Moisture Determination in Oil-Paper-

Insulated Power Transformers

William Yu

DIRANA Training 29 March 2022

 Risks of Water in Transformers

BreakdownVoltage / kV
75
TAN 0,01
TAN 0,10
70
1. Dielectric strength decreases TAN 0,3
TAN 0,49
- PD inception voltage
- Breakdown voltage 60

50
0 5 10 15 20
MoistureSaturation/ %
2. Accelerated aging of cellulose
Depolymerization by hydrolysis 1000

Life expectance / a
Dr
→ Short circuit current forces may 1%
y
100
destroy winding
10 2%

3%
1
4%

3. Bubble evolution from wet paper 0,1

50 70 90 110 130
→ PD or breakdown may occur Temperature / °C
March 29, L. E. Lundgaard,“Aging of oil-impregnated paper in power transformers”,
2022 Page: 2
IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Jan. 2004
 Moisture Content and Age of 80 Transformers
in DE, PL, SE

5
Moisture content by FDS / %

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Age of transformers / a
March 29,
2022 Page: 3
 History of Dielectric Diagnostic Methods
1960+
• Dissipation factor at power frequency
• Polarisation index

At that time: No reliable method for onsite moisture diagnostics

1991 RVM for water determination

• Soon questioned by users (Kachler 1996)

1999+ PDC Alff Engineering, Switzerland

• Dissertation ETHZ Vahe Der Houhanessian

1999+ FDS Programma, Sweden

• KTH Stockholm with ABB

2007 DIRANA, Omicron, Austria

• Combination of PDC and FDS

March 29,
2022 Page: 4
 Measurement in Frequency Domain

Voltage source
~ Dissipation factor in frequency domain

Current meter
10

Dissipation factor
HV-winding

LV-winding 1
?
Guard
0,1

0,01
Main insulation
Tank
0,001
0,0001 0,001 0,01 0,1 1 10 100 1000
Frequency (Hz)

March 29,
2022 Page: 5
 Interpretation in Frequency Domain

Insulation
Pressboard: geometry
water, lmw acids
Dissipation factor
Oil: carbon, soot,
hmw acids
10

1
Pressboard,
connections,
0.1 Overall response guarding
1%, 1pS/m, X30, Y15

0.01

0.001

0.0001
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1.0 10 100 1000
f/Hz

March 29,
2022 Page: 6
 Combination of Time and Frequency Domain

100 1

Dissipation factor
Combined measurement
Current [nA]

• f > 0,1 Hz frequency domain

• f < 1 Hz time domain
→ 22 min for 1 kHz - 1 mHz
1 0,001 → 2:50 h for 1 kHz - 0,1 mHz
1 1000 0,1 1000
Time [s] Frequency [Hz]

1
14 1000
Dissipation factor

Frequency range / Hz
Trans- 12 100

Duration / h
formation
10 10
8 1

0,001
6 0,1
0,001 Frequency [Hz] 1000
4 0,01
2 0,001
0 0,0001
FDS PDC DIRANA
March 29,
2022 Page: 7
 Test Circuits

Voltage source
~
Current meter
HV-winding
Circuit:
LV-winding • Connect all HV and LV bushings to
Guard each other

• Main insulation between HV and LV

winding will be measured
Main insulation
Tank • Guard required

March 29,
2022 Page: 8
 Measurement Set-Up

Voltage source
G No guard:
Instrument

Current sense 1 • Currents over bushing surfaces

A
IIVol
vol+
• Currents through bushings
• Electromagnetic fields
A ISur ISur (corona, high currents)
ISur → Disturbed measurement
Guard
• Guarding absolutely necessary!
CL CHL CH

LV
LV IVol HV

March 29,
2022 Page: 9
 The monitor function

interpretation/
what should be done

after polarization

without polarization

• Available in frequency domain and time domain

• especially in time domain: very easy to check the signal to noise ratio
of the measured current
March 29,
2022 Page: 10
 Moisture Analysis Based on Comparison

Measurement Data base

Temperature

Oil XY-model
Y

Oil Spacers

Barriers X

Comparison
10
Tangent Delta

moisture content,
oil conductivity
0,1

0,01
0,0001 0,01 Frequency [Hz] 100
March 29,
2022 Page: 11
 Assessment Settings
Check box:
Variable calculated by software

