IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting New Orleans, Louisiana, October 5-9, 1997

Identification of High Frequency Transformer Equivalent Circuit Using Matlab from Frequency Domain Data
Syed Mofizul Islam' Kathryn 'M. Coates' Gerard Ledwich'
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering 'Curtin University of Technology Perth, WA 6001 'The University of Newcastle Callaghan, NSW 2308 AUSTRALIA 2 1 6084 Fax: (61)(049) 2 1 6993 Email: eeislam@ee.inewcastle.edu.au Ph: (61)(049)

Abstract - High frequency modelling is essential in the design of power transformers, to study impulse voltage distribution, winding integrity and insulation diagnosis. In this paper, a PC based, fully automated technique for identifying parameters of a high frequency transformer equivalent circuit is proposed. At each discrete measurement point, voltage ratio and phase between input and output is calculated to obtain the frequency response. A parametric system identification technique is utilised to determine the coefficients of an appropriate transfer function to model the measured frequency response from 50 Hz to 7 MHz, divided into low, medium and high frequency ranges. The proposed technique is simple to implement, fully computerised and avoids time consuming measurements reported earlier. Test results on several transformers indicate that the method is highly reliable, consistent and is sensitive to transformer winding faults.
1. INTRODUCTION.

(ii) they fail to consider the changing effects of the core with respect to frequency, and, (iii) they fail to account for the effects of varying frequency upon the parameters of the transformer. Addressing these shorteomings a transformer equivalent circuit was proposed by Douglass [l] as shown in Fig 1.
Figure 1. Transformer General EquivoLent C i r c u i t

Every transformer has a unique transfer function and can be modelled by a string of inductances tapped by their parallel capacitances to earth and shunted by their stray capacitances between windings. At very high frequencies, the magnetic fluxes cannot penetrate the core, and the core acts effectively as an earthed boundary. It may also be assumed that mutual inductances can be lumped into the series inductances. Constant power frequency models provide a good
basis for the development of variable frequency

In this model the following parameters are in their lumped form: (i) an ideal transformer - for ratio purposes only, (ii) Cp and Cs, whiclh represent the primary and secondary winding capacitances to ground respectively. This is a representation of the winding to ground insulation (with IR = m ), (iii) Cps, the capacitance between primary and secondary windings, (iv) Lw is the equivalent leakage inductance of the primary and secondary windings,
(v) Rw is the equivalent resistance of the primary and

models, however, there are three major shortcomings: (i) they fail to recognise the insulation systems of the transformer as electrical entities,
0-7803-4067-1/97/$10.00 0 1997 IEEE.

secondary windings (referred to the secondary winding), and (vi) Zh is the core exciting impedance - composed of a resistance and an inductance.

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In [l], four different time consuming experiments were suggested to obtain the equivalent circuit parameters valid up to 10 kHz. Vermeulen et al [2]proposed a discrete parameter estimation technique to obtain the lumped parameters of Fig. 1 valid up to 25 kHz. In [3], a parameter estimation technique was proposed based on measurements of both admittance and voltage transfer function obtained from square wave excitation. The technique was reported to be valid up to several hundred kHz and was applied to a small (Le 20/0.11kV 30 VA) potential transformer. In reality, however, most power transformers are tens of megavoltamperes at hundreds of kilovolts in rating. In , the addition, the method in [3] also failed to identify C primary capacitance. In this paper, a fully automated, simple and fast technique is proposed which identifies all parameters, needs only voltage ratio measurements from realistic sinusoidal excitation and is valid up to 1 MHz.

displaying no zeroes and two poles.

B. Medium Frequency Model.

In the mid frequency range (approximately 2 kHz to 80 kHz) the model used is shown in Fig. 3. Jensen et al, in modelling an instrument transformer, exclude the effects of the core exciting impedance at frequencies above 500 Hz. However, it was found in course of this research that for power transformers, the transformer frequency responses were better emulated by using a higher order model - i.e retaining the core exciting impedance in the medium frequency range.

Figure 3. T r a n s f o r m e r

II. TRANSFORMER MODELS.

The model presented in Fig. 1 is an overview model of a real transformer, however, given that it is composed primarily of reactive components, it is appreciated that the various elements of the circuit will make different contributions at different frequencies - some may even become unnecessary. As a result, the above general model may be appropriately divided into low, medium and high frequency range models, reflecting parameter significance. A. Low Frequency Model.

