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What to do if transformer has an excessive

moisture content

What to do if transformer has an excessive moisture content

Moisture measurement
The term “moisture” in the transformer industry is commonly used to indicate water which is
absorbed in the paper or dissolved in the oil. Occasionally, the terms “water” or “water content” are
used as an alternative way to describe the same substance.

Water in transformers can be found in different parts of the insulation system. It can accumulate in
solid insulation, be dissolved in oil, or be found in the form of liquid water at the core or bottom of
a transformer.

If it has been determined that a transformer has an excessive moisture content, either through water-
in-oil analysis or dew-point analysis, the transformer should be dried out. Otherwise, the presence
of moisture in the kraft paper will definitely shorten the life due to chemical decomposition through
oxidation of the cellulose.

Drying out a transformer can be accomplished by untanking the core and coil assembly and
drying it in an oven, but this would be both expensive and inconvenient. Fortunately, there are
methods that can be applied in the field that are very effective in drying out a transformer.
Simple hot oil flush //

A simple hot oil flush is one method, although it is fairly slow. Oil is pumped through a filter press,
which contains paper filter elements, and then heated and sprayed onto the core and coils. The hot
oil has a greater affinity for moisture than cold oil and will pick up some moisture from the core and
coil insulation.

Running the oil through a filter press allows the filter elements to remove some of the moisture in the oil.
Cooling the oil before it goes through the filter press will enhance the removal of moisture from the oil.

To spray hot oil //

A better method is to spray hot oil into the transformer under vacuum. The combination of the heat
from the hot oil and the vacuum will cause the moisture in the insulation to ‘‘flash off’’ and dry the
transformer. A cold trap can enhance the action of a mechanical vacuum pump. Once the
mechanical pump removes all the air from the transformer tank, the only gas left in this space is
H2O.

A cold trap using a dry ice and acetone jacket will instantly freeze any water vapor with the
low-temperature ice having a very low vapor pressure.

The cold trap thus acts like an auxiliary vacuum pump. The ice provides a direct measurement of the
amount of moisture removed from the cellulose.

Online Power Transformer Moisture Removal System (VIDEO)

Drykeep Online Power Transformer Moisture Removal System

Cant see this video? Click here to watch it on Youtube.

Power Transformer Drying (VIDEO)

 Power Transformer Drying (Siemens)

Cant see this video? Click here to watch it on Youtube.

The research conducted at Monash University has shown that, for the accurate moisture assessment
of transformer insulation, the continuous monitoring of a number of parameters, including
transformer load, temperature and oil relative saturation, is required. The measurement of water
solubility characteristic of oil in the transformer is also required.

A utility may operate tens or even hundreds of transformers. However, not all of the transformers
require continuous monitoring.

How is it possible to identify a transformer with moisture concerns for further monitoring? There is a
demand for a classification procedure, which would rank transformers by moisture levels.

References //

Power Transformers Principles and Applications – John J. Winders, Jr. (Amazon)

Moisture assessment in power transformers – V. G. Davydov, O. Roizman

Related electrical guides & articles //

Share with engineers //

About Author //
Edvard Csanyi

Edvard - Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly

specialized for design of LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power
substations, buildings and industry fascilities. Designing of LV/MV
switchgears.Professional in AutoCAD programming and web-design.Present on
Google+

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