1.

DISOLVED GAS ANALYSIS( DGA )

1.1 Introduction: - Transformer oil is the constituent of hydro carbon
molecules. These molecules being in the bonding format remain intact to
certain temperature. Due to any reason if the temperature rises, then the
bonding splits and the molecules in gas form dissolves to the transformer oil.
Now as per the availability of the gas, the temperature and nature of fault
inside the transformer can be guessed. DGA can provide the indication of the
fault and expected nature to the transformer in the form of interpretation by
the rules as described in different methods. Few of such methodology have
been described below. Low energy faults, with less temperature split weak
H-C bonds, in which hydrogen remains as the main gas. Higher temperatures
are needed for splitting C-C bonds, results the evolution of gases like Ethane,
methane and ethylene, Acetylene.
1.2 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
1.2.1 DOERNENBURGE RATIO METHOD
SUGGESTED CH4/H2 C2H2/C2H4 C2H2/CH4 C2H6/C2H2
FAULT
DIAGNOSIS
Thermal > 1.0 < 0.75 <0.3 >0.4
Decomposition
Corona (Low <0.1 - <0.3 > 0.4
intensity P.D)
Arching (High >0.1 >0.75 >0.3 <0.4
intensity P.D) <1.0

1.2.2 ROGER’ S RATIO METHOD ( METHOD-1)

SUGGESTED FAULT C2H2/C2H4 CH4/H2 C2H4/C2H6
DIAGNOSIS
Normal 0.1to 1.0 < 0.1 <1.0
Low Energy Density <0.1 <0.1 <1.0
Arching
Arching 0.1 to 3.0 0.1 to 1.0 >3.0
(High intensity P.D)
Low Temp. Thermal <0.1 0.1 to 1.0 1.0 to 3.0
Thermal >700 0 c <0.1 >1.0 1.0 to 3.0
Thermal <700 0 c <0.1 >1.0 >3.0

1.2.3 ROGER’ S RATIO METHOD ( METHOD-1I)

SUGGESTED FAULT DIAGNOSIS CH4/ C2H6/ C2H4/C C2H2/
H2 CH4 2H6 C2H4
If CH4 /H2 <0.1, then P.D other wise Normal 0 0 0 0
Deterioration
Slight Over Heating Below 150 0 c 1 0 0 0
Slight Over Heating Below 150 0 c to 200 0 c 1 1 0 0
Slight Over Heating Below 200 0 c to 300 0 c 0 1 0 0
General Conductor Overheating 0 0 1 0
Circulating Currents / Overheated 1 0 1 0
Flashover without power flow urrent 0 0 0 1
Tap Changer selector breaking current 0 1 0 1
Arc with Power flow 0 0 1 1
REMARKS
Ratio <1.0 is taken as 0, Ratio >1.0 is taken as 1
A given Ratio can be taken for Diagnosis if the concentration of one gas is at least equal to the
limit values as below Value in ppm
H2=200, CH4= 50, C2H6=15, C2H4=60, C2H2=15

1.2.4 NEW GUIDE LINES AS PER CIGRE TASK FORCES

KEY RATIOS Values Possible fault
C2H2/C2H6 >1 Electrical Discharge
CH4/H2 >10 Partial discharge
C2H4/C2H6 >1 Thermal Fault
CO2/CO >10 Over Heating of Cellulose
<3 Degradation of Cellulose by Electrical fault

1.2.5 DGA INTERPRETATION AS PER ABOVE RATIO (CIGRE TASK

FORCE)
Ratio Possible Fault and Action
Code
K1 & R1 NO ACTION, TRANSFORMER IS PROBABLY HEALTHY
K2 & R2 TRNSFORMER MOST PROBABLY FAULTY, ADDITIONAL
ANALYSES NEEDED
K1 &R2 POSSIBLE INCIPIENT FAULT, ADDITIONAL ANALYSES NEEDED
K2 & R1 POSSIBILITY OF MORE THAN ONE FAULT, FURTHER
INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Code R1 for all the ratios are below the limits
Code R2 for any ratio is larger than the limit
Code K1, if any concentration of all gases below the limits
Code K2, if key concentration of at least one gas is higher than the limits

