ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION

VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS

OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION
By

Eshwar Y.P (IV Sem EEE)

Mohan kumara.R (IV Sem EEE)

Contact mail: esha622137@gmail.com

Contact no: 9886080768; 9741834450

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL &ELECTRONICS

ENGINEERING
P E S Institute of Technology & Management
NH-206, Sagar Road, Shivamogga 577204
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ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION

Abstract:

This paper describes an accelerated ageing experiment of transformer oil/paper insulation

with preset moisture levels. These samples were tested with return voltage and
polarization/depolarization measurements. Molecular weight has also been measured with Gel
Permeation Chromatography (GPC). Thus this paper gives the application of two relatively new
diagnostic techniques for the determination of insulation condition in aged transformers. The
techniques are
(a) Measurements of interfacial polarization spectra by a DC method and
(b) Measurements of molecular weight and its distribution by gel permeation chromatography.
Results suggested the impact of moisture on the ageing of oil/paper insulation. An attempt has
been made regarding the separation of ageing and moisture on oil/paper insulation using the
dielectric polarization measurements.

KEYWORDS:

Transformer ageing, Oil Paper Insulation, moisture and ageing return voltage, polarization and
depolarization current, Molecular weight measurement, GPC technique.

INTRODUCTION:
A man becomes ill and then he goes to the doctor to get him cured. But, if he decides to
check up of his health regularly, maybe he can avoid many times the illness at which he suffers.
Is it only true to human being? No, it is also true for equipments used in our technology. A
transformer is a device on which cost effective supply of electricity mostly depends. Hence, to
manage the life of transformers, to reduce failures and to extend the life of transformer, some
measures are being adopted. This is in nut shell termed the transformer diagnostic.
The insulation system in a power transformer degrades under normal operating
conditions, in particular with higher temperature, higher moisture and oxidation. The remnant
life of a transformer is significantly influenced by the condition of solid insulation. Currently,
degradation of insulation in a transformer is monitored by sampling the oil and analyzing for
dissolved gases, furan content and by examining the change in the degree of polymerization (DP)
of cellulosic paper. In current deregulated electricity markets, non-destructive diagnostic

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ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION

techniques are becoming more and more popular for condition-based maintenance of aged
transformers. In recent years, some important works have been published in dielectric
polarization measurement by a number of teams. These studies have shown that dielectric
response measurements could be used as an effective tool for transformer condition assessment.
To investigate the separation of ageing and moisture impacts on polarization measurements we
have conducted a number of accelerated ageing experiments at 115o C with known discrete
moisture levels. The insulation samples were then analyzed by a number of recently developed
techniques. These include: RV measurements, polarization/depolarization current measurements
and molecular weight measurements by the GPC technique. This investigation is very significant
in terms of understanding the separation of ageing and moisture effects on insulation. This paper
will help to understand the service ageing of transformers insulation due to moisture and high
temperature. This will also emphasis changes of dielectric properties due to degradation from
moisture and high temperature. We have extensively investigated these phenomena and a number
of constraints encountered during these ageing experiments will be presented. Some comparison
between the measured electrical and chemical properties will also be attempted in this paper.

Experimental techniques:
Interfacial Polarisation Spectra measurement System
IPS system consists of
1) an optic isolation power control interface used for control two relays.
2) A programmable high voltage DC power supply.
3) A communication protocol interface.
4) A PC to control the entire set of instruments
To perform dielectric response measurements, a new computer controlled measurement
system was developed which is capable of performing RV (guarded or unguarded) and
polarisation and depolarization current measurements. The new system is equipped with a laptop
computer, a GPIB Interface card, a model 6517A High Resistance Electrometer with in-built DC
Voltage Source, a control 488/16 16-channel with PCAC2 Switch Module Power Control
Interface, and two High Voltage Relays ES-25-DT-25-0-32-BD and E- 12-DT-12-0-32-BD, etc.
The software used to control this system has been designed using LabView graphical language.
THEORY

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ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION

When a direct voltage is applied to a dielectric for a long period of time, and it is then
short circuited for a short period, the charge bounded by the polarization will turn into free
charges after opening the short circuit, a voltage will build up between the electrodes on the
dielectric. This phenomenon is called the return voltage.
P(t) = P0 F(t),
P0 = E
Ja(t) = P(t) = d/dt P (t).
Ja (0) = E

