CONDITION MONITORING OF TRANSFORMER OIL

Parameters for condition monitoring of oil service Two ways are available to an operating engineer 1. To make periodic oil tests to establish trends and classify them. 2. To conduct dissolved gas analysis to assess the internal condition of transformers PARAMETERS TO BE CHECKED ARE:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. FLASH POINT DIELECTRIC DISSIPATION FACTOR SPECIFIC RESISTANCE NEUTRALISATION. MOISTURE CONTENT SLUDGE % BREAK DOWN VOLTAGE D.G.A.

PHYSICAL CONTAMINATION
1. Dust, fibre, metallic, particles, other solid impurities. 2. Dissolution of varnish. 3. Free and dissolved water.

CHEMICAL DETERIORATION Oxidation resulting in acids sludges and polar impurities. CONTAMINATION OF GASES a) Dissolved air from atm. Nitrogen, co2 b) Generated in oil, methane, ethane, acetylene, ethylene etc.Before the oil is put in the transformer, its properties should be fully ensured.

CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION OF HYDROCARBONS

Catalyst RH (Hydrocarbon) R* + O R* + H (Free radical) RO2* (Peroxy radical) RO2* + RH RO2*H+ R* (Hydro per oxide)

2 RO2* R* + RO2* 2 R*

Oxidation products (Higher Temperature metal Ions as catalyst favours the reaction)

Hydrocarbon RH first produces a free radical R. The radical R now combines with the available oxygen giving peroxide RO2. First product of oxidation peroxides reacts with any hydrocarbon (RH) giving hydro peroxide RO2H and another free radical R. this type of chain propagation continues till the chains are broken adding suitable inhibitor.

SERVICE OIL TESTS The service oil tests to be conducted are furnished below: Service oil tests as per IS: 1866 2000
Sl. No. 1 Interfacial Tension 2 Neutralisation Number 3 Moisture content (ppm) 4 Flash point Acid present in the oil Reveals total water content or cellulosic deterioration. Sudden drop in flash point indicates of unsatisfactory working condition of transformer. Indicated deterioration Sludge present in the oil. TESTS INFORMATION PROVIDED BY TESTS

Sludge

Dielectric Dissipation Factor

Reveals presence of moisture, resins, varnishes or their products of oxidation in oil

Dielectric strength

Conductive contaminants and moisture present in the oil.

Resistivity

Indicative of conducting impurities.

Dissolved Gas Analysis

Reveals ppm of combustible gases dissolved in the oil to assess the internal condition of the transformer.

A Typical Method to Maintain Test Record for Transformer Oil

TRANSFORMER DATA Location Manufactures Name Manufactures Number. Users reference Number of phases. Voltage Ratio Outdoor or Indoor. Type of cooling. With or without Conservator Type of Breather OIL DATA Oil supplier Code Designation of Oil Inhibited or Un-inhibited. Type of Inhibitor If present..

Quantity of oil in The system.

INSTALLATION DATA

Filled on. Commissioned on.. Maximum load... Maximum oil temperature.. Normal load Normal Oil Temperature

MAINTENANCE OF DATA 1. Date of sampling.. 2. Topping up done up. Type and quantity of oil added 3. Note on abnormal operations... 4. Oil filtered on... 5. Breather reconditioned on 6. Physical observation

7. Tests conducted: a. Interfacial Tension. b. Neutralisation Number c. Moisture content (ppm) d. Flash point e. Sludge f. Dielectric Dissipation Factor g. Dielectric Strength h. Resistivity

TABLE 1: APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF TESTS ON OIL IN TRANSFORMERS AS PER IS: 1866 1983 Sl. N o. 1
Equipment voltage

Characteristic

Permissible limit, satisfactory for use

Action if outside permissible limit Recondition it the value of dielectric dissipation factor permits, reclaim if not. Reclaim

Specific resistance at 90 c ohmcm, min Dielectric dissipation factor at 90 c, max

All voltages

0.1 * e12

> 145 kv < 145 kv

0.2 1.0

Sl. No

Characteristic

Equipment voltage

Permissible limit, satisfactory for use

Action if outside permissible limit

Neutralization value, mg / KOH / g Precipitate sludge

All voltages All voltages

0.5

Reclaim

No perceptible sludge Decrease in flash point 15c (max) of the initial value, minimum value 125 c

Reclaim

Flash point

All voltages

Reclaim after checking causes.

