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Loading Capability of Transformer in Over-excitation Condition

Conference Paper · August 2007

DOI: 10.1109/PESAFR.2007.4498073 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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IEEE PES PowerAfrica 2007 Conference and Exposition
Johannesburg, South Africa, 16-20 July 2007

Loading Capability of Transformer in Over-excitation Condition

M. Savaghebi, A. Gholami, and H. Hooshyar
Department of Electrical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology
Narmak, Tehran 16846-13114, Iran
Phone: +98-21-73912669, Fax: +98-21-77240490, Email: mehdi_savaghebi@ee.iust.ac.ir

Abstract – Hot spot temperature is the main limiting factor of transformer • τTO: top oil rise time constant, hours, τH: hot spot rise
loading. On the other hand, supposing the frequency being constant, time constant, hours,
voltage increase will result in transformer over-excitation. When the
transformer is over-excited, the no load loss and subsequently the hot spot • R : ratio of load loss at rated-load to no-load loss at
temperature will increase. Thus, the transformer loading will be restricted. applicable tap position, dimensionless,
In this paper, the problem of loading capability determination considering • m : empirically derived exponent, dependent on the
over-excited operation of the transformer is addressed. Necessary
improvements are proposed in order to adapt the IEEE thermal model to cooling method, dimensionless,
this condition. Then, over-excitation effect on transformer loadability is • n : empirically derived exponent, again dependent
illustrated using improved model. Simulation results show that ignoring on the cooling method, dimensionless.
the over-excitation effects may lead to transformer insulation lifetime
reduction up to 20%.
C. Equations
I. INTRODUCTION
The heat transfer equations, and the step-by-step
Supposing the frequency being constant, voltage increase calculation process, are as follows [2]:
will result in transformer over-excitation since Volts per • At each time step, calculate the ultimate top oil rise
Hertz is boosted. When the transformer is over-excited, the from the load current at that instant, using
n
no load loss and subsequently the hot spot temperature will ⎡ K 2 R + 1⎤ (1)
∆θ TO ,U = ∆θ TO , r .⎢ ⎥
increase. The increment in the hot spot temperature due to ⎣ (R + 1) ⎦
long-term over-voltages leads to considerable reduction of • From this, and the ambient temperature at each time
the transformer insulation life expectancy. step, calculate the increment in the top oil
temperature, using
II. HEAT TRANSFER MODEL dθ
τ TO TO = [∆θ TO ,U + θ A ] − θ TO (2)
dt
The commonly used model for top oil and hot spot
temperature calculations is described in Clause 7 of the IEEE • Calculate the ultimate hot spot rise using
Guide [1]. The variables and parameters of the IEEE heat ∆θ H ,U = ∆θ H ,r . K 2 m (3)
transfer model are firstly defined: • Now calculate the increment in the hot spot
temperature rise, using the differential equation
A. Variables (Function of Time, t) d ∆θ H
τH = ∆θ H ,U − ∆θ H (4)
dt
• θΑ: ambient temperature °C,
• Finally, add the top oil temperature to the hot spot
• θTO: top oil temperature °C,
rise to get the hot spot temperature, using
• θH: hot spot temperature °C,
• ∆θH: hot spot rise above top oil temperature °C, θ H = θ TO + ∆θ H (5)
• ∆θH,U: ultimate hot spot temperature rise over top oil
°C, III. OVER-EXCITATION MODELING
• ∆θTO,U: ultimate top oil temperature rise over
ambient °C, In equation (1), only the winding losses variations are
• K : load current, per unit. taken into account. On the other side, the core losses which
depend on the magnetic induction are traditionally evaluated
B. Parameters (Constants) by the following equation [3]:
Wi = [k h B α f + k f tB 2 f 2 ]Vol (6)
• ∆θTO,r: rated top oil temperature rise over ambient • Wi is core losses,
°C
• ∆θH,r: rated hot spot temperature rise over top oil °C, • B is the magnetic induction,
 • f is the frequency, unit. Also, in both ageing rates, loading capability is reduced
more than 1% as a result of over-excitation. At first sight, one
• t is the core sheet thickness,
might consider that 1% reduction in the estimated loading
• k h and k f are losses constants (hysteresis and capability is negligible. But as seen in Fig. 2 (for K =1 and
Foucault currents), θA=30°C), the hot spot temperature will reach 112.25°C at
• Vol is the core volume, 10% over-excitation and this increase leads to ageing rate of
• α is the Steinmetz exponent 1.25 according to equation 9. Supposing continuous operation
The relation between core losses and the excitation at this in this condition and normal lifetime of 20.6 years as
level can be better estimated considering a constant frequency suggested in IEEE Guide [1], a considerable decrease of more
using the following expression. q is approximately 4 and than 4 years (about 20%) in transformer insulation lifetime is
predictable. Besides, loading capability at 30°C ambient
will be defined in this work as the modified Steinmetz temperature as a function of primary voltage is shown in Fig.
exponent [4]. 3. Again, 1% decrease in loading capability as a result of
Wi = kB q (7) 10% over-excitation is demonstrated.
The calculation method for the top oil temperature rise
proposed in this work, includes the effect of the over-
excitation due to the over-voltages, on the core losses
increase by modifying equation (1) based on the proposition
of [4] as follows: Loading capability (p.u.)
n
⎡K 2R +V q ⎤ (8)
∆θ TO ,U = ∆θ TO , r .⎢ ⎥ V=1.0
⎣ (R + 1) ⎦ V=1.1
In this equation V is the per unit primary voltage of the
transformer. It is obvious that over-excitation leads to top oil
and subsequently hot spot temperature rise.

