Transformer Monitoring: Water and Electricity Do Not Mix

15 August 2011 by Vaisala

Transformer windings are insulated with cellulose and surrounded by oil to ensure proper insulation and cooling. Poor oil quality can lead to a low dielectric strength and even to a system failure. High water content together with dissolved gases in oil may cause bubbling in case the total pressure of gases exceeds the ambient pressure of the transformer.

Knowledge of the insulation cellulose dryness is needed to avoid a breakdown situation and to optimise the transformer maintenance. As the dryness of the oil correlates well with the dryness of the cellulose, it is a practical and traditional way to monitor the oil moisture level in a transformer. By keeping the transformer as dry as possible its lifetime will be extended.

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