3600

T. Piotrowski et al.: Analysis of Excessive Hydrogen Generation in Transformers in Service

Analysis of Excessive Hydrogen Generation

in Transformers in Service
Tomasz Piotrowski, Pawel Rozga
Lodz University of Technology
Institute of Electrical Power Engineering
Stefanowskiego 18/22
90-924 Lodz, Poland
and Ryszard Kozak
Zrew-Transformers SA
Rokicinska 144
92-412 Lodz, Poland

ABSTRACT
The paper concerns the case study of a group of oil power transformers in which, on the basis of
the measurements of concentration of gases dissolved in oil, excessive generation of hydrogen was
noticed. Analysis performed using the ratio method proposed by IEC 60599 standard, and the
Duval triangle method, identified partial discharge (PD) generation in the transformer units
considered. Deepened analysis indicated however that such a diagnosis may by false and
excessive hydrogen generation is a result of stray gassing. Additional studies such as the
measurements of partial discharge intensity using acoustic emission method as well as internal
inspection and factory tests (including PD measurements using electrical method) of selected
units seem to confirm this hypothesis. However, taking into account the recommendations
described in CIGRE brochure 296, lack of compatibility of constructional materials with the oil
used in the analyzed group of transformers is also probable. Finally, this may be concluded that
assessment of the results of the DGA needs to be carried out carefully when an increase in the
concentration of hydrogen in the transformers in service is observed. An unambiguous
determination of the cause of the fault cannot be indicated only on the basis of basic analysis.
Some other, more specific analyses and tests should be used.

Index Terms Dissolved gas analysis, hydrogen generation, partial discharges,

power transformers, Duval triangles.

1 INTRODUCTION
DISSOLVED gas analysis (DGA) is a commonly used
method allowing for detection of defects of a thermal and
electrical origin in transformers with oil-paper insulation. Each
type of the defects (breakdowns, partial discharges or thermal
faults) generates, as a result of decomposition of oil and paper
insulation, characteristic pattern of gases. Electrical discharges in
oil lead to the generation of large amounts of hydrogen (H2) and
acetylene (C2H2). If the defect comprises the cellulose insulation,
carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are also
generated. In the case of partial discharges in oil, large quantities
of hydrogen and methane (CH4) are formed. If the partial
discharges occur in the oil-impregnated cellulose insulation,
small amounts of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide may be
measured. The type and amount of gases generated as a result of
thermal degradation of oil depend on the temperature of the fault.
As temperature increases, hydrocarbons are generated in
Manuscript received on 8 April 2015, in final form 3 June 2015, accepted
29 June 2015.

sequence: methane ethane ethylene acetylene. The

hydrogen concentration is low in that case. Thermal
decomposition of cellulose is associated with generation of large
amounts of carbon monoxide and lesser amounts of carbon
dioxide [1-14].
Publications [8, 9, 12, 13] have also indicated the possibility of
occurrence of gases in transformer oil that are not the products
either the aging processes of cellulose-oil insulation or the
decomposition of this insulation due to internal faults of
transformer. An attempt to interpret the gas concentration
measured in the above mentioned cases may lead to the incorrect
conclusions, indicating the occurrence of partial discharges or
low-temperature thermal faults in the transformer tested.
Generally the following causes of gas generation due to reasons
other than internal faults or aging of the insulation are mentioned:
- the catalytic reactions of oil with stainless steel and other
metals,
- lack of compatibility between the constructional materials
(resins, pressboards, lacquers, rubbers) and oil - among the
mentioned materials special emphasis should be focused on the