1.2.6 DGA INTERPRETATION AS PER IEC-60599/1999

1.2.6.1 Type of Faults and its Designations
Designations Meaning
PD Partial discharge:- Partial Discharge is a localized electrical discharge that
only partially ruptures the insulation with out causing
D Energy Discharge: - Due to over heating and problem, certain energy
discharges from the insulation and in turn deteriorates the same.
 T Thermal Fault: - Fault due to temperature, effect of Over heating.
D1 Discharges of low energy:- In oil or/and paper, evidenced by large
carbonized perforations through paper or carbon particles in oil
D2 Discharges of high energy: - In oil or/and paper, with power follow-
through, evidenced by extensive destruction and carbonization of paper.
Metal fusion at the discharge extremities, extensive carbonization of oil and
in some cases tripping of the equipment, confirming large current follow-
through
T1 Thermal faults in oil or/and paper, below 300 deg C
T2 Thermal faults in oil or/and paper, above 300 deg C
T3 Thermal faults in oil or/and paper, above 700 deg C if there is strong
evidence of carbonization of the oil

1.2.6.2 Co-Relation of Designation and Basic Gas ratio

Designation CHARACTERISTIC C2H2/C2H CH4/H C2H4/C2H
s S FAULT 4 2 6
PD PARTIAL <0.01 <0.1 <0.2
DISCHARGES
D1 DISCHARGES OF >1 0.1-0.5 >1
LOW ENERGY
D2 DISCHARGES OF 0.6-2.5 0.1-1.0 >2
HIGH ENERGY
T1 THERMAL FAULT- <0.01 >1 <1
T<300ºC
T2 THERMAL FAULT <0.1 >1 1- 4
300 ºC<T<700 ºC
T3 THERMAL FAULT <0.2 >1 4
T > 700ºC

1.2.7 KEY GAS METHOD

Sl SUGGESTED FAULT Major key gas Minor Key Gas
DIAGNOSIS
1. 1.Over Heating of Oil C2H4 > 150ppm C2 H6 (10-20%)
2.Thermal Degradation/ (60-70 %) C H4 (10-20%)
Decomposition of Oil
2. 1. Power Discharge H2 (60-70%), >100ppm CH4 (5-10 %),
2. Arching in Oil C2H4 (30-40 %), > 30 C2H4 (3 –5 %)
3. .Electric Discharge ppm C2H6 (1.5 – 3 %)
3 1.Internal Corona H2 (80 –90 %), > 100 CH4 (10-15 %),
2. Partial Discharge ppm C2H4 (0.1–0.5
%), C2H6 (0.5- 1.0
%)
 4 Hot spot in oil CH4 (50 –60 %) , > 50 H2 (40 – 60 %),
ppm C2H4 (0.1 – 0.5
%), C2H6 (0.5- 1.0
%)
5. 1. Over heating of Solid CO (90 –95 %) , > 350 H2 (5-10 %),
Insulation ppm C2H6 (1 –2 %),
2. Thermal ageing of oil CH4 (2 - 5 %)
6. 1. Arching in Cellulose CO (50 –60 %), > 350 H2, CH4, C2H2,
2. Decomposition of ppm C2H4, C2H6
Insulation CO2 ((50 –60 %), > 350 Rest %
ppm

1.2.8 MAJOR KEY GASES BY DECOMPOSITION OF CELLULOSE

AND OIL
Cellulose/Oil Temp. Conditions Key Gases
Oil Overheated 3000C to10000C Methane (CH4), Ethane
(C2H6) Ethylene(C2H4)
Organic acids
Oil Electrical stress (Partial discharge) Hydrogen (H2)
Arcing to 10000C Acetylene (C2H2)
Cellulose Overheated >1500C CO, CO2 and H2O

1.2.9 MAJOR KEY GASES AS PER THE FAULT CONDITION

Sl FAULT Conditions Key Gases
1 Thermal condition involving Methane, Ethane, Ethylene, and small amount of
the oil Acetylene
2 Partial Discharge Hydrogen, Methane and small amount of
Acetylene and Ethylene
3 Sustained arcing Hydrogen, Acetylene and Ethylene
4 Thermal condition involving Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide
the paper
5 Corona in Oil Hydrogen
6 Corona in Cellulose Hydrogen, Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide
LOW TEMP HIGH TEMP
7 PYROLYSIS in Oil CH4, C2H6 C2H4, H2 (CH4, C2H2)
8 PYROLYSIS in cellulose CO2 (CO) CO (CO2)

1.2.10 CIGRE Method (Electra No. 186, Oct 99) - Key gas concentration and
indication
Sl Characteristics gas Concentration ( ppm) Indications
1 C2H2 > 20 Power discharge
 2 H2 > 100 Partial discharge
3 ∑CxHy > 1000 Thermal fault
> 500
4 Cox > 10000 Cellulose degradation
Gas Concentration ratios
Sl Ratio Value Indication
1 C2H2/C2H6 >1 Discharge
2 H2/CH4 > 10 Partial discharge
CO2/CO > 10 Cellulose overheating
<3 Cellulose degradation
4 C2H2/H2 > 2 (with C2H2 > 30) Fault gases from OLTC