Medium F r e q u e n c y Model

The circuit transfer function appears below, exhibiting one zero and three poles. Note that Rh and Lh are the core exciting impedances, but referred to the secondary side.

At frequencies below about 500 Hz [3], Cps, has little influence and appears as an open circuit. Conversely, flux penetration of the core is significant and hence Zh, the core excitation impedance, is included. The resultant circuit appears in Fig. 2 below. Note that Zh is a parallel combination of Rh and Lh.
C.
Figure 2
Low Frequency M o t h Model

High Frequency Model.

At high frequencies, the circuit capacitances dominate, thus the high frequency model appears as in Fig. 4.
F i g u r e 4. High Frequency M a t h Model

This model was used for frequencies up to 2 kHz. Its transfer function is

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This model is proposed for frequencies above 80 kHz and is frequency independent with a transfer function:

IV. PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION.

Ill. TEST AND MEASUREMENT SET UP.

The transformers were prepared for test by being removed from service and electrically isolated from the transmission system. For those windings which were delta connected, the delta points were disjointed. For star windings, the neutral points were earthed, and the tests were conducted on one phase pair at a time. Transformer tap positions were noted. The instruments used to conduct the tests were an Arbitrary Wave / Function Generator, a Cathode Ray Oscilloscope and a PC with a portable GPlB (general purpose interface bus) card. The method of connection of these instruments is shown in figure 5.

Data manipulation was executed to derive transfer functions and transformer parameters from the raw data collected by the IC++ program. The data was divided into low frequency, mid frequency and high frequency ranges. The ranges were adjusted slightly depending on the frequency steps used in data collection, the range of frequencies over which collection took place and the degree to which a better comparison between data and model could be achieved by slight alterations. The data was entered into Matlab programs in ascii format where the Mlatlab routine invfreqs was invoked. This commarid is able to find a continuous time transfer function that corresponds to the complex frequency response (ie it can convert the magnitude and phase data collected in the field, into a transfer function). lnvfreqs uses a non-linear least square (NLS) method [5] to rninimize the squared norm of error between the estimated model and the measured frequency response data G, as shown below:

Figure 5 Connect ion Diagron

where, Gk = G(ejek) = Gk + 17k

GPlB
Wove

q k being the measurement error.

Genero t o r

Conputer
I

The routine returns the coefficients of the numerator and denominator in vectors A and B such that a transfer function is yielded in the form:

Essentially, the test methodology consisted of using the arbitrary wave generator to inject a signal into one of the phase windings, then using the CRO to measure this input voltage, its frequency, the corresponding output voltage and the time lag between the output and input signals. The tests were conducted over a range of frequencies from 50 Hz to 1 MHz maximum. The information measured by the CRO was transferred via a C++ program (with the use of a GPlB card) to the computer and logged in an ascii file. The program gets the maximum and minimum of each of the waveforms from the oscilloscope. To determine the zero point of the waveforms (an imaginary zero line), the program averages the maximum and minimum values for each of the waveforms. The time delay between the signals is then the time difference between each of the signals crossing this new imaginary zero line.

B(s) b(l)sflb +b(2)snb-1+...+b(nb+ 1) H ( s ) = --A($) ~(1)s +a(2)s-+...+a(na + 1)

Invoking the invfreqs routine requires the specification, by the user, of the orders of the A and B polynomials, i.e the number of poles and zeroes associated with the model in question. Once the routine has delivered a suitable transfer function, it is possible to plot the frequency response of the fitted transfer function along with the frequency response of the origiinal data. In this way, a comparison of the two1 curves may be made, and an assessment made of the degree of accuracy of the derived model. The actual parameters of the transformer were calculated using the models developed previously and the transfer function coefficients delivered by invfreqs. The coefficients for each frequency range were
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delivered in two matrices: B - the numerator and A the denominator.

transformers. All four transformers (Tl, T2, A1 and A2) were commissioned in the mid-1960's at various locations in the state of New South Wales. Average parameters obtained appear in Table 1. Transformer T1 failed in early 1996 due to a winding movement resulting from a through fault. Inspection showed that 'a' phase had developed an earth fault, . which is demonstrated by a large variation in 1 Transformer A2 exhibited minimal variation in

V. RESULTS. A. 30MVA Transformers. Using the technique discussed, multiple tests were conducted on each phase of a set of four identical 132/66/11 kV 30 MVA YyNOdl vector grouping power

TABLE 1 ESTIMATED PARAMETERS OF THE FOUR 30 MVA TRANSFORMERS.

