W900-10030 Version 1.

0, July 26, 2010

Practical Application of DGA to Envirotemp FR3 Fluid-Filled Transformers

Gene Del Fiacco Envirotemp FR3 Marketing John Luksich Envirotemp FR3 Sr. Engineer Kevin Rapp Envirotemp FR3 Sr. Project Engineer Jerry Corkran Transformer Products Staff Engineer

Cooper Power Systems 2300 Badger Drive Waukesha, WI 53188 www.cooperpower.com P: 877.CPS.INFO

Cooper Power Systems, Envirotemp, and FR3 are valuable trademarks of Cooper Industries in the U.S. and other countries. You are not permitted to use the Cooper Trademarks without the prior written consent of Cooper Industries. 2010 Cooper Industries. All Rights Reserved. IEEE Standard C57.104 and IEEE Standard C57.147 are trademarks of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. IEC is a registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission

Practical Application of DGA to Envirotemp FR3 Fluid-Filled Transformers Cooper Power Systems Version 1.0, July 26, 2010

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF DGA TO FR3 FLUID-FILLED TRANSFORMERS

Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) is a diagnostic tool used in the maintenance of (power class) transformers. The analysis methods interpret specific dissolved gas levels (patterns of concentrations) in the dielectric fluid to help understand the health of a transformer. Since all (normally operating and faulted) transformers produce gases, the keys to understanding the health of your transformer are a) understanding which gases are generated under specific conditions, and b) determining the rate at which these gases are being generated by your transformer. IEEE C57.104 Guide for the interpretation of gases generated in (mineral) oil-immersed transformers details specific patterns of gas concentrations associated with specific events, and provides methods of interpreting these gases. Rate of gas generation indicates if the event is on-going or a one-time occurrence. Thus with two or more sets of dissolved gas data, a rate of gas generation can be calculated. With the IEEE C57.104 guide in hand, it would seem the operating condition of the transformer in question is easily determined. Because of the prevalence of DGA use in our industry, many believe the art of interpreting dissolved gases has evolved into a science. In fact, many trend the dissolved gas results to classify and rank which transformers are in trouble (or likely to become problematic) and should be serviced versus those that are relatively healthy and can be left alone for another time period. Can DGA be used to diagnose EnvirotempTM FR3TM fluid-filled transformers? Given the many positive attributes of FR3 fluid, there is an increasing use in power class transformers. Many asset managers ask if DGA can be used to diagnose the health of an FR3 fluid-filled transformer. The short answer is definitely YES. FR3 fluid-filled power transformers have been in service since 2001, and FR3 fluid is being applied in increasingly higher voltage classes. Customers on two continents have FR3 fluidfilled generator step-up transformers, substation transformers, and reactors operating at 230 kV. Dissolved gas data collected from these units indicate that DGA is as applicable for esters as it is for mineral oil. However, interpretation of FR3 fluid dissolved gas data has not yet evolved into a science; IEEE is working on the creation of the guide for the interpretation of gases generated in natural ester fluid immersed transformers. What should I expect when I see an FR3 fluid DGA report? Like mineral oil, there is much to understand about FR3 fluid DGA reports. First, most every normally operating FR3 fluid-filled transformer has ethane concentrations higher than those seen in mineral oil; this is to be expected and appears to be nothing more than stray gassing. Unless accompanied by other combustible gases that occur when a fault is present, this reading should be ignored. Second, many DGA reports include a determination of water content. Water content in FR3 Fluid is typically higher than in mineral oil. FR3 fluid has a higher affinity for water; at 20C, FR3 fluid saturates at approximately 1000 ppm water content while mineral oil saturates at approximately 70 ppm. As a practical example, at room temperature, water concentrations of 100 ppm in mineral oil would result in free water and dielectric failure. For FR3 fluid, this is approximately 10% relative saturation and should not be regarded as a concern. IEEE C57.147 Guide for the acceptance and maintenance of natural ester fluids in transformers indicates initial water

Practical Application of DGA to Envirotemp FR3 Fluid-Filled Transformers Cooper Power Systems Version 1.0, July 26, 2010

concentrations of 100 ppm are acceptable in new FR3 fluid-filled transformers. As the transformer ages, additional water generated by degradation of cellulose will be driven off from the paper and absorbed in the fluid. C57.147 recommends that maintenance action be considered when water approaches 400ppm (40% relative saturation) in FR3 fluid. Third, while every laboratory report should be referencing IEEE C57.147, many do not. As a result, there are many times unwarranted concerns over the values reported. What methods are used to interpret FR3 fluid DGA reports? Most of the mineral oil diagnostic methods outlined in IEEE C57.104 work well with FR3 fluid since, generally speaking, the gases generated in mineral oil filled transformers (both normally operating and faulted) are the same as gases generated in FR3 fluid-filled transformers. Like mineral oil, the keys to diagnosing the health of FR3 fluid-filled transformers are to establish which gases are present and the rate at which those gases are being generated. In order to calculate the rate of generation of gases, at least two DGA reports are required. Then, applying IEEE C57.104 or IEC 60567 to the data, one can determine fault condition using: o o o o the Key Gases method the IEC Duval triangle (Michel Duval has recently published an FR3 fluid triangle) the Doerenburg ratio (when it applies), and the Rogers ratio (which sometimes gives a false indication of partial discharge)

What should I remember about DGA? Many believe that the condition method outlined in C57.104 applies to all transformers all of the time. The guide specifically states that this method is used to make an original assessment of large power class transformers, and is applicable when no other dissolved gas data exists for the transformer. This quick assessment should be discarded as soon as a second DGA sample is received; the rate of rise of gases should be calculated and appropriate actions based on other methods (key gas or ratios methods, etc.) of interpreting dissolved gases should be undertaken. Regardless of dielectric fluid used in a transformer, using IEEE C57.104 methods of analysis is best suited for diagnosing larger power class transformers than distribution class transformers, as distribution class transformers have much less dielectric fluid. Concentrations of gases increase proportionally as quantity of fluid goes down; small transformers can give a false positive indication of problems if the analysis is solely based on the gas presence/concentrations. For example, a bayonet fuse or a load break switch operations will inject the same types of gases as will a minor transformer fault. The gases do not cause any operational problems and in this case they are not indicators of a problem. With experience and adjustments to IEEE C57.104, the methods may be used to diagnose distribution class equipment. As with any emerging technology, there are many questions yet to be answered. However, CPS has exhaustively tested FR3 fluid in the application of transformers, and users are validating many of its laboratory and field findings. Until IEEE issues its dissolved gas guide for natural ester fluids, please see CPS document R900-20-19 Envirotemp FR3 Fluid Dissolved Gas Guide for additional information. Finally, many events happen over the course of time. DGA may highlight an active, developing, or past fault condition, but it cannot predict the future. As discussed previously, many believe interpreting DGA is now a science. Yet many

These analyses combined with the rate of gas generation should help in determining the next logical course of action.

Practical Application of DGA to Envirotemp FR3 Fluid-Filled Transformers Cooper Power Systems Version 1.0, July 26, 2010

previously identified healthy transformers fail without notice, while many transformers identified as potentially in trouble continue to operate without incident. The reality we must acknowledge is that every transformer is unique, and an event can end a transformers life without notice. DGA is useful for establishing snap shot condition of transformers and identifying fault conditions (arcing, partial discharge, hot metal faults, severe overloading) if they exist within the time frame of the snap shot. DGA cannot predict the next transformer failure. That still requires a wizards hat and a crystal ball.