partners : IEC; Eurelectric, IEEE, CIRED, ...
A1 Rotating electrical machines B1 Insulated cables B2 Overhead lines B3 Substations B4 HVDC and power electronics B5 Protection and automation C1 System development C2 System operation C3 System environC4 System technical C5 Electricity markets and regulations C6 Distribution systems and dispersed generation D 1 Materials and emerging technologies D 2 Information systems and telecommunication

A2 Transformers A3 High voltage equipment

D 1 Materials and emerging

Figure 1 CIGRE organization

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CIGRE Study Committee SC A2 Transformers Among 16 CIGRE Study Committees, SC A2 Transformers (www.cigre-a2.org ) is responsible for design, construction, manufacture and operation for all kinds of power transformers, reactors and transformer components (bushing, tap-changer). In the past ( known as SC12 ) activities were focussed on design problems related to the rapid increase of rated voltage and power. Today, the two Strategic Directions for A2 future activities are : Services to Customers (Reliability, Life management, Economics, Tutorials, ...) Technology Issues (Safety, New technologies and New concepts, Electrical environment, Prestandardisation work, ...) Recent Cigre SCA2 Brochures: SCA2 deliverables are relevant papers in Electra and CIGRE brochures: Thermal aspects (ref.#96) 1995 Static electrification (ref.#170) 2000 Effect of particles (ref.#157) 2000 Customer specifications (ref.#156) 2000 Design review (ref.#204) 2002 Short circuit performance (ref.#209) 2002 Life management of transformers (ref.#227) 2003 Economics of Transformer Management (ref.#248) 2004 GUIDE for Life Management Techniques for Power Transformers, (CIGRE brochure 227), which covers Transformer Life, beginning with manufacturing tests, continuing through field replacement. Being based on understanding of mechanisms and dangerous effect of degradation, this document of guidelines follows the two branches of transformer life: 1) Condition monitoring and assessment and 2) Operations and correction. The contribution in the first branch has been in condition classification, definition of aging factors, recommendations on failure identification and on diagnostic methodology, and monitoring techniques and assessment of typical problems based on a Catalogue of Defects and Faults. In the second branch a Catalogue of Operations are introduced concepts and methodology of insulation rehabilitation and life extension, and methods and support for insulation processing. GUIDE on Economics of Transformer Management (CIGRE brochure No 248), designed to help transformer asset managers perform economic evaluations of proposed solution. The document consists of 4 major parts: Risk Management, which suggests methods and approaches for managing the risk for a single transformer and a transformer population including the provision of spares to mitigate the risk of transformer failures. Specifications & Purchase , which suggests comprehensive evaluations including not only price and loss capitalization but also transportation risks, installation costs, interchangeability , environmental considerations and issues affecting transformer life cycle costs. Operation and maintenance suggest decision process flowcharts and cost/benefit analysis examples, which addressed in order to maintain low prices while delivering high reliability. This chapter includes discussion of vital problems: How long should a transformer remain in service?; Loading limits on aged transformers; Assessing the cost of an outage; Economic benefit of monitoring. 2 Fifth AVO New ZealandInternational Technical Conference 2006

