Measuring the concentration of furfuraldehyde (FFA) within oil samples take
n periodically from power transformers is usually carried out as a means of
condition monitoring. Normally, laboratory-based techniques such as high p
erformance liquid chromatography are applied for this measurement, We repor
t the construction of a novel optoelectronic sensor for the determination o
f FFA in transformer oils to concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm. The sensor w
ill form the basis of a compact and portable instrument that can be used by
a nonspecialist operator to determine, on-site, the concentration of FFA i
n oil extracted from the transformer.