Power Transformer Life Management; Relevance to Nigerian Power Industry

Non-expansion of Nigerian grid network resulted in Increasing loading of the existing power equipment. Attempt to reduce life cycle costs resulted in decrease maintenance expenditures and postponement of investments. These resulted in higher failure rates and increasing risk of major failures. Frequent failure of power equipment at the transmission substations and distribution stations in Nigeria has prompted the need to establish a system that can give advance information on the state of power equipment in service. The ineffective monitoring system has also resulted to high cost of equipment maintenance. One way of achieving reduced maintenance cost is the use of real time condition monitoring technique. This paper discussed factors responsible for power equipment deterioration and failure, and the concepts of condition-based monitoring system. Typical scenario of online transformer monitoring is reviewed. A real time life management system which is under development for the monitoring of the health of power transformers at the substations and distribution stations is discussed. The objective of the ongoing project is to secure the quality of the generated electrical energy with minimized cost of expenditures for services (life management). This system will enable asset managers monitor their equipment in the field. This will save cost of asset maintenance and ensure a better service delivery to electricity end‑users.