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Advances in Electrical Engineering Systems (AEES) 152
Vol. 1, No. 3, 2012, ISSN 2167-633X
Copyright © World Science Publisher, United States
www.worldsciencepublisher.org

Dissolved Gas Analysis as a Diagnostic Tools for Early

Detection of Transformer Faults
Sherif S. M. Ghoneim1, 2, IEEE Member, Sayed A. Ward3
1
Canal Suez University, Suez, Egypt
2
Taif University-Taif- KSA
3
Benha University- Benha- Egypt
E-mail: ghoneim_sherif2003@yahoo.com

Abstract- Transformers is a device on which cost effective supply of electricity mostly depends. Hence, to manage the
life of transformers, to reduce failures and to extend the life of transformer, some measures are being adopted. Dissolved
gas-in-oil analysis (DGA) is a common practice in transformer fault diagnosis. Some classical methods that depend on
gases concentration in transformers oils are used to interpret transformer faults such as Dornenberg, Rogers, Duval
triangle and key gases methods. These methods in some cases did not give the same results; therefore, an expertise
method is developed to give the fault type according to the dissolved gases concentration in oil. A software code is
designed using logic functions to get the type of the faults in transformers. Comparing the results from this software with
the real laboratory cases as well as some cases in literatures is developed. The results explain the validation of software
to detect the fault in transformer.
Key words: Dissolved gases analysis; Transformer oil; Interpretation of transformer faults.

1. Introduction some cases from previous literatures were used to

The cost of unplanned outages can be reduced by the
early detection of such internal faults in transformer. The
interpretation of transformer faults using dissolved gases
analysis is produced using some techniques that assumed
by Dornenberg, Rogers, Duval triangle and key gases
methods [1-5].
Dissolved gas analysis is the most important test in
determining the condition of a transformer. It is the first
indicator of a problem and can identify deteriorating
insulation and oil, over heating hot spots, partial discharge
and arcing. Dissolved gas analysis is made on the basis of
the standard IEC60599 [6] and IEEEC 57-104TM [7]
standards. A four condition DGA guide to classify risks to
transformers with no previous problems has been published
in the standard IEEE C57- 104TM.
Several artificial intelligence methods such as Fuzzy
Logic and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) were
developed as a technique to interpret the faults in
transformer [8-15].
In this paper an expertise method based upon the
dissolved gases analysis (DGA) techniques is developed.
Based on the interpretation of the classical techniques to
the cause of transformer faults according to the gases
concentration in oil transformer, an expertise system is
suggested to give the cause of the transformer fault with
the aid of logic functions that is used as in Fuzzy and
Neural Network. A lot of real cases of analyzing the
dissolved gases were collected and used to illustrate the
validity of the proposed expertise method. In addition,
compare their results with the proposed method’s results.
2. Classical methods to diagnose transformer
faults
When thermal or electrical stresses, which affect the
insulating oil and cellulose material in transformers, are
higher than the normal permissible value, then certain
combustible gases, referred as fault gases, started to be
produced inside the transformer. The most significant
fault gases produced by oil decomposition are H 2
(Hydrogen), C 2 H 6 (Ethane), C 2 H 4 (Ethylene) and C 2 H 2
(Acetylene) as well as Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ) which produce from decomposition of
insulated paper (Cellulose). The type of the faults
[corona, arcing discharge (both electrical faults) and
overheating (thermal fault)] as well as their severity, play
an important role in producing different combustible
gases.
Based on DGA, many interpretative methods have
been introduced to diagnose the nature of the incipient
deterioration occurred in transformer.
Over the years, several techniques have been
developed to facilitate the diagnoses of fault gases such as
Dornenberg method [5], Roger's ratio method [3], Key
gases method [5, 16], and Duval Triangle method [4] as
well as the recently developed techniques such as neural
network and fuzzy logic.
Sherif S. M. Ghoneim & Sayed A. Ward, AEES, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 152-156, 2012 153

