TRANSFORMERS

Transformer?
A static piece of Equipment With 2 or more windings in it Conductively disjoined windings Magnetically coupled windings with a time varying magnetic field Meant for voltage/ Power transfer from one place/ level to the other.

Faradays Laws
Whenever a conductor cuts magnetic field, an emf is induced in it. The magnitude of the induced emf is equal to the rate of change of flux

Lenzs Law
Electro magnetically induced current will oppose the very cause which produces it.
i

No load

V- E = no load loss of a Transformer.

Certain details
Primary winding of a Transformer is that which receives the main supply. Its voltage may be low or high. The other winding is called as secondary. This voltage may be low or high. LT voltage: up to 500 V HT voltage: up to 130 KV EHT voltage: up to 500 KV

Transformer types
Construction wise: Core type Service wise: Instrument Transformers Potential trs Current trs Power transformers Service trs High Power trs Auto transformers

Shell type

Certain details
Both windings are insulated to avoid mechanical contact. In case of core type transformers, both windings are placed in separate limbs. In case of shell type transformers, both windings are placed in a same limb. Normally all Instrument transformers are of air cooled type.

Certain details
Transformer will deliver rated current at rated voltage and rated frequency. Rating of a transformer is mentioned as KVA. Terminal marking plate details: 1.Rating 2. voltage ratio 3. weight 4. Oil quantity 5. vector group 6. Serial number 7. year of manufacturing

Life of Transformer
Rated frequency 50 Hz. Maximum ambient tempr 50C Daily average tempr 40C Yearly average tempr 32C Minimum ambient tempr -5C Nominal life of a Transformer for which the maximum hot spot temperature is within 98C, is 25 years.

Star winding
U V W

Delta winding
U V W

Zigzag winding
U V W U

DY 11 winding
11 1U 1V 1W 2U 1U

2V 2U 2V 2W 1W 2W 1V

YD 11 winding
1U 1V 1W 11 1U 2U 2U 2V 2W 1W 2W 2V

1V

DZ 11 Winding
1U 1V 1W 11

2U

2V

2W

Losses and Cooling

Less rated transformers are cooled by natural air itself ( Dry type Transformer). Lightly loaded transformers are oil filled & cooled by Thermal Syphon method (ONAN)- like service Transformer. Medium loaded transformers are ONAF type- like Station Transformer. Heavily loaded Transformers are OFAF type- like Generator Transformer

Transformer construction
Transformer is placed in a Container. It is called as Transformer Body. A Conservator tank is provided at top. A Radiator is provided at the bottom of the Conservator tank. Cold oil from Radiator will go to the bottom of the Transformer Body.

Service Transformer
Explosion vent is provided at tank top. Conservator tank with Silica gel Breather. Air cooled radiator. LT line fuses at both the ends of the Transformer. Take-off posts at both the ends within 20. Fence ( preferably).

Thermal syphon
Transformer Is under Load. Heat in The Winding Oil gets heated and its density is reduced Oil raises up

Oil enters into Transformer Body Coming down To the radiator Collected at the Conservator tank

Oil density normalizes

Cooled by Ambient air

Oil quality
Not conducting Not acidic Not highly viscous. Capable of picking up maximum heat from the Winding. Capable of loosing heat to the cooling medium easily Withstanding power. Re-usable quality. Not chemically reacting with Transformer internals Not easily decomposing at elevated temperature.

Jumpers
Primary and Secondary terminals are connected to Jumpers for enabling external connections. The Jumpers are not to touch the Body. The Jumpers are not to create arcs or flashes with the Body. So, the Jumpers are with insulators.

Conservator tank
Only 2/3rd portion is filled up. During Summer and during high load, the temperature pick up in oil will be high. So, oil quantity will increase. If the Conservator tank is already filled up completely, the tank will be subjected to pressurization. Similarly, during Winter & low load operations, vacuum will be created in the Tank. Hence, Conservator tank is needed. To avoid Sludge, oil to radiator tapping from Conservator tank is taken just 3cm above from the bottom of the Conservator tank. Transformer tank capacity > 10 times Conservator tank.

Is Air allowable?
Pure and dry air is allowable. Air consists of Sox, NOx, Cox, and other gas with moisture. Moisture with Certain Oxides will create its acids. Such produced acids will be mixed with the oil. It will deteriorate the winding insulation.

Is Air allowable?
Yes. But, it should be free from Moisture. Because, moisture is the main culprit for the creation of acids. How to avoid moisture from ambient air? Silica gel Breather is the remedy to it. Yes, air is allowable in Conservator tank.

Dust in air?
Is it allowable? What will happen? Dust in Transformer oil will contaminate it. So, it is also to be avoided. How? By means of oil-seal at the bottom of the Silica gel Breather. Yes, Dust free & Moisture free air is allowable in the Conservator tank.

Silica gel
Normally, Blue in colour. Partly with moisture: almost white. If dried at this stage in the Sun-shine it will regain its blue colour again. If not cared, the moisture content will increase and Silica gel will loose its moisture absorbing quality. During this, the colour will be Amber

Breather

View Glass Silica Gel

OIL CUP

Transformer loading pattern

During Summer, Agricultural load will be absent. Lighting load peak hours may be around 0500 to 0900 Hours and 1800 to 2200 Hours. During Winter season, Agricultural load will be at its maximum. Lighting load peak Hours will be around 0600 to 1000 Hours and 1700 to 2100 Hours. During rainy season, no demand to Agricultural load.

Radiators
Radiators are having fins at its periphery to increase the contact area. As the contact area is increased, better heat transfer is effected. Radiators are the main cause for the density increase in the oil. If this density is not improved, re-entry of oil back into the tank is not possible.

