Oil-Immersed Power Transformer Condition Monitoring Methodologies: A Review

Abstract

A power transformer is one of the most critical and expensive assets in electric power systems. Failure of a power transformer would not only result in a downtime to the entire transmission and distribution networks but may also cause personnel and environmental hazards due to oil leak and fire. Hence, to enhance a transformer’s reliability and extend its lifespan, a cost-effective and reliable condition monitoring technique should be adopted from day one of its installation. This will help detect incipient faults, extend a transformer’s operational life, and avoid potential consequences. With the global trend to establish digital substation automation systems, transformer online condition monitoring has been given much attention by utilities and researchers alike. Several online and offline condition monitoring techniques have been recently proposed for oil-immersed power transformers. This paper is aimed at providing a state-of-the-art review for the various condition monitoring technologies used for oil-immersed power transformers. Concept of measurements and analysis of the results along with the future trend of condition monitoring techniques are presented.

Modification of insulating oils and oil-based titanium dioxide nanofluids for transformers: a review

“…Oil-immersed power transformers are widely used in power systems, given their better reliability and greater safety than those of dry-type transformers. 1 Insulating oil is an essential component of transformers that performs crucial functions such as insulation, cooling, arc extinguishing, and data transfer. Its performance is directly associated with the safe and stable operation of transformers.…”

Highly Sensitive MEMS Sensor Using Bimetallic Pd–Ag Nanoparticles as Catalyst for Acetylene Detection

“…Power transformers are part of the key equipment in power plants and substations, and the reliability of their operation determines power transmission and the operation of power plants [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. So far, oil-immersed power transformers have been widely used in the power industry, using transformer-specific oil for insulation and heat dissipation [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…Power transformers are part of the key equipment in power plants and substations, and the reliability of their operation determines power transmission and the operation of power plants [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. So far, oil-immersed power transformers have been widely used in the power industry, using transformer-specific oil for insulation and heat dissipation [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. When an internal insulation failure occurs in the power transformer equipment, such as partial discharge caused by a short circuit in the transformer, the transformer oil will decompose to produce a series of gases, including C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 4 , CH 4 , and H 2 [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…So far, oil-immersed power transformers have been widely used in the power industry, using transformer-specific oil for insulation and heat dissipation [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. When an internal insulation failure occurs in the power transformer equipment, such as partial discharge caused by a short circuit in the transformer, the transformer oil will decompose to produce a series of gases, including C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 4 , CH 4 , and H 2 [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Among them, acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) is an important component in the decomposition gas of transformer oil and is often used as a characteristic gas for diagnosing some faults of transformers [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…In recent years, dissolved gas analysis (DGA) techniques have been widely used to detect acetylene in transformer oil [ 4 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. DGA techniques include oil chromatography, photoacoustic spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”