P RACTIC I NG DGA The Key to Transformer Management

DGA GASES DIAGNOSIS

DISSOLVED GAS ANALYSIS
Gas CARBON DIOXIDE Gas ETHYLENE Gas ACETYLENE CIGRE SC15 BASIC GAS RATIOS (IEC 60599-1999) IEC 60599 (1999-03 Annex B.2 Basic Gas Ratios)
(DGA) is the single most comprehensive asset condition assessment CO2 C 2H 4 C 2H2
Formula Formula Formula New Guidelines for Interpretation of Dissoved Gas Analysis in Oil-Filled Transformers, (ELECTRA No. 186 October 1999)
and management tool for oil-lled transformers. DGA offers C 2H2/C 2H4 CH4/H2 C 2H4/C 2H6
SUGGESTED
FAULT TYPE
advanced detection of incipient fault conditions leading to almost
VALUE
all of the failure modes listed below. Structure Structure Structure NAME RATIO INDICATION
SIGNIFICANCE
Partial
NS1 <0.1 <0.2 Discharge
Molecular Weight 44.010 Molecular Weight 28.054 Molecular Weight 26.038 (PD)

Solubility in Oil @ 25C 1:1.17 Solubility in Oil @ 25C 1:1.76 Solubility in Oil @ 25C 1:1.22 KEY RATIO #1 C2H2 /C2H6 >1 Discharge
Discharge of

Lightning Solubility in Oil @ 100C 1:1.02 Solubility in Oil @ 100C 1:1.47 Solubility in Oil @ 100C 1.08:1 >1.0 0.1 - 0.5 >1.0 low energy

Through Faults (D1)
Temperature at which Temperature at which Temperature at which

Insulation Deterioration Gas forms signicant 105 - 300C Gas forms signicant 300 - 700C Gas forms signicant >700C

Inadequate Maintenance amount amount amount KEY RATIO #2 H2 /CH4 >10 Partial Discharge Discharge of

0.6 - 2.5 0.1 - 1.0 >2.0 high energy

Moisture
Normal aging (accelerated (D2)

Loose Connections by amount of O2-in-oil Very hot spot;

& H2O-in-paper); thermal low- energy discharge

Workmanship High-temperature Graphical Representation Applicable to IEEE PC57.104 D11d Rogers Ratios
Source of Gas fault involving cellulose Source of Gas Source of Gas (spitting from Thermal fault,

Overloading thermal fault KEY RATIO #3 C2H4 /C2H6 >1 Thermal Fault in Oil NS1 >1.0 <1.0
(paper, pressboard, wood oating part); high- <300C (T1)
All Others blocks); accumulation energy discharge (arc) ROGERS RATIOS (IEEE PC57.104 D11d)
from oil oxidation
>10 indicates overheating Thermal fault, Ratio 1 Ratio 2 Ratio 3 SUGGESTED
Chart Source: William H. Bartley, P.E.
of cellulose <3 indicates Cellulosic <0.1 >1.0 1.0 - 4.0 <300C FAULT TYPE
The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co. Gas ETHANE KEY RATIO #4 CO2 /CO <700C (T2) CH4/H2 C2H2/C2H4 C2H4/C2H6
degradation of cellulose Degradation
by electrical fault <0.1 <0.01 <1.0 Case 0: Normal
Formula C 2H 6

>2 (>30 ppm) indicates Thermal fault, Case 1: Discharge

<0.2 >1.0 >4.0 0.1, <0.5 1.0 1.0

METHODS
diffusion from OLTC In Tank Load >700C (T3) of low energy
KEY RATIO #5 C2H2 /H2

Structure or through a common Tap Changer
conservator Case 2: Discharge
1
Non-signicant regardless of value 0.1, <1.0 .0.6, <3.0 2.0 of high energy

Molecular Weight 30.069 Case 3: Thermal fault,

OIL COLLECTION INDICATION / FAULT GAS CO CO2 CH 4 C2H2 C2H4 C2H6 O2 H2 H 2O 1.0 <0.01 <1.0
low temp <300C
Solubility in Oil @ 25C 1:2.59

Manual Collection - A small volume of oil is collected for laboratory Case 4: Thermal fault,
Solubility in Oil @ 100C 1:2.09 1.0 <0.1 1.0, <4.0 <700C

analysis and transferred into a gas-tight container from a dedicated Cellulose aging
tting and then transported to the laboratory. ASTM method D3613 Temperature at

Case 5: Thermal fault,
which Gas forms 200 - 400C 1.0 <0.2 4.0

details procedures for oil sample handling. >700C

signicant amount
On-Line Collection - In the case of On-Line Transfomer Monitors Low & medium Mineral oil decomposition