Required:
Oil temperature

Optional:
Geometry XY

Optional:
Oil conductivity

March 29,
2022 Page: 12
 Ratio of Pressboard to Oil
HV-winding
Spacer Y ▪ Barriers/oil = X = 20-50%,
Barrier higher for old transformers
Oil Oil Spacers
Core
LV-winding Barriers X
▪ Spacers/oil = Y = 15- 25%,
higher for old transformers
70
Barriers X in %

22 kV 65 kV
60 110 kV 220 kV
400 kV 500 kV
50
autotransformer
40

30

20

10

0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
March 29,
2022 Page: 13
Year of manufacture
 Moisture Assessment
Observe fitting
left of the hump

Result:
Moisture
content

March 29,
2022 Page: 14
 Improvement: Analysis

10
Dissipation factor

2,1% aged
1,2% aged
Analysis bases on comparison of
1 2,0% new laboratory data to real transformer data
0,8% new

0,1 Improvements on analysis

• Reliable data pool
0,01 • Weighting of low frequency data
• Compensation of conductive aging
0,001 products
1E-04 0,001 0,01 0,1 1 10 100 1000
Frequency / Hz

March 29,
2022 Page: 15
 Moisture Assessment According to IEC60422

Saturation Content
Dry <6 < 2,2
Moderately wet 6-22 2,2-3,7
Wet 22-30 3,7 - 5
Extremely wet > 30 >5
Moisture saturation levels according to IEC60422
Moisture content [%]

4 Maintenance depending on
3 asset management
Wet,
2 > 30 % • Importance of transformer
Moderately extremely
wet • Future operation
1 wet
Dry • Costs
0 10 20 30
Moisture saturation [%]
March 29,
2022 Page: 16
 How to Proceed a
DIRANA
Measurement?

March 29,
2022 Page: 17
 1. Disconnect transformer from network

Best is to disconnect everything, if not possible:

– Disconnect voltage transformers as they cause a short
circuit to ground (VT's)
– Avoid overloading of the instrument due to high currents,
e.g. long cables
– EMC problems are possible since the connected devices
might act as antennas.
– Negative dissipation factor may appear

March 29,
2022 Page: 18
 2. Connect DIRANA to the Transformer
Voltage source Current sense 1
= A
Instrument

Instrument
Current sense 1 Voltage source
A =
Current sense 2
A A

Guard Guard

CL CHL CH CT CLT CHL

LV HV LV MV HV
Voltage source
~
Current sense
Guard/ A Two or three winding transformer
Ground

• Voltage to HV or MV
• Current from LV or HV + LV
CT CHT CH
• Guard to tank

LV MV HV
March 29,
2022 Page: 19
 3. Set up the Instrument
• Transformer is cold, dry or in an unknown moisture condition:
Set lowest frequency to 0,01 mHz, wait until the "hump" appears
• Transformer is hot or known to be wet:
Set lowest frequency to 1 mHz
• High electromagnetic disturbances
Measure in frequency domain only

4. Start Measurement Sufficient data

high moisture and aging

Dissipation factor
Start the measurement 1 of cellulose

• sufficient data are gathered at low

0,1 Hump:
the point of inflexion at the left insulation high
geometry
hand side of the hump low
high
0,01
oil
• Notice oil temperature! conductivity
(Sample or build-in thermometer) low
0,001
0,001 0,01 1 100 1000
March 29, Frequency / Hz
2022 Page: 20
 5. Analyse the Measurement
• Enter oil temperature (required)
• Set XY values if known, otherwise the software will calculate
• Enter oil conductivity if known, otherwise the software will calculate
• Start Assessment
Tan ?
• Observe fitting of measured and 1.000

modelled curve especially in the 0.500

low frequency range (left of hump) 0.200

0.100

0.050

0.020

6. Assess the Result 0.010

0.005
5 0.010 0.100 1.000 10.000 100.000 f/Hz
Moisture content [%]

C
21° 44°C Model Curve
C
4 80°
n
ture atio
3 is in
Mo ntam Wet,
co > 30 %
2
extremely
Assessment
Moderately
wet wet according to
1
Fair IEC 60422
0 Dry 10 20 30
March 29, Moisture saturation [%]
2022 Page: 21
 Thank you!
© OMICRON Page 22
 Content

1. Water in transformers

2. Chemical methods

3. Dielectric spectroscopy

4. Case studies

5. Drying

6. How to Proceed a
DIRANA Measurement

March 29,
2022 Page: 23
 Applications

Transformers
• Analysis of moisture content
• Monitoring of drying

Bushings
• Moisture / aging at ambient
temperature

Cables, generator, motor humid

and CT insulations
dried

RIP bushings stored under

humid conditions and dried

March 29,
2022 Page: 24
Dissipation factor Comparison to CPC100 / TD1

1.000
0.500

0.200
Dissipation factor at 50 Hz
0.100
DIRANA CPC 0,005118
0.050
DIRANA 0,005129
0.020
CPC100
→ Very good agreement although
0.010
0.005

f/Hz
different measurement voltages
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

