Lord Consulting

Transformers are vital components in our aging power network infrastructure. They often give little outward warning of impending failure. The failure frequency in older transformers requires a different approach to monitoring, in particular the need to sample more frequently if not continuously. Strategies that worked for the fi rst half of the asset’s life are not necessarily appropriate for the second half. The increasing availability of on-line monitoring systems can assist detecting potentially damaging faults in transformers early enough to take appropriate offsetting action. This paper overviews typical failure mechanisms in large power transformers and their associated auxiliary components and reviews some of the on-line monitoring systems now available.

On-Line Monitoring of Power Transformers (2.29MB pdf)