Diagnostics and monitoring of power transformers

It is important to understand the differences between monitoring and diagnostics. Monitoring uses sensors to provide raw data and warning signals from the equipment under study. This is on-line, inexpensive and, importantly, able to be retrofitted. The analysis of the obtained data is through a diagnostic package. Diagnostics are the more important part of the equipment as this analyses the data and provides management and strategy information. The diagnostic package is high-tech, competence intensive, off-line and higher cost. ABB's development of monitoring and diagnostic equipment is to meet customer requirements and add value to that customer's business. The expectation of increased efficiency and performance in Utilities today requires that less time and expense is used in evaluating the status of individual transformers and the transformer population is used in a more efficient manner without compromising their long-term life expectancy. In order to help-in this operational environment a package of equipment has been developed to carry out evaluations, report results and predictions to a central position. This equipment package is briefly outlined. (2 pages)