Air Leak Detection in Transformers Can Reap the Benefits of Measuring Total Gas Pressure

Air leaks can be a massive problem for businesses. Not only do they waste energy, but they can also be dangerous. Many people try to find and fix air leaks themselves because wasted air means wasted energy, but this can be difficult and time-consuming.

Nevertheless, businesses could soon be able to develop a new way of detecting air leaks in their transformers.

Traditional Methods of Air Leak Detection

There are many traditional methods of air leak detection. These methods include using smoke, bubbles, or a listening device.

While each of these methods has its benefits, they all have drawbacks. For example, using smoke to detect air leaks can be dangerous and it’s challenging to see the leaks in dark areas. Bubbles can be ineffective if the air leak is minimal. And a listening device can only detect leaks that are loud enough to be heard.

Air leaks have traditionally been detected by measuring oxygen and nitrogen levels from standard dissolved gas analysis (DGA) oil samples. However, the challenge with sampling at the transformer site, followed by transportation and handling of the samples, is the risk of sample contamination with ambient air.

Even though some monitors have integrated oxygen measurement and nitrogen levels are calculated based on the oxygen values, those calculations cannot consider that such calculated nitrogen values are valid for free-breathing transformers only — not for sealed transformers.

This means that if you have a sealed transformer, the calculated nitrogen level may be much higher than what is present in the transformer oil. In this case, relying on DGA results to determine whether you have an air leak could lead to inaccurate conclusions.

Transformers Air Leak Detection New Approach

Transformers offer an alternative approach to detecting air leaks with total gas pressure (TGP). Transformers can detect air leaks because they produce an electromagnetic field (EMF) that varies depending on the amount of air present in the transformer.

This method of air leak detection is not only more reliable than traditional DGA methods, but it is also easier and faster to use. In addition, transformer-based air leak detection can be used for both sealed and free-breathing transformers.

If you’re looking for a more reliable way to detect air leaks in your facility, consider using transformers as your go-to method. Not only is this approach more accurate than traditional DGA methods, but it is also faster and easier to use.

Also read: An Important Step Towards Sustainability With The Proper Management of Business Electricity

Advantages of Transformer-based Air Leak Detection

When it comes to finding and fixing air leaks, companies will ‌do so with sealed power transformers. A new product brought to the market by a weather, industrial measurement and environment company will comprise a sealed power transformer being able to detect air ingress.

The benefit from this is that measuring total gas pressure (TGP) will indicate if a nitrogen blanketed transformer’s cylinder is empty; this is something that a usual oxygen measurement would be unable to detect easily.

Conclusion

Transformers offer an alternative approach to detecting air leaks that is more reliable than traditional DGA methods. Transformer-based air leak detection can be used for both sealed and free-breathing transformers, making it a versatile option for any facility.

If you’re looking for a more reliable way to detect air leaks in your facility that has transformers, ensure to measure the total gas pressure.