Increase of static electrification in an aged oil‐immersed transformer

Increase of static electrification activity and discharge generation was experienced during the service operation of an aged power transformer. The transformer oil had high sulfide and sulfoxide contents and was liable to show high ECT value after aging. However, there was no apparent increase in standard ECT (electrostatic charging tendency) measurement of the insulating oil and, therefore, deterioration of pressboard was suspected as the cause of the increase. The ECT tests with aged oil and pressboard sampled from the aged transformer were insufficient to demonstrate the increase in static electrification for the aged transformer. On the other hand, the results suggested a possibility that increase in static electrification can be caused by adsorption of some deterioration compound in the aged oil to the pressboard. In order to make more effective evaluation to the transformer insulation, potential measurement on the pressboard in the oil duct was carried out. The experimental results demonstrated strong increase of the accumulated charge by the aged pressboard, which suggested effectiveness of potential measurement for the assessment of static electrification in transformers. The device of potential measurement for practical use was designed by reducing the necessary amount of oil sampling. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 167(3): 10–19, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20789