Available online at www.ijpe-online.

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vol. 18, no. 9, September 2022, pp. 654-659

DOI: 10.23940/ijpe.22.09.p6.654659

Comparison of Health Index and Degree of Polymerization based on

2-Furfuraldehyde Compound for Transformer Condition Estimation
M. S. Yahayaa,*, N. Azisb, H. Zainuddinc, M. F. Basara, and M. H. Haruna
a
Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Melaka, Mala ysia
b
Advanced Lightning and Power Energy Research, Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
c
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Melaka, Malaysia

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the comparison of Health Index (HI) and the Degree of Polymerization (DP) models based on
2-furfuraldehyde (2-FAL) compound to determine the transformer condition. In total, 30 transformers ranging in age from 13 to 25 years
were analyzed. First, the Transformer Health Index (THI) was computed based on yearly individual oil condition monitoring data that
consisted of oil quality, dissolved gases, and furanic compounds. Next, the DP was computed based on 2-FAL using five different furfural
analysis methods for DP models that are tavailable in literature. Next, the DP of each transformer was plotted against its 2-FAL values. Then,
the percentage of DP named as Health Index DP (HIDP) for each transformer was established based on the maximum estimated DP of each
model. Finally, the comparison between THI and HIDP were performed. It was found that there is an identical trend between THI and HIDP.
However, the average error between THI and HIDP for each transformer is ranging from 8.28% to 37.18% and the total average error is 17.97%.

Keywords: transformers; health index; 2-furfuraldehyde; furfural analysis; degree of polymerization

(Submitted on July 25, 2022; Revised on August 7, 2022; Accepted on August 23, 2022)

© 2022 Totem Publisher, Inc. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

A transformer is a one of the most expensive components installed in an electrical substation. The transformer life defined by
manufacturers is between 20 to 40 years [1,2]. However, some transformers reached 50 years old of operation. Transformer
insulation consists of solid and liquid insulations. Cellulose based paper is widely used as solid insulation for transformers.
The degradation of cellulose paper is related to the transformer life. It happens when the cellulose paper loses mechanical
strength. The loss of mechanical strength begins with breaking in molecular chains of cellulose. It can be measured by the DP
value [3]. DP is computed by measuring the average number of glucose units chemically linked in a cellulose molecule [4].
The main chemical processes that are involved in the transformer aging are oxidation, hydrolysis, and pyrolysis [5,6]. Under
the thermal, mechanical, and electrical stresses, the degradation process of insulation paper could be accelerated. Three main
elements that cause solid insulation degradation are moisture, oxygen, and acidity [5-7]. The study on furanic compounds in
the insulating oil used in transformers had been presented since the mid-1980s [7]. The formation of furanic compounds in
transformers provides an indication for a transformer’s life. Almost 90% from 27 of the utilities, manufactures and researchers
around the world used furanic analysis as a diagnostic tool for their transformers study [7]. Many models had been introduced
by researchers to correlate the furanic compounds with DP such as Chen Dong [8], De Pablo [9], Burton [10], Feng [11]. The
aim of this paper is to compare the DP computed based on 2-FAL compound and THI for transformer condition estimation.
The case study will be performed based on the condition monitoring data of 30 in-service distribution transformers. The HIDP
computed from 2-FAL using five models are compared with the THI model adopted by utility.

2. The Degree of Polymerization and 2-Furfuraldehyde

Furanic compounds are generated during the thermal degradation of the insulation paper which are used extensively in
transformer. Typically, insulation papers are made by wood pulp through the kraft process. The main material of this type of

