A novel solid-state material for furfuraldehyde detection

The thermal degradation of solid insulation within a power transformer results in the production of FFA (2-furfuraldehyde) within the transformer oil. Measuring the concentration of FFA gives a reliable indication as to the condition of the solid insulation. This measurement has routinely been performed by using techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatrography. We report a new solid state material which has been specifically designed for FFA detection. The material can be optically interrogated to detect small concentrations (<1 ppm) of FFA within transformer oil.