DOI: 10.1109/TDEI.2015.005347

IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 22, No. 6; December 2015

lacquers which are initially the sources of the gases which then
react catalytically with the oil,
- the existence of hydrogen in stainless steel as a result of the
absorption of hydrogen during the production process or
treatment (hydrogen may be released and infiltrate to the oil
during exploitation phase).
CIGRE brochure 296 [7] has brought the attention of
transformer industry to the concept of stray gassing reported
since late '90. According to this concept stray gassing may appear
in the transformer oil when some types of mineral oils are heated
to the temperature of 90 C - 200 C. At the temperature of 120
C the primary stray gas is H2 and in a smaller amount CH4.
However, at the temperature of 200 C the main gases are CH4,
C2H6 and in a smaller amount H2 and C2H2. The mechanism of
formation of stray gases has not been satisfactorily explained. As
the possible cause of the generation of these gases are listed the
oil oxidation, the weaker chemical structures of oil after the
refining process or the usage of oil hydro-refining. This latter
process is used in the case of uninhibited oils in order to limit
their oxidation and thus their aging. Generally, it has been
recognized that the specific properties of the oil are the main
causes of stray gassing [4, 6, 7].
This article presents the analysis of the case study concerning
a group of oil power transformers in service. For this group, the
dissolved gas analysis was performed using the ratio method
proposed by the IEC 60599 standard and the Duval triangle
method. This analysis indicated that partial discharges may be a
potential cause of excessive hydrogen generation. For this reason
the obtained results of gas concentrations were analyzed further
using the auxiliary Duval triangles. This analysis indicated other
possible cause of excessive hydrogen generation than internal
faults - stray gassing. Additionally performed studies carried out
for the analyzed group of transformers such as the measurement
of partial discharge intensity using acoustic emission method,
internal inspection of selected units as well as the factory tests
performed in accordance with the current standards (withstand
voltage tests, induced voltage tests with partial discharge
measurement, lightning impulse voltage tests, no-load and load
losses), confirmed lack of partial discharges in the insulating
systems of the transformers considered. Additional analysis of
the results obtained, taking into account the set of
recommendations included in the CIGRE brochure 296,
indicated incompatibilities of the materials used as an alternative
to stray gassing source of excessive hydrogen generation.

2 STATE OF THE ART

A simple criterion, allowing to distinguish between partial
discharges occurring in the transformer and false signals being a
result of stray gassing or gases of origin from the catalytic
reactions, is the verification of the range, in which the value of
CH4/H2 ratio is contained [7]. The numerical ranges used as well
as the cause of gas formation are presented in Table 1.
Other, more complicated computationally criterion is the
method proposed by Duval [10]. This method uses two triangles
for low-temperature faults (called by the author as triangle 4 and

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triangle 5 respectively), and these triangles complement the

basic version of the well-known and widely used triangle.
Table 1. Criterion for distinguish the stray gassing, gases arising as a result of
catalytic reactions and gases caused by partial discharges [7].
Cause of gas
formation
Stray gassing of oil:
- at 120 C
- at 200 C
Partial discharges
Catalytic reactions

Generated gases

CH4/H2

H2, CH4, C2H6

C2H6, CH4, H2
H2, CH4
H2

0.15 1
> 0.4
0.02 0.14
< 0.02

For stray gassing oils, the diagnosis obtained using a basic

version of the Duval triangle may indicate the occurrence of a
PD type fault, T1 type fault (thermal fault of T < 300 C) or T2
type fault (thermal fault of 300 C < T < 700 C). Thus, in order
to clarify possible uncertainties, the Duval triangles 4 and 5
should be used (but only when one of the above mentioned
diagnoses is obtained). The Duval triangle 4 is based on the
following gases: H2, CH4 and C2H6. For each of these gases its
individual percentage share in the total concentration is
determined in accordance with the rules given by the formula (1).