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: sharil@utem.edu.my
 Comparison of Health Index and Degree of Polymerization based on 2-Furfuraldehyde Compound for Transformer Condition Estimation 655

paper is cellulose, which is a natural polymer of glucose and consists of a bundle of molecules in different forms [3,4,6]. It has
been suggested that furanic compounds may primarily initiate from the degradation of hemicellulose compared to cellulose
[7]. Furanic compounds are produced due to the series of re-arrangement of molecules bonding via the thermal degradation
process like hydrolysis and pyrolysis [5]. There are five main furanic compounds produced through the accelerated aging in
the transformer which are 2-furfural (2-FAL), 2-acetylfuran (2-ACF), 5-methyl-2-furfural (5-MEF), 2-furfurylalcohol
(2-FOL), and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) [7,12]. Between five main furanic compounds, 2-FAL has the highest
generation rate and better stability in insulation oil [5,13]. Therefore, concentrations of 2-FAL are usually used as an aging
marker for furanic compound measurement in condition monitoring analysis. Furthermore, 2-FAL also provides information
on the condition of the insulation in a simple way without de-energizing the transformer. As furfural analysis is able to provide
a good indication to assess the condition of the transformer’s life, the correlation between the 2-FAL to the DP has been
modelled. The correlation between DP and 2-FAL is done based on the experimental and analytical process of paper from
aged insulation paper in laboratories and scrapped transformers units [10]. The researchers recommend that the DP for new
insulation paper is between 1200-800 [3,14-16]. Researchers also suggest that the insulation paper will be lost through
mechanical strength at a DP around 150-250.

3. Correlation Model of Degree of Polymerization and 2-Furfuraldehyde

2-FAL compound is a by-product of the aging process in a transformer. It can be detected in transformer insulation oil. The
2-FAL in the oil can be used as a bulk measurement of the DP of the solid insulation paper and gives a good marker for a
transformer’s life. There are several models that have been introduced by researchers to estimate the value of DP of insulation
paper from the 2-FAL. The models described the relationship between the increase of 2-FAL to the reduction of DP. Shroff
and Stannett had introduced the logarithmic relation between furanic compounds with the DP in mid 1880s [15]. Further
investigation based on data collected from free breathing transformers that used kraft paper has been performed by Chendong.
The correlation between DP and 2-FAL can be seen in Equation 1 [7,8,10,12].

log(2𝐹𝐴𝐿)−1.51
𝐷𝑃 = (1)
−0.0035

Where 2-FAL is the concentration of 2-FAL in ppm.

Based on research conducted by CIGRE WG 15.01, De Pablo introduced the linear model of DP and 2-FA. The
correlation was derived based on the cellulose chain scission theory and considered that the paper rarely decomposes
uniformly. This can be seen in Equation 2.
7100
𝐷𝑃 = 8.8+2𝐹𝐴𝐿 (2)

Where 2-FAL is the concentration of 2-FAL in ppm.

The model then improved by De Pablo by considering that paper aging condition is not even, assuming 20% of the inner
layers in the winding degrade twice faster than the rest of the insulation paper [7,8,10]. The updated correlation is shown by
Equation 3.
800
𝐷𝑃 = [0.186∗2𝐹𝐴𝐿]+1 (3)

Where 2-FAL is expressed in ppm.

Another DP to 2-FAL model based on logarithm scale was also introduced by Equation 4 [8,10].
log 2𝐹𝐴𝐿−2.5
𝐷𝑃 = −0.005
(4)

Where 2-FAL is expressed in ppm.

Recently, Feng explored and fine-tuned the DP to 2-FAL relationship. The model is fitting with the measured 2-FAL
from scrapped National Grid transformers [10,17] and can be seen in Equation 5.
1674
𝐷𝑃 = (5)
𝐹𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑛+2.09
656 M. S. Yahaya, N. Azisb, H. Zainuddinc, M. F. Basara, and M. H. Harun

Where 2-FAL is expressed in ppm.

There are differences between the models discussed above. It is due to the different methodology, data, and samples used
in correlating both parameters.

