Transformadores de potência são equipamentos essenciais no sistema elétrico de potência, alterando os níveis de tensão para interligar os sistemas de geração, transmissão e distribuição de energia elétrica. Neste trabalho são relacionados e descritos os principais modos de falha normalmente verificados em transformadores, associados ao levantamento estatístico que compõe um banco de dados elaborado a partir de perícias realizadas entre os anos de 2.000 e 2.008 para companhias seguradoras. É apresentada e desenvolvida uma análise de falhas verificadas em cerca de uma centena de transformadores com diferentes tipos de aplicação, classes de tensão e níveis de potência. O objetivo do estudo é contribuir com um melhor entendimento de causas de falhas e os tipos de transformadores mais suscetíveis a cada uma delas. / Power transformers are essential equipment in the electric system by changing the voltage levels in order to connect generation, transmission and distribution systems of electric energy. In this study are related and described the most common failure modes in transformers, associated with the statistical statement that makes up a database developed from expertise held between the years 2000 and 2008 for insurance companies. It is presented and developed an analysis of failures found in around a hundred transformers with different types of application, classes of voltage and power levels. The objective of the study is to contribute to a better understanding of the causes of failures and the transformers types most susceptible to each one.

Transformadores de potência são equipamentos essenciais no sistema elétrico de potência, alterando os níveis de tensão para interligar os sistemas de geração, transmissão e distribuição de energia elétrica. Neste trabalho são relacionados e descritos os principais modos de falha normalmente verificados em transformadores, associados ao levantamento estatístico que compõe um banco de dados elaborado a partir de perícias realizadas entre os anos de 2.000 e 2.008 para companhias seguradoras. É apresentada e desenvolvida uma análise de falhas verificadas em cerca de uma centena de transformadores com diferentes tipos de aplicação, classes de tensão e níveis de potência. O objetivo do estudo é contribuir com um melhor entendimento de causas de falhas e os tipos de transformadores mais suscetíveis a cada uma delas. / Power transformers are essential equipment in the electric system by changing the voltage levels in order to connect generation, transmission and distribution systems of electric energy. In this study are related and described the most common failure modes in transformers, associated with the statistical statement that makes up a database developed from expertise held between the years 2000 and 2008 for insurance companies. It is presented and developed an analysis of failures found in around a hundred transformers with different types of application, classes of voltage and power levels. The objective of the study is to contribute to a better understanding of the causes of failures and the transformers types most susceptible to each one.

The power transformer is a critical equipment in which the protection process is essential for modern societies where continuous electric power supplies are required. Copper corrosion problems due to the formation of sulfur deposits on the copper windings of mineral oil-filled power transformers are considered a major issue that can lead to sudden failures, and in some cases, to costly fire and explosion accidents in the power plants. These kinds of problems are still being reported regardless of available condition monitoring (CM) parameters applied in power transformers' maintenance strategy. The currently applied CM parameters are based on three different types of technologies. The first is oil analysis focuses more on measurable variables such as measuring the concentration of the corrosive sulfur compounds in the insulating oil, evaluating the oil's capability to form sulfur deposits, and measuring an increase in the concentration of specific gases. The second is on-site electrical testing focuses on the variation of the transformer's electrical properties due to the sulfur deposits. The measurable variables used in the electrical testing are Frequency Domain Spectroscopy test and Polarization/Depolarization Current test. The last is online sensor technology using Corrosive Sulfur Sensor, where the sensor's outcome data provide information about the oil's capability to form sulfur deposits. The research problem addressed is how to establish more effective CM parameters for early detection of copper corrosion problems.  