2.1. Key gases method R 4 =C 2 H 6 /C 2 H 2 .

A flow chart that describes step by step procedure to
The key gas method interprets the incipient faults in identify the reason behind transformer faults, is found in
transformer according to some significant gases to assign [5].
four typical fault types. These gases are called “key
gases” [5] which are shown in Fig. 1.
2.3. Roger's ratio method
Overheated Cellulose
100
80
This method was further modified into an IEC standard
60
[3], [18]. The original Rogers ratio method uses four gas
%

40
ratios which are CH 4 /H 2 , C 2 H 6 /CH 4 , C 2 H 4 /C 2 H 6 and
20
C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 4 for diagnosis. The refined Rogers method
0 uses two tables: one defined the code of the ratio, and the
CO H2 CH4 C2H6 C2H2 C2H2 other defined the diagnosis rule. The ratio C 2 H 6 /CH 4
Gases only indicated a limited temperature range of
(a) decomposition, but did not assist in further identification
of fault. Therefore, in IEC standard 599, the further
Overheated Oil
100 development of Roger's ratio method, was deleted.
80 Roger's ratio method and IEC 599 have gained popularity
60 in industrial practices. However, it may give no
%

40 conclusion in some cases. This is the "no decision"

20 problem.
0
CO H2 CH4 C2H6 C2H2 C2H2 2.4. Duval triangle method
Gases

(b) The Duval Triangle was first developed in 1974[19].

Three hydrocarbon gases only (CH 4 , C 2 H 4 and C 2 H 2 ) are
Arcing in Oil
100 only used. These three gases are generated as a result of
80 increasing the level of energy necessary to generate gases
60 in transformers in service. Figure 2 indicates the Triangle
%

40 method. In addition to the 6 zones of individual faults

20 (PD, D1, D2, T1, T2 or T3), an intermediate zone DT has
0 been attributed to mixtures of electrical and thermal faults
CO H2 CH4 C2H6 C2H2 C2H2 in the transformer.
Gases PD
(c) T1
Corona in Oil
100 T2
%
4
H

C2
C

80
H4
%

60
D1 D2 DT
%

40
T3
20

0
CO H2 CH4 C2H6 C2H2 C2H2
Gases
%C2H2
(d)
Fig. 1: Key gas method and four typical faults Fig.2: Duval triangle as a diagnostic tool to detect the incipient faults in
transformer.
(T1 the zone of low thermal fault <300oC, T2 the zone of medium
2.2. Dornenburg ratio method thermal fault 300oC<T<700oC, T3 the zone of high thermal fault
>700oC, D1 discharge of low energy arcing, D2 discharge of high
energy arcing, DT attributes to mixtures of electrical and thermal faults
The Dornenburg method utilizes four calculated gas and PD indicates partial discharge)
ratios to indicate a single fault type from three general
fault types. This procedure requires significant levels of 3. Decision Tree as an Expertise Method
the gases to the present in order for the diagnosis to be
valid. The four ratios and their diagnosis values are given
[17]. Dornenburg method uses five individual gases or When four classical methods of transformer fault
four-key gas ratios, which are:- diagnosis such as Key gas method, Dronenberg method,
R 1 =CH 4 /H 2 , Roger's method and Duval triangle method are applied to
R 2 =C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 4 , interpret the cause of the fault in transformer, conflicts
R 3 =C 2 H 2 /CH 4 , may occur. To overcome this problem a decision fault
Sherif S. M. Ghoneim & Sayed A. Ward, AEES, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 152-156, 2012 154

tree is developed which contains the information between

different faults types. Every fault type takes a number to
help us to get the main cause of the transformer fault.
This is shown in Figure 3.

