International Conference on Science, Technology & Education (ICSTE 2018)

Bangkok, Thailand
September 6-8, 2018

Oil Analyze with Online Partial Discharge in Oil

Type Transformer
Patcharaporn Pitakpupa, Narong Mungkung1 and Somchai Arunrungrusmi1, Pakpoom Chansri1,
Toshifumi Yuji2 and Nattee Thugsuk3
1 Department of Electrical Technology Education, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi,
Bangkok, Thailand
2 University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan

3 Electrical engineering, Dhonburi Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand

* Correspondence: narong_kmutt@hotmail.com

Abstract: Analysis and inspection of transformer quality for transformer type used hydrocarbon oil
(Mineral oil) is Insulated. The oil is insulated in protect the short circuit in the transformer and heat
the inside the transformer. Have Features between diesel and lubricant. Constantly checking the oil
is key to the performance of the transformer it also extends the life of the transformer as well. The
technique used to analyze and verify the quality of the Oil Type Transformer. In this article, the oil
analysis method is used Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) and Online Partial Discharge. In order to
increase the accuracy of the transformer's severity rating before the transformer insulation is
damaged. It can also be used as a guideline for the maintenance and protection of the damage in a
timely manner. Results have fault from the outside or inside the Transformer itself. Fault in the
transformer is partial discharge With the Oil Analyze with Online Partial Discharge in Oil Type
Transformer The result is a partial discharge inside the transformer. Both methods used in the
analysis. The results are in the same direction.

Keywords: Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) / Partial Discharge

1. Introduction
Transformer oil or insulating oil is an oil that is stable at high temperatures and has excellent
electrical insulating properties. It is used in oil-filled transformers, some types of high-voltage
capacitors, fluorescent lamp ballasts, and some types of high-voltage switches and circuit breakers.
Its functions are to insulate, suppress corona discharge and arcing, and to serve as a coolant.
Transformer oil is most often based on mineral oil, but alternative formulations with better
engineering or environmental properties are growing in popularity. Transformer oils are subject to
electrical and mechanical stresses while a transformer is in operation. In addition there is
contamination caused by chemical interactions with windings and other solid insulation, catalyzed
by high operating temperature. The original chemical properties of transformer oil change
gradually, rendering it ineffective for its intended purpose after many years [1]. Oil in large
transformers and electrical apparatus is periodically tested for its electrical and chemical properties,
to make sure it is suitable for further use. Sometimes oil condition can be improved by filtration and
treatment.
However, Tests to be used to analyze and verify the quality of the Oil Type Transformer. In this
article, the oil analysis method is used Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) and Online Partial Discharge.
In order to increase the accuracy of the transformer's severity rating before the transformer

ICSTE 2018: 123 www.eetee.org

 P. Piakpupa, et al. / ICSTE 2018

insulation is damaged. It can also be used as a guideline for the maintenance and protection of the
damage in a timely manner [2].
The technique used to analyze and verify the quality of the Oil Type Transformer. In this article,
the oil analysis method is used Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) and Online Partial Discharge. In order
to increase the accuracy of the transformer's severity rating before the transformer insulation is
damaged. It can also be used as a guideline for the maintenance and protection of the damage in a
timely manner.

