In-Service Power Transformer Life Time Prospects: Review and Prospects

Abstract

Power transformers are essential assets in power system networks that must be meticulously monitored throughout their operational life cycle. Given that a substantial percentage of in-service power transformers around the world have reached the end of their projected technical lifespan, utilities are adopting various transformer condition-based maintenance strategies to minimize potentially devastating equipment failure. Thus, further usage of aging fleet of power system assets can be improved by gaining a better understanding of life threatening factors. In-service power transformers and their auxiliary components are susceptible to a variety of operational risks, which can compromise their performance and efficiency, thus resulting in devastating failures, financial losses, and power outages. Hence, it is necessary to investigate transformer life time issues so as to fully grasp the operational and performance status in order to reduce failures and operating costs. This paper presents a unified framework of attributes pertaining to life time issues for transformer operation evaluation together with a summary of recent findings in order to explore the current status and progress of this rapidly progressing field. The failure statistics analysis is presented first, followed by an examination of the transformer’s insulation degradation and aging mechanism. Furthermore, emphasis was on detailing the commonly adopted models and strategies in transformer condition evaluation, fault diagnostics, and remnant life estimation. Despite significant advancements in ascertaining transformer health diagnosis and prognosis technologies, including test accuracy, quick, precise fault localization, and fault type classification, there are still several shortcomings that require additional research, and thus future research perspectives are also discussed.