Explosion vent?
Due to some reason or other, if pressurization occurs inside the transformer oil tank, then this Explosion vent will explode and safeguard the transformer. When will this condition occur? Whenever there occurs a winding faults. Winding faults may occur due to winding shorts.

Explosion vent

Winding Faults?
Over loading High impulses during thunder Ageing Over heating Insulation failure due to oil contamination. Loose connection

Insulation failure
Moisture and gas Entry through Atmospheric air

Acidic nature Of oil

Insulation failure

Tank Pressurization

Vapour or High volume Of oil

arc

As the transformer capacity is increasing, the fault level will also increase and hence Its seveority. Explosion vent will be enough practically up to 0.5 MVA transformers.

Buchholtz relay.
Above 0.5 MVA Buchholtz relay is essential. It has two float switches. Top switch is meant for alarm and is actuated by level difference method. Bottom switch is for Transformer trip and is actuated by flow increase method.

ACTUATION OF BUCHHOLTZ RELAY Collected at Top of the Buchholtz relay

Fault level Incipient fault Major fault Oil vapour

Oil level lowers

Violent Heat High velocity Near bottom Relay Float lowers

Oil expands In bulk

Major arcs Minor arcs

Alarm

Transformer trips

Bottom Switch acts

BUCHHOLTZ RELAY
It is provided in between Transformer tank and Conservator tank in the hot oil lead pipe ( 5% of total Transformer oil). This pipe line angle should not be more than 11 for the sake of effective actuation of the Buchholtz relay. OLTC portion will also have a separate Buchholtz relay. OLTC is provided more than 30MVA.

Certain emergencies
Buchholtz top relay is operating Bottom relay is not so. Sample is taken and analyzed. Confusing statement. Frequent alarm comes. Frequent samples are taken by climbing up. Is it correct?

No assumptions
It was assumed that air is sucked through the oil pumps and that air was the main culprit for the actuation of the Buchholtz relay. If fire occurs in that Transformer while somebody is taking samples, severe accident or death may occur. Medical expenditures, enquiries, loss and Power interruptions.

Buchholtz relay
Buchholz relay (Transformer protection)

10

8cm Transformer tank top

On load tap changers

No OLTC up to 30 MVA. Only Off-Load tap changers up to 30 MVA OLTC are provided only at High voltage side of a Transformer and not at LT side. LT side current will be high enough; Hence, sparking seveority will be high. HT side current will be low; so, OLTC is provided at High voltage side.

OLTC
It has a separate Buchholtz relay. Both oil are going to the same Conservator tank; But, separate locations. Three fingers are available in OLTC control. Any one finger will be in touch with any one tap inside. Spark will produce during change-over time.

OLTC
If change-over of the fingers are not proper, then continued spark will occur in OLTC. It will create actuation of Alarm or Trip. Study the nominal tap position by experience and never change from it. Actuation of OLTC Buchholtz relay, really exposes the sparking condition in it.

Ancient Transformers
Oil temperature and Winding temperature are only monitored to identify the faults in the Transformer. Explosion vent. Buchholtz relay, lightning arresters Later over Current relay. Earth-fault relay. Differential relay.

Cooling fans
No cooling fans are provided near Radiators for Transformers up to 30 MVA No oil pumps are provided up to 100 MVA Marshalling Box is available in a Power Transformer which contains Oil temperature indicator, Winding Temperature indicator and interlock circuit of automatic start/stop of OIL pumps and Fans.

oil
Sampling of oil in a Transformer is to be done in summer that too in a sun-shine day. The sampling bottle should be properly sealed and send to analysis. The sampled oil should be analyzed within 3 days. Oil should be analyzed in a reputed Lab only.

Oil changing in Transformer

If oil quality is doubted, it should be replaced with fresh oil. if moisture only is with the oil, then heating and centrifuging only will be enough.

CLEARANCE DETAILS IN mm. Voltage 415 V 11 KV 22 KV 33 KV 66 KV 110 KV 230 KV 400 KV To 380 460 610 915 1220 1675 3350 4000 Horn-gap length in inch For 33 KV For 11 KV 15 8 To E 380 395 460 610 750 1000 1675 3500

H.T. FUSE RATING IN SWG VOLTAGE 5 MVA 3 MVA 2 MVA 1.5 MVA 1 MVA 750 KVA 500 KVA 250 KVA 200 KVA 100 KVA SWG 2X 20 20 21 21 22 23 26 28 30

MINIMUM GROUND CLEARANCE (m) 33 KV 66 KV 110 KV 230 KV 400 KV 6.1 6.1 6.224 7.01 8.48

TRANSMISSION LINES TYPES UP TO 80 km 80-240km > 240 km SHORT MEDIUM LONG

33

TEMPERATURE LIMITS IN TRS Oil temperature 40-90C Winding temperature 50-100C( air cooled) 50-110C( oil cooled)

Auto start/stop
If oil temperature is around 60C, no pump and fans will be in service. If oil temperature is around 60C, the fans will start in sequence. Pump, if in service, will stop on auto. If oil temperature increases to 80C, the oil pump will come into service. Normally certain group of fans will be in service on manual mode.

How to load transformer initially

Pre-checks (oil level normal, connections OK, no looseness, no LC) Load Transformer to < 30% . Keep it for 3 Hours. Any entrapped air will go to Conservator tank and Buchholtz relay will now be free of entrapped air. Full load gradually. Observe OT, WT, oil level & noise.

Transformer parallel operation

Same vector group Same polarity. Same voltage ratio. Same percentage impedance.

Daily checks
Neatness No leaks. No change in Humming noise. Parameters noting & recording. Noting down lightning stroke cases. Availability of safety equipments. No glows any where else nearby. No strand break or damage.