March 29,
2022 Page: 25
 Case Study: New Transformers

DF • Very different DF curves

0.500 0716b / T11
0.200 • Same moisture content
0.100 0,4 % / 0,4%
0.050
0.020 • Different oil conductivity
0716b c
0.010 0,94 pS/m / 0,06 pS/m
T11
DAR

0.005
• PI would undervalue 0716b
PI

0.002
• Stop at 1 or 2 mHz would
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1.0 10 Freq/Hz 1000 make analysis impossible

March 29,
2022 Page: 26
 Heavily Aged Transformer
• Manufactured in 1950
• Oil: Shell K6SX from 1965,
acidity 0,5 mg KOH / g oil,
conductivity 1300pS/m @ 21°C
• DP 593 top / 718 bottom
DP from furane analysis: 237

Dielectric methods
Moisture in cellulose from dielectric
Moisture content / %

6 properties (PDC, FDS, Dirana)

5
Oil sampling
4 Moisture in cellulose derived from oil
3
2 Proved by paper samples
1
Moisture in cellulose by KF titration
0 → Contradictory results
KFT
Oil ppm

Oil RS
FDS
Dirana
PDC

March 29,
2022 Page: 27
Tangens Delta
Practical Application: Dielectric Methods

10
• Manufactured in 1950
• Oil: Shell K6SX from 1965,
1 acidity 0,5 mg KOH / g oil,
conductivity 1300pS/m @ 21°C

0,1

6
0,01

Moisture content
0,0001 0,01 1 Frequency [Hz] 1000 5
4
Dielectric methods
3
Tangent delta at 25°C
2
High losses appear as water
→ Aging products appears as water 1

→ Dirana gives 2,9% instead of 3,8/4% 0

KFT
FDS
Dirana

Oil ppm

Oil RS
PDC

March 29,
2022 Page: 28
 Practical Application: Oil and Paper Sampling

6 • Manufactured in 1950
Moisture content

5 • Oil: Shell K6SX from 1965,

acidity 0,5 mg KOH / g oil,
4
conductivity 1300pS/m @ 21°C
3
2

Moisture in pressboard [%]

1 5
4,5
0

KFT
Oil ppm

Oil RS
Dirana
FDS
PDC

4
3,5
3
2,5
Equilibrium diagram 2
21°C%
6,7% RS @ 24°C → W = 2,5 % 1,5
40°C%

1 60°C%

KF titration of paper samples 0,5 80°C%

W = 2,6 % 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
→ Compensation for aging byproducts Moisture relative to saturation [%]
required!
March 29,
2022 Page: 29
 Transformer in Meiningen/Austria

Technical data

• Manufactured in 1967
• Rated power 133 MVA
• 230/115/48 kV
• Cooling: Oil forced/air forced

Drying required?

March 29,
2022 Page: 30
 Measurement Instruments
6

Moisture in Kraft paper [%]

5

3
21°C
2
40°C

1 60°C

80°C
0
Onsite oil samples 0 10 20 30 40
Moisture relative to saturation [%]
• Capacitive probe Vaisala HMP
228: RH = 10,1%
• KF titration CW = 19 ppm

Dielectric measurements
• FDS IDA 200
• PDC Keithley 6517A
March 29,
2022 Page: 31
 Measurement Results: Water in Cellulose

