Improvement of a tap changer condition-monitoring approach for predictive maintenance purposes

Such techniques include monitoring the moisture in the oil and the electric strength of the oil.

These are supplemented by defined periodic, offline, and intrusive interventions indicated in

[2]. This traditional approach has for a long time been the case for the South African utility for tap changers employed on large power transformers. The non-intrusive and online condition monitoring techniques have always been viewed as a great gain and are a desire of asset owners.

This is because they circumvent human error related risks while doing intrusive activities and require no down time, respectively.

The various external factors on the operations of various power grids across the globe continually compel for new solutions. Such solutions are aimed towards making these grids resilient to sudden and demanding challenges. Asset management has become topical and a strategic department in many organizations around the world. The aim is to maximize the service life and the availability of the asset while minimizing operational and maintenance costs. This paper first discusses the change in the asset management approach towards transformers, focusing on the tap changers, in the referred organization. It then introduces the condition monitoring technique to supplement the change, and using some case studies it discussed challenges, wins, and conclusions on the developed method. The paper charges that this improved method, although a great tool towards condition-based maintenance, still lacks the solid identification of the eminent problems. It does pick up a problem, but not what type of a problem and how advanced it is. It suggests that with further cases and as more data becomes available, it can be an improved and informative tool.