2. Results

2.1 Phsical characteristic testing of mineral oils in Oil Type Transformer

Mineral oil testing is very importance to assure whether the mineral oil is met the requirement
or not. A large number of tests can be applied to mineral oils. Standard tests or routine test should be
used for verifying the basic characteristics of the mineral oil. Additional tests should be performed
for special purposes such as the new qualification of new types of oil, the failure investigation, the
research and development and the mineral oil monitoring. One acceptable method for monitoring
the deterioration of transformer insulating material involves calculating the total volume of gas
evolved. The total volume of evolved gas is an indicator of the magnitude of incipient faults. This
straightforward method is useful for completely oil-filled (conservator-type) transformers with
conditions that produce small quantities of fault gas. These conditions warrant continued
monitoring but have not yet developed a distinct character according to the other methods of fault
determination described in this guide. This fault-gas volume method continues to be useful as fault
conditions enlarge, with the added advantage that it permits continuous monitoring of insulation
deterioration in spite of any oil handling activity that includes degasification.
Evaluation of possible fault type by analysis of the separate combustible gases generated. The
use of gas ratios to indicate a single possible fault type is an empirical process based upon the
experience of each individual investigator in correlating the gas analyses of many units with the
fault type subsequently assigned as the cause for disturbance or failure when the unit was examined.
This process was attributed to Doernenburg and subsequently confirmed by Rogers on European
systems, from which the bulk of the diagnostic correlation is obtained. U.S. investigators have
applied the European rules to units on U.S. systems with varying degrees of success; however, a U.S.
database of comparable size to the European reports does not exist. The flow chart in Figure 1
illustrates the step-by-step application of the Doernenburg ratio method for gases extracted from the
transformer oil only. Exactly the same procedure is followed for gases obtained from the gas space
or gas relays, except the limiting values for the ratios will be those appropriate for gas space (see
Table 1) [4].

Table I. Limit concentrations of dissolved gas(a)

(a) These values differ from Doernenburg’s values and coincide with Condition 1 of Table 1.

ICSTE 2018 124 www.eetee.org

 P. Piakpupa, et al. / ICSTE 2018

Figure 1: Doernenburg ratio method flow chart

2.2. Partial discharge measurement techniques in Oil Type Transformer

PD activity in the mineral oils can be generated by various causes for example micro discharges
between conducting surfaces separated by a thin layer of oil, small fixed conducting particles at
floating potential that subjected to a localized PD, free moving particles within the insulating oil
which can discharge to the conductors, bouncing or rolling conducting particles on a conductive
surface, fixed sharp metallic protrusions on high voltage conductors, floating electrodes and so on
focused on the influence of the water content on the PD behavior of the mineral oil. The water
molecules were assumed to migrate in the direction of the needle electrode due to the higher
permittivity of water compared to that of the mineral oil. The voids could initiate PD by distorting
the electric field and by acting as impurities. Therefore, the PD numbers should increase with the
increasing of the water content in the mineral oil. The average apparent charge decreased with
increasing of water content. This was due to the decrease of PD pulse duration and the PD
amplitude remained independent of the water content. The PD number decreased with the
increasing of temperature which could be explained by assuming that the formation of the space
charge at the needle tip was much more difficult due to a higher convection of the oil and also the
relative moisture.
PD Phenomena in the insulating liquids can be examined with various techniques for example
one can detect a PD pulse current by measuring the voltage across a low inductance resistor using a
fast digitizing oscilloscope. PD charge can be measured according to a PD conventional test circuit.
The electromagnetic wave generated by PD can be detected by an antenna. Additionally, the
electromagnetic field distribution can be detected by using electric field induced birefringence of the
Kerr effect. Besides, the pressure wave emitted from the PD phenomena can be detected by an
acoustic sensor. Moreover, the emitted light can be detected by a streak camera. Besides, the
schlieren optical system can record the discharge phenomena. Furthermore, high speed shadow
graph technique can be applied for propagating channel detection. Normally, most high voltage
laboratories perform the PD measurement according to IEC standard because it can be used for
research in laboratory scale and also can service the industrial section. Electrical signal generated from
the PD phenomena of a high voltage apparatus or a test object, Ca, can be measured using the basic
PD test circuit as show in figure 2 [2].

ICSTE 2018 125 www.eetee.org

 P. Piakpupa, et al. / ICSTE 2018

Figure 2: Basic PD test circuit

3. Discussions
Partial discharge inception mechanism General idea of the PD mechanism from starting
process, developing to be a streamer and then leading to breakdown in the mineral oil gap. PD in the
liquids occurs in gaseous cavities under sufficient electric field stress of the liquids. The high
electrical stress regions may occur at protrusion or asperity points of the metallic surfaces. The
asperity cross sections where charge injection and subsequent cavity formation can take place have
been estimated to range from 10 to 100 nm2. The incipient micro streamers in the liquid phase cause
the vaporization in liquids and the resulting pressure wave that causes the cavity formation. This
cavity expands and the PDs occur inside the cavity. Heat generated by the discharges causes’ further
vapor production. The cavity expands continue and collapses finally when its internal vapor
pressure falls to or below the ambient hydrostatic pressure within the dielectric liquid. PD in the
insulating oils appears in the form of pulse bursts which compose of a series of discrete current
pulses occurring over a finite time interval of a few μs or more. The typical PD discharge pulses in
the minerals oil are illustrated in Figure 4.35. The duration of the pulse burst is approximately 1 to 5
μs. In dielectric liquids, the existence of PD pulses and their recurrence rate are more erratic [2].

