Application Note

Defining Moisture Categories in DIRANA

Author
Stephanie Uhrig | stephanie.uhrig@omicron.at
Martin Anglhuber | martin.anglhuber@omicron.at

Date
17.07.2015

Related OMICRON Product

DIRANA

Application Area
Power Transformers

Version
v1.2

Document ID
ANP_13002_ENU

Abstract
This application guide informs how to set moisture categories different from the default categories in the
DIRANA software.

© OMICRON Page 1 of 7
Content
1 Using this document .............................................................................................................................3
1.1 Operator Qualifications and Safety Standards ...............................................................................3
1.2 Safety Measures .............................................................................................................................3
1.3 Related Documents ........................................................................................................................3
2 The Default Moisture Categories .........................................................................................................4
3 User Defined Moisture Categories .......................................................................................................6

Please use this note only in combination with the related product manual which contains several important safety
instructions. The user is responsible for every application that makes use of an OMICRON product.

OMICRON electronics GmbH including all international branch offices is henceforth referred to as OMICRON.

© OMICRON 2015. All rights reserved. This application note is a publication of OMICRON.
All rights including translation reserved. Reproduction of any kind, for example, photocopying, microfilming, optical
character recognition and/or storage in electronic data processing systems, requires the explicit consent of OMICRON.
Reprinting, wholly or in part, is not permitted.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this application note represent the technical
status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this application note is useful, accurate and entirely
reliable. However, OMICRON does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be present.
OMICRON translates this application note from the source language English into a number of other languages. Any
translation of this document is done for local requirements, and in the event of a dispute between the English and a non-
English version, the English version of this note shall govern.

© OMICRON 2015 Page 2 of 7

1 Using this document
This application guide provides detailed information on how to use and set moisture categories in the software
of the OMICRON DIRANA. Please refer to national and international safety regulations relevant to working
with DIRANA. The regulation EN 50191 "The Erection and Operation of Electrical Test Equipment" as well as
all the applicable regulations for accident prevention in the country and at the site of operation has to be
fulfilled.

1.1 Operator Qualifications and Safety Standards

Working on HV devices is extremely dangerous. Measurements must be carried out only by qualified, skilled
and authorized personnel. Before starting to work, clearly establish the responsibilities. Personnel receiving
training, instructions, directions, or education on the measurement setup must be under constant supervision
of an experienced operator while working with the equipment. The measurement must comply with the relevant
national and international safety standards listed below:

 EN 50191 (VDE 0104) "Erection and Operation of Electrical Equipment"

 EN 50110-1 (VDE 0105 Part 100) "Operation of Electrical Installations"

 IEEE 510 "Recommended Practices for Safety in High-Voltage and High-Power Testing"

 LAPG 1710.6 NASA "Electrical Safety"

Moreover, additional relevant laws and internal safety standards have to be followed.

1.2 Safety Measures

Before starting a measurement, read the safety rules in the DIRANA User Manual and observe the application
specific safety instructions in this Application Note when performing measurements to protect yourself from
high-voltage hazards.

1.3 Related Documents

Title Description
Contains information on how to use the DIRANA test system
DIRANA User Manual
and relevant safety instructions.
Mineral insulating oils in electrical equipment – Supervision and
IEC 60422:2013
maintenance guidance

© OMICRON 2015 Page 3 of 7

2 The Default Moisture Categories
After finishing the moisture assessment for e.g. power transformers with the DIRANA, the SW shows
a colored indicator for the different categories (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

Figure 1: Moisture category shown in the Moisture Assessment

Figure 2: Moisture category shown in the Advanced Moisture Assessment

The default settings refer to the categories given in the IEC 60422 "Mineral insulating oils in electrical
equipment – Supervision and maintenance guidance". This standard provides categories for moisture
contamination of power transformers based on moisture saturation (Table 1).

Moisture saturation in oil (in %) Condition of cellulosic insulation

<5 Dry
5 - 20 Moderately wet
20 - 30 Wet
> 30 Extremely wet
Table 1: Moisture categories based on moisture saturation in oil. Source: IEC 60422:2013

© OMICRON 2015 Page 4 of 7

 Moisture saturation can be converted into moisture content using sorption isotherms (Figure 3). Such
isotherms have been experimentally developed in laboratory environment using paper and pressboard
samples.

Figure 3: Ratio of water saturation in oil to water content in paper (sorption isotherm)

The isotherms allow to convert limits of water saturation to limits of water content in paper (Table 2).

IEC 60422 limits of moisture Corresponding condition Limits of water contents

saturation in oil (in %) of cellulosic insulation in paper (in wt.%)
<5 Dry < 2,2
5 - 20 Moderately wet 2,2 - 3,6
20 - 30 Wet 3,7 - 4,7
> 30 Extremely wet > 4,8
Table 2: Moisture categories based on moisture saturation in oil converted to water content in paper

The IEC rates moisture saturations of more than 5 % as "moderately wet", which is equivalent to a
moisture content of approximately 2.2 % (Figure 3). In this area the water molecules become more
and more active, increasing the dangerous effects of water. At this level, maintenance actions such
as drying should be considered, taking into account the importance and future operation of the
transformer.

The default settings for the moisture categories can be found by choosing “Tools” in the Main Menu
and here clicking on “Options…” (Figure 4). Here the tap “Assessment” gives an overview about the
settings for the four moisture categories “dry”, “moderately wet”, “wet” and “extremely wet” like shown
in Figure 5.

© OMICRON 2015 Page 5 of 7

 Figure 4: Choosing the “Options” from the Main Menu

Figure 5: The “Assessment” tab showing the default settings of the moisture categories

3 User Defined Moisture Categories

The categories given in the IEC 60422 are rather general and do not distinguish between different
equipment types and the criticality of this equipment in the electrical network. Referring to the same
water content, transformers with high load fluctuations have a higher failure risk compared to
transformers with moderate and steady load. In some cases, a drying process is recommended for
critical generator transformers having a water content of e.g. 2.5 %, whereas no actions are taken for
small distribution transformers under moderate and steady load having even 3.5 % water content.
Therefore it might be useful to define limits, different to the default limits mentioned above.

© OMICRON 2015 Page 6 of 7

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