Repair vs. Replacement is addressed basically to transformer managers expecting to make a proper decision with respect to failed or troubled units. This chapter includes determination of risk and investments policy; unit specific investment methodology, and unit specific evaluation. Cigre A2 Colloquiums Moscow 2005 (Reliability and Transients) Merida 2003 (Interpretation of diagnostic methods) Dublin 2001 (Reliability and Economics) Budapest 1999 (Future of transformer and Short Circuit Performance) Sydney 1997 (Static Electrification, Polarization methods, Life Management, Specifications) Present SCA2 activities WG A2.23 : Transformer lifetime data management (N.Fantana DE) The goal of the CIGRE WG was defined as: "Describe methods and strategies for lifetime data/information management to support decision making for life and operational management of transformer assets". The WG has addressed this goal, given examples, described a structure for a systematic approach, and offers the user the possibility to create their own blend of solutions without missing important issues. Final report has been elaborated and will be published as Cigre brochure in 2007 The report is regarded as a step towards a systematical and structured approach of dealing with transformer lifetime data with emphasis on the asset management and assessment decision support. WG A2.24 Thermal performances of power transformers (Declercq ,BE ) The scope is composed of three main areas : 1. Fundamentals on thermal ageing . The first aim is to establish a state of arts in the field of thermal ageing to support IEC revision 2. Ratings of new transformers. The second task is to deal with ratings in coordination with IEC ... The idea is to provide guidelines for appropriate applications of the new IEC document as well as to edit recommendation for areas not covered by IEC standards 3. Practical applications for in service transformers). The third task is to consider practical applications for in service transformers, including economics which is important for decision making WG A2.26 Mechanical condition assessment using FRA including guidance, FRA standardization, ... (Picher,(CA ) The main objective is to develop a guide on the mechanical condition assessment of transformer windings using the Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) method The working group is divided in three task forces: 1-Guidance and introduction to FRA, 2-Techniques and 3-Interpretation The WG (started in June 2004) should deliver a final report in June 2007. TF A2.27 Recommendations for monitoring facilities (Jarman UK ) The WG was tasked with proposing and considering the benefits of possible standardization of the interface between monitoring systems and the transformer. Specifically the WG was asked to: 3 Fifth AVO New ZealandInternational Technical Conference 2006

Review existing and developing condition monitoring systems and practices to determine the range of sensors and facilities employed. Determine whether standardization could improve the market for, or implementation of, condition monitoring systems, sensors or techniques. Make recommendations for the provision of sensors facilities or data from new transformers to facilitate the later application of condition monitoring or condition assessment.

WG A2.28 HVDC Converter Transformer (Saravolac, FR ) New TF (created since Sept. 2004 ) The scope of the WG is focused on the following Review of Standard test requirements (IEC 61378-2) and acceptance criteria Considering failure modes, ageing mechanisms for the remaining life prediction and life management of the transformers; Analysis of available operational performance data with the objective to identify design related problem areas which can not be fully verified by the standard tests Analysis of the Reliability Questionnaire It has been confirmed that the annual failure rates have grown since the last CIGRE survey and that applies to both, failures and potential failures. The subsequent analysis pointed to the main problem areas which are listed as follows: Turn to turn failure in the valve (DC) windings Leads and cleats failures DC bushing failures The effect of repetitive commutation transients has been identified as potentially harmful, especially when associated with the high firing angle (alpha) operations and when compounded by the effect of the Cu2S depositions on the electrical field distribution and the overall dielectric strength of insulation. Technical Specification for HVDC Converter Transformers.Design Review Guide for HVDC Converter Transformers Activities on creating a guide for drafting technical specifications for HVDC Converter Transformers will follow the issue of the Design Review Guide, which will be based and derived from the existing document, Guidelines for Conducting Design Reviews for Transformers 100 MVA and 123 kV and above TF A2.29 Preparation of a Reliability Survey in conjunction with A3/B3 (K. Ryen, NO) The scope of the work: Prepare a reporting form to be included in the joint A2, A3 and B3 failure statistics survey Process the reported statistics and make the necessary tables and summaries. TF A2.30 Moisture in Transformers Editorial (V. Sokolov, UA) Relevant brochure will be forwarded for publication in 2007 TF A2-31 Influence of particles or contaminants in oil on the transformer performances , including corrosive sulfur issues (M. Dahlund, SE) The WG Report Copper sulphide in transformer insulation published in Electra in Dec 2005

