The Benefits of On-line DGA

Tap Changer Monitoring

Kelman, North America
Randy Cox

The Past
1.

Tools on hand:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Oil Quality
Infrared
Smoke from vent
Flickering lights
That doesnt sound right

The Recent Past

1.

Tools on hand:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Oil Quality
Infrared
Smoke from vent
Flickering lights
That doesnt sound right
Manual DGA sampling

LTC DGA Challenges

Sealed (previous history hidden in oil)

Free breathing (constant loss of information)
Manual sampling (just a snapshot, possibly missing
an incipient fault)
Introduction of the human factor in the sampling
process
Interpretation of results

Interpretation Of Results

Various laboratories offer this service.

Training classes are available.
On line LTC DGA alarms available with an 8
gas system to alert the user to a rising
problem.

Why Perform Dissolved Gas

Analysis on Load Tap Changers?
1.
2.

3.
4.

It can be done.
Problems that once had to either be stumbled
upon during routine internal inspections, or
discovered during the event of a transformer relay
operation, can now be better managed and more
readily identified.
With the right tools and training it is simple to
perform.
Why work on something that doesnt have a
problem???

Why Do It On Line?

Real time information.

Contacts move, so problems can develop and then a
tap change occurs and the information moves out of
the oil until the unit returns to that tap position.
Contact replacement is expen$ive, and contact
overheating tends to spread once it starts.
It can prevent a load tap changer failure, and
potential transformer failure.
The technology is now available in an 8 gas system,
with the capability of alerting the user to problems in
their infant stage for both the main tank and load tap
changer simultaneously.

Dont Let This Happen To You

400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Acetylene

Reversing contact welded closed at

Ethylene values less than 400 ppm.

Ethylene

Ethane

Methane

What are your Questions?