There are three specific segments of the DGA market:
- DGA using manual oil collection,
- Full online DGA, and
- Specific gas analysis
a. DGA via Oil Collection: Despite the known problems and inconsistency with manual oil collection for DGA analysis, this is the most common method of oil analysis. Schneider Electric has chosen to embrace this widely-used and standardized process and use the data from the analysis to augment the EcoStruxure Transformer Expert system. The data collected from the analysis is uploaded into the OilSense application (stand alone or integrated with EcoStruxure Transformer Expert), where it is presented in industry-standard formats. As part of the broader EcoStruxure Transformer Expert product, DGA data is integrated into the analysis. Benefits of using Schneider Electric product as a repository for manual DGA analysis data are:
- Automated industry-standard analysis, including historical tests, are available online to the entire organization, in responsive graphs with trends, rather than pdf.
- OilSense can be used as a low-cost, easy-to-implement entry point product to show reporting across an entire transformer fleet, while facilitating gradual upsell sales of additional Schneider Electric product and partner services
- When EcoStruxure Transformer Expert is used as a complement to manual oil collection, there is an added benefit of reducing truck rolls and/or staff visits to the transformer sites to collect the oil samples, as the EcoStruxure Transformer Expert online analysis can indicate the appropriate frequency of manual oil tests.
b. Online multi-gas DGA solutions: Typically, these are only used in large transformers or units that are critical to a network due to solution cost.
Given the costs and complexity involved with online DGA systems Schneider Electric believes the target market and business case for online DGA is limited to critical and large transformers, the top 2% of the market. With the release of the EcoStruxure Transformer Expert H2 product in late 2022 the Schneider Electric product range has not only the ability to deliver benefits around Asset Management and network visibility but also assess short term risk. of the transformer. This will be done at a price point that is an order of magnitude lower than online DGA.
Benefits of using the EcoStruxure Transformer Expert or EcoStruxure Transformer Expert H2 products are:
- Online DGA systems are expensive to buy, install and operate. When compared to the Subscription Agreement costs of the Schneider Electric product a 10X business case cost-advantage to Schneider Electric can be demonstrated
- Online DGA systems require specific expertise on the Online DGA systems and the related communications and as a result are expensive to install. Schneider Electric solutions are very easy to install saving time, money and with minimal logistics.
- Schneider Electric's IoT architecture enables all ongoing software support, new feature releases and bug fixes to be centralized and distributed via the cloud. Online DGA systems require on-site software upgrades without access to regular feature upgrades.
c. Specific Gas Analysis (usually 1 or 2 gas analysis systems): These units are scaled down versions of online DGA systems with many of the same attributes and product shortfalls.
- When compared to the EcoStruxure Transformer Expert system these units are still expensive to purchase and maintain
- There is little interpretation or expert system insights to the data collected
- Significantly higher installation and support costs as, like online DGA, they are products that can become obsolete over time.
