Lord Consulting

Transformers are vital components in our power network infrastructure.  Whether comparatively new or well advanced in years, they often give little outward warning of impending failure.  The increasing availability of on-line monitoring systems can assist detecting potentially damaging faults in transformers early enough to take appropriate offsetting action.  It is increasingly recognised that attention to making provision for monitoring technologies at both the design and specification stage, or during major outage windows in the case of existing plant, allows asset owners the potential to fit monitoring devices readily at appropriate stages of the lifecycle. This paper overviews typical failure mechanisms in large power transformers and their associated auxiliary components, reviews some of the on‑line monitoring technologies now available, considers future refinements, and concludes by articulating the range of fundamental design provisions required to facilitate the interface of such items to the transformer when the time is right.

Interfacing On-line Monitoring Technologies to Power Transformers (812kb pdf)