%H 2

100 H 2
H 2 CH 4 C2 H 6

%CH 4

100 CH 4
H 2 CH 4 C2 H 6

%C2 H 6

(1)

100 C2 H 6
H 2 CH 4 C2 H 6

The calculated values of %H2, %CH4, %C2H6 indicate one

of the zones in the triangle. Thus information on the cause of
gas generation may be finally obtained. This cause may be
partial discharges - marked in the triangle as PD, stray gassing
- marked as S, hot points with paper charring (T > 300 C) marked as C and overheating (T < 250 C) - marked as O. The
values of the boundaries for the evaluation of the distinctive
zones are set in Table 2. In addition, the location of these
zones inside the triangle is shown in Figure 1.
The Duval triangle 5 uses different gases than those in the
triangle 4, namely: CH4, C2H4 and C2H6. For each of these
gases the individual percentage share in the total concentration
is determined according to the analogous rules, as those
defined in formula (1). An algorithm designed to obtain
information about the cause of the gas generation is similar to
the one which has been described above. The cause of gas
generation may be however: partial discharges - zone marked
as PD, stray gassing - zone marked as S, hot points with paper
charring (T > 300 C) - zone marked as C, overheating (T <
250 C) - zone marked as O and thermal failure of very high
temperature (T > 700 C) - zone marked as T3. As in the case
of Duval triangle 4 the values of the boundaries of the zones
for the triangle 5 are set in Table 3 while location of the zones
inside this triangle is shown in Figure 2.

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T. Piotrowski et al.: Analysis of Excessive Hydrogen Generation in Transformers in Service

Table 2. Boundaries of the zones in the Duval triangle 4 considering H2, CH4
and C2H6 [10].
Zone identifier
PD
S
C
O

Values of zone boundaries [%]

%CH4 = 2, CH4 = 15,
%C2H6 = 1
%C2H6 = 44, %C2H6 = 24, %C2H6 = 1,
%H2 = 9,
%CH4 = 36, %CH4 = 15, %CH4 = 2
%CH4 = 36,
%C2H6 = 24
%H2 = 9,
%C2H6 = 24

3 CASE STUDY
After few years in service of the group of identical oil
power transformers (63 MVA, 110 kV) produced at the same
time and filled with the same type of mineral uninhibited
naphthenic oil (Nytro Taurus), sudden increase of hydrogen
concentration was observed. The results of subsequent
measurements for four selected transformers from the group
are presented in the form of chart in Figure 3.

Figure 1. Location of the zones in the Duval triangle 4 considering H2, CH4
and C2H6.
Table 3. Boundaries of the zones in the Duval triangle 5 considering CH4,
C2H4, C2H6 [10].
Zone identifier
PD
S
C
O
T3

Values of zone boundaries [%]

%C2H4 = 1,
%C2H6 = 15
%C2H6 = 53, %C2H6 = 15,
%C2H4 = 10
%C2H4 = 10, %C2H4 = 35,
%C2H6 = 30
%C2H4 = 10, %C2H4 = 1,
%C2H6 = 53, %C2H6 = 15
%C2H4 = 35

Figure 3. Hydrogen concentration in ppm for the selected transformer units

from analyzed group.

Figure 2. Location of the zones in the Duval triangle 5 considering CH4, C2H4
and C2H6 [10].

Time of measurements was specified in months starting

from the last measurement (month 0), for which the individual
hydrogen concentration did not exceed the limit recommended
in [12] for system transformers. This limit for the transformers

IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 22, No. 6; December 2015

with OLTC (On Load Tap Changer), which is marked on the

Figure as a horizontal line, is specified as 500 ppm.
In addition, the measured values of concentrations of other
typical gases also showed an upward trend and in one case
(transformer marked "d" in Figure 4) characteristic limit
values for C2H6 and CH4 were also exceeded. In Tables 4 and
5 the gas concentrations obtained for two extreme units from
the considered group (marked as "c" and "d" in Figure 4) are
presented respectively. These examples are analyzed in details
later in this paper.
Table 4. Concentration in ppm of gases dissolved in oil of analyzed
transformer "c".
Time in
months
0
15
39
44
45
46
47
48
49

H2

C2H2

C2H4

C2H6

CH4

CO

CO2

0
1208.2
1074.3
746.8
1529.4
1322.8
1549.5
1568.8
1543.9

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3.7
3

0
3
2.8
1.9
2.4
2.2
2.6
4.6
6.1

0
66.9
125.9
122.8
146.8
151.7
148.8
148.1
141.2

0
1.6
4.7
4
4.9
4.2
4.6
4.6
5.6

1.4
39.7
44.4
45.1
50.5
48.4
48.4
52.6
51.6

56.6
965.6
1408.2
1407.6
1524.1
1509.4
1344.6
1468.8
1413.2

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Table 7. Results of failure nature determination for analyzed transformer "d".