5
Moisture in cellulose [%]

3
Tertiary not in use Average
2

0
Dira HV-LV Dira LV- Dira Oil sample Oil sample
Tertiary Tertiary RH Oommen
Tank

March 29,
2022 Page: 32
 Water Concentration After Drying

• On-line drying with oil circulation for 1,5 years

5
Moisture in cellulose [%]

0
Dira HV-LV Dira LV- Oil sample
Tertiary RH

March 29,
2022 Page: 33
 Literature
1. Du, Y., M. Zahn, B.C. Lesieutre, A.V. Mamishev, and S.R. Lindgren, “A Review of Moisture Equilibrium in Transformer
Paper-Oil Systems” IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 11-20, January-February 1999
2. M. Koch, S. Tenbohlen: “Systematic Investigations on the Evolution of Water Vapour Bubbles in Oil-Paper-Insulations”
Proceedings of the XVth International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, ISH, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2007
3. V. Sokolov, B. Vanin “In-Service Assessment of Water Content in Power Transformers”, Proceedings of the sixty-
second Annual Internation Conference of Doble Clients, 1995, sec. 8-6
4. L. E. Lundgaard, W. Hansen, D. Linhjell, T. J. Painter: “Aging of oil-impregnated paper in power transformers”, IEEE
Transactions on Power Delivery, Jan. 2004 Volume: 19, Issue 1, p. 230- 239
5. H. P. Moser, V. Dahinden: „Transformerboard II“, H. Weidmann AG, 1987 Zürich / Rapperswil
6. http://cigre1.avenda.fr/Merida_2003/documents/Thermal_performance_victor.ppt am 14. Februar 2007
7. M. Hahn: Karl-Fischer-Titration in solids, pastuous substances and oils, ECH Elektrochemie Halle GmbH, Halle 2002
8. M. Koch, S. Tenbohlen, T. Stirl: “Advanced Online Moisture Measurements in Power Transformers” CMD 2006
International Conference on Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis, Changwon, Korea, 2006
9. IEC 60354 Second Edition 1991-09 “Loading guide for oil-immersed power transformers”, International
Electrotechnical Commission 1991
10. T. V. Oommen: ”Moisture Equilibrium in Paper-Oil Systems”, Proc. of the Electrical/Electronics Insulation Conference,
Chicago, pp.162-166, October 3-6, 1983
11. O. Roizman, V. Davydov, B. Ward “Water-in-Paper Activity: A New Approach for Moisture Management In
Transformers” Proceedings of EPRI Substation Equipment Diagnostics Conference XIII, New Orleans, 2005
12. V. Sokolov et al.: “Life Management of Transformers” Cigré Working Group 12.18, Technical Brochure 227, Paris 2003
13. M. Koch, S. Tenbohlen, D. Giselbrecht, C. Homagk, T. Leibfried: “Onsite, Online and Post Mortem Insulation
Diagnostics at Power Transformers”, Cigré SC A2 & D1 Colloquium, Brugge, Belgium 2007

March 29,
2022 Page: 34
 Literature

14. S. M. Gubanski, P. Boss, G. Csepes, V.D. Houhanessian, J. Filippini, P. Guuinic, U. Gafvert, V. Karius, J. Lapworth,
G. Urbani, P. Werelius, W. S. Zaengl: “Dielectric Response Methods for Diagnostics of Power Transformers” CIGRÉ
Task Force 15.01.09, Technical Brochure 254, Paris, 2004
15. M. Koch, S. Tenbohlen, M. Krüger, A. Kraetge: “A Comparative Test and Consequent Improvements on Dielectric
Response Methods” Proceedings of the XVth International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, ISH, Ljubljana,
Slovenia, 2007
16. M. Koch, K. Feser: Reliability and Influences on Dielectric Diagnostic Methods to Evaluate the Ageing State of Oil-
Paper Insulations, APTADM 2004
17. C. Ekanayake: “Diagnosis of Moisture in Transformer Insulation”, Ph.D. dissertation, Dep. of Materials and
Manufacturing Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, 2006
18. Der Houhanessian, Vahe: “Measurement and analysis of dielectric response in oil-paper insulation systems”,
Dissertation ETH Zürich, 1998
19. Zaengl, W. S.: „Dielectric Spectroscopy in Time and Frequency Domain for HV Power Equipment, Part I: Theoretical
Considerations”, IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, Vol. 19, No. 5, 2003
20. E. Nemeth, “Measuring the voltage response, a diagnostic test method of insulation” presented at 7th ISH, Dresden,
1991
21. A. J. Kachler, R. Baehr, W.S. Zaengl, B. Breitenbauch, U. Sundermann: „Kritische Anmerkung zur Feuchtigkeits-
bestimmung von Transformatoren mit der Recovery- Voltage- Methode“; Elektriztaetswirtschaft, Jg. 95 (1996)
22. Neimanis, R., Tapan K. Saha, Roland Eriksson, "Determination of Moisture Content in Mass Impregnated Cable
Insulation Using Low Frequency Dielectric Spectroscopy", IEEE Seattle, USA, July 16-20, 2000

March 29,
2022 Page: 35
 User Questions: Connections
1. To disconnect the HV side from the transformer is quite difficult. The customer now
disconnected through the next circuit breaker. Between transformer and circuit
breaker, there is a CT. Does this additional connection influences the measurement?
Voltage source
~
Current sense CHL measurements: guarding prevents
A from disturbing influences, however:
Guard/
Ground • Disconnect voltage transformers as they
cause a short circuit to ground (VT's)
• Avoid overloading of the instrument due
CT CLT CHL CH CCT
to high currents, e.g. long cables
• EMC problems are possible since the
connected devices might act as
LV MV HV antennas.
• Negative DF may appear

CH / CL measurements are affected by parallel currents (bushings, CT's etc)!

