H2scan Unveils Hydrogen Monitoring/Sensing Devices

Electrical transformers play an important role in all energy sectors by stepping up or down voltage levels to facilitate power distribution and usage. A transformer failure can lead to production halts, equipment damage, and financial losses. Regular monitoring helps detect potential issues like overheating or insulation breakdown, minimizing the risk of failure.  

H2scan has launched four products to enhance efficiency and performance in transformer monitoring and protection for utilities and industrial or commercial asset managers. These products aim to offer a solution to reliable performance monitoring.

Gridscan 6000 installed in a transformer. Image used courtesy of H2scan

Transforming Reliability With Hydrogen Monitoring

Understanding transformer health is crucial for reliably meeting customer needs and preventing the small yet disruptive risk of transformer explosions. 

Although electric transformers work on principles of electromagnetism, larger transformers still rely on insulating oil for cooling and electrical insulation. Unfortunately, using oil leads to hydrogen formation in electrical transformers due to insulating materials breaking down under electrical and thermal stress. 

Partial discharges are localized dielectric breakdowns under high voltage that can ionize the surrounding oil and generate hydrogen. Severe electrical discharges, such as arcing caused by insulation failure or defects, release intense energy that breaks down hydrocarbon chains in the insulating oil, producing hydrogen. 

Thermal decomposition also contributes significantly to hydrogen formation. Overheating from overloading, inadequate cooling, or localized hotspots leads to the thermal degradation of insulating oil and cellulose. Elevated temperatures break down the long-chain hydrocarbons in the oil, releasing hydrogen as a byproduct.

For years, dissolved gas analysis (DGA) has been the most dependable method for assessing the internal condition of oil-filled transformers. This technique involves extracting an oil sample from the unit, isolating the gases within the sample, and subjecting them to gas chromatography analysis. The chromatography results provide insights into various issues occurring within the transformer, offering valuable diagnostic information to the laboratory. However, this process is manual and time-consuming, considering the critical nature of some applications.

Transforming Transformer Maintenance

H2scan, a leader in hydrogen sensing and industrial monitoring solutions, has launched four new products to improve transformer monitoring and protection. These products include the Gridscan 6000 Multi-Sense Monitor, AO2 Control Hub, Sentinel Pro IoT Module, and H2cloud Fleet Monitoring Platform. 

The  Gridscan 6000 is the industry's only key gas monitoring solution measuring hydrogen, moisture, pressure, and temperature in one unit. This integration enables grid operators to access real-time, continuous data for assessing transformer health. The solution meets all relevant global monitoring standards for transformer installations with a hydrogen measurement range of 25 to 5000 ppm, an accuracy of ±20%, and an operating temperature of up to 125°C. 

Gridscan 6000. Image used courtesy of H2scan

The H2Scan AO2 Control Hub enhances transformer monitoring by integrating seamlessly with H2Scan's Gridscan 5000 and Gridscan 6000 hydrogen sensors. It maximizes asset condition visibility by providing local display functionality and supporting external sensors for load current and top oil temperature. It adds local alarming relay contacts, offers broad connectivity, including IoT/SCADA readiness, and displays hydrogen gassing trends.

The Sentinel PRO offers cloud-based access to transformer fleet data, integrating H2scan's GRIDSCAN monitors for real-time asset health insights. Online DGA, moisture, temperature, and pressure monitoring also measures electrical power quality, detecting harmonic distortions that can cause transformer issues. 

H2cloud Fleet Monitoring Platform. Image used courtesy of H2scan

H2cloud is a cloud-based platform that integrates data from H2scan's Gridscan sensors to provide real-time centralized intelligence for monitoring the transformer fleet. It alerts asset managers to potential failures before they occur, optimizing transformer lifecycles and prioritizing predictive maintenance.

Moving Transformer Health Management Forward

H2scan's hydrogen monitoring and sensing solutions represent a step forward in transformer health management. These solutions address the challenges of hydrogen formation and offer a comprehensive approach to detecting and mitigating potential issues before they lead to costly disruptions. As energy demand continues to rise, the ability to monitor transformer health accurately and continuously becomes increasingly crucial. With H2scan's cutting-edge technology, the power and energy industries can achieve improved operational safety, optimized asset management, and a more intelligent, responsive grid.