Vaisala has introduced a method for detecting air ingress in sealed power transformers, thus extending the lifetime of a transformer and lead to significant cost savings
The method, based on measuring total pressure of all dissolved gases in the power transformer insulation oil, will help customers detect and repair any air leaks early.
?We are always looking for new solutions to help our customers to optimize their measurement needs and therefore wanted to develop an innovative, accurate and robust solution for detecting air leaks in transformers,? said Teemu Hanninen, product manager from Vaisala?s Industrial Measurements.
Measuring total gas pressure (TGP) is a step forward from the traditional measurement methods that are currently available in the market to detect air leaks. An oxygen sensor cannot detect an air leak, if there is a reaction in a transformer that consumes oxygen. Even if all oxygen has been consumed, TGP value will still give a reliable indication of a leak because the nitrogen value will both dominate and increase over time because it is neither formed nor consumed in the transformer. Additionally, TGP measurement can indicate if the nitrogen cylinder of a nitrogen blanketed transformer is empty ? another task that oxygen measurement cannot detect.
The measurement solution will be made available to the current customers via a software release for Vaisala?s Optimus DGA Monitor OPT100, which is the world?s first maintenance free dissolved gas analyser for power transformers. For OPT100s, the new software will be incorporated as a default factory setup.
Vaisala will organise a webinar on 23 September to hear more insights by senior industry expert Senja Leivo on how ambient air ingress can be detected in this new way to help extend the life of the transformer.
