C
ompanies tend to rely on the
same equipment experts year
after year to keep assets run-
ning ➔ 1. However, many of
these experts are reaching retirement
age and are not being replaced. This re-
duction in manpower is part of an overall
cost reduction trend that is also seeing
maintenance budgets decreased.
essential for transformer operation and with parameters whose weights are
Many companies would like to rely on health. A weight is given to each item on low.
monitoring and data analysis to fill these the list to indicate
knowledge gaps. However, the amount its relative impor-
and complexity of the data quickly over- tance. It is then a The ideal system includes a
whelms even the best-intentioned orga- matter of assess-
nizations. This has initiated a search for a ing the condition determination of the relative
way to handle the large amounts of data
involved and compensate for the loss of
of each parameter
and assigning a
importance of the asset and
expertise. score (eg, between the risk of failure.
zero and 100), mul
Transformer health index reliability tiplying individual
issues weights by the respective scores, and − A robust sensitivity analysis is typically
One option available is the transformer dividing the result by the sum of all lacking – most approaches do not
health index calculation. There are sev- weights times the maximum score per stress test the proposed solution to a
eral approaches to this concept, the ma- individual parameter. point where real-life cases are tested
jority of which utilize a list of technical and compared with the output of the
parameters that experts may classify as This approach has its disadvantages: procedure.
− The weights chosen by the experts − Strangely enough, the method
are subjective and different experts described will render the same output
Title picture may propose different weights. for any given selection of weights as
Approaching transformer maintenance in an − Poorly-chosen weights may easily long as all scores are at their maxi-
intelligent way can reduce outlays and make better
overshadow the importance of other mum.
use of the dwindling numbers of experts. How can
data analytics be exploited to achieve the best parameters or functions, consequent-
result? ly underestimating eventual problems
vides recommen- 90
70
mitigating advice 60
40
transformer 30
healthy. 20
10
0
Available data quantity (a.u.)
An ideal solution would be able to gather spects of the transformer, along with
a
and analyze large amounts of data from taking a view of the entire picture.
many different sources. Flexibility is key
here as data would come from many dif- As a start, the following data should be
ferent types of sensors, monitors and collected:
systems. Whether it is hourly, daily, − Nameplate information, dissolved gas
monthly or yearly, the data needs to be analysis (DGA) and oil quality param-
captured. Once organized, it should then eters
be analyzed using expert algorithms that − Loading, transformer turns ratio (TTR)
look at the system as a whole, not just at and insulation power factor
its individual parts. − Bushing – capacitance and power
factor, porcelain condition, thermal
Regular checkups scan, oil level, and type and vintage
Comparing a person’s year-to-year health − Load tap changer – type, mainte-
checkups helps to spot any poor health nance data, DGA and condition
developments and maintain well-being.
The same approach has proven to be
very effective for transformers. A trans- To handle the
former’s condition needs to be assessed
– information is collected, evaluated and constantly chang-
compared with previous data in order to
identify condition trends, then a diagno-
ing data, ABB
sis is made. The ideal system also deter- developed the
mines the relative importance of the
a sset and the risk of failure. It is also
Dynamic Trans-
i mportant that the system provides
recommendations and risk-mitigating
former Manage-
advice to help keep the transformer in ment Program.
good condition.
− Special test results such as furan data is added, the risk of failure and
testing, degree of polymerization maintenance or operation recommenda-
(DP), field-induced voltage test, tions need to be updated daily. To handle
sweep frequency response analysis the constantly changing data, ABB de-
(SFRA), dielectric frequency response veloped the Dynamic Transformer Man-
(DFR), etc. agement Program (DTMProgram™). The
− Geomagnetically induced currents algorithms employed by the DTMProgram
(GIC) are able to analyze each of the functional
aspects of a transformer then aggregate
The data collected can be analyzed these into the five functional areas used
by ABB’s Mature Transformer Manage- by the MTMProgram. An expert system
ment Program (MTMProgram™). The algorithm is then able to look at a trans-
MTMProgram groups data into five func- former as a whole instead of at its indi-
tional groups – thermal, mechanical, di- vidual components, as a health index
electric, accessories and miscellaneous would ➔ 5. This expert system operates
– to provide a complete condition as- on a fleet-wide basis and is also capable
sessment ➔ 3 – 4. Reliability improvement of looking for cross-correlations among
recommendations are made for individu- any issues found on the transformer.
al transformers. The main transformer
functions covered include typical stress- ABB SMEs have also created algorithms
es, network solicitation, and short-cir- for batteries and breakers using an ap-
cuit, thermal and dielectric capabilities. proach similar to that described above.
Many more algorithms are under devel-
The approach establishes a close con- opment to support other critical assets
nection between the most stressed con- throughout the industry. The key to the
ditions, the requirements for each indi- success of these algorithms is the utiliza-
vidual transformer and the contribution of tion of SMEs during the design phase.
individual parameters to achieve that The transformer algorithms are very flex-
functionality. It then calculates the risk of ible and can be integrated into multiple
failure for each of the specified transform- software platforms. No matter what the
ers in the fleet. After more than a decade data sources and existing software sys-
and close to 10,000 transformers as- tems are, there is a solution to support a
sessed globally, this program has proven condition-based maintenance approach.
to have benefits for many end users of
transformers in different applications. Asset Health Center – further solutions
One of these further solutions is Asset
The program provides a one-time snap- Health Center (AHC), which incorporates
shot of the transformer’s overall health. ABB operational technology (OT) subject
Therefore, as conditions change or new matter expertise and ABB information
Off-the-shelf online
sensors
24/7:
– Flag/report events
SCADA – Update risk of failure
– Recommend actions
DTMP
Field service
technology (IT) software knowledge to indicators (green, yellow and red) users
An expert system provide the latest online offering in fleet can quickly identify the units or areas that
condition monitoring. need more attention so maintenance
algorithm is then
able to look at a After a baseline as-
sessment, the soft- ABB subject matter experts
transformer as a ware uses online
have created algorithms for
sensor data and/or
whole instead of manually entered tra-
batteries and breakers and
at its individual ditional offline test
data to perform au- many more algorithms are
components, as a tomated condition
under development to support
assessments on a
health index would. daily basis, and pro-
other critical assets through-
vide expert recom-
mendations based out the industry.
on that analysis. Also
included are condi-
tion monitoring, risk of failure, trend analy- budgets and resources can be allocated
sis, family comparisons, email and SMS to where they are most needed. Most im-
alerts, reporting options and fleet scalabil- portantly, this helps avoid unplanned out-
ity inputs. ages. The interface allows the user to drill
further down into the information – down
Straightforward and easy-to-use dash- to a single transformer’s sensor informa-
boards allow users to see the transformer tion – if needed. When conditions start to
fleet health at a glance. Using traffic light deteriorate past a predefined point, users
No
Update percentiles Calculate last
Get last 30 days’ No 30 days trend with
and look for outliers Latest data set
worth of magnitude 95% confidence interval Level < 6%
(magnitude only) is an outlier?
and angle readings of the slope
6% Yes
4%
Phase Flag 1 – statistical outlier phase… Yes
ID
∆t ≤ 5 days
Yes
Phase Flag 2 – trend may lead to No
Calculate time to 4%, t4%
ID 4% in t4% days
No