What is a potential condition indicated by a sustained increase in combustible gas content with a relatively constant load?

A sustained increase in combustible gas content, despite a relatively constant load, is indicative of a deteriorating condition within the equipment. This scenario suggests that there may be internal issues occurring, such as insulation degradation, arcing, or other forms of distress that lead to the production of gases. In a healthy system, the combustible gas content should remain stable or only fluctuate minimally with changing load conditions. An increase in gas levels while the load remains constant typically signals that something within the equipment is failing or deteriorating, warranting further investigation and possibly maintenance or repairs to prevent catastrophic failure.

Normal aging would not typically result in a sudden spike in gas production without a change in load, as aging processes are generally gradual and do not usually induce dramatic increases in gas emissions at steady state. Similarly, stable operation and undesirable contamination would not be characterized by a sustained increase in combustible gas, as those conditions may lead to different indicators in the equipment's performance or external factors affecting its operation.