Frequently Asked Questions

We know not everyone who receives a report will know everything about it and that’s okay. We offer free, 24/7 consultation services to help you understand your report and provide guidance on next steps.

We have four proprietary diagnostic packages to evaluate differing types of high-voltage electrical equipment and many other specific tests. We also are experienced in R&D projects and root cause failure analysis. If you don’t see a test or package you’re looking for, please reach out as we may still be able to help.

TJ|H2b is committed to a ten (10) business day turnaround time; however, we also offer rush services in the case of an emergency!

No, we do not. Unlike many of our competitors who will analyze and repair your electrical equipment, we take pride in the honesty of our analysis. Our goal is not to upsell maintenance services; we simply provide true and honest laboratory analyses and free consulting on next steps.

On-site sampling services are offered at our Peru and Norway laboratory locations. For all other locations, please reach out to us to connect you with one of our trusted service providers.

Pricing is dependent on a number of factors: which analyses you need, fluid type, TAT requirements, number of samples, etc. Please reach out to your nearest TJ|H2b Laboratory to get a quote!

Our diagnostic packages assign a condition code: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 4* to the equipment, in addition to detailed interpretation of the results. This information helps asset managers plan and prioritize utility maintenance, thus providing real savings on unnecessary maintenance, costly outages, and failures.

Along with these diagnostic evaluations and condition codes, multiple other factors must be taken into consideration, such as service history, maintenance history, age, and criticality. As such, general “rules of thumb” with regard to sampling intervals cannot be applied in every case.

• Code 1: All parameters within acceptable limits. Retest within 24 months.
• Code 2: Onset of fault activity, component wear, or gas degradation is evident. Retest within 6 months.
• Code 3: Substantial development of fault, component wear, and/or deteriorating gas quality. Retest within 3 months.
• Code 4: Serious fault activity, component wear, and/or very poor gas quality. Further investigative action required. Retest within 14 days.
• Code 4*: Urgent action required. Retest immediately. Subject to confirmation via repeat sample, an internal inspection may be required, proceed immediately and with caution.

Our codes and recommendations, while based on a vast amount of experience as well as guidelines published by IEEE and other standards bodies, are to be taken only as useful guides.

We do. Reach out to your nearest TJ|H2b Laboratory to order sampling kits.

Ensuring precise sampling is crucial when assessing the quality of the insulating fluid being sampled. Neglecting proper sampling procedures or encountering contamination in the sampling equipment can distort the sample’s representation, resulting in inaccurate assessments of quality. Moreover, such errors lead to wasted time, effort, and expenses incurred in obtaining, transporting, and testing the sample. Thus, TJ|H2b recommends following the Standard Practices for Sampling Electrical Insulating Liquids outlined in ASTM D923. Additionally, TJ|H2b has developed a Turbulent Flush Sampling System (TFSS®) to ensure representative samples are taken. We offer free sampling training upon request.

TJH2b recommends following the latest revision of ASTM D923 (Standard Practices for Sampling Electrical Insulating Liquids) or an equivalent standard in order to ensure consistent, high-quality sampling practices. TJH2b has developed a tool to help you meet the standard and take a proper, representative sample every time: Turbulent Flush Sampling System.

After performing a TCA® analysis on your transformer, you will receive a condition rating. The recommended sampling interval ranges from ‘immediately’ to ‘annually’, depending on the condition of your unit. Please refer to the scoring methodology or reach out to TJH2b for further explanation on recommended intervals.

After performing a BOA® test on your breaker, you will receive a condition rating. The recommended sampling interval ranges from ‘immediately’ to ‘annually’, depending on the condition of your unit. Please refer to the scoring methodology or reach out to TJH2b for further explanation on recommended intervals.

After performing a TASA® analysis on your tapchanger, you will receive a condition rating. The recommended sampling interval ranges from ‘immediately’ to ‘annually’, depending on the condition of your unit. Please refer to the scoring methodology or reach out to TJH2b for further explanation on recommended intervals.

Obtaining a representative sample is essential for any analytical testing process to yield meaningful results. In SF₆ analysis, contamination of the sample with air and moisture or corruption of the sample by reactions with sampling equipment are critical issues. Special sampling equipment and procedures have been developed to address these issues. The containers are fabricated from stainless steel because of its chemical inertness to SF₆ decomposition products (Gas Sampling Collection Unit). These containers are dried and evacuated before being sent into the field. Special fittings are used for each type of equipment.

After performing a BGA® test on your SF₆ breaker, you will receive a condition rating. The recommended sampling interval ranges from ‘immediately’ to ‘24 months’, depending on the condition of your unit. Please refer to the scoring methodology or reach out to TJH2b for further explanation on recommended intervals.

A Transformer Condition Assessment (TCA®) includes a condition rating, diagnostics, and potential remediation actions where applicable. Upon receipt of the report from TJH2b, we recommend that results and diagnostics are reviewed promptly, following internal procedures. If further support is needed, TJH2b offers free, 24/7 consultation services to help you understand reports and provide guidance.

A Tapchanger Activity Signature Assessment (TASA®) includes a condition rating, diagnostics, and potential remediation actions where applicable. Upon receipt of the report from TJH2b, we recommend that results and diagnostics are reviewed promptly, following internal procedures. If further support is needed, TJH2b offers free, 24/7 consultation services to help you understand reports and provide guidance.

Breaker Oil Analysis (BOA®) includes a condition rating, diagnostics, and potential remediation actions where applicable. Upon receipt of the report from TJH2b, we recommend that results and diagnostics are reviewed promptly, following internal procedures. If further support is needed, TJH2b offers free, 24/7 consultation services to help you understand reports and provide guidance.

Breaker Gas Analysis (BGA®) includes a condition rating, diagnostics, and potential remediation actions where applicable. Upon receipt of the report from TJH2b, we recommend that results and diagnostics are reviewed promptly, following internal procedures. If further support is needed, TJH2b offers free, 24/7 consultation services to help you understand reports and provide guidance.

In the absence of an electrical discharge or extreme heat (>500°C), SF₆ is chemically inert. When a discharge occurs, fluorine atoms on the SF₆ may capture an electron and dissociate from the sulfur. When the discharge has ended, under ideal circumstances, each dissociated fluorine loses the captured electron and recombines with a dissociated SFx species to reform SF₆ (Figure 1). This is the ‘self-healing’ or regenerative property of SF₆. Regardless of circumstances, this is the predominate reaction occurring in SF₆ filled high voltage electrical equipment. A discharge does not result in each SF₆ in the discharge path being completely dissociated. Instead, a distribution of dissociation products is formed that looks something like the distribution shown in Figure 2. The amplitude of the distribution is determined by the duration of the discharge and the composition of the distribution is determined by the energy of the discharge. Discharge durations and energies can vary considerably (Figure 3).

For more details, please see: Using sf6 analysis for condition based maintenance of circuit breakers and gas insulated substations.

The circuit breaker in Case 1 is a 161 kV, 2000 amp, SF₆ single pressure, live tank unit with a true spring operating mechanism. The breaker is operated 2 to 3 times per day to connect a 168 MVAR capacitor bank. On September 20, 1997, a remote dispatcher operated the breaker. Pole 2 failed to clear, resulting in operation of the overcurrent and breaker failure relay. The operation of these relays isolated the bus section that feeds the circuit breaker. After the clearance, the dispatcher was able to remotely energize the bus section. This failure did not result in a rupture of the interrupter.

For details about the four case studies, please see: Using SF₆ analysis for condition based maintenance of circuit breakers and gas insulated substations.