Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

Dissolved Gas Analysis

(DGA)

“Most important laboratory method for

the diagnostics of abnormal ageing
phenomena in Oil and Oil-paper
insulation, caused through dielectric,
thermal, dynamic and chemical ageing”

Training 05/07 1
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

What kind of failures can be detected by DGA?

•Identification of hot spots

•Partial discharges
•Formation of coke layers on contacts
•Abnormal celluloses degradation
•Local overheating of metal parts
•Saturation of the transformer oil with air which can lead to a Buchholz
relay without a transformer failure
•The Buchholz gas analysis provides additional information, whether the
fault has been spontaneous or slowly developing
•Leakage in the tap changer chamber

Training 05/07 2
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

What cannot be detected?

•The fault location

•An instantaneous fault which develops within minutes or
seconds
•Long lasting < 150deg. C temperature, which has been
caused by a faulty cooling system and results in a
decomposition of paper and oil

Training 05/07 3
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

Fault Gas Concentration (v/v)

H2 15
CH4 5
C2H6 5
C2H4 2
C2H2 1
CO 80
CO2 200
O2 3000
N2 10000

Typical DGA concentrations for new transformers acc. to IEC 61181

Training 05/07 4
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

Fault Gas Acceptance Test (ppm) Service Test (ppm)

H2 2 5
CxHy 0.1 1

CO 5 25

CO2 10 25

Atmospheric gases 50 50

Required detection limits in acceptance tests and service tests acc. to IEC 60567

Training 05/07 5
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

Recommended frequency

• Commissioning DGA Test

• DGA 3 months after commissioning
• DGA 6 months after commissioning
• DGA yearly (preventive maintenance)

Training 05/07 6
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
Faults and their DGA - Evaluation
Type of Local Over Local Over Local Over High Energy Low Energy Partial Overheated
Fault heating < 300 heating heating > Discharge Discharge Discharge Metal
deg.C 300…1000 1000deg.C Surfaces
deg.C

Total gas
content
Nitrogen N2
Oxygen O2
Carbon CO
Monoxide
Carbon CO2
Dioxide
Hydrogen H2
Methane CH4
Acetylene C2H2
Ethylene C2H4
Ethane C2H6
Propylene C3H6
Propane C3H8

Training 05/07 7
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
Faults and their DGA - Evaluation
Type of Local Over Local Over Local Over High Energy Low Energy Partial Overheated
Fault heating < 300 heating heating > Discharge Discharge Discharge Metal
deg.C 300…1000 1000deg.C Surfaces
deg.C

Total gas 75440 80330 93390 78970 58810 66410 124730

content
Nitrogen N2 69940 62430 64840 53210 49870 57120 70470
Oxygen O2 4160 12870 20370 23410 8100 3530 29230
Carbon CO 3280 2360 3930 520 140 430 1320
Monoxide
Carbon CO2 390 720 740 210 50 110 140
Dioxide
Hydrogen H2 80 60 880 360 340 4890 930
Methane CH4 270 490 1030 260 40 290 3630
Acetylene C2H2 0 0 130 380 210 0 230
Ethylene C2H4 260 630 1060 440 40 0 10940
Ethane C2H6 470 210 120 40 5 30 1570
Propylene C3H6 230 500 270 130 10 0 5860
Propane C3H8 360 60 20 6 0 10 410

Training 05/07 8
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers Local Over Local Over Local Over High Energy Low Energy Partial Overheated
Type of heating < 300 heating heating > Discharge Discharge Discharge Metal
deg.C 300…1000 1000deg.C Surfaces
Fault deg.C

Total gas 75440 80330 93390 78970 58810 66410 124730

content
Nitrogen N2 69940 62430 64840 53210 49870 57120 70470
Oxygen O2 4160 12870 20370 23410 8100 3530 29230
Carbon CO 3280 2360 3930 520 140 430 1320
Monoxide
Carbon CO2 390 720 740 210 50 110 140
Dioxide
Hydrogen H2 80 60 880 360 340 4890 930
Methane CH4 270 490 1030 260 40 290 3630
Acetylene C2H2 0 0 130 380 210 0 230
Ethylene C2H4 260 630 1060 440 40 0 10940
Ethane C2H6 470 210 120 40 5 30 1570
Propylene C3H6 230 500 270 130 10 0 5860
Propane C3H8 360 60 20 6 0 10 410
Type of Overheating of Local core Heavy core burn, Ground fault in Loose or open Partial Coke formation
insulation overheating Buchholz - Alram the low voltage potential discharges as a on tap changer
Fault detail grading ring winding, arcing, connection, no sequence of gas contacts
through eddy involvement of solid insulation inclusion in the
currents solid insulation involved solid insulation

Training 05/07 9
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

Fault Key Ratio Value Key Gas

Discharge [C2H2] / [C2H6] >3 Acetylene
Partial Discharge [H2] / [CH4] >10 Hydrogen
Overheating [C2H4] / [C2H6] < 1 for T < 300 Ethylene
deg. C
> 1 for T > 300
deg. C

Thermal [CO2] / [CO] < 3 or > 10 Carbon dioxide

degradation of Carbon monoxide
cellulose
Un-tight Tap [C2H2] / [H2] >2 Acetylene
Changer Hydrogen

Overheated Ethylene and Ethylene

switching contacts propylene are present Propylene
in higher amounts
than the saturated
hydrocarbons

Training 05/07 10
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

DGA. Example - a Thermal Problem.