Sl. N o

Characteristic Interfacial tension at 27c, n/m, min Electric strength

Equipment voltage

Permissible limit, satisfactory for use 0.015

Action if outside permissible limit Reclaim.

All voltages 145 kv + above < 145 kv > 72.5 kv < 72.5 kv > 145 kv < 145 kv

50kv min 40 kv min 40 kv min 30 kv min 25 ppm 35 ppm

Recondition Recondition Recondition Recondition Recondition Recondition

Water content ppm

LIMITING VALUES IS: 1866

Test Equ. Voltage > 145 kv < 145 > 72.5 kv< 72.5 kv > 145 kv < 145 kv Method Limit 50 40 30 25 35

Electric strength

Is: 6792

Water content ppm, max Specific resistance @ 90, 10 E12 ohm, cm Tan delta @90, max

Is: 335

All voltage > 145 kv < 145 kv

Is: 6103

0.1 0.2 1.0

Is: 6262

ACIDITY mg KOH / g, Max

ALL VOLTAGE ALL VOLTAGE ALL VOLTAGE

IS: 1448

0.5

IFT, N/m. Min

IS: 6104

0.015

FLASH POINT Deg C, Min SEDIMENT AND / OR PRECIPITABLE SLUDGE

IS: 1448 Max Dec 15

125

ALL VOLTAGE

IS: 1866

NIL

FOR TRANSFORMERS IN SERVICE

GENERAL Properties Breakdown voltage Moisture Dielectric dissipation factor Volume resistivity IFT Condition Low High High Filtration as above if the cause is moisture or other Low Low Reclamation Remedies

Filtration under vacuum + temperature

NV

HIGH

FP

LOW

INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE

SLUDGE %

HIGH

DE-SLUDGING

SUGGESTED LIMITS FOR IN SERVICE OILS GROUP I BY VOLTAGE CLASS, BASED ON IS: 1866-1983 LIMITS
___________________________________________________

VOLTAGE CLASS PROPERTIES 145 KV & ABOVE 50 (MIN) 0.1 (MAX) 0.015 (MIN) 0.2 (MAX) 25 (MAX) 0.1x1012 72.5 KV & < 145KV 40 (MIN) 0.1 (MAX) 0.015 (MIN) 1.0 (MAX) 35 (MAX) 0.1x1012 BELOW 72.5 KV 30 (MIN) 0.1 (MAX) 0.015 (MIN) 1.0 (MAX) 35 (MAX) 0.1x1012

ELECTRIC STRENGTH NEUTRALISATION VALUE (mgKOH/g) INTERFACIAL TENSION N/m DIELECTRIC DISSIPATION FACTOR AT 90 C WATER CONTENT, ppm SPECIFIC RESISTANCE Ohm-cm

Suggested limits for in service oils group ii by voltage class (reconditioning) based on IS: 1866-1983 LIMITS
PROPERTIES VOLTAGE CLASS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------------145 KV & 72.5 KV BELOW ABOVE & < 145KV 72.5 KV
< 50 0.1 UPTO 0.5 < 0.015 (MIN) > 0.2 < 40 0.1 UPTO 0.5 < 0.015 (MIN) > 1.0 < 30 0.1 UPTO 0.5 < 0.015 (MIN) > 1.0

Electric strength Neutralisation Value (mg.KOH/g) Interfacial Tension N/m Dielectric dissipation Factor At 90 C Water Content, ppm Specific resistance Ohm-cm

> 25 < 0.1 x1012

> 35 < 0.1 x1012

> 35 < 0.1x1012

TABLE IV Suggested values for in-service oils group II by voltage class (reconditioning) based on IS: 1866 (1983)
LIMITS Voltage Class Properties 145 Kv & Above
Electric Strength < 50 Neutralisation Value 0.1 (mg KOH/g) Upto 0.5 Interfacial Tension < 0.015 N/m Dielectric Dissipation > 0.2 Factor at 90 C Water Content, ppm > 25 Specific Resistance < 0.1 Ohm-Cm

72.5 Kv & < 145kv

< 40 0.1 Upto 0.5 < 0.015 > 1.0 > 35 < 0.1

Below 72.5 Kv
< 30 0.1 Upto 0.5 < 0.015 > 1.0 > 35 < 0.1

GROUP III OILS: To categorize under group III, the parameters should be well beyond the limits proposed in table IV. Such oils should be initially filtered under vacuum and temperature to verify whether the properties improve or not. If properties like Dielectric Dissipation Factor, Interfacial Tension do not improve on filtration, then there is a case for oil to be replaced.