IV. LOADING CAPABILITY OF TRANSFORMER

The relationship between hot spot temperature, θH, and Ambient temperature (°C)
ageing acceleration factor, FAA (ageing rate), is given by (a) Ageing rate=1
equation (9), for 65°C rise transformers [1]:
15000 15000
FAA = exp([ ]−[ ]) per unit (9)
383 θ H + 273
where “per unit” is based on the normal ageing rate, i.e., the
Loading capability (p.u.)

rate that would pertain if θH were continuously at the design

temperature: 110°C. The loss of transformer insulation
life, L , over a given time period, T , is given by V=1.0
T V=1.1
L= ∫0 FAAdt per unit (10)
Steady-state loading capability is calculated at specific
ageing rates. It is equal to calculation of steady-state value of
K by using equations 2-5 and 8. For example, loading
capability of a transformer with OFAF cooling and
parameters listed in Table I [1,4] is considered. This Ambient temperature (°C)
transformer is designed to operate at the hot spot and ambient (b) Ageing rate=8
temperature of 110°C and 30°C, respectively. Fig. 1 shows
Fig. 1. Loading capability at varying ambient temperature
the results at two ageing rates ( FAA =1, FAA =8), at normal
excitation and at 10% over-excitation, i.e., V =1 and V =1.1.
Note that FAA =8 might well be chosen, provided that there is
a time restriction at this temperature. As seen in Fig. 1, in
both excitations ( V =1 and V =1.1), by an increase of 70°C
in ambient temperature, the loading capability in normal and
eight times normal ageing rates will decrease about 0.4 per
 REFERENCES
Table I. Heat transfer model parameters

[1] ANSI/IEEE, “Guide for loading mineral-oil-immersed transformer,”

q ∆θH,r ∆θTO,r R m n Std. C57.91-1995.
[2] G. Swift, S. Zocholl and M. Bajpai, “Adaptive transformer thermal
4 45 35 6.5 1 1 overload protection,” IEEE Trans. on Power Deliv. vol. 16, no. 4, pp.
516-521, Oct. 2001.
[3] J. A. Elbert, “Power transformer operation at over and under excitation,
benefits and consequences,” IEEE Trans. on Power Deliv. vol. 15, no.
1, pp. 192-196, Jan. 2000.
[4] C. R. Castro, S. R. Barbosa and H. L. Ferreira, “Power transformer
loading studies considering overexcitation,” Proc. IEEE/PES Trans.
Hot spot temperature (°C)

and Dist. Conf., pp. 651-656, 2004.

Primary voltage (p.u.)

Fig. 2. Hot spot temperature at varying primary voltage

FAA= 8
Loading Capability (p.u.)

FAA= 1

Primary Voltage (p.u.)

Fig. 3. Loading capability at varying primary voltage

V. CONCLUSION

Necessary improvements were applied to the IEEE model in

order to consider the over-excitated operation. Then, steady
state loadability was determined utilizing the improved
model. Simulation results present the significance of over-
excitation consideration. It was observed that an increment of
10% leads to one percent reduction in loading capability.
Furthermore, it was shown that ignoring this reduction will
result in a considerable decrease in transformer insulation
lifetime.

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