ABSTRACT
This chapter describes most of the so far established procedures for failure/aging detection from the laboratory to on-site analysis. It discusses the main aging factors, the state of the art of transformer diagnostics. Transformer life management (TLM) has gained an increasing interest due to economic pressure. This forces utilities to new ways of asset management and risk assessment to cut the total operating costs. TLM/condition assessment is primarily directed to transformer life extension and operational cost cutting. Utilities, manufacturers, and universities have developed a wide range of diagnostic procedures to detect normal/abnormal aging, defective or faulty conditions, and, last but not the least, the loss of life or functional/component defects that urgently require corrective actions. Despite the many successful diagnostic procedures, there is still a need for continued research to establish loss of life or to determine remaining life.
