For further information:
LumaSene Technologies GmbH
[email protected]
Three SmartDGA
monitors differentiated
by the number of gases
ONLINE
DISSOLVED
GAS ANALYSIS
ransformer and Load Tap
Changer (LTC) assets are
among the most expensive
pieces of equipment for
electric utilities. Preserve
these assets by using an appropriate
DGA (Dissolved Gas Analysis) diagnostic
method to improve service reliability,
avoid transformer failure, and defer capital
expenditures for new transformer assets.
T
Monitoring and assessing transformer
and LTC health (especially with aging
and overloaded equipment) is essential
for maintaining optimal operation and
avoiding downtime. All transformers
experience electrical and thermal stress
on the insulating materials over time. As
the stresses increase, the insulating oils
breakdown and can result in transformer
faults.
Monitoring the dissolved gas levels in
transformer oil samples is a useful, trusted
maintenance tool for assuring optimal
asset health. However, conventional
manual methods are periodic and
expensive, while real-time monitoring
solutions are more proactive and lower
cost in the long-term.
Transformer insulating oils are made up of
different types of hydrocarbon molecules.
During decomposition (breakdown), there
are chemical reactions between these
molecules, which result in various gas
formations.
In order to measure asset health on a daily
116
PECM Issue 26
basis, utilities need an online 24 hour, 7
day-a-week solution for monitoring and
assessing the gas samples.
As experienced leaders in NDIR technology
through our Andros brand, LumaSense
chose industry-proven Non-Dispersive
Infrared (NDIR) for our online SmartDGA®
solution. The NDIR based SmartDGA
instrument works in cycles to obtain a
sample of oil, detect concentrations (in
PPM) of key gases, and record the values,
making them available for review in
the S