1.2.11 GAS SOLUBILTY IN OIL BY VOLUME AND

Gas %
Solubility
Hydrogen 7
Nitrogen 8.6
Carbon monoxide 9
Oxygen 16
Methane 30
Carbon dioxide 120
Ethane 280
Ethylene 280
Acetylene 400

1.2.12 METHOD RECOMMENDED BY (ETRA- Electra Technology

Research Association)
 1000
A: Arc Discharge
A B: Discharge
100 C: Partial discharge
C2H2 D: Overheating > 7000C
10 or heating + discharge
B E: Over heating < 3000C
C2H6 F: Over heating
1.0 3000C – 7000C
G: Overheating > 7000C
C D
0.1

0.01
E F G

0.1 1.0 4 10 100 1000

C2H4/C2H6

1.2.13 METHOD RECOMMENDED BY ( DUVAL’S TRINGLE)

1.2.14 DGA as per IEC 599 Method
Code of Range of Ratios
C2H2 CH4 C2H4
/C2H4 /H2 /C2H6
Ratios of Characteristic gases
< 0.1 0 1 0
0.1 – 1 1 0 0
1-3 1 2 1
>3 2 2 2
Case Typical examples
0 No fault 0 0 0 Normal ageing
1 PD of low energy density 0 0 0 Discharges in gas-filled cavities resulting from incomplete
impregnation
2 PD of high energy density 1 1 0 As above, but leading to tracking or perforation of solid
insulation
3 Discharges of low energy 1-2 0 1-2 Continuous sparking in oil between bad connections diff.
(See note 1) potential or to floating potential. Breakdown coils to earth.
4 Discharge of high energy 1 0 2 Discharges with power follow-through. Arcing –
breakdown of oil between windings or coils to earth.
5 Thermal fault of low temp. 0 0 1 General insulated conductor overheating
<1500C (See Note 2)
6 Thermal fault range 150–3000C. 0 2 0 Local overheating of the core due to concentration of flux.
(See note 3) Increasing hot spot temperatures; varying from small hot
7 Thermal fault ( 300 – 7000C 0 2 1 spots in core, shorting links in core, overheating of copper
8 Thermal fault > 7000C (See note 0 2 2 due to eddy currents, bad contacts/joints up to core and tank
4 circulating currents
Note1:- Ratio C2H2/C2H4 and C2H4/C2H6 to rise from a value between 0.1 and 3 to above 3 as the spark develops in intensity.
Note 2 :- Gases come mainly from the decomposition of the solid insulation; that explains the value of the ratio C2H4/C2H6.
Note 3 : Ratio CH4/H2 is normally about 1; the actual value above or below unity is dependent on many factors such as design of oil
preservation system, actual level of temperature and oil quality.
Note 4 :- An increasing value of the amount of C2H2 may indicate that the hot point temperature is higher than 10000C.
1.2.15 TOTAL DISSOLVED COMBUSTIBLE GAS LIMITS (TDCG)
TDCG LIMITS in ppm INTERPRETATIONS

(0 – 720) Satisfactory operation – Unless individual gas

acceptance values are exceeded
(721 – 1920) Normal Ageing / Slight Decomposition Unless
individual gas acceptance values are exceeded
(1921 – 4630) Significant Decomposition fault is to be monitored
>4630 Very Substantial decomposition of oil. Immediate
action to be taken

1.2.16 Acceptable limits of Dissolved Gasses ( As collected from different conferences)

Sl Gasses in ppm Age of Transformers in Years
0-5 6-10 11-15 >15
1 Hydrogen 100 100 100 100
2 Carbon Di-oxide 9000 9000 9000 15000
3 Carbon Monoxide 500 700 1500 1500
4 Methane 70 70 200 200
5 Ethane 40 40 200 200
6 Ethylene 40 100 200 200
7 Acetylene 10 10 20 50

1.2.17 Normal Practice of Sampling for DGA study

Periodicity Purpose

Just before the For initial record for the future comparison
commissioning/
Energisation
1 day after the charging Immediate response of the insulation and the materials
15 days after the charging Response of materials and insulation with loading of
the transformer.
3 Months after the Re-occurrence of gas and continuous monitoring of the
charging gas
Then after every 6 To maintain the data and response of gas evolution in
months/ one year the oil.
depending upon the
serious of gas
evolvement.