Research

About this Stage:
The research phase in our design process helped our team further understand the task that we were assigned by giving us more knowledge into the problem. We began our research with information on the manufacture and the model of the transformer. This led to further research of case studies with similar problems of gassing and experiencing higher than normal temperatures. Research was then focused on reasons why transformers fail and their causes. This helped us understand to reasons why transformers fail and signs to look for to possibly predict a transformer in trouble. Recent research has focused on methods for dissolved gas analysis and ways to predict the life expectancy of a transformer. We will continue to research throughout the completion of the project to ensure the highest amount of knowledge goes into our final product of a life expectancy.

Our major milestones for this phase included:

Research was done mostly through the uses of internet search engines and online case study data bases. The methods for dissolved gas analysis came from a transformer maintenance book as well as some IEEE guides for transformer maintenance.  Microsoft Excel was used to create our spreadsheet for interpreting dissolved gas analysis data.

The only expense other than time during the research phase was the purchasing of the textbook that aided in finding the methods for dissolved gas analysis and helped to point us in the direction of other methods we could research.

During this phase of our design process we realized that simply searching maintenance topics on the internet would not be satisfactory.  We had to determine the best way to get additional pertinent information.  We considered asking APS for their maintenance publications, but decided this would put an unneeded burden on APS.  So, instead we decided to purchase a textbook on transformer maintenance.  The book was expensive so we had to decide if by adding this expense there would be negative tradeoffs made to the project.  We determined the only negative aspect of the purchase was the cost, but that the knowledge gained from the text would far exceed the monetary burden.  The textbook was purchased and was a vital resource to our research.