The research problem is divided into three concretized research problems: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the currently applied condition monitoring parameters? Which measurable variables could be utilized to improve the currently applied condition monitoring parameters to be more effective for early detection of copper corrosion problems? And how to establish a procedure for the condition monitoring for detecting copper corrosion? Two research methodologies were applied to answer these questions, literature review and experimental work. The literature review showed significant gaps in the currently applied CM parameters for early detection of copper corrosion problems due to incomplete data of the corrosion reaction mechanism. Therefore, qualitative and quantitative investigations in the experimental work were carried out. The most important result was finding new relevant measurable variables, i.e. hydrogen sulfide gas and toluene compound, which are by-products of corrosion reaction. These measurable variables are utilized to establish more effective CM parameters for early detection of copper corrosion problems. The main conclusion of this thesis is the importance of detection corrosion problems in the initial stage by implementing more effective CM parameters to prevent catastrophic and costly failures, reduce the negative impacts on human life and the environment, and save the economic losses. Another conclusion is the importance of regularly following the measurable variables' uptrend during transformer useful life to avoid incorrect evaluation of corrosion conditions.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi de fazer a modelagem por meio de sistemas de inferência fuzzy da concentração dos gases dissolvidos em óleo mineral isolante à partir dos resultados de ensaios físico-químicos. Dessa forma, objetivou-se estender as técnicas de identificação de falhas em transformadores por meio da análise dos ensaios físico-químicos do óleo isolante. Para tanto adotou-se um mapeamento entre os dados de ensaios físico-químicos e de cromatografia gasosa feito por meio de sistemas de inferência fuzzy. Assim, por meio de resultados de ensaios físico-químicos, como cor, densidade, unidade, entre outro, tem-se uma estimativa da concentração dos gases dissolvidos no óleo mineral isolante do transformador. Assim, torna-se possível empregar técnicas de identificação de falhas baseadas na concentração dos gases dissolvidos, mas, valendo-se dos dados de ensaios físico-químicos.O sistema proposto foi validado por meio de dados reais e os resultados alcançados são compatíveis com aqueles obtidos por meio das técnicas convencionais. / The objective of this work was to do a modeling using the inference fuzzy system of the concentration of dissolved gases in insulating mineral oil getting from the physical-chemical results. The idea was to understand the techniques to identify failures on transformers by analyzing the physical-chemical results of the insulating mineral oil.To do that, the data from physical-chemical results and chromatographic results was mapped using the inference fuzzy system. So, by the results of the physical-chemical experiment such as color, density, humidity and so on, its possible to have a estimation of the concentration of dissolved gases in insulating mineral oil. Therefore, its possible to implement techniques to identify failures based on the concentration of dissolved gases using physical-chemical techniques.The propose system was validated by real data. The results using physical-chemical techniques were similar with the results using conventional techniques.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi de fazer a modelagem por meio de sistemas de inferência fuzzy da concentração dos gases dissolvidos em óleo mineral isolante à partir dos resultados de ensaios físico-químicos. Dessa forma, objetivou-se estender as técnicas de identificação de falhas em transformadores por meio da análise dos ensaios físico-químicos do óleo isolante. Para tanto adotou-se um mapeamento entre os dados de ensaios físico-químicos e de cromatografia gasosa feito por meio de sistemas de inferência fuzzy. Assim, por meio de resultados de ensaios físico-químicos, como cor, densidade, unidade, entre outro, tem-se uma estimativa da concentração dos gases dissolvidos no óleo mineral isolante do transformador. Assim, torna-se possível empregar técnicas de identificação de falhas baseadas na concentração dos gases dissolvidos, mas, valendo-se dos dados de ensaios físico-químicos.O sistema proposto foi validado por meio de dados reais e os resultados alcançados são compatíveis com aqueles obtidos por meio das técnicas convencionais. / The objective of this work was to do a modeling using the inference fuzzy system of the concentration of dissolved gases in insulating mineral oil getting from the physical-chemical results. The idea was to understand the techniques to identify failures on transformers by analyzing the physical-chemical results of the insulating mineral oil.To do that, the data from physical-chemical results and chromatographic results was mapped using the inference fuzzy system. So, by the results of the physical-chemical experiment such as color, density, humidity and so on, its possible to have a estimation of the concentration of dissolved gases in insulating mineral oil. Therefore, its possible to implement techniques to identify failures based on the concentration of dissolved gases using physical-chemical techniques.The propose system was validated by real data. The results using physical-chemical techniques were similar with the results using conventional techniques.