4. Case Study

In this study, the condition monitoring data from 30 distribution transformers with voltage and power rating 33/11 kV and 30
MVA were tested. The transformers’ age ranged from 13 to 43 years. The 2-FAL value for each transformer with its age is
shown in Figure 1. The 2-FAL measured from oil condition monitoring of in-service transformer were used to estimate the DP
of solid insulation.
16

14

12
2-FAL (ppm)

10

0
13 13 16 27 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 43
Age of Transformer (year)

Figure 1. 2-FAL value for 30 distribution transformers age

Next, the THI computed based on individual oil condition monitoring data that consisted of oil quality, dissolved gases,
and furanic compounds can be seen in Figure 2.
100
90
80
70
60
% HI

50
40
30
20
10
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
No. of Transformer

Figure 2. THI for 30 distribution transformers

The case study data show that there is no clear correlation between THI, 2-FAL, and transformer age. However, the plot
in Figure 3 between THI and 2-FAL shows that THI is inversely proportional with the value of 2-FAL.
 Comparison of Health Index and Degree of Polymerization based on 2-Furfuraldehyde Compound for Transformer Condition Estimation 657

18
16
14
12
2-FAL (ppm)

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
THI (%)

Figure 3. 2-FAL value and THI for 30 transformers

Next, the DP was computed based on 2-FAL using five different models described in the section 3. The DP value then
was converted to percentage of DP named as Health Index DP (HI DP). The conversion was made based on the maximum DP
value estimated by each model and by assumption that the end of life of DP for all models is 200. The calculated data for THI
and DP based on 2-FAL for all models are tabulated in Table 1. Then, the comparison between THI and HIDP for five different
models can be seen in Figure 4.

Table 1. THI, 2-FAL, DP and HIDP for 30 transformers

Degree of Polymerization (DP)
Age THI 2-FAL Feng Burton
No Chendong (1000) De Pablo 1 (807) De Pablo 2 (800)
(year) (%) (ppm) (801) (900)
DP % DP % DP % DP % DP %
1 13 89.8 0.06 781 72.6 801 99.1 791 98.5 779 96.3 744 77.8
2 13 63.2 0.08 745 68.1 800 98.8 788 98.0 771 95.1 719 74.2
3 16 92.8 0.04 831 78.9 803 99.4 794 99.0 786 97.5 780 82.8
4 27 77.5 0.06 781 72.6 801 99.1 791 98.5 779 96.3 744 77.8
5 32 72.6 0.53 510 38.8 761 92.4 728 88.0 639 73.0 555 50.7
6 32 68.4 0.78 462 32.8 741 89.1 699 83.1 583 63.8 522 45.9
7 32 68.4 0.31 577 47.1 779 95.4 756 92.7 698 82.8 602 57.4
8 32 75.9 0.05 803 75.4 802 99.2 793 98.8 782 96.9 760 80.0
9 32 55 1.14 415 26.9 714 84.7 660 76.7 518 53.0 489 41.2
10 32 75.9 0.32 573 46.6 779 95.3 755 92.5 695 82.3 599 57.0
11 32 55 1.07 423 27.9 719 85.6 667 77.9 530 54.9 494 42.0
12 33 62.3 0.86 450 31.3 735 88.1 690 81.6 567 61.1 513 44.7
13 33 66.6 0.65 485 35.6 751 90.8 714 85.6 611 68.4 537 48.2
14 33 71 0.26 599 49.8 784 96.2 763 93.8 712 85.2 617 59.6
15 33 30 5.53 219 2.4 495 48.7 394 32.4 220 3.3 351 21.6
16 33 71 0.69 477 34.7 748 90.3 709 84.8 602 66.9 532 47.5
17 33 77.4 0.21 625 53.1 788 96.9 770 95.0 728 87.8 636 62.2
18 33 6.9 7.29 185 0.0 441 39.7 340 23.3 178 0.0 327 18.2
19 33 0.0 9.6 151 0.0 386 30.6 287 14.5 143 0.0 304 14.8
20 33 8.4 6.69 196 0.0 458 42.6 356 26.1 191 0.0 335 19.3
21 33 6.8 5.12 229 3.6 510 51.1 410 35.0 232 5.4 358 22.6
22 33 64.6 0.24 609 51.1 785 96.4 766 94.3 718 86.3 624 60.6
23 33 55 1.68 367 20.9 677 78.7 610 68.3 444 40.6 455 36.4
24 33 70.9 0.5 517 39.7 763 92.8 732 88.7 646 74.3 560 51.5
25 33 0.0 15.7 90 0.0 290 14.8 204 0.7 94 0.0 261 8.7
26 33 65.3 0.15 667 58.4 793 97.7 778 96.4 747 91.1 665 66.4
27 33 58.6 0.02 917 89.6 805 99.7 797 99.5 793 98.7 840 91.4
28 33 4.7 7.54 181 0.0 435 38.6 333 22.2 174 0.0 325 17.8
29 33 62.9 0.92 442 30.2 730 87.4 683 80.5 556 59.3 507 43.9
30 43 0.0 8.78 162 0.0 404 33.6 304 17.3 154 0.0 311 15.9
658 M. S. Yahaya, N. Azisb, H. Zainuddinc, M. F. Basara, and M. H. Harun

