DGA Monitoring

Protect your transformer assets with real-time dissolved gas analysis for early fault detection

Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is an essential diagnostic tool for transformer health assessment and early fault detection. When electrical and thermal stresses occur within transformers, characteristic fault gases dissolve in the insulating oil – monitoring these gases provides vital early warning of developing problems.

Megger's online DGA monitoring solutions provide continuous, real-time insights into your transformer's condition by tracking key fault gases and moisture levels. This enables you to detect and identify potential issues, from low-energy partial discharge to critical arcing faults, at their earliest stages, before they develop into costly failures.

Megger DGA monitors help you to implement effective condition-based maintenance strategies, reduce unexpected downtime and extend transformer life.

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All Power transformer testing and monitoring DGA monitoring Multi-function transformer test systems Transformer insulation testing Insulating oil testing Transformer resistance testing Transformer short-circuit impedance Transformer turns ratio testing Transformer frequency response

InsuLogix® G2 acetylene, hydrogen, and moisture monitor

On-line dissolved gas analyser (DGA) for incipient and critical fault detection

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INCREASE SAFETY AND REDUCE RISK:

Dissolved gas analysis is one of the most effective ways to detect transformer faults in their earliest stages. Continuous monitoring of key fault gases allows critical issues to be identified before they escalate into dangerous failures. Megger's DGA monitoring solutions provide the sensitivity needed to protect personnel, prevent catastrophic transformer failures, and safeguard your valuable infrastructure.

BEST COST/BENEFIT RATIO:

Implementing online DGA monitoring delivers exceptional value by preventing costly unplanned outages and extending transformer life. By detecting faults in their earliest stages, DGA systems help avoid emergency repairs while reducing maintenance costs and optimising resource allocation. When the costs of potential transformer failure and replacement are considered, the return on investment is clear.

CLARIFICATION OF EMERGENCY LEVEL:

DGA monitoring differentiates between developing and critical transformer faults. This allows maintenance teams to prioritise responses, allocate resources appropriately, and reduce unnecessary oil sampling. Accurate fault severity assessment means that informed decisions can be made about whether immediate action is required or whether continued monitoring is sufficient.

CONFIDENT DECISION MAKING:

Real-time data on fault gas concentrations transforms complex analysis into actionable intelligence. Megger's DGA solutions deliver clear insights into transformer health, empowering operators to take well informed timely action. This confidence in decision making will help you to implement effective condition-based maintenance strategies while preventing disruptions and optimising the performance of your transformer fleet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of dissolved gas analysis (DGA)?

Much like a blood sample can shed light on a person’s health, DGA of transformer oil can provide information on past, historical events (faults) that have happened in a transformer as well as active conditions, evidenced by an increasing trend in fault gases. This information can then be used to diagnose, repair, and ultimately extend the life of the transformer.

How do I know when a problem is developing in my transformer?

Many look for rising, relevant gas increases. Oftentimes during loading, gas trends may go up, but they eventually settle, or level out. When an actual problem is in process, the gasses associated with the temperature change will continue to rise, providing the information needed to not only identify that a problem exists, but also the severity of the issue. For example, if a connection in the transformer becomes compromised, it will inevitably begin overheating. The severity of the overheating is reflected by the gas that generates at that specific temperature, such as acetylene which can begin generating at 500 deg. C+.

What types of faults can be detected by dissolved gas analysis (DGA)?

DGA can provide clues to indicate any of the fault types referred to in the IEEE (C57.104-2019) or IEC (60599) guides. These include partial discharge, thermal faults, and discharges in addition to fault subtypes such as stray gassing, overheating, carbonization, and catalytic reactions.

Can I eliminate my offline sampling if I use online DGA monitoring?

Use of online monitoring is not a replacement for offline sampling, it is a compliment to it. Though DGA monitoring can provide vital, actionable information in near real-time, there are many other pieces of information (witnesses) to be gathered from offline oil sampling that cannot be obtained from an online monitor. Items such as furanic compound count, acidity level, dielectric breakdown strength, and general oil quality to name a few. All of this information is important to optimize the maintenance plan for your transformer assets.

How can I justify the use of online DGA monitoring on my fleet of transformers?

Outside of the rare occasion of an extremely aggressive fault leading to a catastrophic failure of a transformer, the vast majority of failures are the result of an issue that intensifies over time. This intensification often takes days, weeks, or months. Online monitoring allows one to see an increasing trend in fault gas in a transformer which indicates an active condition, warranting investigation, and, in many cases, this leads to a repair/resolution of the issue, prolonging the life of the asset and preventing catastrophic failure, which could also lead to collateral damage including other equipment and, in some cases, personal injury…or worse.