A significant proportion of 132 kV gridtransforrners are over 30 years Of

age. Hmever, performance is generally satisfactory with few serious

faults. As no specific standard is available for assessing the conditions
of the Mnposite insulation of these units, it is not possible to estimate
their remaining lives.
A set of diagnostic test methods are being used to monitor the insulation
condition of pouer transfomrs. These include techniques such as gas
chramtography for dissolved gas analysis (DGA) of hydrocarbon and carbon
oxide concentrations, others for nreasurenents of moisture, acidity and
electric strenw and a high pressure liquid ChranatwraPh (WE)for
analysis of furfuraldehyde, a liquid residue of paper degradation
(nnlecular chain scission of the cellulose polymer).
As mans of assessing the usefulness of individual pareters and the
degree of correlation between parameters, two sets of investigation were
undertaken. Firstly, results of analysis of same 500 transfonner Oil
sanples were put in a database to determine the "normal" for transfomers
of more than 20 years of age. Secondly, a 40 year old, 132 kV, 45 MVA grid
transformer was subjected to an accelerated thermal ageing test for a
period of 3 mnths with the winding tanperatwe rising from 70 C to 102 C.
The results of these experiments, which include those of ikgree of
polymerisation (DP) tests on the paper insulation, will be discussed.

Electricity Research and Developrent Centre, CapenhurSt.

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