Fig 6. 72 Tranrbmer Actual 8 EstimatedTrawler Funclions 10'

I
I

The second set of tests were conducted on each phase of two identical 23/350 kV 390 MVA Yndl vector grouping power transformers. Average parameters obtained appear in Table 2 and plots of the actual and estimated transfer functions for the medium frequency range appear in Figure 7. The medium frequency model response is not ideally accurate due to the complex shape of the measured frequency response, which depicts a number of resonant points. Nevertheless, given the constraints on the order of the model (one zero, three poles) the modelling of the data is quite good.

10'

Frequency radlsec

Fig. 7. 5A TransformerActual & Estimated Transfer Funclions.

10

parameters. Results for T2 transformer indicate some variation in parameters among the phases whilst more significant changes are noticeable for the A1 transformer. However, standard deviation of parameters obtained for any single phase resulting from multiple estimation among the four transformers was within 2%. Figure 6 shows the actual and estimated transfer functions for T2 transformer in the medium/high frequency range.
B. 390MVA Transformers.

IO1

I0 '

'

'

'

1os Frequency radlsec

1o6

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Two sets of tests were conducted on the 5B transformer, before and after the windings were mechanically reclamped. The windings are comprised of a number of flat horizontal disks in which turns are wound in the form of a spiral, the disks being mounted on the transformer core. Winding reclamping exerts force on the windings in the axial direction, meaning that the disks are

compressed (slightly) in the axial direction. This causes the space between adjacent disks to decrease slightly - tlhe overall change in vertical height in the 5B transformer case was only a few millimetres (in about two metres). The effect, however, for a transformer in which the primary and secondary windings are wound on the one core, is that the distance between windings decreases.

TABLE 2. ESTIMATED PARAMETERS OF THE FOUR 390 MVA TRANSFOIRMERS.

In addition, the closer proximity between windings results in the gap between them being made up of more primary insulation material (paper, tape etc) and less secondary insulation (oil, moisture, contaminants etc). The overall result of these effects is that the capacitance between windings increases. This can be seen clearly from the basic equation of a capacitor:

Also notable is the fact that no observable trends in changes of other parameters are recognisable in the event of reclamping. This indicates that the resistances and inductances of the windings are unaltered, as they should be in all but extreme cases. Some negative entries irr Table 2 are attributed to the fact that invfreqs uses an unconstrained optimisation algorithm.
(iii) Determination of C, When testing transformers, the signals were injected, initially, only into the lower voltage windings, causing problems with the evaluation of C, (the lumped primary winding capacitance to ground. Given the shape of the high frequency model circuit (figure 4) it can be seen that it is impossible to calculate the value of C , without injecting into the higher voltage winding of the transformer (Reverse Injection) as well as injecting in the low voltage side. Then, using the same labelling as in figure 4, C, can be calculated from:

C = -&"&,A d
where C is the capacitance, E,&, is the permittivity, A is the area and d is the distance between conductors. After reclamping the permittivity is increased and the distance is decreased, whilst the area changes little. This phenomena is reflected in the results obtained from the tests for 5B. From Table 2, it can be seen that C , for each phase has become substantially larger after reclamping of the transformer. It is notable that the values for C , the secondary capacitance to ground shows little change after reclamping, for whilst the windings themselves are forced into closer proximity, their relative distance to ground (ie the transformer tank) remains practically unchanged.

Results obtained from a 500V/33kV 350 kVA mobile Test truck Transformer using reverse injection are given in Table 3.

' Pre winding reclamp.

All test conducted with transformer at tap 1 , except this tap 7. Post winding reclamp.
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Table 3 :Parameters of 05/33 kV Mobile Test Truck Transformer Using Reverse Injection
Inject
LV
W

Rw(C2)
34
8x10.'