Time in
months
25
30
31
32
33
34

Ratio method (IEC 60599)

Duval Triangle method

Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges

Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Thermal fault T < 300C

For the last measurement (49th and 34th month respectively)

the basic Duval triangle with marked zone of type of the fault
(T1 type fault - thermal fault of T < 300 C) was quoted in
Figures 4 and 5 for considered cases "c" and "d" respectively.

Table 5. Concentration in ppm of gases dissolved in oil of analyzed

transformer "d".
Time in
months
0
25
30
31
32
33
34

H2

C2H2

C2H4

C2H6

CH4

CO

CO2

0.0
6388.6
6387.6
7501.6
7467.4
7647.8
7471.5

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

0.0
3.3
2.6
3.1
3.1
12.3
13.2

0.0
327.8
333.3
392.1
399.3
410.2
409.7

0.0
507.7
498.6
601.2
603.5
617.1
634.8

3.0
59.8
56.8
64.6
65.1
61.2
64.0

76.9
2380.9
2430.5
2579.7
2587.6
2303.0
2322.9

Figure 4. Location of fault on the basis of basic version of Duval triangle for
the latest measurement in transformer "c" (49th month).

The nature of the potential fault, based on the

recommendations described in [8], was determined only for
these measurements, for which exceeding of the typical values
of the measured gas concentrations were stated. Hence, on the
basis of the data from Tables 4 and 5, the diagnoses as in
Tables 6 and 7 were obtained.
Table 6. Results of failure nature determination for analyzed transformer "c".
Time in
months
15
39
44
45
46
47
48
49

Ratio method (IEC 60599)

Partial discharges
Partial discharges /
Thermal fault *
Partial discharges /
Thermal fault *
Partial discharges
Partial discharges /
Thermal fault *
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges

Duval Triangle method

Thermal fault T < 300C
Thermal fault T < 300C
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Partial discharges
Thermal fault T < 300C
Thermal fault T < 300C

* Result obtained on the basis of simplified version of ratio method. Full version did not allow for
identification the nature of fault

Figure 5. Location of fault on the basis of basic version of Duval triangle for
the latest measurement in transformer "d" (34th month).

A ratio method based on the IEC 60559 standard and/or the

method of the Duval triangle indicated that the partial
discharges or thermal faults were the potential faults occurring
in the considered transformer units. Similar diagnoses were
also obtained for the rest of the transformers from the
analyzed group. On the basis of [11], the type and the level of
intensification of partial discharges were determined and in all
the cases the same result (early stage of surface partial
discharges) was indicated. However, this result should be

3604

T. Piotrowski et al.: Analysis of Excessive Hydrogen Generation in Transformers in Service

interpreted with caution. The reason for this is a fact that when
the diagnostic methods indicate the possibility of occurrence
in transformer the partial discharges or low-temperature
overheating, it is desirable to consider whether the cause of
gas generation is not a result of catalytic reactions or existing
of stray gases among them the dominant gas is hydrogen [69].
Such a consideration was conducted for the analyzed group
of transformers using two methods. First method based on the
relationships between CH4 and H2 [7] while second on the
auxiliary Duval triangles [10]. The results of the analysis of
relationship between methane and hydrogen for both
transformers analyzed and for the distinctive measurements
are shown in Tables 8 and 9. In all the cases a PD diagnosis
was indicated because CH4 to H2 ratio was in each case in the
range between 0.02 and 0.14.
Table 8. Interpretation of observed ratios of methane to hydrogen on the basis
of IEC 60559 standard.
Time in months