a) typical PD pulse burst behaviour b) irregular PD pulse burst characteristic

Figure 3. PD pulse currrents in the mineral oil.

4. Conclusions
From the oil sample collection in Oil Type Transformer to analyze. This research reports it had a
condition code of “Monitor” samples were given this condition due to they did have higher than
normal gas concentrations in most cases. However, the moisture content and dielectric Breakdown
voltage is “Good” It is recommended that the oil from these transformers is resampled within
quarterly (3 months) for updated the trend of DGA and Online Partial Discharge Diagnostic should
be performed to more detail the problem.

ICSTE 2018 126 www.eetee.org

 P. Piakpupa, et al. / ICSTE 2018

Table II. Detailed Information of the test result

Test Items Unit Result Abnormal Limits

DGA Test
Hydrogen (H2) (ppm) : μL/L 17.2 ≤150
Methane (CH4) (ppm) : μL/L 96.2 /

Ethane (C2H6) (ppm) : μL/L 278.8 /

Ethylene (C2H4) (ppm) : μL/L 3.6 /

Acetylene (C2H2) (ppm) : μL/L N.D.(≤0.1) ≤5

Carbon Monoxide (CO) (ppm) : μL/L 172.2 /

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) (ppm) : μL/L 1310.6 /

Nitrogen (N2) (ppm) : μL/L 40085.8 /

Oxygen (O2) (ppm) : μL/L 808.0 /

Propylene (C3H6) (ppm) : μL/L 10.8 /

Propane (C3H8) (ppm) : μL/L 177.5 /

Total Dissolved Combustible Gas (ppm) : μL/L 568 ≤720

Total Hydrocarbon (ppm) : μL/L 378.6 ≤150

From the oil sample collection in Oil Type Transformer to analyze. This research reports it had a
condition code of “Monitor” samples were given this condition due to they did have higher than
normal gas concentrations in most cases. So it is measured according to recommendations. This
research reports it Partial Discharge source is suspected to be at the main tank of transformer

Figure 4: The signal is suspected to be at the main tank of transformer

ICSTE 2018 127 www.eetee.org

 P. Piakpupa, et al. / ICSTE 2018

It is recommended to perform dissolved gas analysis of the transformer oil to check the
different parameters especially Hydrogen. It will also provide a better understanding of the
presence of Hydrogen signal within the transformer in coordination with Online Partial discharge
analysis.
However it is also important to state that no abnormal signal (Arcing or Mechanical signal) was
detected during the entire test procedure and it is for information purpose that Acoustic (AE) and
Current (HFCT) detection techniques as follow Standard IEEE 60270 were used for the testing
procedure.
The result is a partial discharge inside the transformer. Both methods used in the analysis. The
results are in the same direction.

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by Advanced Power Equipment Thailand

Corporation Limited, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT)

References
1. R. Sriphuek, S. Chotigo. (2016). Application of On-line Partial Discharge Measurement for High
Voltage Equipment in Thailand. 16(1), 106-122.
2. N. Pattanadech. Partial discharge inception voltage characteristics of mineral oil. (1-273)
3. J. Boonchot1, C. Suppitaksakul, T. Suwanasri. (2011). Partial Discharge Detection of Power
Transformer by Dissolved Gas Analysis. 11, 389-394
4. H. A. Pearce, Chair. IEEE Guide for Acceptance and Maintenance of Insulating Oil in
Equipment.
5. IEEE Guide for the Interpretation of Gases Generated in Oil-Immersed Transformers. (2009)

ICSTE 2018 128 www.eetee.org