Lw(mH)
73.88
0.15

CPS
1.09 nF

CS

CP

0.28 uF
0.18mF

2.3 m F

Given the configuration adopted, it was initially expected that the value for Rh would be very high, particularly in the light of the results of an open circuit test conducted on one o f the 390 MVA transformers which yielded a magnetising branch resistance of 2204 0 per phase, referred to the primary. The value realised from the frequency sweep was far less than this , however, this can be explained. Open circuit tests are conducted with rated voltage applied to the LV winding (here 23kV). Also, generator power transformers are designed such that they operate at flux densities where the core steel is driven a fair way into saturation. On the other hand, the frequency sweeps tests were conducted with very low voltages (2V to 15V) applied to the LV side resulting in less current flow and a smaller resultant flux density. Consequently, the open circuit test would result in an operating point in the saturation region of the B-H curve, whilst the frequency response tests would result in operation in the low flux density region. Thus the core exciting parameters (which are already frequency dependent) will be dependent on the level of excitation of the core - minor excitation, as in this case, will result in lower values being obtained. This confirms the result that at high frequencies the core presents very low impedance. Verification of some results was also achieved by comparison of values obtained using methods described in [4]. The authors in [4] calculated parameters for an 8 MVA transformer with n=116 winding sections using a 36Q termination resistance (Ro). Adopting their method for the 390 MVA 5A transformer A phase,

The value of Cp obtained was 0.18 mF which initially seems high (in comparison with other capacitances and other transformers), but is not so given the following: (a) The transformer was not really a power transformer. Its voltage rating was 500 V f 33 kV (with the secondary current rated at only 7A) and physically the transformer was very much smaller. (b) Because of the large transformation ratio (66:l) and compact size, the high voltage winding consists of many turns of small diameter wire. As a result, the resistance of the secondary was quite high. When added to the referred LV winding resistance, the value was about 34 Q (compared to about 1 to 2 Q for power transformers). (c) The winding inductance was calculated to be quite high (74 mH for LV injection, 0.150 mH for HV injection) in comparison to the power transformers. This again can be attributed to the large number of turns on the high voltage winding.

VI. COMPARISON OF RESULTS. Authors in [3,4] quote values for parameters of transformers upon which they have conducted their research. Although in the case of [3] the transformer under test was rated at only 30 VA, their resulting values served as a general guide in terms of magnitudes to be expected. Bearing in mind the differences between transformers, there was good comparison with both the 30 MVA and 390 MVA transformers. One noticeable difference between the model in [I ,3,4] and the current research is the treatment of the core exciting impedance Zh. In [3], the impedance is treated as a series combination of Rh and Lh, whilst in this paper, it is treated as a parallel combination, that is: Zh = Rh // Lh. The decision to deviate from the Bak-Jensen/Douglass model was taken because power frequency models invariably depict the magnetising branch as a parallel combination of an admittance and a conductance.

vo --

Vin
so

- Ro

2n.Lw Ro

L, =

-*2nf Vi n

vo

*n

Substituting values from the 5A transformer low frequency plot, VoNin = 9.89, f = 2kH2, Ro = 36 (impedance of measuring instruments) yields a value of 1 , = 0.29 mH. This compares extremely well with the experimental value of 0.267 mH. At medium frequency, the calculation for Cs is as follows: The phase lag between two resonant peaks is 50" ( 0.87 rad) at 77 kradfs [6]. Thus,

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p = 21~f,/L,C,y

= 0.87

C , and C, reclamping.

has increased in magnitude after

This value compares adequately well with the experimental result of 6.4 pF.

For the high frequency response, again following the calculation method in [4]:

vu = y -

Vzn
where n is the number of winding sections (n = 1 for the lumped parameter case). The magnitude of VoNin for the high frequency range (from the 5A Transformer high frequency range plot) is 0.15 [6]. Thus:

-i

Figure 8. Transfer Function Plot of C phase 5B Transformer Before arid After Reclamping.

y = 0.15
From

So using the calculated value of Cs,

= 12nF
This value again is in adequate proximity to the value obtained experimentally, to give a degree of confidence to the experimental results. VII. APPLICATIONS IN CONDITION MONITORING.

