Transformer Monitoring

Reduce Transformer damage and downtime with MIMTIS based condition monitoring

Transformers are a vital part of the transmission and distribution system. Monitoring transformers online with MIMTIS for problems, before they occur, can prevent faults that are costly to repair and result in a loss of service. MIMTIS continually monitors the operating condition and changes in performance of transformers and provides information about the state of a transformer.

MIMTIS advanced alarm engine immediately notifies information on developing problems to the appropriate personnel in your organization via interactive web HMI or email. This information can be utilized to avoid dangerous and costly failures, while optimizing maintenance schedules and extending the life of your transformers. Using MIMTIS suite of advanced tools for diagnostic analysis, you can improve the bottom line through the optimization of your transformer management strategy.

Transformer condition monitoring solution benefits

Improve transformer reliability and minimize downtime
Maximize transformer life with maintenance activity to address abnormal operation
Safely maximize normal loading without damaging insulation or reducing transformer life
Provides true dynamic loading capability
Perform aging analysis of insulation
Minimize condition monitoring costs through unified monitoring of various parameters for the entire transformer
Integrate with your facility's computerized maintenance management software (CMMS)

Learn more about MIMTIS for smarter condition monitoring ››

Request a pilot »

Have a consultant contact me

Evaluate purchase options

Request technical support

View MIMTIS-TM brochure

Cooling Protection

Measure cooling system performance and ambient temperature.

Overload Protection

Measure and record loading of your transformers and prevent overloading.

Thermal Protection

Measure and record thermal loading of transformers, export data for thermal aging calculation.

Core and coil protection

Measure gas levels directly with sensors or through Buchholz relay.

OLTC protection (Optional)

Monitor OLTC operations for incipient faults.

Cooling Protection

Oil level

It is essential that the oil level in the conservator is maintained above pre-determines minimum level for transformer cooling to work effectively. MIMTIS continuously measure oil level in the conservator and raises an alarm when level falls below minimum recommended.

Ambient temperature

Ambient temperature is an important factor for determining the cooling requirements of a transformer. MIMTIS can continuously monitor ambient temperature and raise alarm, if temperature requires additional cooling fans can be switched on.

Overload Protection

MIMTIS helps monitor and log overloading of transformers; the data can be used in co-relation with winding and oil temperature for understanding loading behavior of transformers. Sudden overloading of the transformers can also provide indication of sudden failure of the part of the system. MIMTIS enables you to monitor and control the following parameters:

Voltage, Current, Frequency
Active Power, Apparent Power, Power Factor
Active Power Angle, Tan Phi, Cos Phi
Remote operation LBS or MCCB

Thermal Protection

Loading capability of power transformers is limited mainly by winding and oil temperature. The temperature of solid insulation is the main factor of transformer aging. With temperature and time, the mechanical property of paper such as tensile strength and elasticity degrades. Eventually the paper become brittle and is not capable of withstanding short circuit forces. This situation defines the end of transformer life. Dielectric constant of the mineral oil also begins to degrade at higher than normal winding and oil temperature. MIMTIS helps extend the transformer life while providing emergency overloading capabilities by continuous monitoring of oil and winding hot spot temperature. The historical trends in data can be used to calculate aging acceleration due to hot spots, and predict life of transformers.

Core and coil protection

Moisture in oil

Transformers solid insulation showing more than 2% water content, incurs an additional risk when operating at high temperature. These moisture bubbles may move with the oil flow, or get trapped in the winding and in both cases create a threat for insulation breakdown. High concentration of water in the oil indicates insulation degradation and that it will degrade more quickly in the future due to increased presence of water in the oil. Water in the oil is also a sign that the mineral oil itself is deteriorating. It is reported that 4 % water content in paper for example increases the ageing rate by a factor of about 20. Measurement of oil humidity is recommended in particular for transformers which are already aged or operate usually at high oil temperatures, because accurate calculation of ageing rate requires the input of moisture content. MIMTIS allows you to monitor water activity online, this provides an instantaneous reading and will alarm if any danger of free water formation is about to occur.

Dissolved gas

Most faults in an oil filled Transformer are accompanied by the generation of gas. There are two different techniques that can be used to monitor gas formation with MIMTIS:

Using Buchholz relay - MIMTIS allows you to monitor Buchholz relay output. The system raises an alarm in case of activation of relay in case of:

Gas accumulation when free gas is available in the insulating liquid
Insulating liquid loss due to leakage
Rapid gas formation during major faults

Dissolved gas analysis – MIMTIS allows you to monitor dissolved gas online with choice of proper gas sensor. This helps in monitoring the overall health of a transformer. As various faults develop, it is known that different gases are generated. MIMTIS enables integration of sensors for individual gases like H2, CO, C2H2, C2H4 and O2.

OLTC protection (Optional feature)

An important component of a power transformer and also a frequent reason for severe failures is the on-load tap changer. MIMTIS allows recordings of the tap changer position and the operating current; this helps in determining the number of tap switching operations and the total switched current. OLTC failures are often dominated by mechanical faults in nature. Mechanical and control problems can be detected by measurement of the power consumption of the OLTC drive, because additional friction, extended changer operation times and other abnormalities have a significant influence on the drive current. MIMTIS records an event of the power consumption during each tap changing process and can be analyzed by evaluation of characteristic parameters for any defects.