Applied Mechanics and Materials Submitted: 2015-02-07

ISSN: 1662-7482, Vol. 793, pp 114-118 Accepted: 2015-06-17

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.793.114 Online: 2015-09-21
© 2015 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland

Formation and Effect of Moisture Contents to Kraft Paper’s Life of

In-Service Power Distribution Transformer

Imran Sutan Chairul1, a, Yasmin Hanum Md Thayoob2, b,

Young Zaidey Yang Ghazali3, c, Mohd Shahril Ahmad Khiar4, d,
Sharin Ab Ghani5, e
1,4,5
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka , Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia
2
Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
3
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (Distribution), 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
a b c
imransc@utem.edu.my, yasmin@uniten.edu.my, young@tnb.com.my,
d
mohd.shahril@utem.edu.my, esharinag@utem.edu.my

Keywords: Power Distribution Transformer, Moisture, Kraft Paper’s Life, Weibull Plot

Abstract
Examples of solid and liquid electrical insulations for power transformer are mineral oil and cellulose
based paper. As transformers performed their function to step-up or step-down voltage level, its’
insulations will be degraded. Paper insulation is considered the most critical component in a
transformer insulation system because it is not easily replaced if compared to oil where it is easily
reconditioned in-order to remove water and contaminants. Studies show that temperature, moisture
contents and oxygen contributed to paper insulation degradation. Moisture and furanic compound
were produced from these deterioration processes. This paper is focused on the formation and effect
of moisture to Kraft paper’s life. Levels of moisture contents were obtained from in-service power
distribution transformers. These data then is used to assess the Kraft paper’s life by means of Weibull
plot. This study shows that level of moisture contents can be used to assess the life of Kraft paper
insulation.

Introduction
Transformers play a major role in transmission and distribution electrical network and also among the
most expensive equipment [1,2]. Electrical equipments such transformers consists of conductors
(windings and OLTC) and insulations (cellulose based paper and mineral oil) [3,4,5]. Transformer’s
health is highly depending on the electrical insulations which acted as the principal insulation
components in most power transformers. Insulation systems’ most critical component for power
transformer is the paper insulation that intimately wound around the copper or aluminum conductors
in the windings; as such it is not easily replaced. This paper is focused on formation and effect of
moisture contents to Kraft paper’s life.

Paper Insulation
Paper insulations are made from organic materials called cellulose fibres obtained from vegetable
sources including cotton, hemp, manila, straw, wood and coniferous/ deciduous trees because the cell
of such plants consist mainly of cellulose. These sources therefore felted to form a fabric, a mat, a web
or a sheet of paper according to their application [6,7,8]. The cellulose fibres consist of a bundle of
cellulose molecules of different lengths which lay side by side. They are held together by hydrogen
bonds involving the hydroxyl group (-OH group) on the adjacent molecules. Cellulose itself is a linear
polymer construct by a long straight chain of anhydrous glucose units which are linked together
through the glycosidic bond [6].The length of cellulose molecule is measured in terms of the degree of
polymerization (DP). DP are varies widely with the plant’s variety. As examples, the value DP for
cotton fibres can exceed 2500 and wood pulp can go up to 1200 or more [7]. Dried sheet of paper

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 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 793 115

strength depend on the strength of the fibres and the physio chemical bonding, known as ‘hydrogen
bonding’, between the cellulose molecules [8].
Formation of Moisture in Transformer
Paper aging in transformers is not uniform and follows thermal and moisture gradients. In addition,
external layers are more exposed to higher concentrations of oxygen and the byproducts of aging in
the oil. There are three main factors which promote paper degradations, which are thermal, oxidative
and hydrolytic. Heating cellulose in the absence of oxidizing agents and moisture, to a maximum of
200oC tends to break the glycosidic bonds and open the glucose rings. Products of this reaction
include free glucose molecules, organic acids, carbon oxides and moisture [6]. Cellulose is quite
susceptible to oxidation. Here, especially the products of reaction depend on the nature of the
oxidizing agent and the pH, but in general, the hydroxyl groups are oxidized to carbonyl (aldehydic)
and carboxyl (acid) groups. This weakens the glycosidic bond and can lead to chain scission. Moisture
is produced during oxidation [6]. Water and acids cleave the glycosidic bond and generating free
glucose. Paper is equilibrium with the atmosphere normally contains 7-8% moisture by weight. It
shows that if the insulating paper undergoes thermal or oxidative degradation, where moisture is
produced, hydrolytic degradation is promoted [6] and more moisture produced. It summarize that
moisture will be produced if insulating paper undergoes thermal, oxidative or hydrolytic process.
Thus, moisture can be used to indicate the condition of paper insulation.