Values of CH4/H2

Interpretation

15

0.090

PD

39

0.109

PD

44

0.139

PD

45

0.088

PD

46

0.104

PD

47

0.088

PD

48

0.091

PD

49

0.090

PD

Table 9. Interpretation of observed ratios of methane to hydrogen on the basis

of IEC 60559 standard
Time in months

Values of CH4/H2

Interpretation

25

0.079

PD

30

0.078

PD

31

0.080

PD

32

0.081

PD

33

0.081

PD

34

0.085

PD

Table 11. Interpretation of the measurement results of gas concentrations

using auxiliary Duval triangles for transformer "d".
Time in months

Version of auxiliary Duval triangle

T4 (H2, CH4, C2H6)

T5 (CH4, C2H4, C2H6)

25

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

30

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

31

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

32

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

33

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

34

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

Figures from 6 to 9 present respectively the method of

interpretation of gas concentrations for the latest
measurements (49th and 34th month respectively) using both
auxiliary Duval triangles. The appropriate percentage of the
individual components in the triangles was for transformer "c"
in the first auxiliary Duval triangle: %CH4 = 7.65, %H2 =
84.62, %C2H6 = 7.74, and in the second auxiliary Duval
triangle: %CH4 = 48.64%, %C2H4 = 2.13%, %C2H6 = 49.23%,
while for transformer "d" in the first auxiliary Duval triangle:
%CH4 = 7.45, %H2 = 87.73, %C2H6 = 4.81, and in the second
auxiliary Duval triangle: %CH4 = 60.02%, %C2H4 = 1.25,
%C2H6 = 38.73%. In all the Figures letter S means zone
concerning the diagnosis "stray gassing".
From presented analysis this may be concluded that the
relationship between CH4 and H2 demonstrates that partial
discharges may be still a potential failure in the power
transformers considered. However, analysis based on the
auxiliary Duval triangles indicated on stray gassing being a
result of other causes than the internal faults. In such situation,
when dissolved gas analysis does not give a straight answer
about the cause of excessive hydrogen generation, conducting
the measurements of partial discharge intensity in the power
transformers considered was recommended in order to extend
the knowledge needed. The same recommendations concerned
other units from the group analyzed.

The results of conducted analysis of the measured gas

concentrations using triangles the 4 and 5 (referred to later as T4
and T5) proposed by Duval are presented in Tables 10 and 11.
Table 10. Interpretation of the measurement results of gas concentrations
using auxiliary Duval triangles for transformer "c".
Time in months

Version of auxiliary Duval triangle

T4 (H2, CH4, C2H6)

T5 (CH4, C2H4, C2H6)

15

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

39

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

44

Stray gassing

Overheating (T < 250C)

45

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

46

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

47

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

48

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

49

Stray gassing

Stray gassing

Figure 6. Location of failure in the first auxiliary Duval triangle (called

triangle 4) for the latest measurement (49th month) for transformer "c".

IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 22, No. 6; December 2015

3605

operation of the transformers in their stations (both unit "c" and

"d" was measured) [15-17]. The choice of this method was
dictated by the fact that it may give the results quite fast without
the need to turning off the transformers from operation.
However the downside of this method is that it may detect only
intensively affecting partial discharges. Figure 10 presents
location of 42 sensors on the housing of the transformer tank
during the individual measurement. All the sensors continuously
recorded the acoustic signals emitted by the potential sources of
acoustic energy originating from the unit under test [17].
For the transformers analyzed, each of the 42 sensors
registered identical time and two-dimensional spectrograms
representing the power density of acoustic emission signals
generated during operation of the transformer tested. None of
them showed the partial discharge generation in the internal
insulating system - the signals were free of interferences.
Figure 7. Location of failure in the second auxiliary Duval triangle (called
triangle 5) for the latest measurement (49th month) for transformer "c".

