JWG D1/A2.

47
technical brochure 771
Advances in DGA interpretation

Members
M. DUVAL, Convenor (CA), I. BOCSI, Secretary (HU), E. ALZIEU (FR),
O. AMIROUCHE (IT), M. BANOVIC (HR), C. BEAUCHEMIN (CA), S. BHUMIWAT (NZ),
G.J.P. DEBIJL (NL), P. BOMAN (US), J. BUCHACZ (PL), T. BUCHACZ (PL), A. CONSTANT (FR),
A.M. DALE (NO), S. DORIEUX (FR), B. DJURIK (RS), S. EECKOUDT (BE),
A. FIELDSEND-ROXBOROUGH (GB), R. FROETSCHER (DE), M. GRISARU (IL),
A. HADZI-SKERLEV (HR), T. HEIZMANN (CH), P. KUANSATIT (TH), S. LEIVO (FI),
J. LUKIC (RS), M.A. MARTINS (PT), C. MICHELLON (FR), B. NEMETH (HU), A. NUNEZ (US),
A. DEPABLO (ES), A. PEIXOTO (PT), C. PERRIER (FR), N. PERJANIK (US), J. RASCO (US),
S. RYDER (GB), F. SCATIGGIO (IT), R. SCHNEIDER (CH), H.D. SEO (KR),
S. SPREMIC (RS), M. SZEBENI (HU), J. WALKER (FR), J. WANG (CH)

Introduction  the occurrence of these faults in transformers,

This Technical Brochure is a continuation of the work
done by CIGRE TF D1.01/ A2.11 and WG D1.32,
published in 2006 in TB 296 and in 2010 in TB 443,
respectively, on:
 the typical and pre-failure gas concentration
values and rates of gas increase observed
in power transformers of different types and
ages (introduced in IEC 60599) [3] and on the
corresponding oil sampling intervals required;
 the identification with Triangle 4 of the stray
gassing of mineral oils in service and in the
laboratory, and with Triangles 3 and 6 for non-
mineral oils;
 the formation of carbon oxides in transformers;
 the formation of gases from partial discharges of
the corona-type PD and of the sparking-type D1;
 the application of DGA to on-load tap-changers
of the compartment-type and in-tank-type, using
Triangles 2.
Description of the Technical
Brochure
This Technical Brochure describes:
 the different types and sub-types of faults detectable
with Triangles 1, 4, 5 and Pentagons 1,2;
using the DGA database of the WG, containing
more than 330,000 DGA results;
 the faults of lesser concern in transformers in
service (stray gassing of oil S, partial discharges
of the corona-type PD, overheating O < 250°C,
high temperature faults in oil only T3-H, arcing
faults D1 in oil only);
 the faults potentially more dangerous
(carbonization of paper C, arcing in paper).
Among faults C, those in leads and between turns
are the least and most dangerous, respectively.
An example of such a fault predicted by DGA is
illustrated in Figure 1;
 how typical and pre-failure values are affected
by these different types of faults, using the DGA
database of the WG (values higher for faults of
lesser concern, much lower for faults C between
turns);
 how they are affected by the oxygen to nitrogen
ratio, and by data from on-line gas monitors (ten
times higher);
 the typical values observed in wind-farm
transformers and bushings (much higher than in
power transformers);
 how to use carbon oxide gases to confirm faults in
paper or in oil;
 the usual and unusual stray gassing of mineral
and non-mineral oils; •••

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 JWG D1/A2.47
technical brochure 771

Figure 1 - Example of localized carbonization of paper between turns predicted by DGA

 the effect of mixtures of faults on fault identification;
 how to distinguish faulty on-load tap-changers
from normally operating ones with Triangles 2,
particularly those of the in-tank-type;
 the evolution of normal gas formation in in-tank-
types with years in service, reasons still under
investigation;
 the use of C3 hydrocarbons for fault identification
in transformers and on-load tap changers.
 low-temperature faults in paper has not been
observed to significantly affect the failure rate of
transformers;
 mixtures of faults can be detected by using
combinations of the Triangles and Pentagons;
 reasons for the evolution of normal gas formation
in on-load tap-changers of the in-tank-types with
years in service are still under investigation. 

Conclusions
The main conclusions of this Technical Brochure are:
 Faults stray gassing of oil S, partial discharges BROCHURE N° 771
of the corona-type PD, overheating O < 250°C,
high temperature faults in oil only T3-H and arcing
faults D1 in oil only tend to produce larger amounts (en anglais seulement)
of gases in transformers without affecting their
normal operation (higher typical and pre-failure (in English only)
values) and are of relatively lesser concern in
transformers;
Disponible sur / Available on:
 Faults carbonization of paper C and arcing D1/
D2 in paper are potentially more dangerous
faults, producing lower amounts of gases before
becoming a threat, particularly faults C between
www.e-cigre.org
turns. Faults C in leads are a bit less of a risk;
 Power transformers with low oxygen to nitrogen Prix non-Membres / Non-Member Price:
ratios in oil tend produce more faults of the low-
temperature-type (S, O, T1), but these faults are
of lesser concern in transformers. 150 €

Wind farm transformers and bushings tend to produce

Purchase (non-members)
more hydrogen and faults S and PD than power
transformers, but these also are of lesser concern:
Free download (members)
 stray gassing of oil produces mostly hydrogen in
mineral and silicone oils, ethane in ester oils;

No. 305 - August 2019 ELECTRA 93