Research Work
Data Collection
Transformers’ service aged and moisture contents were collected from 43 units 15MVA, 33/11 kV
type of in-service power distribution transformers. These data are used to assess the Kraft papers’ life
by means of Weibull plot. Moisture contents are recorded in parts per million (ppm) and are
determined using Karl Fisher method.

Categorization of Moisture content

Table 1: Acceptable water content values for new and in-service mineral oil by voltage class [9,10]

Mineral oil Voltage class Moisture contents,

(kV) mg/kg maximum
(ppm)
New fluid in new Not specified -
equipment ≤ 69 20
69 < kV < 230 10
≥ 230 10
Serviced aged fluid Not specified -
≤ 69 35
69 < kV < 230 25
≥ 230 20

The categorization of moisture contents are as according to Table 1[9] which gives the general
guidelines for the relationship between voltage class (kV) and acceptable water content values for
new and in-service mineral oil. As this study dealt with 33/11 kV type of in-service power distribution
transformers, it suggest that the mineral oil within the transformers are serviced aged fluid whereas
the voltage are ≤ 69 kV. So, it is decide that the acceptable moisture content is 35ppm. However as
precaution, a lower value than 35 ppm which is 30ppm is chosen as a threshold for this study. This
threshold setting will decide either the moisture contents are within acceptable level (S) or beyond
acceptable level (F). If the level of moisture content is below 30ppm, it will be categorized as ‘S’
while the moisture contents will be categorized as ‘F’ if the level of moisture contents is equal or
bigger than 30ppm. This categorization is necessary for end-of-life estimation via Weibull plot.
116 Electrical Power Engineering and Sustainable Development of Industry

End-of-Life Estimation
Weibull [11] is reliability and life data analysis software which can be used to estimate the Kraft paper
insulation end-of-life. The data used for this study are moisture contents condition whether it is within
acceptable level (S) or beyond acceptable level (F) and the age of paper services’ time. The end years
of Weibull plot produced will shows the estimate end-of-life of the Kraft paper insulation.

Results and Discussion

All data were collected in the best knowledge of the personal concern by following very stringent
procedures. Data were verified by the superior and as such they were undeniable and disputed.
Moisture contents were collected from the in-service transformers which have the capacity and type
of paper of 15MVA, 33/11kV and electrical Kraft insulating paper respectively.

Kraft Paper Insulation’s Life Assessment

Table 2: State of kraft paper according to moisture content levels

Site Sample age Moisture Paper condition

(years) (ppm) (S/F)
T1 31 55 F
T2 12 21 S
T3 10 21 S
T4 11 28 S
T5 14 51 F
T6 16 63 F
T7 40 43 F
T8 35 42 F
T9 23 29 S
T10 13 24 S
T11 15 27 S
T12 15 25 S
T13 24 74 F
T14 34 57 F
T15 33 66 F
T16 26 52 F
T17 25 35 F
T18 27 31 F
T19 26 38 F
T20 43 51 F
T21 25 21 S
T22 14 14 S
T23 14 29 S
T24 14 40 F
T25 15 27 S
T26 15 35 F
T27 15 16 S
T28 15 19 S
T29 16 14 S
T30 10 36 F
T31 22 32 F
T32 18 30 S
T33 14 15 S
T34 9 14 S
T35 29 28 S
T36 29 23 S
T37 11 12 S
T38 12 14 S
T39 27 41 F
T40 27 24 S
T41 14 37 F
T42 14 32 F
T43 16 15 S
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 793 117

