An impressive transformer assessment technology ready now!!

Input from Richard Breytenbach, South Africa:

• Mechanical changes in a transformer core structure can occur for many reasons but, as a group, may be correlated with the majority of the failure mechanisms of the transformer main tank.
• FRA has been used in the Industry for 10 years now identifying the winding structure of transformers as either a pro-active determination of possible risk of failure due to severe disturbances (e.g.: surge) or as a diagnostic tool following a significant event in the tank (e.g.; lighting strike, or transportation).
• FRA can identify and externally monitor the condition and mechanical integrity of transformer windings for short circuits, open circuits, various deformation processes of the core, winding insulation breakdown, loss of clamping pressure, and even issues in the LTC connections.
• Equipment for FRA testing is now low-cost, readily used in a repeatable and reliable fashion, and available with suitable presentation formats to permit adequate analysis on site.
• International standards are now being finalised to improve repeatability, CIGRE being one such group finalising such work for imminent release
• FRA is now viewed as a vital and practical transformer asset management and diagnostic tool.

A typical FRA testing connection to a transformer

An example of a modern FRA test set

Contact us for details on FRA equipment and software available.