Dissolved acetylene detection in power transformer oil based on near-infrared absorption spectrum method

Acetylene is seen as a symbol gas to distinguish arcing/sparking occurrence and overheat inside the power transformer. However, conventional detectors suffer from gas consumption, unrepeatable measurement and regular calibration. Based on Lambert Beer´s law, this paper put forward near-infrared absorption spectrum method to detect acetylene. Experimental platform is set up in the laboratory, mainly including a tunable laser light source, two adjusted optical fiber collimators, a acetylene gas cell and a built-in InGaAs photodetector (PD). The strongest acetylene gas absorption wavelength of 1530.374 nm is determined. Results have demonstrated that it is possible to get access to dissolved acetylene by measurement of characteristic spectrum in power transformer oil with obvious advantages of time-saving and without consuming the to-be-measured gas.