Table 2 shows the state of 43 units 15MVA, 33/11 kV type of the transformer’s paper insulation
according to their condition, either within acceptable level (S) or beyond acceptable level (F). Results
shows 20 out of 43 unit of transformers had its moisture content in beyond acceptable state.
ReliaSoft Weibull++ 7 - www.ReliaSoft.com
Proba bility - W e ibull
99
A
Weibull-2P
RRX SRM MED FM
F=20/S=23
90 Data Points
Probability Line

50
U nreliability, F( t) , %

10

1
1 10 100
Time ( t) , years
β=3 .2 83 5 , η=30 .8 8 49 , ρ=0.97 29

Fig. 1: Probability of Moisture Contents versus Time

Fig 1 shows a probability graph which is a graph for unreliability, F(t) in percentage (%) versus time
(t) in years obtained using Weibull plot. As shown, there is a straight line was between 7.6086 and
49.1745 years which represents the BX information at 1% and 99% respectively. BX information is
the time at which X% of the units in a population would have failed. Noted that, 1% unreliability or
failure occur when the time is 7 years. In other words, within 7 years, there would be only 1% failure
among the paper insulation for the total 43 units of transformer while there would be 99% failure after
49 years. So, the end-of-life for this population is 49years.

Conclusion
As conclusions, moisture is an effective factor in accelerating the ageing of kraft paper insulation and
also a byproduct from paper deterioration process. In other words, moisture can be a catalyst to
deterioration of paper insulation and in the same time can also act as an indicator to paper insulation
condition. Next, the Weibull plot could be used to assess the Kraft paper’s life and provide the
prediction of Kraft paper’s remaining life. Furthermore, Transformers are affected due to an
irreversible deterioration process of paper insulation. This life assessment results can be used as input
to asset management planners so that a prolongation of transformer services can be estimated by
scheduling a reconditioned process to a transformer in-order to remove water and contaminants.

Acknowledgement
The authors like to acknowledge Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) as well as Ministry of
Higher Education (MoHE) for the financial supports. Greatest gratitude goes to Y.H.M Thayoob, PhD
and Y.Z.Y Ghazali for their continuous support and magnificent assistance throughout this research
project.
118 Electrical Power Engineering and Sustainable Development of Industry

References
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Electrical Power Engineering and Sustainable Development of Industry
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.793

Formation and Effect of Moisture Contents to Kraft Paper’s Life of In-Service Power Distribution
Transformer
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.793.114

DOI References
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life assessment and effects of oxygen and moisture to paper insulation's deterioration rate, IEEE International
Conference on Power and Energy (PECon), 2012, pp.728-731.
10.1109/pecon.2012.6450311
[2] Mohd Shahril Ahmad Khiar et al in: Diagnosis of OLTC via duval triangle method and dynamic current
measurement, Procedia Engineering 68 (2013) 477-483.
10.1016/j.proeng.2013.12.209
[3] Khiar, M.S.A., Thayoob, Y.H.M., Ghazali, Y.Z.Y., Ab Ghani, S.; Chairul, I.S. in: Condition assessment
of OLTC using duval triangle and static winding resistance test, IEEE International Conference on Power
Engineering and Optimization (PEOCO) Melaka, Malaysia, 2012, pp.432-435.
10.1109/peoco.2012.6230903
[4] Sharin Ab Ghani et al in: Condition monitoring of distribution transformer's mechanical parts using sweep
frequency response analysis (SFRA), Procedia Engineering 68 (2013) 469-476.
10.1016/j.proeng.2013.12.208
[5] Ab Ghani, S., Md Thayoob, Y.H., Ghazali, Y.Z.Y., Khiar, M.S.A., Chairul, I.S. in: Evaluation of
transformer core and winding conditions from SFRA measurement results using statistical techniques for
distribution transformers, IEEE International Conference on Power Engineering and Optimization (PEOCO)
Melaka, Malaysia, 2012, pp.448-453.
10.1109/peoco.2012.6230906
[8] D.H. Shroff and A.W. Stannett in: A Review of Paper Aging in Power Transformers, IEE Proc., Vol 132
Part C, 1985, pp.312-319.
10.1049/ip-c.1985.0052
[10] C57. 106-2006 IEEE Guide for Acceptance and Maintenance of Insulating Oil in Equipment.
10.1109/ieeestd.2002.94145