SMART Moisture Management

An AVACO Solutions FZC Brand

Vision Statement
Imagine a world where we feel safe at work

Mission Statement
We accomplish our vision by Investing in superior technology solutions to empower
change in the workplace. We believe in safe and reliable power for all and we equip
ourselves with the required skills and knowledge needed to accomplish our goals.
 Agenda

• Sources of Moisture in an oil filled Transformer

• The Never Ending Moisture Creation Cycle
• The Effects of Moisture
• What the Industry says about On Line Continuous Moisture Filtration Systems
• AVACO Solutions FZC
• DRYTRANS – An Introduction
• Some Case Studies
• Some Pictures
• Support Information
 Sources of Moisture in Oil
WHERE DOES MOISTURE IN THE TRANSFORMER COME FROM ???????

Over Saturation of Oil when WCO > SATURATION

V. Davydov, EPRI Moisture Management in Transformer Workshop,

Nov.2002, Edison, New Jersey
 Sources of Moisture in Oil

• Moisture accumulates in the transformer over the years of its operation. There are
typically three sources of moisture for a transformer:
• New transformers are meant to carry some moisture in the paper insulation as completely
dry paper is too brittle and is not mechanically strong.
• Free breathing transformers will add some moisture from the atmosphere through the
conservator and through the breather.
• Moisture creation inside the transformer paper insulation during normal operating
conditions. This is a never ending cycle, one that cannot be stopped. As the paper is
subjected to heat and starts to degrade, the cellulose chain breaks apart to form water
which is then dissolved into the oil. As the paper degrades further, more moisture is created
and further degrades the paper creating moisture and so on.
 Paper Aging = Rupture of the Cellulose Chain
HOH (water)
CH2OH OH CH2OH
O O O
OH OH O OH
Cellulose
O

OH CH2OH OH
Acids

CH2OH OH CH2OH
O O O
H OH
OH OH O OH
O
Break =
OH Weaker Paper CH2OH OH
Degradation of paper leading to furan formation

CH2OH

H O
H O
OH H
O H
H OH
Degradation of paper leading to furan formation

CH2OH

H O
H O
OH H
O H HOH
H OH

80-300 °C
Degradation of paper leading to furan formation

CH2OH

H O
H O
OH H
O H HOH
H +
OH HOH

80-300 °C
Degradation of paper leading to furan formation
HOH
+
CH2OH

H O
H O
OH H
O H HOH
H +
OH HOH

80-300 °C
Degradation of paper leading to furan formation
HOH
+
CH2OH

H O
H O
C OH H
O H HOH
H +
OH HOH
+
CO
80-300 °C
Degradation of paper leading to furan formation
HOH
+
CH2OH H
O CHO

H O
H O H H
C OH H +
O H HOH
H +
OH HOH
+
CO
80-300 °C
 Where does the Water GO….?
HOH (water)
CH2OH OH CH2OH
O O O
OH OH O OH
Cellulose
O

OH CH2OH OH
Acids

CH2OH OH CH2OH
O O O
H OH
OH OH O OH
O
Break =
OH Weaker Paper CH2OH OH
The Moisture Cycle
Energized
Transformer with
some existing H2O
content

And the process is H2O molecules

repeated until the break existing
paper looses cellulose chain in
tensile strength presence of weak
and a failure acids, temp and
occurs time

Smaller glucose
The same H2O is
molecules are
absorbed back into
created which
the paper that
form more H2O
depolymerizes the
that gets dissolved
paper furher
in the oil
 Effects of Moisture in Transformer Oil

Water in oil-paper-insulation cause three damaging effects:

• It decreases the dielectric withstand strength,
• Accelerates cellulose aging and
• Causes the emission of gaseous bubbles at high temperatures.

Therefore reliable management of the moisture content in oil and paper is of

paramount importance.
 Deterioration of Oil and Cellulose

AGED
 Evolution of faults at weak points

Possible failure events at weak

points in the insulation

V. Sokolov, Cigre Colloquium

1997
 Evolution of faults at weak points

Winding Displacement after fault

Cigre A2.26
 Insulation Aging

What are the factors promoting insulation aging?

• Temperature
• Moisture
• Oxygen
• Time

What are the effects of aging on reliability?