Figure 8. Location of failure in the second auxiliary Duval triangle (called

triangle 4) for the latest measurement (34th month) for transformer "d".

Figure 10. Localization of the sensors on the housing of the transformer tank
intended to the PD measurement using acoustic method.

One of such the spectrograms recorded for transformer "c"

was presented as an example in Figure 11.

Figure 9. Location of failure in the second auxiliary Duval triangle (called

triangle 5) for the latest measurement (34th month) for transformer "d".

The measurements of PD intensity were performed firstly

on-site using the acoustic emission (AE) method during normal

Figure 11. Time and two-dimensional spectrogram of power density of

acoustic emission signals registered in selected measurement point.

3606

T. Piotrowski et al.: Analysis of Excessive Hydrogen Generation in Transformers in Service

Lack of partial discharges from the measurements performed

using AE method during normal operation of transformers
remained a valid the hypothesis concerning hydrogen generation as
a result of the faults other than partial discharges.
The next step verifying the possible occurrence of partial
discharges was an internal inspection made in order to assess
the changes in the insulating system of the transformer which
might be possible to observe. There were no anomalies in this
system arising from the PD impact or thermal faults for the
representative units selected.
However this must be said that AE-based partial
discharge measurements and internal inspection are not the
methods that may be used as a definite proof of partial
discharge absence in the insulation of power transformer in
service. These methods may detect only some obvious cases
of the discharges of high energies. Other types of discharges
such as for example the low energy partial discharges located
deep within a core-coil assembly cannot be found. Thus, the
final point of the analysis was to perform the factory tests
identical to the tests commonly performed for the new units.
Nevertheless, taking into account the role of the transformers
considered in the power system and inability to opt them out
of service, only selected units might be tested on the factory
high voltage test station. For the cases analyzed the following
tests were performed:
- lightning impulse test to verify resistance against the
impulses being a result of atmospheric overvoltages,
- withstand voltage test - in order to verify deterioration
of the main insulation of the transformers,
- induced voltage test with partial discharge measurement
using electrical method - in order to verify deterioration of the
longitudinal insulation of the transformers and possibility of
partial discharge occurrence,
- load and no-load loss measurement.
In each case there were no deviations in the results
obtained in comparison to the tests performed as the
acceptance tests before commissioning the transformers. All
the voltage tests were passed (there was no voltage collapse
when supplying voltage) and electrical method of partial
discharge measurements did not indicate any disturbances in
the recorded PD patterns informing about discharge ignition.
These patterns were free of the pulses from the developing
partial discharges, so their presentation was omitted. The
measured losses were also similar to the losses from
acceptance tests.
Finally, the results obtained were set with the results
presented in [7] concerning the stray gassing oils of different
types. The typical stray gassing test results at 120 C and 200
C for Nytro type and other Nynas oils (about 200-300 ppm of
H2) were several times lower than the actual values of
hydrogen concentrations obtained for the considered group of
the transformers in service. However, in other point of
publication [7] it indicates that correlation between the test
results and gassing of oils in transformers in service must be
treated with reserve.
Thus, this may be supposed on this basis that the catalytic
reactions of oil with stainless steel and other metals or lack of
compatibility between the constructional materials and oil might

be the potential sources of hydrogen in the transformers analyzed

just as the thermal stray gassing of oil itself.