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WG A2-32 Copper Sulphide in Transformer Insulation (Mats Dahlund) The main objectives of the working group are to achieve an understanding of the processes involved in the sulphide formation, finding methods for diagnostics and identifying units at risk, give recommendations for mitigation techniques, and propose necessary changes and new test methods to be used in oil specifications and maintenance guides. A summary of what is known today has been made in an interim report, available for download from the A2 web site. It deals briefly with some aspects of risk assessment, diagnostics, mitigation techniques and testing of oil for corrosive sulphur. A short version will be published in Electra in 2006. A new test method for corrosive sulphur in oil has been developed, and presented to IEC TC10 WG35, to be used as the basis of a new IEC standard test. The test uses a short piece of paperwrapped conductor, immersed in 15 ml of the oil to be tested, in a head-space vial of the same type as used for DGA. After 72 hours at 150C the copper and paper are inspected for sulphide formation The work is underway to identify the best practice for determination of metal passivator content in oil. At least for the benzotriazole family of passivators there are already methods in use. Liaison between A2 and D1.01 Fluid impregnated systems D1.01.10 Paper degradation (L. Lundgard) The final report Ageing of cellulose in mineral-oil insulated transformers is at the last stage of discussion. A fundamental document of about 80 pages will include: Materials (Composition of cellulose; Products for electrical insulation; material properties relevant to ageing). Aging kinetics influence from materials and condition Degradation products in impregnated insulation systems Diagnosis Life management of transformers Testing and experimentation of cellulose ageing JTF D1/A2.01.11 : New advances in DGA interpretation (M.Duval,CA), The final document Recent developments in DGA interpretation CIGRE TF 15/12-01-11 is published as Cigre brochure D1.01.13 Furans for diagnostics (MC. Lessard) D1.01.14 Dielectric response methods for diagnostics of power transformers (S. Gubanski). The main goal to establish a basis and recommendations for use of dielectric response measurements for winding diagnostics

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JTF D1/A2.01.15 New work on DGA (M.Duvall) The scope of the TF includes the following: Reliability and accuracy of new on-line gas monitors on the market. -Failure risk vs. rate of gas increase in service. -DGA interpretation in load tap changer -DGA interpretation for synthetic oils (silicones, esters and vegetable oils). -DGA interpretation of hybrid paper systems (operating at higher temperatures). CIGRE A2 Tutorial activity The objectives are Capture the knowledge and know-how developed by CIGRE SC A2 and other related SC and disseminate. Add value to this knowledge and information by synthesizing state-of-the-art documents. Improve visibility of recent development in transformer related topics. Identify the research that appear most promising Disseminate at the regional level to reach a larger audience List of tutorials available Transformer Overload Performance Short Circuit Performance Economics of Transformer Management Partial Discharges Life Management Technique for Power Transformers Transformer Condition Assessment and Maintenance Factory Tests and Fingerprinting Paris Session 2006 A2 Three Preferential Subjects were selected and discussed on the basis of : 27 reports that have been accepted as contributions for the SC A2 2006 group session. PS1 : Transformer Reliability A total of 14 papers were received addressing this topic covering the following reliability aspects: Specification and Manufacture Diagnostic monitoring and assessment in service Reliability of major components (bushings and tap-changers) Repair and refurbishment options New threats to reliability corrosive sulphur New Technology Reliability surveys (Prepared by AG Reliability on behalf of SC A2) Reliability survey There are a number of reliability data bases are still in existence, namely Australian/NZ reliability survey Brazilian reliability database Canadian CEA database CIGRE WG B4.04 Reliability surveys of HVDC systems 6 Fifth AVO New ZealandInternational Technical Conference 2006

 Doble Failure and Troubles database German VDEW reliability database Japan Electric Technology Research Association ZTZ-Service data base covering areas of former Soviet Union However there is a dangerous symptom of loosing information about real picture of transformers failures CIGRE A2 suggest concentration of reliability survey on 3 key directions in any future activities regarding reliability with different targets and objectives: Reliability of new transformers - specific data collection on a sub-set of problems Reliability during mid-life: Minimize data collection on major problems Coordinate with other plant groups, e.g. A3/B3 survey of HV substations Risk Management at end of life identify and classify suspect units assess risk of continued operation Check on new manufacturers and designs CIGRE paper emphasizes that the interest here is on the reliability of new transformers and is of increasing relevance today as a result of structural changes in the industry: globalization of manufacturers and restructuring of utilities, so that there is often no longer a close relationship between a local supplier and an informed customer: today transformer procurement is increasingly competitive with pressures to reduce first cost, often involving new foreign suppliers, and for customers with less experience, with a potential impact on reliability. The questions arise: Is it possible to guarantee good dielectric spare margin, and therefore in service reliability, by insisting on the most exacting dielectric testing during factory acceptance, or is it still necessary to perform comprehensive inspections during manufacture? Brazilian utility Furnas reported an increase in failure rates of new transformers during factory tests and in service. . In the last 10 years, 70 single-phase transformers and 79 single-phase shunt reactors, voltage level varying from 245 kV to 800 kV, were bought. The performance of these equipment were followed and indicated an increase on their failure rate, with 18 transformers failed during the firsts months of operation an 27 units failed during acceptance Also, there were 10 shunt reactors failed during operation and 9 units failed during tests. Equipment Numbers bought Failures On tests 27 8 Failures In service 18 10 Type of failures Active DGA Bushing Leakage part 11 4 2 1 2 1 3 4