Source of Gas temperature DUVAL TRIANGLE (IEC 60599-1999-03 Annex B.3)

a small volume of oil is continuously circulated through the monitor thermal faults

and then returned to the transformer. The circulating oil is sampled

Leaks in oil expansion systems,
and analyzed for gas content. On-Line Monitors offer a closed-loop Gas HYDROGEN gaskets, welds, etc.
repeatable oil collection process.
H2

Formula
Thermal faults Cellulose
Structure
GAS EXTRACTION

Dissolved gases are present in transformer oil at concentrations from Molecular Weight 2.016
Thermal faults in Oil
less than 1 part-per-million (ppm) up to a few percent of oil volume. Solubility in Oil @ 25C 17.92:1 @ 150C - 300C
TRACE
ASTM method D3612 species three ways to separate the relatively Solubility in Oil @ 100C 13.51:1

small amount of dissolved gases from the oil. ANALYSIS <150C for cold Thermal faults in Oil
Temperature at plasma ionization; @ 300C - 700C
TRACE
METHOD A Introduce the oil sample into a pre-evacuated known ASTM method D3612 and IEC 60567, species gas chromatography (GC) as the analysis method. which Gas forms (corona in oil)
volume. The evolved gases are compressed to atmospheric pressure The GC results are calibrated to known gas standards and normalized to standard temperature and signicant amount >250C for thermal

& electrical faults
and the total volume measured. The gases are then analyzed by gas pressure levels so that data obtained under different conditions may be compared meaningfully. Thermal faults in Oil
Partial-discharge; @ >700C
chromatography. Gas chromatography separates each gas from the others and directly measures their concentrations thermal faults; power
METHOD B Sparging the oil with a carrier gas on a stripper column individually. When recorded over time, the resulting detector signal is called a chromatogram. Source of Gas discharges; rust, galva-

nized parts; stainless
containing a high surface area bead. The gases are then ushed steel; sunlight Partial Discharge TRACE This method uses three ratios to locate the point within the triangle.
from the stripper column into a gas chromatograph for analysis. %CH4 = CH4/(CH4 +C 2H4 +C 2H2) x 100

METHOD C Bring an oil sample in contact with a gas phase Gas CARBON MONOXIDE Gas METHANE Gas OXYGEN
%C 2H4 = C 2H4/(CH4 +C 2H4 +C 2H2) x 100
(headspace) in a closed vessel purged with argon. The dissolved Formula CO Formula CH4 Formula O2 Arcing
%C 2H2 = C 2H2/(CH4 +C 2H4 +C 2H2) x 100
gases contained in the oil are then equilibrated in the two phases in
Sections within the triangle designate:
contact under controlled conditions (in accordance with Henrys law). Guidelines for surveillance N <350 N <120 N <2 N <50 N <65 N <100
Structure Structure Structure
At equilibrium, the headspace is over pressurized with argon and the range1 for Type 1 transformers C 350 - 570 C 120 - 400 C2-5 C 50 - 100 C 65 - 100 C 100 - 700 Zone INDICATION
(IEEE PC57.104 D11d) W >570 W >400 W >5 W >100 W >100 W >700
content of a loop is lled by the depressurization of the headspace T1 Thermal fault 300C
against the ambient atmospheric pressure. The gases contained in Molecular Weight 28.010 Molecular Weight 16.043 Molecular Weight 31.999 ppm for Normal (N), Caution (C), Warning (W) alarm thresholds
1
T2 Thermal fault >300C, 700C
the loop are then introduced into a gas chromatograph. Solubility in Oil @ 25C 7.52:1 Solubility in Oil @ 25C 2.28:1 Solubility in Oil @ 25C 5.59:1 T3 Thermal fault >700C
Solubility in Oil @ 100C 8.33:1 Solubility in Oil @ 100C 2.27:1 Solubility in Oil @ 100C 5.88:1 KEY GAS METHOD (IEEE PC57.104 D11d) TDCG METHOD (IEEE PC57.104 D11d) D1 Discharges of low-energy
105 - 300C TYPICAL PROPORTIONS OF GENERATED SUGGESTED OPERATOR D2 Discharges of high-energy
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES GOVERNING Temperature at which Temperature at which Temperature at which KEY GAS FAULT TYPE
(complete decomposi- Following drop in oil COMBUSTIBLE GASES SURVEILLANCE TDCG DAILY RATE
GUIDELINES
DISSOLVED GAS ANALYSIS Gas forms signicant Gas forms signicant <150 - 300 C Gas forms signicant DT Combination of thermal faults and discharges
tion & carbonization temperature (vacuum) RANGE LEVEL IN PPM OF CHANGE1
amount amount amount SAMPLING OPERATING
REFERENCE DESCRIPTION occurs > 300C)
INTERVAL PROCEDURE PD Partial discharge
Thermal fault involving Corona partial- Exposure to atmosphere Mainly C2H4
IEEE Std. C57.104.1991 IEEE Guide for the Interpretation of Gases Generated
cellulose (paper, press- discharge; low & (air); leaky gasket (under
C 2H4 Thermal oil Smaller proportions of C2H6, CH4, and H2
in Oil Immersed Transformers
Source of Gas Source of Gas Source of Gas Continue normal
board, wood blocks); medium temperature vacuum); air-breathing Traces of C2H2 at very high fault temperatures <0.3% Normal C 2H 2 /H 2 RATIO (IEC 60599-1999)
IEEE PC57.104 Draft 11d Draft Guide for the Interpretation of Gases in Oil operation
Immersed Transformers
slowly from oil oxidation thermal faults conservator; leaky bladder Normal <700
Caution: Check OLTCs (On-Load Tap Changers) produce gases corresponding to discharges
IEEE Std. C57.12.80-2002 Terminology for Power and Distribution Transformers Mainly CO 0.3%, 0.5% Monthly of low energy. The pattern of oil decomposition in the OLTC differs from the
Thermal oil Much smaller quantities of hydrocarbon load dependence
CO pattern of oil decomposition in the main tank resulting from low energy
IEC 60599-1999 Mineral Oil Impregnated Electrical Equipment in and cellulose gases in same proportions as thermal faults discharges. If oil or gas contamination (communication) exists between the
Service: Guide to the Interpretation of Dissolved and in oil alone. >0.5%, 3% Monthly
Caution: Check OLTC and the main tank, an incorrect diagnosis of the main tank may result.
Free Gas Analysis 700 to load dependence;
Caution 3%, <7% Weekly A C2H2 /H2 ratio 3.0 in the main tank indicates possible OLTC contamination.
IEC 60599-1999-03 Reference to Duval Triangle Diagnostic Model and PARTITIONING 1,900 advise manufacturer
C2H2 /H2 Ratio Interpretation Electrical Low Mainly H2 or insurer
>7% Daily
Each gas has a temperature-dependent afnity (solubility) for the H2 Energy Partial Small quantities of CH4
Discarge Traces of C2H4 and C2H6 IEEE PC57.104 D11d
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES GOVERNING

