Preventive Transformer Oil Testing

Transformer Explosion Breaking News

Transformers are among the most expensive assets in the power network, representing over half of substation capital cost. In that extremely valuable transformer the cellulose insulation is the one component that will degrade with age and cannot be replaced without considerable cost and loss of service. Of the factors that can degrade the cellulose insulation – moisture, temperature, and oxygen – moisture is the most aggressive combatant.

Excessive moisture and other impurities in the paper and oil can significantly reduce the dielectric strength and the partial discharge inception levels; therefore, it has a profound effect on the aging rate.

Transformer Insulation Paper

To put it simply, moisture and contamination in the transformer’s insulation system cause the molecular chains of the cellulose to decompose, in turn accelerating the aging process of the cellulose
and adversely affecting the tensile strength and dielectric properties of the insulation. The result can be catastrophic, ending in premature failure, with replacement involving a considerable amount of time and expense – vital assets that you cannot afford to waste.

Yet, power utilities across the globe are faced with reductions of capital spending, retirement of experienced personnel, and crippled maintenance budgets. Existing resources must be leveraged to get the most out of assets that are nearing the end of their useful life.

Meeting the growing demands of the grid, while maintaining system reliability with this aging fleet is extremely taxing and uneconomical. Without significant changes in the way the utility operates and cares for its transformers, resources will be lost at exponential rates, but traditional maintenance is reactive rather than proactive.

Transformer Oil Testing

For these reasons, regular transformer oil testing saves real time and money to reduce maintenance, and defers the need for capital expenditures to replace these critical expensive assets in the long term. With this no-risk and cost-efficient procedure you can protect a million-dollar investment and ensure that your power transformers perform to their full potential.

OLT Testers by KEP

The OLT Insulating liquid testers by KEP are designed for measuring the oil dielectric breakdown voltage; the A-Series oil testers are fully automatic, produce accurate testing results, safe for the operator, and comply with the industry’s main standards.

The OLT insulating liquid test sets switch off the voltage feed to the electrodes immediately after the testing is over, which allows for testing dielectric liquids susceptible to disintegration due to arcing caused by a breakdown.

Main features of the KEP oil testers OLT A-Series:

Oil Test Set OLT-100A

• Fully automatic operation 
• Fully compatible with IEC 60156 
• Preset testing programs for different standards 
• Built-in printer 
• PC connectivity 
• Internal test data storage 
• Precise direct voltage measurement 
• True sine high-voltage on electrodes 
• Oil temperature measurement

Alexei Tiatiushkin

Marketing manager

KharkovEnergoPribor Ltd.

marketing@keppowertesting.uk

http://www.kep.ua