100
THI
90 Chendong
80 Pablo 1
Pablo 2
HI and HIDP (%)

70
Feng
60
Burton
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Transformer No.

Figure 4. Comparison of THI and HIDP for five models

Overall, the comparison between THI and HIDP indicates that the average absolute error for five models is between
10.35%-25.19%. Feng’s model shows the smallest average absolute error with 10.35% followed by Burton’s model (13.95%),
Pablo’s 2 model (18.89%) and Chengdong’s model (19.67%). The highest average of absolute error is Pablo’s 1 model with
25.19%. The study shows HIDP provides a comparable result with THI since the 2-FAL is part of the component in THI
computation. However, for individual comparison as shown in Figure 5, only 18 from 30 transformers have absolute error less
than 10.00% while 12 from 30 transformers have absolute error between 10.40% to 40.10%. However, the approach can be
further validated in future studies if the THI from utilities and bigger transformer population can be obtained.
100
90
80
Absolute error (%)

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
Transformer No.

Figure 5. Absolute error of THI and HIDP for 30 transformers

5. Conclusion
The approach of HIDP to estimate the transformers condition based on 2-FAL was carried out in this study. It was found that
HIDP can be used to estimate the condition of transformers based on 2-FAL. The DP obtained by 2-FAL compound show that
the estimated HIDP is acceptable for several transformers. Comparison with THI revealed the smallest average absolute error
by DP- 2-FAL Feng’s model was 10.35%. The individual comparison between THI and HI DP show that the absolute error for
18 to 30 transformers is less than 10.00%. Since several transformers have higher absolute error, this study can be further
validated in the future if more 2-FAL data from utilities can be obtained.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to UTeM and MOHE Malaysia for the technical and financial support
of this research.
 Comparison of Health Index and Degree of Polymerization based on 2-Furfuraldehyde Compound for Transformer Condition Estimation 659

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M. S. Yahaya is a Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal
Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Malaysia. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Power Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia
(UPM), Malaysia. He also received his Master of Science in Power Distribution Engineering in 2009 from Newcastle
University, UK and bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 2001 from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia.
He had 5 years industrial working experience as Application Engineer and Technical Service Engineer. His research interests
are predictive modeling, condition monitoring, condition assessment and asset management.

N. Azis received B. Eng degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2007) from Universiti Putra Malaysia and Ph.D.
degree in Electrical Power Engineering (2012) from The University of Manchester in UK. Currently he is Associate Professor
at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. His research interests are
in-service ageing of transformer insulation, condition monitoring, asset management and alternative insulation materials for
transformers.

H. Zainuddin received the B. Eng degree in Electrical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2003 and Ph.D.
degree in High Voltage Engineering (2013) from University of Southampton in UK. Currently, he is a Associate Professor and
Dean in the Department Faculty of Engineering, University Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM). His research interests include
high voltage engineering, condition monitoring and finite element modeling.

M. F. Basar attained his Ph.D. in the field of Renewable Energy from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi in
2017. A professional engineer registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) since 2013. His primary research
interests are in the fields of renewable energy and electrical engineering. Currently, he is the Deputy Dean of Research at the
Faculty of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technology, UTeM.
M. H. Harun is received the MSc. degree in electrical engineering from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Malaysia in 2013.
Currently he is pursuing his Ph.D. study at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia in electrical engineering.