Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction
A transformer is a static device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another
through inductively coupled conductorsthe transformer's coils. A varying current in the
first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a
varying magnetic field through the secondary winding. This varying magnetic field induces a
varying electromotive force (EMF) or "voltage" in the secondary winding. This effect is
called mutual induction.
If a load is connected to the secondary, an electric current will flow in the secondary winding
and electrical energy will be transferred from the primary circuit through the transformer to
the load. In an ideal transformer, the induced voltage in the secondary winding (Vs) is in
proportion to the primary voltage (Vp), and is given by the ratio of the number of turns in the
secondary (Ns) to the number of turns in the primary (Np) as follows:
By appropriate selection of the ratio of turns, a transformer thus allows an alternating current
(AC) voltage to be "stepped up" by making Ns greater than Np, or "stepped down" by making
Ns less than Np.
In the vast majority of transformers, the windings are coils wound around a ferromagnetic
core, air-core transformers being a notable exception.
Transformers range in size from a thumbnail-sized coupling transformer hidden inside a stage
microphone to huge units weighing hundreds of tons used to interconnect portions of power
grids. All operate with the same basic principles, although the range of designs is wide. While
new technologies have eliminated the need for transformers in some electronic circuits,
transformers are still found in nearly all electronic devices designed for household ("mains")
SeminarsTopics.com
voltage. Transformers are essential for high-voltage electric power transmission, which
makes long-distance transmission economically practical.
SeminarsTopics.com
output, voltage the values are typically given in RMS values. Consult manufacturer for
waveform options. For direct current secondary voltage output, consult manufacturer for type
of rectification.
High voltage transformers can be constructed as either a toroidal or laminated transformer.
Toroidal transformers typically have copper wire wrapped around a cylindrical core so the
magnetic flux, which occurs within the coil, doesn't leak out, the coil efficiency is good, and
the magnetic flux has little influence on other components. Laminated transformers contain
laminated-steel cores; they are also called E-I transformers. These steel laminations are
insulated with a nonconducting material, such as varnish, and then formed into a core that
reduce electrical losses. Power transformers can be one of many types. These include
autotransformer, control transformer, current transformer, distribution transformer, generalpurpose transformer, instrument transformer, isolation transformer, potential (voltage)
transformer, power transformer, step-up transformer, and step-down transformer. Mountings
available for high voltage transformers include chassis mount, dish or disk mount, enclosure
or free standing, h frame, and PCB mount
Testing Of Transformer
As regards complex electrical equipment such as high voltage power transformers, internal
insulation is subject to defects due to several reasons associated to bad material, design,
manufacturing processesor resulting from shipment.
On-site electrical tests are for the test voltage to simulate on the transformer under testing the
equivalent stresses which may be established during service condition.
Basically, electrical tests on power transformers are grouped in type and routine tests. The
goal of a routine test is to check correct manufacture of HV insulation while the goal of a
type test is to confirm correct design of HV insulation.
In addition, the application of on-site tests may be able to be separated in:
commissioning tests: as part of the on-site equipment commissioning procedure in order to
demonstrate that shipment and erection have not caused any new defects to HV insulation;
on-site repair or refurbishment: as part of the repair or refurbishment procedure in order to
demonstrate that repair or refurbishment have been successfully completed and HV insulation
is free of dangerous defect; and
diagnosis: as part of a diagnostic procedure in order to provide reference values to further
tests or to confirm results obtained from other types of test.
SeminarsTopics.com
Up to date, on-site high voltage withstand tests including partial discharge monitoring and
measurements are the most significant tests in order to quantify HV insulation quality. The
use of a separate HV source is more informative than measurement at normal operation
voltage, as it allows investigation of the HV insulation performance with voltage.
Alternating voltages are most important for on-site tests . Other voltage shapes for simulation
of overvoltages have been used; however, they are strongly dependent on availability of onsite testing systems.
The application of HV on-site tests has been a good practice in South America. Since 1992,
on-site HV tests have been performed in more than 110 power transformers ranging from
30MVA to 550MVA, 115kV to 765kV (AC) and 600kV (DC). Large electric power utilities
and industrial plants are the main customers to this technology.
SeminarsTopics.com
SeminarsTopics.com
During the test, partial discharge activities were measured (up to 7500pC at 130%Un) and located in
the HV winding exit areas. Figure 5 shows the results of PD location through the application of 3
acoustic sensors.
