DISSOLVED GAS ANALYSIS

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Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA)

Standard Test Method for Analysis of Gases Dissolved in Electrical
Insulating Oil by Gas Chromatography, ASTM D3612

The primary use of dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is as a routine

monitoring oil test for electrical equipment. Incipient fault conditions
disruptions in the normal electrical and mechanical operation of
electrical equipment cause the oil to break down, generating
combustible gases. The profile of those gases can be interpreted to
diagnose whether fault conditions exist, and how severe those faults
may be. DGA is also used to determine the concentration of dissolved
atmospheric gases (oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide) so that the
operation of oil preservation systems such as conservators, continuous
nitrogen systems, and nitrogen blankets can be evaluated.

Gas content of new oil installed in equipment is frequently run.

Appropriate operation of new equipment may require an extremely low
gas content in the newly installed oil a typical specification value is
0.5% (5000 ppm) by volume of total gas dissolved in the oil. There are
several methods for running this (ASTM D831, D1827, D2945), but a
complete DGA by method D3612 gives a more useful result. Not only
does the test quantify the total gas in ppm (the conversion to % can be
easily done), it also tells which gases are present and in what quantities.
DGA is also performed on samples drawn during factory heat runs (and
sometimes during factory electrical testing) to monitor the integrity of
newly manufactured units. Similarly, most installations of new, large
transformers require close monitoring by DGA during the first days,
weeks, and months of operation.
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ASTM D3612 - 02(2009) Standard Test Method for Analysis of Gases

Dissolved in Electrical Insulating Oil by Gas Chromatography

Significance and Use

Oil and oil-immersed electrical insulation materials may decompose
under the influence of thermal and electrical stresses, and in doing so,
generate gaseous decomposition products of varying composition which
dissolve in the oil. The nature and amount of the individual component
gases that may be recovered and analyzed may be indicative of the type
and degree of the abnormality responsible for the gas generation. The
rate of gas generation and changes in concentration of specific gases
over time are also used to evaluate the condition of the electric
apparatus.
Note 1Guidelines for the interpretation of gas-in-oil data are given in
IEEE C57.104.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers three procedures for extraction and
measurement of gases dissolved in electrical insulating oil having a
viscosity of 20 cSt (100 SUS) or less at 40C (104F), and the
identification and determination of the individual component gases
extracted. Other methods have been used to perform this analysis.
1.2 The individual component gases that may be identified and
determined include:

HydrogenH2

EthaneC2H6

OxygenO2

EthyleneC2H4

NitrogenN2

AcetyleneC2H2

Carbon monoxideCO

PropaneC3H8

Carbon dioxideCO2

PropyleneC3H6

MethaneCH4

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For
specific warning statements see 6.1.8, 30.2.2 and 30.3.1.