DGA

Dissolved gas analysis

Traduzido de inglês-A análise de gás dissolvido é um exame de contaminantes de óleo de transformador

Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is an examination of electrical transformer oil contaminants.[1] Insulating
materials within electrical equipment liberate gases as they slowly break down over time. The
composition and distribution of these dissolved gases are indicators of the effects of deterioration, such
as pyrolysis or partial discharge, and the rate of gas generation indicates the severity.[2] DGA is
beneficial to a preventive maintenance program.

The collection and analysis of gases in an oil-insulated transformer was discussed as early as 1928.[3] As
of 2018, many years of empirical and theoretical study have gone into the analysis of transformer fault
gases.

DGA usually consists of sampling the oil and sending the sample to a laboratory for analysis. Mobile DGA
units can be transported and used on site as well; some units can be directly connected to a
transformer. Online monitoring of electrical equipment is an integral part of the smart grid.

Oil

Large power transformers are filled with oil that cools and insulates the transformer windings. Mineral
oil is the most common type in outdoor transformers; fire-resistant fluids also used include
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)s and silicone.[4]

The insulating liquid is in contact with the internal components. Gases, formed by normal and abnormal
events within the transformer, are dissolved in the oil. By analyzing the volume, types, proportions, and
rate of production of dissolved gases, much diagnostic information can be gathered. Since these gases
can reveal the faults of a transformer, they are known as "fault gases". Gases are produced by oxidation,
vaporization, insulation decomposition, oil breakdown and electrolytic action.

Sampling

Oil sample tube

An oil sample tube is used to draw, retain and transport the sample of transformer oil in the same
condition as it is inside a transformer with all fault gases dissolved in it.

It is a gas tight borosilicate glass tube of capacity 150 ml or 250 ml, having two airtight Teflon valves on
both the ends. The outlets of these valves have been provided with a screw thread which helps in
convenient connection of synthetic tubes while drawing sample from transformer. Also this provision is
useful in transferring the oil into Sample oil burette of the Multiple Gas Extractor without any exposure
to atmosphere, thereby retaining all its dissolved and evolved fault gases contents.

It has a septum arrangement on one side of the tube for drawing sample oil to test its moisture content.

Thermo foam boxes are used to transport the above Oil Sample Tubes without any exposure to sunlight.

Glass syringe

Oil syringes are another means of obtaining an oil sample from a transformer. The volume of the
syringes have a large range but can be commonly found in the 50ml range. The quality and cleanliness of
the syringe is important as it maintains the integrity of the sample before the analyses.

Extraction

The DGA technique involves extracting or stripping the gases from the oil and injecting them into a gas
chromatograph (GC). Detection of gas concentrations usually involves the use of a flame ionization
detector (FID) and a thermal conductivity detector (TCD). Most systems also employ a methanizer,
which converts any carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide present into methane so that it can be burned
and detected on the FID, a very sensitive sensor.[5]

"Rack" method

The original method, now ASTM D3612A, required that the oil be subjected to a high vacuum in an
elaborate glass-sealed system to remove most of the gas from the oil. The gas was then collected and
measured in a graduated tube by breaking the vacuum with a mercury piston. The gas was removed
from the graduated column through a septum with a gas-tight syringe and immediately injected into a
GC.

Multi Stage Gas Extractor

A Multi Stage Gas Extractor is a device for sampling transformer oil. During 2004, Central Power
Research Institute, Bangalore, India introduced a novel method in which a same sample of transformer
oil could be exposed to vacuum many times, at ambient temperature, until there is no increase in the
volume of extracted gases. This method was further developed by Dakshin Lab Agencies, Bangalore to
provide a Transformer Oil Multi Stage Gas Extractor. This method is an improvised version of ASTM D
3612A to do multiple extraction instead of single extraction and based on Toepler principle.
In this apparatus a fixed volume of sample oil is directly drawn from a sample tube into a degassing
vessel under vacuum, where the gases are released. These gases are isolated using a mercury piston to
measure its volume at atmospheric pressure and subsequent transfer to a gas chromatograph using a
gas-tight syringe.

An apparatus, in very similar design and in principle providing a multiple gas extraction, using vacuum
and Toepler pump has been in service in Sydney (Australia) for more than 30 years. The system is in use
for power and instrument transformers, as well as cable oils.

Head space extraction

Head space extraction is explained in ASTM D 3612-C. The extraction of the gases is achieved by
agitating and heating the oil to release the gases into a 'head space' of a sealed vial. Once the gases have
been extracted they are then sent to the gas chromatograph.

Specialized techniques exist such as Headspace sorptive extraction (HSSE) or stir bar sorptive extraction
(SBSE).[6]

Analyses

When gassing occurs in transformers there are several gases that are created. Enough useful
information can be derived from nine gases so the additional gases are usually not examined. The nine
gases examined are:

atmospheric gases: nitrogen and oxygen

oxides of carbon: carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide

hydrocarbons: acetylene, ethylene, methane and ethane

hydrogen

The gases extracted from the sample oil are injected into a gas chromatograph where the columns
separate gases. The gases are injected into the chromatograph and transported through a column. The
column selectively retards the sample gases and they are identified as they travel past a detector at
different times. A plot of detector signal versus time is called the chromatogram.
The separated gases are detected by thermal conductivity detector for atmospheric gases, by flame
ionization detector for hydrocarbons and oxides of carbon. A methanator is used to detect oxides of
carbon by reducing them to methane, when they are in very low concentration.

Types of faults

Thermal faults are detected by the presence of by-products of solid insulation decomposition. The solid
insulation is commonly constructed of cellulose material. The solid insulation breaks down naturally but
the rate increases as the temperature of the insulation increases. When an electrical fault occurs it
releases energy which breaks the chemical bonds of the insulating fluid. Once the bonds are broken
these elements quickly reform the fault gases. The energies and rates at which the gases are formed are
different for each of the gases which allows the gas data to be examined to determine the kind of
faulting activity taking place within the electrical equipment.

Overheating windings typically lead to thermal decomposition of the cellulose insulation. In this case
DGA results show high concentrations of carbon oxides (monoxide and dioxide). In extreme cases
methane and ethylene are detected at higher levels.

Oil overheating results in breakdown of liquid by heat and formation of methane, ethane and ethylene.

Corona is a partial discharge and detected in a DGA by elevated hydrogen.

Arcing is the most severe condition in a transformer and indicated by even low levels of acetylene.

Application

Interpretation of the results obtained for a particular transformer requires knowledge of the age of the
unit, the loading cycle, and the date of major maintenance such as filtering of the oil. The IEC standard
60599 and the ANSI IEEE standard C57.104 give guidelines for the assessment of equipment condition
based on the amount of gas present, and the ratios of the volumes of pairs of gases.[7]

After samples have been taken and analyzed, the first step in evaluating DGA results is to consider the
concentration levels (in ppm) of each key gas. Values for each of the key gases are recorded over time so
that the rate-of-change of the various gas concentrations can be evaluated. Any sharp increase in key
gas concentration is indicative of a potential problem within the transformer.[8]

Dissolved gas analysis as a diagnostic technique has several limitations. It cannot precisely localize a
fault. If the transformer has been refilled with fresh oil, results are not indicative of faults.[7]