Transformer Monitoring for Hydrogen, Moisture, and Temperature

Specialized transmitter for monitoring moisture,
hydrogen, and temperature levels in electrical
transformers. (Vaisala)

Electrical transformers are an intricate part of the power transmission and distribution system. Many transformers are insulated with mineral oil that also facilitates heat transfer for unit cooling. Abnormal thermal and electrical stresses, such as local overheating and electrical discharge ocurring in the transformer, cause decomposition of insulating oil and papers, resulting in production of a range of gases, one of which is hydrogen.

Routine dissolved gas analysis, or DGA, is performed on oil filled transformers to provide a measure of unit health. The process involves the extraction of an oil sample from the transformer, which is then subjected to laboratory analysis. The process is manual, time consuming, and only performed infrequently. It is known that the presence or increasing levels of certain gases is an indicator of internal faults or general wear and tear in a transformer. A reliable stream of data can provide value as a predictive indicator of overall transformer health and maintenance requirements. The endgame is to prevent unit failure and the resultant shutdown of connected customer equipment.

General recommendations call for trend monitoring of hydrogen. The rate of change in the concentration can be more indicative than the overall level in some cases. Any rapid change is a harbinger of potential problems. Adopting a proactive approach, based on transformer oil condition, can extend transformer useful life.

Moisture content of transformer oil is another concern. The presence of water boosts oil and paper insulation deterioration. Water presence in transformers generally has two potential sources, atmospheric and internal. The sources of moisture in the oil are not a subject of this article, but water reduces the dielectric strength of insulating oil and can facilitate corrosion or other material degradation within the transformer case.

Internal temperature is an indicator of the current operating condition of a transformer and is useful in evaluating its performance.

All three of the parameters mentioned, moisture, hydrogen, and temperature, are continuously measured by the new MHT-410 from Vaisala. The transmitter provides three isolated loop powered 4-20 mA outputs that provide the user with continuous data on moisture content, hydrogen concentration, and oil temperature. The compact unit installs easily in less than 30 minutes to provide online monitoring of insulating oil without any need for pumps, membranes, or sampling.

The new MHT410 provides real time transformer health monitoring, as well as information on transformer fault situations. You can find out more with a review of the data sheet included below. Reach out to a product specialist with your measurement challenges.

Moisture, Hydrogen, and Temperature Measurement in Electrical Transformers from Alliance Technical Sales, Inc.

Magnetostrictive Level Transmitter Retrofit to Magnetic Level Gauge

This magnetic level gauge has been fitted
with a magnetostrictive transmitter to
provide a continuous process level signal
Jogler

A magnetic liquid level indicator provides a reliable and highly visible reading of its indirect level measurement in tanks and vessels. While useful for local visual indication of tank level, the instrument does not provide an electrical signal output that can be utilized for process control or other monitoring functions. Several magnetic level gauge manufacturers offer combination units that incorporate another measurement technology to provide an analog signal corresponding to liquid level.

What if your installation has an existing magnetic level indicator and you need an analog level signal?

One manufacturer, Jogler, offers a magnetostrictive level measurement instrument that can be retrofitted to an existing magnetic level gauge, even those from other manufacturers. The low profile waveguide mounts slightly away from the existing magnetic level unit to isolate it from temperature and vibration. It is specifically designed for use with an existing magnetic level indicator and provides an analog output signal that is accurate, stable, and responsive.

A magnetostrictive level measurement instrument employs a magnetic float that moves along a sensing wire as the tank level changes. Fixed interval current pulses are sent down the wire, with the resulting electromagnetic field being interrupted by the magnetized float. This interruption causes magnetostriction in the sensing wire, which is manifested as a torsional stress wave along the wire. A piezoceramic sensing element converts the torsional stress into an electrical signal and the transmitter produces an output signal based upon the time interval between the initial pulse and the return pulse produced as a function of the float position.

There is more to be learned, so share your liquid level measurement requirements and challenges with instrumentation specialists. The combination of your process knowledge and their product application expertise will produce effective solutions.

Magnetostrictive level transmitter added to magnetic level gauge from Alliance Technical Sales, Inc.

Continuous Microbial Monitoring For Pharmaceutical Waters

Monitoring process water microbial counts in the pharmaceutical industry has traditionally been a time consuming, hands-on operation. Sample preparation, plate counting, stains, reagents, and the time required to get results has kept microbial monitoring a cumbersome task that provides only snapshots of the process water quality at the time of sampling.