SeminarsTopics.com
The transformer has been visually inspected internally and partial discharges evidences have been
located in the area indicated by the previous test induced test. After that, the transformer has been
shipped back to factory and disassembled for complete repair.
SeminarsTopics.com
SeminarsTopics.com
Thereby the inductance Lt of the load becomes smaller with decreasing impedance
voltage vimp%, with decreasing rated phase-to-phase voltage VP-P and with
increasing power Ptot of the transformer winding to be tested. Therefore the lowest
values of the inductance Lt have to be considered by testing the low-voltage side
windings for power transformers. For a three-phase winding in a star connection the
following equation can be applied: Lt Inductance (stray inductance) of the winding to
be tested Impedance voltage of the winding to be Tested VP-P Rated phase-tophase voltage of the three-phase winding to be tested Ptot Rated total power of the
three-phase winding to be tested f Rated frequency
With decreasing inductance Lt the impulse capacitance Ci of the impulse voltage test
generator is not only discharged via the tail resistor Rp, but also via the low
inductance Lt of the winding to be tested. Thereby the time to half-value T2 of the LI
is reduced and the aperiodic discharge of the impulse capacitance turns to a
damped oscillating cosine shape. This is permitted in principle acc. to IEC 60076-3
[2]. However, the lower tolerance limit for the time to half-value of T2 min
may not remain under 40 s (= 50 s - 20 %). At the other side the amplitude of
opposite polarity of the LI voltage dmax should not exceed 50 %.
To fulfil these both requirements the impulse voltage impulse voltage test generator
must have a minimum required impulse capacitance
SeminarsTopics.com
SeminarsTopics.com
SeminarsTopics.com
Fig. 5: Impulse Voltage Test System IP 150/2000 G (150 kJ, 2000 kV) with impulse
voltage divider and chopping multiple spark gap, with a stage energy of 15 kJ being used for the
LI test of power transformers up to 245 kV
SeminarsTopics.com
SeminarsTopics.com
Fig. 7: LI test of power transformers by using the Glaninger-circuit, adjustment of the voltage
shape at the voltage crest by means of an additional resistor R t (optimal adjustment Rt = 300
Ohm for this example)
Fig. 8: LI test of power transformers by using the Glaninger-circuit, adjustment of the time to
half-value T2 and the amplitude of opposite polarity d by means of the tail resistor R p (optimal
adjustment Rp = 60 Ohm for this example, T2 > 40 s, d < 50 %) With a Glaninger-circuit the front time
T1, the time to half-value T2 and the amplitude of opposite polarity d of the LI test voltage can be set
almost independently, i.e. T1 with the tail resistor Rs, T2 and d with the resistors Rp und Rt (fig. 7
and 8). A variation of the Glaninger-coil inductance is as a rule not necessary. The Glaningercircuit
enables for LI testing the most effective adaptation of the impulse voltage test generator and the
transformer to be tested. An existing impulse voltage test generator can be utilised optimally.
6. Conclusion
The testing of power transformers with LI test voltage acc. to the IEC standards presupposes
special knowledge of the interaction between the impulse voltage test generator and the inductive
load. For example, there exists a close connection between the main data of the transformer to
be tested and the required impulse capacitance of the impulse voltage test generator. There are
also requirements related to the damping characteristic of the test circuit to utilise an existing
impulse voltage test generator optimally. Some basic aspects and circuitries were described
in this paper.
SeminarsTopics.com
AC Hi-Pot Test
The AC hi-pot test is applied to evaluate the condition of transformer
windings.
This test is recommended for all voltages, especially those above 34.5 kV.
For routine maintenance testing of transformers, the test voltage should
not exceed 65% of factory test voltage. However, the hi-pot test for
routine maintenance is generally not employed on transformers because
of the possibility of damage to the winding insulation. This test is
commonly used for acceptance testing or after repair testing of
transformers. The AC HV test value should not exceed 75% of the factory
test value. When AC hi-pot testing is to be used for routine maintenance,
the transformer can
be tested at rated voltage for 3 min instead of testing at 65% of factory
test voltage. The AC hi-pot test values for voltage systems up to 69 kV are
shown in Table 5.9. Testing procedures and test connections are similar to
the DC hi-pot tests
TTR Test
The TTR test applies voltage to one winding of a transformer and detects
the
voltage being generated on another winding on the same core. In the case
of a low voltage hand-crank powered TTR, 8 V AC is applied to the lowSeminarsTopics.com
SeminarsTopics.com