From the editors´ desk

The first article is ??Furan Analysis for Liquid Power Transformers?? by Cheim of ABB, Platts of PPL Electric Utilities, Prevost of Omicron, and Xu of FM Global. This review article describes the history and development of furan testing as one of several diagnostic tools to evaluate the health of transformer paper insulation. The article discusses how furans are produced, how they dissolve in oil, the correlation of known furan data with the degree of polymerization, the parameters that affect the rate of furan production, and the limitations on the use of furans for diagnostic analysis. The article also provides a technical basis for the continued gathering and evaluation of furan data and provides a structure for collecting that data.