Laboratory results

Reports
Interpretation
Diagnostics
The most commonly measured Gases are:
O2 (Oxygen)
N2 (Nitrogen)
H2 (Hydrogen)
CO (Carbon Monoxide)
CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
CH4 (Methane)
C2H6 (Ethane)
C2H4 (Ethylene)
C2H2 (Acetylene)
 A high degree of success has been
achieved in the area of determining a
link between:

• Ratios of common fault gas concentration and

specific fault types;
• Evolution of fault gases and the nature and
severity of the transformer fault.
Review of the most commonly used
gas-in-oil diagnostic methods:

• IEEE C57.104 - 1991

• Doernenburg
• Rogers
• CEI 599
• Duval
• GE
IEEE C57.104-1991
• Introduced in 1978
• Probably the most widely used dissolved gas
interpretation method in North America
• Developed by the IEEE society
• Covers
– determination of a fault severity
– its nature
• also offers suggestions regarding the follow-up
action to be taken.
IEEE C57.104-1991

• Calculate the total of dissolved combustible gases

(TDCG):
TDCG = H2 + CO + CH4
+C2H6 + C2H4 + C2H2
• Classify the condition of the transformer according
to the limits for
– Each gas
– Total of combustible gases.
IEEE C57.104-1991

• Evaluate the rate of increase of combustible

gases in ppm/day.
• Determine what actions should be taken
according to
– Level of combustible gases
– Rates of increase.
 IEEE C57.104-1991

• The method defines 4 possible transformer conditions:

TDCG Condition
• < 720 ppm: Operating satisfactorily
• 721 to 1920 ppm: Fault(s) may be present
• 1921 to 4630 ppm: Fault(s) are probably
present
• > 4630 ppm: Continued operation
could result in failure
IEEE C57.104-1991

• These conditions are also determined according

to individual gas levels.
• If any one of the gases exceeds a given level, the
transformer is classified accordingly
 IEEE C57.104-1991

• Individual gas level limits (in ppm):

Gas 1 2 3 4
• H2 < 100 101 - 700 701- 1800 > 1800
• CH4 < 120 121 - 400 401 - 1000 > 1000
• C2H2 < 35 36 - 50 51 - 80 > 80
• C2H4 < 50 51 - 100 101 - 200 > 200
• C2H6 < 65 66 - 100 101 - 150 > 150
• CO < 350 351 - 570 571 - 1400 > 1400
• CO2 < 2500 2500 - 4000 4001 - 10000 > 10000
IEEE C57.104-1991

• After the condition level has been determined, the

frequency of DGA analysis is determined
according to the rate of rise of the TDCG.
 IEEE C57.104-1991

Trend Conditions
(ppm/day) 1 2 3 4
• < 10 Annual Quarterly Monthly Weekly

• 10 -30 Quarterly Monthly Weekly Daily

• > 30 Monthly Monthly Weekly Daily

IEEE C57.104-1991

• Using the same table, the suggested transformer

operation procedure is determined.
IEEE C57.104-1991

Condition 1
Trend Suggested Operating
(ppm/day) Procedure

• < 30 Normal operation

• > 30 Exercise caution, Determine
load dependence
IEEE C57.104-1991

Condition 2
Trend Suggested Operating
(ppm/day) Procedure

• All Exercise caution,

Determine load
dependence
IEEE C57.104-1991

Condition 3
Trend Suggested Operating
(ppm/day) Procedure

• All Exercise extreme

caution, Plan outage,
Advise manufacturer
IEEE C57.104-1991

Condition 4
Trend Suggested Operating
(ppm/day) Procedure
• < 10 Exercise extreme caution,
Plan outage, Advise manufacturer
• > 10 Consider removal from service,
Advise manufacturer
IEEE C57.104-1991

• The IEEE method determines the probable nature

of a fault according to the dominant gases
• Partial discharge: H2
• Thermal fault in the paper: CO
• Arc: H2 & C2H2
• Thermal fault in the oil: C2H4
One factor that will drive the development
and refinement of these methods, especially
with regard to the interpretation of the rate
of rise of dissolved gases, is the greater use
of on-line gas-in-oil monitoring on
transformers and other oil filled electrical
equipment.
The whole procedure of oil sampling, gas
extraction, chromatographic determination
and data interpretation should be
performed yearly by most transformer
owners on their larger transformers.
Most electric utilities use dissolved
gas analysis (DGA) extensively.