Furfural analysis in transformer oils using laser raman spectroscopy

The concentration of furfural in transformer oils is a well known indicator for decomposition of insulating paper. Using laser Raman spectroscopy, we performed detection experiments of furfural dissolved in insulating oils without complex and time consuming preprocessing procedures. Furfural was characterized by Raman signal at ~1707 cm^-1, where no spectral interferences caused by oil-derived Raman signals occur. The results show that laser Raman spectroscopy is a useful alternative method for transformer health diagnosis.