Mettler Toledo has introduced its Model 7000RMS, a continuous on-line microbial monitoring system for purified water and water for injection. The system uses advanced laser based technology to provide immediate detection and quantification of microorganisms. Particles as small as .52 microns can be detected, and the monitor uses recent advancements in spectroscopic technology to differentiate between microbial and inert particles.

The 7000RMS puts on-line analytics for microbial contamination on the same timeline as TOC and conductivity, with all three critical aspects now subject to real time measurement.

The white paper included below delivers a deeper and more detailed view of the technology and the how the system works. Detailed application and product information is available from product specialists.

Continuous On-Line Microbial Monitoring of Pharmaceutical Waters from Alliance Technical Sales, Inc.

Thermal Oxidation Applied For Emissions Control

Pollution control - Part of successful plant operation

Thermal oxidation is a process employed in a number of diverse industries as a means of pollution and emissions control. Essentially, the process uses heat to promote the breakdown of hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds into less harmful byproducts. Many pollutants are hydrocarbon based and when properly processed will oxidize efficiently and provide an output consisting primarily of H2O and CO2.

The process employs a number of inputs, aside from the subject pollutant stream. A fuel input is needed to maintain the elevated temperature that will force oxidation of the pollutants. Being essentially a combustion operation, there are opportunities to boost efficiency and minimize the expenditure for the fuel inputs. Heat recovery is an essential element of achieving high efficiency levels. This can take many forms, depending upon what the energy needs of the facility might be. One option is a waste heat boiler to produce steam for other plant operations. There are many other options which will be discovered with a thorough review and analysis of the plant operations.

Process Combustion Corporation, a recognized manufacturer of oxidation technology, defines thermal oxidation, as it applies to pollution and emissions control, like this:

Thermal oxidation is the effective employment of a process that provides thorough mixing of an organic substance with sufficient oxygen, at a high enough temperature, for a sufficient time, to cause the organics to oxidize to the desired degree of completion.

Achieving effective utilization of a thermal oxidation system requires the application of experienced engineering talent. Share your emissions and pollution control requirements and challenges with specialists. Combining your knowledge of plant facilities and operation with their pollution control expertise will produce effective solutions.

Automatic Sensor Cleaning Is Included on Disinfectant Analyzer

The Krypton® Multi Analyzer Features

Automatic Sensor Cleaning

Kuntze Instruments

Keeping electrode type sensors clean is essential to maintaining accurate and reliable readings. The frequency of maintenance depends upon the application, but any reduction in the requirement to manually clean or replace sensors is certainly a positive development.

Kuntze Instruments developed a method of automatic cleaning for sensors employed on their Krypton® line of disinfectant analyzers.

• Free Chlorine
• Chlorine Dioxide
• Ozone
• Hydrogen Peroxide

The automatic sensor cleaning system is shown in action on the video below, and you can get more detailed information about the Krypton® disinfectant analyzers and the automatic sensor cleaning system from product specialists. Share your liquid and gas analysis requirements and challenges with application specialists, combining your process knowledge with their product application expertise to produce effective solutions.

Specific Gravity Analyzer for Fluid Process Applications

Speicifc Gravity Analyzer
Jogler 

Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance; equivalently, it is the ratio of the mass of a substance to the mass of a reference substance for the same given volume (Thank you, Wikipedia).  Often the reference substance for liquids is pure water at a temperature of +4°C, which is assigned a value of 1.0. The specific gravity measurement is used throughout many industries as a measure of concentration in a solution. An example would be the concentration of sugar in a solution of water and sugar. 

For purposes of process analysis, an instrument providing continuous measurement is generally advantageous since its operation accommodates the changing nature of the process. One device employs two tubes and a calibrated float to provide a continuous display of a liquid's specific gravity. Liquid from the process fluid sample line enters the bottom of the inner tube containing the float. A very small sample flow rate is needed. The float is calibrated for the subject process liquid and has a reference scale from which the specific gravity is manually read. The sample fluid overflows the inner tube, collecting in the outer tube where it is drained away. The continuous, though small, flow of sample liquid enables each reading to reflect the current process condition.

This simple and effective instrument provides accurate measurement and requires little maintenance. Share all your process fluid analysis challenges with application specialists. Combine your process knowledge with their product application expertise to develop the most effective solutions.

Specific Gravity Analyzer for Continuous Process Monitoring from Alliance Technical Sales, Inc.

Temperature and Humidity Transmitters for Industrial Applications

Vaisala enjoys global recognition as a premiere provider of best-in-class humidity and temperature transmitters for industrial process measurement. The video provided here gives an excellent overview of the company's HMT 330 Series with all of its variants for special applications.

Share your temperature and humidity measurement challenges with product specialists, combining your process knowledge with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.