Transformers 70 345-800kV Shunt 75 Reactors 345-500 kV

In order to improve the transformer and reactor performance, the following actions have been taken:

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 - Increase the cooperation between technicians from engineering and operation areas - improve the discussion with the manufacturer about equipment application and design - improve inspection during manufacturing - installation of monitoring system - additional tests After the conclusion of equipment design and before the beginning of the manufacturing, a design review is requested. Technicians from engineering, operation and maintenance areas meet equipment designers to review all design, according to Cigre Design Review Guide. Special attention is paid to surge/voltage transfer and voltage transients requirements. Improvement of inspection is another action taken. Some Aged transformer fleet The key questions for discussion were: Is there good evidence of an increasing failure rate with age? Are transformer failures due more to ageing processes than damage caused by system events? Discussion showed that failures have been associated with combination of factors: degradation of dielectric strength due to accumulation of aging by-products, switching and lighting transient stresses and in some cases with deterioration of lightning arresters properties. PS2 : Phase Shifter Transformers On the bases of 7th presented paper the following aspects were discussed: Large Quadrature Booster Transformers Phase Shifting Transformers and Autotransformers Selection of OLTCs for application in PSTs Innovative applications of PSTs ((additional reactive elements connected in series or in parallel in order to extend the power flow control capability and provide additional functionality, such as fault current limitation). Use of Variable Frequency Transformers for Phase Shifting Use of Variable Frequency Transformers for Phase Shifting PS3 : New Development of Electrical Transients on Transformer Performance A total of 6 papers on this topic were received and they are discussed individually:

Possible high frequency overvoltages and inruch current that generate by energizing and de-energizing the circuit-breakers of shunt reactors 500kV. Possible cumulative effect of repetitive voltage transients and relevant mechanical stresses Evaluation/prediction of the effects of the fast fronted voltage transients on transformers by applying HF modelling in the range above 500 kHz and the simulation FRA data in order to validate the HF model. Experience with utilization of ZnO varistors for overvoltage protection of power transformer windings and on load tap changers. 10 years experience with transformers dielectric failures likely resulting from the remote energizing. Effect on inrush current during energizing the units from the system side. Repetitive failures of generator step-up transformers in a substation located in the area subjected to frequent tropical storms and associated lightning transients.

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Paris Session 2006 D1 The scope of Study Committee D1 is To facilitate and promote the progress of engineering and the international exchange of information and knowledge in the field of materials and emerging technologies. Preferential subjects for discussion 1. Partial Discharge Measurement with Non-conventional Systems - Sensors, sensitivity, calibration - Related knowledge rules - Comparison with conventional systems 2. Materials Issues in Emerging Technologies - Reusing of materials - Refurbishment - Life extension 3. High Performance Materials and New Materials for Severe Operating Conditions - Nano materials - Superconducting materials - Space charge-less materials - Bio dielectric materials - Eco-friendly materials, etc. A special paper (D1-102) was addressed on behalf of CIGRE WG D1/33 and reports about the state of the art of non-conventional PD detection methods. A Task Force 03 Measurements of PD has been established to prepare for IEC TC 42 High voltage test techniques a proposal for a future standard to cover the applications for electromagnetic (HF/VHF/UHF) and acoustic measurements. In particular, an overview is given of different sensor types and parameters which are of importance to define the sensitivity and accuracy. Sensor type aspects are considered from the point of view of PD physical processes at the discharge site and the propagation effects in different insulating materials and the relation to PD-magnitudes. An active discussion issued the questions: In recent years, power equipment are made to be more compact and the average stress is increasing. To what extent will the stress be at the final goals, depending on insulating materials in power equipment? What kind of new phenomena will appear in the future, based on the enhancement of average electric stress in the equipment? However answers those questions should be likely the subjects for future CIGRE activity.

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