oil; the hydrocarbon gases such as methane and ethane are more <7% Weekly Extreme caution:
GAS EXTRACTION FROM OIL
Plan outage; advise VALUE

strongly dissolved in oil while xed gases such as hydrogen or Warning >1,900 NAME RATIO INDICATION
manufacturer or SIGNIFICANCE
REFERENCE DESCRIPTION Mainly H2 and C2H2
nitrogen are less strongly dissolved. As temperatures increase, the Electrical High >7% Daily insurer <3 Excessive
ASTM D2945-90 (2003) Standard Test Method for Gas Content of Insulating Oils H2 & C 2H2 Minor traces of CH4, C2H4, and C2H6 CO2 vs. CO Thermal Cellulosic
xed gases are more strongly dissolved while the hydrocarbon gases Energy (arcing) CO2 /CO >7 - <10 Normal
Also CO if cellulose is involved Ratio Degradation
ASTM D3305-95 (1999) Standard Practice for Sampling Small Gas Volume in 1
2% of change from initial sample, per day >10 Excessive
a Transformer are less strongly dissolved.
Note: Ratio valid when levels exceed minimums: CO >500 ppm; CO2 >5,000 ppm
ASTM D3612-2002 Standard Test Method for Analysis of Gases Dissolved The process of reaching equilibrium is called partitioning, and the Note: Ratio based diagnostic tools should be calculated only if at least one of the gas values is above typical concentration values and typical rates of change for the type

in Electrical Insulating Oil by Gas Chromatography
nal gas-to-oil concentration ratio is called the solubility coefcient. of equipment. Indications obtained should be viewed only as guidance and any resulting action should be undertaken only with proper engineering judgment.
ASTM D3613-1998 Standard practice for sampling Insulating Liquids for

Gas Analysis and determination of Water Content This ratio must be known accurately at the temperature of the oil
ASTM D2759-2000 Standard Practice for Sampling Gas from a Transformer sample undergoing analysis. Once the gases are analyzed by gas
under Positive Pressure

chromatography the original gas-in-oil concentrations are calculated
IEC 60567-1992 Guide for the sampling of gases and of oil from oil-lled
from the gas-in-oil solubility coefcients in the table to the left.

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