Properties of oils evaluated in transformers of a utility

Sl. No 1 2 Voltage class 33 / 11 66 / 11 BDV Tan Delta
Resistivity

IFT

Acidity

18 38

0.0321 0.0392

0.914E12 0.046E12

30 30

0.1 0.3

4 5

220 / 11 220 / 11

27 35

0.0108 0.263

2.75E12 0.912E12

30 30

0.1 0.1

Properties of oils evaluated in transformers of a utility

Sl. No 16 17 18 19 20 Voltage class 220 / 66 66 / 11 66 / 11 66 / 11 66 / 11 BDV Tan Delta 0.0032 0.0063 0.014 0.039 0.023
Resistivity

IFT

Acidity

45 47 11 8 24

6E12 5.86E12 2.68E12 2.18E12 1.76E12

30 30 30 30 25

0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2

Properties of oils evaluated in transformers of a utility oil to be replaced/reclaimed

Capacity in MVA 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Voltage in KV 33 / 11 33 / 11 110 / 33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11 BDV Tan Delta 1.000 1.050 0.820 0.270 1.050 0.720 1.170
Resistivity

Acidity

IFT 10 10 15 10 15 15 10

29 -

0.0177 0.0151 0.0194 0.0643 0.0168 2.3700 0.0150

0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

24 29 37 44

Properties of oils evaluated in transformers of a utility oil to be replaced/reclaimed

Capacity in MVA 5 5 5 5 5 Voltage in KV 33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11 BDV Tan Delta 0.990 0.370 0.290 0.190 0.680
Resistivity

Acidity

IFT

44 30 39 33 29

0.0175 0.0452 0.0589 0.0905 0.0227

0.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

10 15 15 10 15

Contd

5 5 5 5 5

33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11 33 / 11

63 27 22 18 15

0.880 0.775 1.100 0.620 0.700

0.0187 0.0222 0.0157 0.0283 0.0243

0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.6

15 10 10 10 10

CONCLUSIONS
a. In view of the importance of service oil tests, all tests have to be carried out as per IS: 1866 systematically and periodically, as a part of maintenance schedule, as no single test is a reliable indicator. b. The periodic testing will help O & M personnel to build up databank and case histories of power Transformers. c. Periodic testing will help to know the oil condition as well to know growing of any incipient faults by Dissolved Gas Analysis. d. The preventive maintenance followed by all utilities will result not only savings in O & M costs but also prevent any premature breakdown / Failures besides improving the overall system reliability.

Test required to assess the level of oil degradation Screening tests: - Laboratory evaluation can be minimised by performing screening tests at site. The tests are: 1. Appearance i. Colour ii. Visible particles iii. Haziness or cloudiness 2. Acidity by colour CPRI acidity testing kit 3. Interfacial tension test By field method 4. Quality index By Myers method

PORTABLE ACIDITY TESTING KIT

A portable acidity testing kit was developed by cpri to quickly check the acidity of transformer oil at site Procedure: A) 1.1 ml of oil in a test tube. B) Add 1ml of rectified spirit. C) Shake well D) Add 1 ml. of alkaline solution E) Add few drops of universal indicator F) Match the colour with the colour chart to arrive at the acidity value. Advantages: Test can be performed by semi skilled personnel at the site of transformer / remote areas.

SHAPES OF SPOTS OIL ALONE INDICATOR ALONE

NEW OIL + INDICATOR

SERVICE OIL + INDICATOR

SHAPES OF INDICATOR SPOT ARE DEPENDENT ON IFT OF OIL

Recommended limits of unused mineral oil filled in new power transformer

Property Highest voltage equipment (kV)

<72.5

72.5 to 170

> 170

Appearance

Clear, free from sediment and suspended matter 0.89 0.89 0.89

Density @ 29.5 C (g / cc), max

Flash point, ( C), max Neutralisation value, KOH /g mg /

140

140

140

0.03

0.03

0.03

Water content, ppm, min Interfacial tension, N/m, min Dielectric Dissipation Factor @ 90 C, 40-60 Hz, max Resistivity, ohm-cm, min Breakdown voltage, kV, min Oxidation stability of uninhibited oil Neutralisation value, Mg.KOH/g, min Sludge (% by Mass), max oxidation stability of inhibited oil - induction period

20 35 0.015 6 40

15 35 0.015 6 50

10 35 0.010 6 60

0.4 0.1

0.4 0.1

0.4 0.1

Similar values before filling