Initial slope is the slope of the return voltage graph (with linear approximation) for first
few seconds
Central time constant -the time at which the return voltage is maximum
A larger value of the maximum initial slope indicates the sample has more moisture
content.
Central time constant with smaller value indicates the sample has more moisture content
and is more degraded and more aged.
Gel permeation chromatography (GPS) analysis
GPC is one of the most widely used techniques to determine the molecular weight and
molecular weight distribution of polymeric materials. Dynamic light scattering and intrinsic
viscosity are also used to determine polymer molecular weights, but GPC is the only one that
separates the polymers molecules by their size. Using the GPC method, the molecules are

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ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION

separated by introducing a dilute solution of polymer to a column made with a polystyrene gel
cross linked with divinylbenzene. The gel has small pores of specific sizes (i.e. 10 3 107
diameter). Larger particles pass through the columns first, while the smaller molecules become
hung-up in the pores of the column resulting in longer retention times. The retention volume,
which is used to characterize the polymer, is calculated from the flow rate, f, (constant
experimental parameter) and the retention time, . The retention volume is the volume of the
polymer solution that passed through the column to bring the molecule of one particular size to
the detector. The retention volume can be calculated using Equation 1.
Equation 1 Vr = f *
Prior to molecular weight measurement, the cellulose in the paper samples (which is the
major component, and that responsible for providing the mechanical strength of the paper) was
converted to the cellulose tricarbanilate derivative using the method described. After purification
of the cellulose tricarbanilate, it was subjected to molecular weight analysis by Gel permeation
Chromatography at room temperature using tetrahydrofuran as the eluent. A typical GPC
chromatogram with molecular weight distributions for a new paper and a 25 years old
transformer paper is shown in figure, shows that the higher the elution volume the lower is the
molecular weight. As the paper is 25 years old, the peak molecular weight has been significantly
reduced and the shape also changes significantly. Two average molecular weights are commonly
used.
Number average molecular weight: MN= (niMi)/ ni
Weight average molecular weight: MW= (niMi2)/niMi
Where, ni is the number of chains of mass Mi.
The materials required for GPC analysis are:-
Gels
Eluent
Pump
Detector
Molecular weight sensitive detector

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ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION

Figure: GPC chromatogram of insulating paper samples obtained from new stock and aged
transformer

Figure: The simulation chromatogram of the new insulating paper

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ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION

Advantages of GPC:
First of all, it has a well-defined separation time due to the fact that there is a final elution
volume for all unretained analytes.
GPC can provide narrow bands, although this aspect of GPC is more difficult for polymer
samples that have broad ranges of molecular weights present.
Finally, since the analytes do not interact chemically or physically with the column, there
is a lower chance for analytes loss to occur.
Therefore, GPC has allowed for the quick and relatively easy estimation of molecular
weights and distribution for polymer samples

Goals of future diagnostic methods

Political goals:
Reduction of environmental risks by an early sign for a developing fault.
Technical information in time.
More safety and less stress for service personnel.
Economic goals:
Adaptive maintenance
Reduction of maintenance personnel
Planned service interruption and investments
Minimum period of outrage
Minimum costs for outrage
Technical goals:
Optimization of apparatus or systems
Registration of sporadic fault-behaviour by continuous monitoring
Quantitative information about certain parameters
Improvements in insulation coordination

CONCLUSION
The globalization of the energy market results in an increasing cost consciousness of
utilities and other electrical power equipment operators. Power transformers are among the most
expensive parts of a power network. Therefore, utilities try to postpone replacement investments
for those equipment and even try to cutback maintenance costs. On the other hand, numerous
transformers have reached a considerable age well beyond 30 years. Further operation means an
increasing risk of an outage. A damage of transformers means not only costs for replacement but

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ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL DIAGNOSTICS OF TRANSFORMER INSULATION

also considerable extra costs for lost sales of energy and environmental damages

The polarization current has been found to be very sensitive to moisture. The oil and paper
conductivity have both been found to be sensitive to moisture and ageing. Similarly the central
time constant has been found to be sensitive to moisture and ageing as well. When the higher
moisture is produced from ageing, it is understood that the moisture and ageing become
inseparable.
Finally, our current investigation will be extended to correlate polarization measurement
results with a number of chemical test results. This will be particularly useful for predicting
remaining life of transformer insulation.

REFERENCES
IEEE transactions on power delivery October 1997.
Degradation of electrical insulating paper monitored with high performance liquid
chromatography IEEE transaction on electrical insulation august 1990.
Thermal ageing of cellulose paper insulation IEEE transaction on electrical insulation
February 1997.