4 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The analysis of gas concentrations conducted for the group
of oil power transformers filled by uninhibited Nytro Taurus
oil allowed the following conclusions.
The ratio method described in standard IEC 60559 and the
Duval triangle method indicated that increase of hydrogen
concentration in the oil volume, coming from the considered
group of oil power transformers, is a result of partial discharges
and/or thermal faults. When the used diagnostic methods indicate
the partial discharges or low-temperature overheating, it is
required the consideration whether the cause of gas generation is
not a result of catalytic reactions or occurrence of stray gases
with hydrogen as a dominant. It is particularly important when
considering a group of the devices manufactured in similar time
where probability of PD generation in all the units at the same
time is practically impossible.
In order to verify this conjecture, additional analysis of
CH4/H2 relationship was performed and the auxiliary Duval
triangles were used. In the case of the Duval triangles the
obtained results changed the preliminary hypothesis and
indicated on the stray gassing. It is therefore conceivable that
generation of gases (especially hydrogen) may be caused by
other phenomena than above mentioned fault in the form of
partial discharges.
Hypothesis on hydrogen generation due to the causes other
than partial discharges remained valid after the measurements
of partial discharge intensity using acoustic emission method.
These measurements, performed on-site, did not detect the
partial discharges in the internal insulating system of the
power transformers considered.
The hypothesis was additionally strengthened by the results
of internal inspection of selected units and the set of the
factory tests among which the special emphasis was focused
on partial discharge measurements using electrical method.
Both these types of the studies confirmed no anomalies in the
insulating system of the transformers being able to result from
the PD impact or thermal faults.
Comparison of the results of analysis of the gases dissolved
in oil of the power transformers considered with the results of
the typical stray gassing tests indicated in turn that stray
gassing does not have to be the main cause of excessive
hydrogen generation. Incompatibility of the materials used in
the transformer manufacturing may be equally productive
source of gas formation with hydrogen as a dominant.
This may be therefore concluded successfully that the
assessment of the results of the DGA needs to be carried out
carefully when we observe an increase in the concentration of
hydrogen in the transformers tested. An unambiguous
determination of the cause of the fault cannot be indicated
only on the basis of basic analysis. Some other, more specific
analysis, such as the ones performed in presented case study,
should be used before the transformers with a higher level of
hydrogen will be excluded from operation.

IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Vol. 22, No. 6; December 2015

It is important to notice that in the similar cases to these

described in this paper, conducting the subsequent DGA
measurements in shorter time than routine testing is
recommended in order to observe possible rate of rise of the
gases dissolved in oil.
On the basis of observations collected, the possibility of the
studies of cooperation of the distinctive materials constituting
the individual components of the transformer with the oil used
seems to be important. The generation of stray gases may just
be the result of the lack of compatibility of the materials used.
Such tests have just been planned by the authors of this paper
and will be carried out in the near future.

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comparative study of neural network efficiency in power transformers
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[2] M. Duval, A review of faults detectable by gas-in-oil analysis in
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Tomasz Piotrowski was born in Lodz, Poland in
1965. He received his M.Sc. degree from the Lodz
University of Technology, Poland in 1991 and the
Ph.D. degree from the Lodz University of Technology,
Poland in 2001, both in electrical engineering. He is
lecturer and research fellow at the Institute of
Electrical Power Engineering of Lodz University of
Technology. His research interests are diagnostics of
insulation of power transformers, mathematical
statistics and artificial intelligence.
Pawel Rozga (M11-SM13) was born in Kielce,
Poland in 1979. He received his M.Sc. degree from the
Kielce University of Technology, Poland in 2003 and
the Ph.D. degree from the Lodz University of
Technology, Poland in 2009, both in electrical
engineering. He has been working at Institute of
Electrical Power Engineering of Lodz University of
Technology as an Assistant Professor. During his
work, he spent 6 months as a Visiting Professor at High Voltage Laboratory of
Mississippi State University, USA and 3 months as a Visiting Researcher at
Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland. His areas of work are
dielectric liquids, partial discharges, mathematical statistics and measurement
techniques in high voltage engineering.
Ryszard Kozak was born in Dzierzoniow, Poland in
1968. He received his M.Sc. degree from the Lodz
University of Technology, Poland in 2000 in electrical
engineering. He has been working at ZREWTransformers SA, Lodz, Poland as an engineer in the
area of testing, diagnosis and monitoring of high
voltage power transformers. He is an expert in
diagnostics of power transformers both using on-line
and off-line methods.