A. Two (5A and 5B) identical 390 MVA generator transformers that have been in service since the early 1970s were tested to determine the mechanical integrity of their windings. The 5A transformer had been reclamped and was in service prior to testing whilst 5 8 transformer was tested before and after reclamping. Table 2 shows the results of the proposed parameter estimation method for the 5B transformer before and after the reclamping. Figure 8 shows the transfer function plots for both cases far the C phase of the 5B transformer. The resonant frequency reduction of about 20 kHz is clearly visible in the transfer function plot in the 100 to 200 kHz range. The decrease in resonant frequency may be correlated to increased capacitances due to increase in relative permitivity and reduction in axial space between windings as a result of increased clamping pressure. This is also clear from Table 2 which shows that both

B. Four 132/66/11 kV 30 MVA transformers (A1,A2,T1 and T2) placed in service since mid 1960s were investigated for winding integrity using the proposed parameter identification technique. Transformer T1 failed in service in eilrly 1996. This failure occured whilst the transformer was supplying an external fault on the LV side. It is believed that the mechanical forces arising from the fault contributed to the failure. An internal inspection revealed that there had been sufficient tertiary winding movement to result ultimately in an earth fault. The A phase frequency response was significantly different from the other two phases as shown in Fig. 9. Results presented in Table 1 show that the A phase inductance, 1 , has increased significantly from the remaining phases to 978 pH and C , and C, decreased to 132 and 24 pF ,and lower value of C , respectively. Higher value of 1 and C , are direct clonsequences of large winding deformations which are the cause of multiple resonances in the phase A response as shown in Fig. 9.

Figure 9. Failed TI Transformer Phase A , B , and C Frequency Response.

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Reduction in resonant peak damping can be explained by the fact that increased winding inductances lead to reduced main flux and therefore reduction in V ,. A phase plot [6] also clearly indicated dominance of inductance in the low frequency part of the frequency responseAS demonstrated above, the estimated parameters served as an excellent confirmation tool in condition monitoring of transformers using transfer function method. VIII. CONCLUSIONS. Results indicate that the method developed in this research is a successful tool for determination of broadband equivalent circuit parameters for condition monitoring of power transformers. It is particularly useful for the detection of faults of a mechanical nature such as winding displacement and distortion faults not easily detected by conventional electrical methods. The method requires the development of models based on a compromise between the frequency range of signals injected and the shape of the frequency response achieved. From such electrical models, mathematical models are derived from which the specific parameters of the winding are extracted. Despite having fairly small data sets with which to work, the method has been able to provide reasonable values for transformer parameters. These parameters allow more direct comparisons of transfer functions than do graphs of the frequency response alone for model based diagnosis of results to determine the nature of transformer faults. The lumped parameters obtained may be employed to construct an analog distributed parameter model of a winding [7]. Such a model may then be used for sliding fault analysis as discussed in [8] to locate a fault position. The proposed method has the benefits of being a potentially quick, relatively simple, easily implemented, effective method of non intrusive transformer condition monitoring. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors greatly acknowledges the help and cooperation of Mr. Mark Stace of Advanced Technology

[2] H.J. Vermeulen, R.G. Koch, and W.T. Rawlins, Broadband modelling of magnetic voltage transformers through application of parameter estimation techniques, 6th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, New Orleans 1989, Vol. 3, paper no. 50.12. [3] J. B. Jensen, B. B. Jensen, S.D. Mikkelsen and C.G. Jensen,Parametric Identification in Potential Transformer Modelling. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol7, No.1, January 1992. [4] E.P. Dick and C.C. Erven, Transformer Diagnostic testing By Frequency Response Analysis, IEEE Trans. PAS, Nov/Dec 1978, pp.2144-2153. [5] J.O. Smith, Techniques for Digital Filter Design and System Identification with Application to the Violin, Ph.D. Dissertation, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, June, 1983, p. 50. [6] K.M. Coates, Condition Monitoring of Power Transformers Using Transfer Functions, B.Sc.E.E Honours Thesis, Vols. 1 & 2, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia. [7] R. Malewski and B. Poulin, Impulse Testing of Power Transformers Using the Transfer Function Method. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol 3, No. 2, April 1988, pp. 476-489. [8] S. M. Islam and G. Ledwich, Locating Faults in a Transformer Winding Through Sliding Sensitivity Analysis of Analog Modeling Using Transfer Function Method. Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on Electrical Insulation, Montreal, Canada, June 16-19, 1996, Vol. 1, pp.38-41.

Center of Pacific Power International, Newcastle, Australia, in supplying experimental data and information on power transformers. REFERENCES [ l ] D.A. Douglass , Potential Transformer Accuracy at 60 Hz Voltages above and Below rating and at Frequencies above 60 Hz. IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-100, No. 3, March 1981.
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