Taptrans Transformer Monitoring and Diagnostic System

General Information

Knowledge of the condition of transformers is essential for all electrical networks and on-line monitoring of transformers is an increasingly vital component of successful asset management program. The information provided by multi-gas-online DGA allows valuable asset capabilities to be maximised and expensive failures to be avoided.

Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) and moisture measurement of the insulation oil are recognised as the most important tests for condition assessment of transformers. Traditionally performed in a laboratory environment, TAPTRANS uniquely provides the capability as a single device to perform full on-line multi-gas DGA and moisture monitoring of a transformer main tank and on-load tap changer (OLTC), including both the selector and diverter tanks.

The TAPTRANS is designed for transformers with on-load tap changers (OLTC), which are recognised as being one of the most vulnerable parts of a transformer and which account for a large portion of unplanned outages and catastrophic failures. Full 9 gas DGA sampling can be performed as often as every hour on a single tank and up to once every three hours if all three possible oil tanks are connected. This includes monitoring of the 7 key gases gases (Hydrogen (H2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Methane (CH4), Acetylene (C2H2), Ethylene (C2H4), Ethane (C2H6), Carbon dioxide (CO2)) employed in all common diagnostic methods and TAPTRANS offers full gas in oil trending, analysis and diagnostic capabilities through its close integration with GE’s powerful Perception software suite and/or users own software, historian and SCADA systems. Therefore TAPTRANS uniquely provides asset managers with powerful insight into not only main transformer tank condition but also key OLTC parameters such as moisture level, current conductive system condition, mechanism timing characteristics, contact wear and insulation condition. The TAPTRANS is suitable for monitoring any oil filled transformer which has an OLTC, whether in-tank or on-tank, oil or vacuum tap, with a view to extending asset life, preventing unexpected failure and operating on a condition based / predictive maintenance schedule.

Taptrans unit requires no calibration or carrier gases.