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were performed by electrochemical This article describes the pros and

ABSTRACT
detection. Such methods are reliable, cons of electrochemical gas detection
In a previous article, gas chromatogra- accurate, and provide simple, low- for DGA.
phy was described as the most popu- cost, and fast responses to most mal-
lar method for Dissolved Gas Analysis functions. Despite these advantages, KEYWORDS:
(DGA) conducted in laboratories. In electromechanical detection has fall-
this article, we describe the estab- en out of favor over the last two dec- Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA), electro-
lished and prevalent DGA method for ades, giving way to new gas measure- chemical gas detection, DGA detectors,
online and portable devices. Over the ment methods. technology, comparative comparisons
last half-century, most DGA analyses

44 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 1 | 2024

 Marius GRISARU

DGA is not measurement nor a mathematical or software methodology,

it is rather a pure chemical method in the domain of analytical
chemistry

Electrochemical gas detection

for dissolved gas analysis
Introduction - Instrumental methods, considered and which measures current versus
modern: time, and voltammetry, which mea-
Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) is not an • Separation science, including chro- sures current as a function of ap-
electrical measurement nor a mathemat- matography and spectroscopy that plied voltage
ical or software methodology. DGA is a measures the interaction of mole-
pure chemical method in the domain of cules with electromagnetic radiation Instrumental methods and even a few
analytical chemistry. Analytical chem- • Spectroscopy, consisting of different classic methods are covered below.
istry is a distinct science that combines applications such as atomic absorp-
chemical principles with metrology tion spectroscopy, atomic emission Electrochemical DGA in oil detectors are
principles. spectroscopy, fluorescence spectros- described here.
copy, infrared spectroscopy, laser, and
Analytical chemistry is divided into two photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) The first real DGA online device was de-
primary categories: • Mass spectrometry veloped in Canada by Duval & Belanger
- Classical methods such as titration, • Electroanalytic techniques such as in 1977. It consisted of a fuel cell sensitive
gravimetric, qualitative and quantita- coulometric are used in water deter- to electron current emerging from redox
tive determination, and flame tests mination: for example, amperometry, classic reactions (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Principles and components for an electrochemical DGA online detector (1)

w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 45
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The first real DGA online device was con- sensitivities of four gases according to this
formula:
structed in 1977, and it consisted of a fuel
cell sensitive to electron current emerging H2 + yC2H2 +zC2H4 +xCO

from redox classic reactions where: x, y, and z are scaling factors.

• x: 15 ± 4 % of concentration
As shown in Figure 1, hydrogen gas in The basic device was developed commer- • y: 8 ± 2 % of concentration
oil diffuses through a thin Teflon® mem- cially for online and portable Hydran de- • z: 1.5 ± 0.5 % of concentration
brane and oxidizes electrochemically vices by Syprotec, Montréal, Canada. As
on a porous platinum electrode. This described in (2), carbon monoxide was HYDRAN technology is recognized
oxidation is coupled with the reduction added to hydrogen in the first stage and, by IEEE in Std. C57.104-1991 (3) as a
of oxygen from ambient air on a second later, ethylene and acetylene. Despite the method for monitoring incipient fault
electrode. The current produced in these fact that added gasses were detected at characteristics in power transformers.
reactions is measured by the voltage drop lower sensitivities than hydrogen, the de-
across a sense resistor. This voltage is then vice introduced the concept of measuring With the development of discrete single
amplified and displayed. one single value calculated from different and multiple DGA online devices over
the last two decades, users disparaged
Early online DGA devices introduced the the concept of composite gas detection
because it was impossible to distinguish
concept of measuring one single value between monitored gases. If the value
displayed by the device exceeded limits,
calculated from different sensitivities of it was impossible to observe if, for exam-
four gases ple, acetylene increased and a transformer

Figure 2. A portable, efficient, and reliable DGA device built with an electrochemical cell. Manufactured by Syprotec

46 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 1 | 2024

Figure 3. Three DGA online electrochemical detectors

suffered a severe fault condition or, rather,

CO increased, and it was not an emergency.
With the development of discrete single and
multiple DGA online devices over the last
As described in Table 1, inspired by
CIGRE TB 783, M1*, more information
two decades, users disparaged the concept
than M1 may cover other fault conditions of composite gas detection
than a single gas. In both cases of M1* and
M1, the operator must perform a com-
plete DGA at a lab or with an adequate • User friendly. No consumables re- • Reliable method partially standardized
portable device. quired. by IEEE C57.104 (3).
• More affordable than gas chromatograp­ • Rapid response: less than 8 minutes
hic and some spectrometric methods. for 90% step response, which offers
Benefits of the
• Well established maintenance periods greater assurance of rapid fault de-
electrochemical DGA and lifetime. tection. Faster response than the
technology • Free maintenance and calibration for majority of multi-gas online detec-
users. tors.
• The oldest and most popular technique • Robust and reliable technology for • Not sensitive to environmental condi-
for online and portable devices. almost 50 years. tions.

