Detection of 2FAL Furanic Compound in Transformer Oil Using Optical Spectroscopy Method and Verification Using Morse Oscillation Theory

The condition of a power transformer can be predicted based on the contents of the transformer oil. One of the most common parameters that are observed in the transformer oil is 2-Furaldehyde, a compound that is produced due to the aging of Kraft paper. Although the optical characterization of 2-Furaldehyde has been widely reported, the fundamental theories of the observation of the optical absorbance peaks have not been elaborated. This study investigates the optical characteristics of 2-Furaldehyde in the near infrared region. Ten samples with different concentrations of 2-Furaldehyde were prepared and verified using the conventional method. The samples were then characterized using optical spectroscopy method with 50 mm path length cuvettes. Three peaks were observed at 1610 nm - 1640 nm, 1100 nm - 1115 nm and 860 nm - 890 nm wavebands and were correlated to the overtones of the aromatic C-H stretch in 2-Furaldehyde. The appearance of these overtones corresponding to the Morse Oscillation Theory was discussed. This fundamental knowledge is significant in developing a portable optical device that enables the detection of 2-Furaldehyde on site.