Insulating oil database

For several years, VUM has been using a database to provide the best possible support for customers and to help with maintenance decisions for equipment filled with insulating oil. In particular, the database shows its benefit through the consistent data storage of all analyzed devices, which enables us to determine the typical aging behavior of individual device classes (e.g. converter type of a specific year of construction) and to assess sister devices based on this.

In high-voltage devices that are filled with insulating liquids, various fission or decomposition gases are formed as a result of electrical and thermal faults. The individual concentrations of the gases dissolved in the insulating liquid can be determined using gas-in-oil analyzes (DGA). The volume of the individual fission gases produced and their proportion in the gas mixture is determined by the type of fault, the energy converted at the fault location and the temperatures reached. In recent decades, various interpretation schemes have been developed to derive the type of faults present in electrical equipment filled with mineral oil from such gas patterns. Popular schemes include the interpretation tables according to EN 60599 and the Duval triangle (see graphic below).

Characteristics of the insulating oil database

• Data merging: direct collection of sampling data, improved data basis for analyses
• Analysis options: threshold value violations at a glance, quotient calculations (according to Müller-Soldner-Schliesing, Rogers refined, Dörnenburg, EN 60599, IEEE status code), evaluations according to Duval, gas increase rates, measurement data development for high-voltage devices, graphic representations, deepening of expert knowledge
• Customized reporting: automated reports, individual report templates, overview of the equipment park status, key figures and visualizations, detailed reports (e.g. test reports, works lists, overview of measures, sampling planning)

A major advantage of the database application is the targeted planning of replacement investments or maintenance measures. The extensive measurement data is the basis for an efficient device evaluation and, in addition to minimizing the risk of failure, also indirectly supports the security of supply in the energy industry.

The insulating oil database is constantly being further developed.