The electrochemical DGA technology has many benefits and some

rawbacks, yet it remains the most popular choice for conservative users
for online gas-in-oil detection

Table 1. Adapted from CIGRE Brochure 783, detector capability for instant diagnosis

Faults Possible to identify Gases measured Type of monitor Application

H2 CH4 C2H2 C2H6 C2H2 CO

M8 (M9) All the failures
CO2 O2 N2
M6 (M7) H2 CH4 C2H2 C2H6 C2H2 CO
Faults Diagnose
M5 H2 CH4 C2H2 C2H2 CO All failures except in paper

M3 CH4 C2H2 C2H2

None, only D1 & D2 on
M2 H2 CO their late stage, sometimes
Some faults detection catastrophic stage
M1 H2

Detections of most faults M1* H2 + yC2H2 +zC2H4 +x CO Most of critical faults

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Comprehensive knowledge of analytical References

chemical principles is invaluable when [1] G. Belanger and M. Duval, “Monitor
for Hydrogen Dissolved in Transformer
developing DGA devices and analysis Oil,” in IEEE Transactions on Electrical
Insulation, vol. EI-12, no. 5, pp. 334-340,
Oct. 1977, doi: 10.1109/TEI.1977.298039

Drawbacks of electrochemical the most popular choice for conservative [2] P. Gibeault and J. K. Kirkup, “Early
DGA technology users for online gas-in-oil detection. Yet, detection and continuous monitoring of
such devices cannot provide information dissolved key fault gases in transformers
• Capable of measuring only a few DGA about the type or cause of latent failures. and shunt reactors,” Proceedings: Electri-
gases: not enough for a complete diag- Despite the abundance of online DGA cal Electronics Insulation Conference and
nosis. technologies, users should always con- Electrical Manufacturing & Coil Winding
• Impossible to perform normal diagno- sider electrochemical DGA: it possesses Conference, Rosemont, IL, USA, 1995, pp.
sis methods. significant advantages such as de facto 285-293, doi: 10.1109/EEIC.1995.482378
• Relatively high detection limits for the standardization due to its legacy and reli-
low range of concentration-response. ability. [3] Transformers Committee. “Guide for
• Needs factory maintenance, between 5 the Interpretation of Gases Generated in
and 10 years, lower than the declared Like the preceding, even expensive online Oil-Immersed Transformers; IEEE Std C57.
maintenance periods of competitors. DGA devices that measure all DGA gases 104.” IEEE: New York, NY, USA (1991).
• High initial investment and periodic require human intervention for diagnosis
maintenance costs relative to competi­ and, in most emergency cases, confirma- [4] Korotcenkov, Ghenadii, Sang Do
tors. tion from an offline DGA device. Han, and Joseph R. Stetter. “Review of elec-
• Does not provide an instant alarm in trochemical hydrogen sensors.” Chemical
case of severe failure, as do other elec- Disclaimer: This column is not a rec- reviews 109.3 (2009): 1402-1433.
trical devices such as the Buchholz re- ommendation to use Hydran, elec-
lay. trochemical technology, or any other [5] Zylka, P., and B. Mazurek. “Rapid
for online DGA measurement. Each dissolved gas analysis by means of elec-
transformer user should consider the trochemical gas sensors.” Proceedings of
Recommended diagnosis by
most adequate needs for online DGA 2002 IEEE 14th International Confer-
electrochemical dissolved gas by specific needs, budget, and experts’ ence on Dielectric Liquids. ICDL 2002
detectors recommendations. (Cat. No. 02CH37319). IEEE, 2002.

Online Hydran detectors are useful for Table 2. Suggested limits for online Hydran technology
monitoring absolute values and trends.
Absolute value Trend value
Because it is the legacy technology on the Transformer age
(ppm) ppm/month)
market, enough experience has accumu-
lated to determine specific limits. Less than 1 year 50 20
1 – 5 years 100 10
Table 2 represents suggested limits for
More than 5 years 200 10
Hydran devices installed on power trans-
formers. Any excursions beyond these
limits require a complete DGA in the lab
or with a portable device. Regardless, us-
Author
ers must recognize that Hydran technol-
Marius Grisaru holds an MSc in Electro-Analytical
ogy is incapable of determining the root
Chemistry from the Israel Institute of Technology. He
cause of gas development.
has almost 30 years of intense experience in almost all
transformer oil test chains, from planning, sampling,
Fuel cells and Hydran are not the only
and diagnosis to recommendations and treatments,
electrochemical approaches for DGA
mainly in Israel but also in other parts of the world. He is
measurement. References (4) and (5) de-
responsible for establishing test strategies and procedures
scribe alternatives not yet commercially
and creating acceptance criteria for insulating liquids and
available.
materials based on current standardization and field experience. In addition,
he trains and educates electrical staff on insulating matrix issues from a
Conclusion chemical point of view. He is an active member of relevant Working Groups
of IEC, CIGRE, and a former member of ASTM. He is also the author and
Comprehensive knowledge of analytical co-author of many papers, CIGRE brochures, and presentations at prestigious
chemical principles is invaluable when international conferences on insulation oil tests, focusing on DGA, analytical
developing DGA devices and analysis. chemistry of insulating oil, and advantageous maintenance policy for oil and
Although out of favor in recent times, new transformers.
electrochemical DGA detection remains

48 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 1 | 2024