Unlocked by Ergon: Insulating liquids testing – lesson #2 – Review of available conventional literature, guides, and standards for oil testing

This is the second lesson of the Insulating liquids test course titled Review of available conventional literature, guides, and standards for oil testing.

The session coves the importance of transformer oil testing, emphasizing the need for accurate judgment of test results. Key points include the necessity of oil with acceptable dielectric properties and the significance of dissolved gas analysis. The discussion highlights the evolution of oil standards, noting that 30% of transformer life cannot be determined from oil tests alone. The session also covered the differences between various oil standards, the impact of additives, and the importance of regular oil testing and treatment to prolong transformer life. Specific tests like breakdown voltage, electric dissipation factor, and oxidation stability were also discussed.

This lessons covers the following topics:

● Main available standards, guides, and references for transformer oil testing

● All liquid types

● Similarities and varieties among major national & international standards and guides

● Why do we have different groups of tests and limits in the different standards?

The next session will cover descriptions of relevant standards for oil tests and specifications, including:

ASTM D3487 and IEEE C57.106 for American/International standardization.
IEC 60296 and IEC 60422 for European/International standardization.
The standards for main oil tests will be presented and briefly explained. Additionally, the history of key standards will be discussed, including ISO 17025, focusing on whether to pursue accreditation and the pros and cons of this process.

The primary takeaway will be guidance on selecting the most appropriate standards for users conducting oil tests and for oil test service providers.

Content of this lesson is fully vendor agnostic but it is sponsored by Ergon.