Fault type

No Fault Fault No Fault Identify

0 1 2

Discharge Thermal
7 3

Partial Arcing <300oC >300 and >700oC Fig. 5: The final report
8 11 4 <700oC 6
5 Figure 6 illustrates the flow chart that used to determine
the main cause of the fault using if statement and logic
functions. It depends on the code from the decision tree
Low High Low High Thermal Cellulose
14 fault.
9 10 12 13
Fig. 3: Decision fault tree

A software code in excel sheet is developed using the

logic function to get transformer fault from the four
classical method that mentioned before, the results
depend on the combustible gases that arise when fault
occurs in transformer. After determining the fault type
from these methods, the program decides the incipient
fault type.
Figure 4 explain the form of the excel sheet that is used to
explain the main fault in transformer and Figure 5
illustrates the final report.

Fig. 6: Flow chart to determine the main cause of the transformer fault

4. Fault Type in Transformers According to

Gas Concentration

Some oil samples are taken from real transformers which

are in operation to carry out the study. In table 1, the
results by the expertise method with that take from the
chemical lab is explained. Figure 7 shows the results of
Fig. 4: The excel sheet that use to give the main cause of transform fault case 1 as in table 1.
Sherif S. M. Ghoneim & Sayed A. Ward, AEES, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 152-156, 2012 155

Table 1: Comparison between the expertise method results and lab Table 2: Comparison between the expertise method results and results
results in literatures
CASE 1 2 3 4 5 CASE Sample 2 in Example 2 Case in [11] Case III in
H2 191 154 36 86 10 [20] in [21] [22]
CH 4 47 11 245 187 24 H2 59 206 769 127
C2H2 0.0001 3 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 CH 4 93 42 999 24
C2H4 15 8 332 363 24 C2H2 1 221 31 81
C2H6 43 14 144 136 372 C2H4 6 82 1599 32
CO 634 487 538 26 343 C2H6 89 16 234 0.0001
CO 2 6623 3395 2326 198 2583 CO 736 334 - 0.0001
LAB. Therm. Disch. of Therm. Therm. Thermal CO 2 1519 3432 - 2024
RES. 300-700 high >700oC >700oC 300-700 LAB. Therm. Arcing Thermal fault Arcing not
o o
C energy C RES. decomp. Disch. with involve
EXP. Med. High High High Med. temp.>700oC cellulose
METH. thermal arcing thermal thermal thermal EXP. Low therm. High High thermal High
fault discharge fault fault fault METH. fault arcing fault arcing
disch. disch.

Fig. 8: Software results for sample 2 in [3]

Fig. 7: Software results for case 1
It is seen from the table that, when the C 2 H 2 is
increased above 2, the expected fault in transformer is
arcing discharge as in case 2. In cases 1 and 3, the
dominant gases are CH 4 and C 2 H 6 , hence the expected
fault is medium thermal fault. The high thermal fault is
expected when CH 4 and C 2 H 4 are the dominant gases.
The results explain that the reliability of the expertise
method to detect the actual fault in transformer as the
laboratory does.
5. Comparison between the Expertise
Method and other Methods in Literatures
Table 2 shows that the comparison between the results
from the software code based on expertise method and the
results from other methods in literatures.
Figure 8 shows the result from the software code for
sample 2 in [20].
Table 2 explains also the reliability and validation of
the proposed expertise method for detecting the inception
faults in transformer based on DGA.
6. Conclusions
The results from different cases under study reveal that
the proposed technique (expertise method) is reliable to
use as a diagnostic tools to detect the fault in transformer
in its early stage. The conclusions from the real cases
explain that the nature of the insulating materials involved
in the fault and the nature of the fault itself affect on
distribution of dissolved gases. Based on The results from
the software code and the lab results, we see that the
software code is reliable to diagnosis the transformer fault
based on the gas concentrations. The results from the
software code have a good agreement with the previous
conventional methods for the fault detection in
transformers.
References
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[2] IEC Publication 599, Interpretation of the Analysis of Gases in
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 Sherif S. M. Ghoneim & Sayed A. Ward, AEES, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 152-156, 2012
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