• Reduction of mechanical strength of insulating paper. This cannot be reversed

• Dielectric strength of paper is unaffected until the paper ruptures
• Dielectric strength of oil is severely compromised
 IEEE Std C57.140-2006
Guide for the Evaluation and Reconditioning of Liquid Immersed Power Transformers
7.2. On-line oil DRYOUT method

On-line transformer moisture removal and management systems have become increasingly popular in many parts of the world. Europe, Australia, and
Africa have several hundred units installed on up to 800 MVA, 765 kV transformers.
The most common system is an absorption or molecular sponge dryout (MSD) process using ceramic sylo beads to remove moisture from the oil and
paper insulation. The objective is to prolong the life of in-service transformer paper insulation by constantly maintaining a low-moisture content in the
oil. The system is permanently installed on the transformer or on a nearby custom frame.
The MSD system is not intended to replace the factory vapor phase dryout system or the standard oil reconditioning systems.

7.2.1. Desired features

The following criteria describe the desired features of an MSD system:

⎯ The system must not present any electrical risk to the transformer.
⎯ The system must manage the moisture removal process to ensure that the paper is not completely dried out. Solid insulation that is excessively
dried will be detrimentally affected from both the mechanical and dielectric standpoint.
⎯ The system must not release moisture back into the oil when the filters become saturated.
⎯ The filters should be capable of changeout while the transformer is under load.
⎯ The system should not introduce oxygen into the transformer and should be equipped with a de-aerator.
⎯ On-line processing systems should maintain the transformer’s normal operating oil pressure and oil level at all times. A significant drop in the oil
level may expose energized parts and lead to a flashover and failure. A change in oil temperature or pressure will change the equilibrium of any
dissolved gasses and moisture in the transformer’s oil, and that change in equilibrium may cause bubbling and also lead to a flashover and failure.

7.2.2. Effectiveness

The following criteria relate to the effectiveness of an MSD system:

⎯ Care should be exercised to ensure that the DGA analysis is not affected by any dryout system.
⎯ Any on-line system that masks the trend of the dissolved gasses should not be used.
⎯ The on-line system should dry out both the oil and paper insulation system and maintain the moisture content at or
near factory levels.
 AVACO SOLUTIONS FZC

• The AVACO group of companies was established in 1994 and has evolved into a
leader in the field of Predictive Maintenance and Condition Monitoring over the
last 23 years.
• DryTrans is a brand of moisture management systems under the AVACO banner.
• DryTrans is a result of two decades of industry experience.
• AVACO Solutions is based out of SHARJAH, U.A.E.
• DryTrans is designed and manufactured in the United Arab Emirates.
SMART Moisture Management
 DRYTRANS

• Moisture control is key and it is for this need that DryTrans was conceived.
• In an effort to increase the life of the transformer and slow the aging rate, DryTrans
has developed a series of moisture management systems to effectively reduce the
moisture in the solid insulation using the oil as the medium.
• All our systems are developed with the premise of installing a completely ON LINE
Continuous Moisture Control and Management system for the transformer.
 DRYTRANS - MODELS
The MMS-90 is our advanced SMART unit with various extras as standard. The
MMS90 units are targeted to clients who want a system that can monitor various
parameters, store data for review and communicated with the outside world.

The TR50 was developed to offer client’s the option to go for a basic unit with a
larger media capacity and is typically suitable for transformers ranging is size
from 40-70 MVA.

The TR20 is targeted for installs around 20MVA transformers and to clients who
want the reliability of a simple moisture control system. The unit is smaller in
size and is very convenient.

The TR5 is our entry level model targeted for installs below 5 MVA transformers.
Transformers at this size are normally ignored for on line solutions due to cost
constraints. The TR5 solves this problem.
 DRYTRANS – Highlights

 HMI Touch Screen Interface (Only on MMS90)  SMART Media Replacement

 Moisture Sensors  SMART Oil Control
 Flow Indication and Flow Meter  PLC Control (Only of MMS90)

 Interlocked Safety  Tamper Proof Design  Integral Oil Leak Trip

 Leak Proof Design
 Future Proof
 Oil Sampling Points
 Weather Proof Electrical
Compartment
 Easy Maintenance access
 Oil Flow Control
 Pressure relief valve
 Single Tank Design
 Particulate Filter
 High Efficiency Pump
 Super Efficient Adsorbent Media
DRYTRANS – MMS90
DRYTRANS – Factory Testing
DRYTRANS – TR20 / TR50
DRYTRANS
DRYTRANS – TR5
 DRYTRANS – SUPPORT
DryTrans has been developed completely in-house, under the AVACO banner
and is currently being manufactured in the Sharjah Airport Free Zone.
Support for DryTrans is offered through AVACO International as well as
AVACO Solutions FZC.
Please contact us at: johny.santoso@gmail.com

THANK YOU