Transformer oil testing

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Transformer oil, a type of insulating and cooling oil used in transformers and other electrical
equipment, needs to be tested periodically to ensure that it is still fit for purpose. This is because
it tends to deteriorate over time. Testing sequences and procedures are defined by various
international standards, many of them set by ASTM.[1] Testing consists of measuring breakdown
voltage and other physical and chemical properties of samples of the oil, either in a laboratory or
using portable test equipment on site[2].

Contents
 1Motivation for testing
 2On-site testing
 3Breakdown voltage testing procedure
 4Types of test
o 4.1International transformer oil testing standards
 5See also
 6References

Motivation for testing[edit]

The transformer oil (insulation oil) of voltage- and current-transformers fulfills the purpose of
insulating as well as cooling. Thus, the dielectric quality of transformer oil is essential to secure
operation of a transformer.[3][4]

As transformer oil deteriorates through aging and moisture ingress, transformer oil should,
depending on economics, transformer duty and other factors, be tested periodically.[5] Power
utility companies have a vested interest in periodic oil testing since transformers represent a large
proportion of their total assets. Through such testing, transformers' life can be substantially
increased, thus delaying new investment of replacement transformer assets.
Voltage breakdown during oil test

On-site testing[edit]
Recently time-consuming testing procedures in test labs have been replaced by on-site oil testing
procedures. There are various manufacturers of portable oil testers. With low weight devices in
the range of 20 to 40 kg, tests up to 100 kV rms can be performed and reported on-site
automatically. Some of them are even battery-powered and come with accessories.

Breakdown voltage testing procedure[edit]

To assess the insulating property of dielectric transformer oil, a sample of the transformer oil is
taken and its breakdown voltage is measured. The lower the resulting breakdown voltage, the
poorer the quality of the transformer oil.

 The transformer oil is filled in the vessel of the testing device. Two standard-compliant
test electrodes with a typical clearance of 2.5 mm are surrounded by the dielectric oil.
 A test voltage is applied to the electrodes and is continuously increased up to the
breakdown voltage with a constant, standard-compliant slew rate of e.g. 2 kV/s.
 At a certain voltage level breakdown occurs in an electric arc, leading to a collapse of the
test voltage.
 An instant after ignition of the arc, the test voltage is switched off automatically by the
testing device. Ultra fast switch off is highly desirable, as the carbonisation due to the
electric arc must be limited to keep the additional pollution as low as possible.
 The transformer oil testing device measures and reports the root mean square value of the
breakdown voltage.
 After the transformer oil test is completed, the insulation oil is stirred automatically and
the test sequence is performed repeatedly: typically 5 repetitions, depending on the
standard.
 As a result the breakdown voltage is calculated as mean value of the individual
measurements.

Types of test[edit]
 Color; e.g., ASTM D1500.
 Dielectric breakdown voltage; e.g., D 877, ASTM D1816
  Dissolved gas analysis; e.g., ASTM D3612
 Dissolved metals; e.g., ASTM D7151
 Flash point, fire point; e.g., ASTM D92
 Interfacial tension; e.g. D 971
 Furanic compounds; e.g., ASTM D5837
 Karl Fischer moisture; e.g., ASTM D1533
 Liquid power factor; e.g., ASTM D924
 Neutralization number; e.g., ASTM D974
 Oxidation inhibitor content; e.g., ASTM D2668
 Polychlorinated biphenyls content; e.g., ASTM D4059
 Relative density (specific gravity); e.g., D 1298, ASTM D1524
 Resistivity; e.g., ASTM D1169
 Visual examination; e.g., D1524

International transformer oil testing standards[edit]

 VDE370-5/96
 OVE EN60156
 IEC 60156/97,
 ASTM1816-04-1
 ASTM1816-04-2
 ASTM877-02A
 ASTM877-02B
 AS1767.2.1
 BS EN60156
 NEN 10 156
 NF EN60156
 PA SEV EN60156
 SABS EN60156
 UNE EN60156
 IS:6792 of 1972

See also[edit]
 Severity factor
 Electrical measurements

References[edit]
1. ^ Gill, Paul (1998). Electrical power equipment maintenance and testing. New York, NY [u.a.]:
Dekker. ISBN 9780824799076.
2. ^ "Loss tangent meter in dielectric oil". www.amperis.com.
3. ^ "Transformer Oil Detoriation - Why is transformer oil purification essential?".
4. ^ Rouse, T.O. (May 1998). "Mineral insulating oil in transformers". IEEE Electrical Insulation
Magazine. 14 (3): 6–16. doi:10.1109/57.675572.
5. ^ Gill, Paul (1998). Electrical power equipment maintenance and testing. New York, NY [u.a.]:
Dekker. ISBN 9780824799076.

hide

 v
 t
 e

Transformer
 Amorphous metal transformer
 Austin transformer
 Autotransformer
 Buck–boost transformer
 Capacitor voltage transformer
 Distribution transformer
 Delta-wye transformer
 Energy efficient transformer
 Flyback transformer
 Grounding transformer
 Instrument transformer
o Current transformer
o Potential transformer
Types
 Isolation transformer
 Linear variable differential transformer
 Pad-mounted transformer
 Parametric transformer
 Planar transformers
 Rotary transformer
 Rotary variable differential transformer
 Scott-T transformer
 Solid-state transformer
 Trigger transformer
 Variable-frequency transformer
 Zigzag transformer
  Hybrid coil
 Induction coil
 Oudin coil
 Polyphase coil
Coils
 Repeating coil
 Tesla coil
 Trembler coil

 Agbioeletric
 Balun
 Buchholz relay
 Bushing
 Center tap
 Circle diagram
 Condition monitoring of transformers
 Copper loss
 Dissolved gas analysis
 Electrical insulation paper
 Growler
 High-leg delta
 Induction regulator
Topics  Leakage inductance
 Magnet wire
 Metadyne
 Open-circuit test
 Polarity
 Polychlorinated biphenyl
 Quadrature booster
 Resolver
 Resonant inductive coupling
 Severity factor
 Short-circuit test
 Stacking factor
 Synchro
 Tap changer
  Toroidal inductors and transformers
 Transformer oil
 Transformer oil testing
 Transformer utilization factor
 Vector group

 ABB
 Prolec GE
Manufacturers  Siemens
 TBEA

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 This page was last edited on 30 October 2018, at 17:56 (UTC).

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