Fault gas ppm
Hydrogen 1967
Methane 8008
Ethane 2013
Ethylene 8323
Acetylene 57
Propane 401
Propylene 4824
Carbon monoxide 253
Carbon dioxide 1903
Oxygen 18222
Nitrogen 61662

MSS-Code 00120

Training 05/07 11
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
360 MVA, Manufacturing Year 1970
Oil-carbon layer on the copper and brass selector
contacts – thermal with involvement of solid
insulation, MSS Code 00120

Fault Gas ppm

Hydrogen 537
Methane 1041
Ethane 295
Ethylene 1726
Acetylene 25
Propane 83
Propylene 1012
Carbon monoxide 1047
Carbon dioxide 6158
Oxygen 11805
Nitrogen 58084
Training 05/07 12
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
DGA. Interturn Short Circuit
Fault Gas ppm
H2 Hydrogen 4973
CH4 Methane 1758
C2H6 Ethane 243
C2H4 Ethylene 2813
C2H2 Acetylene 8236
C3H8 Propane 58
C3H6 Propylene 1320
CO Carbon 1196
monoxide
CO2 Carbon 2431
dioxide
O2 Oxygen 6743
N2 Nitrogen 44120

MSS Code 21121

Training 05/07 13
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers

DGA. Example - Thermal Problem

74 MVA Rectifier Transformer, 123 kV, Manufacturing Year

1989
Core burn as a consequence of high circulating currents.
MSS-Code 00122

15.01.96 18.12.96 18.06.97

Hydrogen 138 229 1360

Methane 63 930 2090
Ethane 19 327 957
Ethylene 61 992 2950
Acetylene 5 11 21
Propane 5 58 157
Propylene 34 711 2010
Carbon 140 143 266
monoxide
Carbon dioxide 1520 3670 5180

Training 05/07 14
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
DGA. Example - Partial Discharge
220 MVA, Manufacturing Year 1970, MSS 03100

Partial discharges with a BHR-Release as a consequence of

varnish particles in the cooling unit

25.08.95 25.08.95
Tank vol. % BHR
(ppm)

Hydrogen 2836 8,113

Methane 113 0,029
Ethane 52 0,001
Ethylene 97 0,005
Acetylene 1 0,000
Propane 23 0,000
Propylene 396 0,002
Carbon 439 0,421
monoxide
Carbon dioxide 3087 0,309
Oxygen 24514 15,221
Nitrogen 65123 75,9
Training 05/07 15
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
DGA. Example - Thermal Problem with a Partial Discharge
234 MVA, 330 kV, Manufacturing Year 1991

A defective solder joint – thermal with an electrical

involvement of cellulose, taken out of service because of
DGA.

MSS 00101 – local overheating, ratio CO/CO2 < 3 –

indicative for an electrical involvement of cellulosic
material. The damage location was a localized thermal
source.

Hydrogen 1060
Methane 2481
Ethane 703
Ethylene 2187
Acetylene 4
Carbon monoxide 450
Carbon dioxide 995
Training 05/07 16
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
DGA. Example. A Thermal Problem
FTNR 200 934, 200 MVA, Manufacturing year 1965, 110 kV Connector
problem, MSS 00120

Thermal (up to 1000°C) with BHR-release, Indication for involvement

of solid insulation– the BHR-gases are in equilibrium with the
dissolved gases in oil– slowly developing failure, Colour 2,5, Nz 0,01,
tangensdelta 0,039, Moisture 13 mg/kg oil.

24.11.92 24.11.92 Equilibrium

tank vol. % Coefficients
(ppm) BHR

Hydrogene 3640 9,05 1,37

Methane 17300 5,11 1,18
Ethane 8550 0,38 0,85
Ethylene 16000 1,25 1,05
Acetylene 16 0,00 0,00
Propane 1970 0,02 0,67
Propylene 13500 0,18 0,51
Carbon mo- 677 0,68 1,21
noxide
Carbon dio- 5910 0,80 1,22
xide
Oxygene 18900 12,6 1,13
Nitrogen 57700 70,0 1,09
Training 05/07 17
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
DGA. Example - OLTC - Gases
Untight tap changer
Discharges with lower energy MSS 22122 –
indication is the ratio Acetylene/Hydrogen,
Acetylene> Hydrogen

Fault Gas ppm

Hydrogen 128
Methane 25
Ethane 5
Ethylene 81
Acetylene 288
Propane 5
Propylene 50
Carbon monoxide 143
Carbon dioxide 1920
Oxygen 24600
Nitrogen 52000

Training 05/07 18
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
Incipient Fault Detection by DGA during Time Based Maintenance
385-MVA / 220-kV Transformer

Gas Sample data

detected
30.07.81 20.06.83 11.12.84 27.01.85
H2 49 193 421 300
CH4 18 308 1910 1740
C2 H6 17 125 1140 1190
C2 H4 15 433 3400 3500
C2 H2 0 0 0 0
C3 H8 10 38 219 239
C3 H6 25 290 3170 3330
CO 282 511 624 658
CO2 3279 4680 5630 6130
O2 21227 18200 17400 14700
N2 71569 69400 67200 59200

Training 05/07 19
 Power Transmission and Distribution

Tool for Preventing failures - DGA

Transformers
Incipient Fault Detection by DGA during Time Based Maintenance
385-MVA / 220-kV Transformer

Winding defect

Training 05/07 20