March 29,
2022 Page: 36
 User Questions: Temperature, Time
2. What is the influence of the temperature on the measurement? The oil temperature
and the environmental temperature? The measurement result itself then is based on
which temperature? 20 °C or operating temperature (e.g. 75 °C). Top winding

Hot spot
• Analysis software compensates for insulation Top oil
Cooling
72°C 92°C system
temperature 98°C

• Temperature must be known for proper Average

Average
oil
compensation (from oil sample or upper build- 63°C winding
83°C
in thermometer)
• Moisture content in the solid insulation is Ambient
20°C 54°C 74°C
(almost) independent on temperature
Bottom oil Bottom winding

3. How low a measurement frequency do we need to have accurate result? Is 1mHz o.k.?
Sufficient data
Or do we need to go down to 0.1mHz?
high moisture and aging
Dissipation factor of cellulose
1
• "Hump" should be reached
low
• Case 1: Geometry data unknown 0,1 Hump:
insulation high
geometry
3-5 points to the left of the "hump" low
high
• Case 2: Geometry data known 0,01
oil
conductivity
1 point to the left of the "hump"
0,001 low
March 29,
2022 Page: 37 0,001 0,01 1 100 1000
Frequency / Hz
 User Questions: Equilibrium, Assessment
4. For the DIRANA, as we have temperature compensation in the software, can we take
the measurement right after the shutdown of the transformer? If not, then what is the
recommended 'cool-down' time before the temperature measurement is taken?
70

Temperature / °C
• Moisture equilibrium is not required! 60
However the temperature should not decrease 50
Oil
rapidly, the cooling systems should be turned off. 40
30
• More accurate results at stable temperature 20
Ambient

RVM

PDC
FDS
Off
10
0
6:00 12:00 18:00 0:00 6:00 12:00
Time / hh:mm

5. How do we assess the results? Is there some guidelines which tells us at what level of
%W.C. for what age of transformer is acceptable, and which %W.C. level is not
acceptable. Without such recommendation, the device is not really usable.
5

Moisture content / %
C
Evaluation based on IEC 60422 21°
C
4 80°
• < 1 % Dry, no action required. e
ur nati
on
3 ist i
• 1-2,2 % Fair, further observation required Mo ntam Wet,
co > 30 %
2
• 2,2-3,6 % Moderately wet, drying should be considered Moderately extremely
wet wet
• > 3,6 % Wet 1
Fair
DIRANA will provide RS with the next SW release
0 Dry 10 20 30
March 29, Moisture saturation / %
2022 Page: 38
 User Questions: Comparison to Other Moisture
Sensing Techniques

Moisture in cellulose / %
6. The oil test showed a water content of 2ppm and at 25°C, 5
21°C New KP
is equivalent to 1,4% paper moisture (using the standard 40°C New KP
equilibrium curves). The result produced by the Omicron 4 60°C New KP
80°C New KP
equipment was 1,4% Wow! Need we say more?
3
• Traditional equilibrium curves (ppm) are fare away 2,9
2,6
from a reliable moisture determination (uncertainty 2,1
of KF titration, influence of aging etc.) 2
1,5
• Equilibrium based on RS (Vaisala) needs several
1 60°C New PB
measurements at elevated temperatures 60°C Aged KP
• Decision for drying only based on reliable results 0
60°C Aged PB

0 10 20 30 40 50
Moisture in oil / ppm
7. Some utility compared DIRANA to RVM results. The

Moisture Content [%]

3,5
moisture contents were similar. RVM

3,0
• Several publications proved that "the RVM interpretation
2,5
scheme is too simplistic…" e.g. CIGRÈ TF 15.01.09, 2004
→ RVM is not applicable for water content in transformers 2,0

1,5
PDC FDS

KFT
8. Some utility compared DIRANA to IDA200 / Alff-PDC results. 1,0
DIRANA

• Data bases used for moisture analysis are scaled with 0,25
0,5

various KF titration techniques. 0 20 40 60 80 100

Pressboard to oil [%]
• IDA200/Alff-PDC do not compensate for aging byproducts.