Photoluminescence based condition assessment of aged transformer oil

Optical spectroscopy techniques have been proposed recently as alternative, on-line, and reliable techniques for the purpose of condition assessment of transformer oil. In this paper, photoluminescence spectroscopy test was applied to assess the aging condition of different aged transformer oil samples. Some samples were laboratory-prepared using accelerated aging test. Other samples were collected from in-service transformers. The obtained spectra were investigated and they could demonstrate the impact of aging on transformer oil samples under the different aging conditions. The results have assured the potentiality of photoluminescence spectroscopy technique to be applied for condition assessment of aged transformer oil in the field.