Improvement of Main Insulation Structure for 110kV

Electric Power Transformer based on Electric Field

Analysis
Gao Youhua1, Gao Dan1, Li Yanbin1, Gong Shuqiu1and Wang Guogang2
1 School of Electrical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, 110023, China
2 TBEA Shenyang Transformer Group Co., Ltd, Shenyang, 110023, China

E-mail:gaoyh1993@163.com

Abstract-Main insulation structure for 110kV electric power

transformer is improved based on electric field Analysis. FEM is
II. CALCULATION METHODS
introduced to calculate the electric filed of primary and improved
A. Mathematical Models
main insulation structure. The electric field distribution is shown,
Main insulation structure of transformer under power
and maximum electric field intensity and its position are given. The frequency is expressed as static electric field. The differential
advantage for improved main insulation structure is obtained from equation for electric calculation is expressed by
the cost comparison between primary and improved main
insulation structure of transformer. The validity of main insulation
∇ 2ϕ = 0 (1)
structure has been proved by insulation test to electric power Written in cylindrical coordinates of scalar potential ϕ
transformer. together with boundary value and initial value condition
∂ 1 ∂ ∂ϕ ∂ 2ϕ
I. INTRODUCTION (ε + γ )[ ⋅ (r ) + ]=0 (2)
The necessary of energy-saving and loss reduction is ∂t r ∂r ∂r ∂z 2
becoming more and more urgent with the lack of energy The boundary condition between different dielectric is
supplies. The manufacturing cost to the manufacturers and ⎧ϕ1 = ϕ 2
operating cost to the management can be largely saved due to ⎪
energy-save and loss reduction. Traditional main insulation ⎨ ∂ϕ1 ∂ϕ 2 (3)
structure of 110kV voltage class transformers in domestic has ⎪⎩ε1 ∂n = ε 2 ∂n
been lagged because of the serious waste of manufacturing costs FEM is introduced to solve the electric field for 110kV power
[1-3]
. So it is necessary to develop an improved main insulation transformer. Potential distribution curves and electric field
structure to meet the requirements of energy-saving and loss intensity in main insulation structure can be calculated
reduction. according to (2).
The new design schemes of main insulation structure are
B. Calculated Structure and Boundary Conditions
presented to the power transformers of 110kV voltage class
Calculation model is shown Fig.1. Two dielectrics which are
based on electric field analysis. FEM is introduced to calculate
transformer oil and insulation paper plates are included in
the electric filed of the improved main insulation structure. The
calculated regions. Where the transformer oil relative
electric field distribution is shown, and maximum of electric
permittivity is ε S = 2.1 and the insulation paper plates relative
field intensity and its position are given. The advantage for
improved main insulation structure is obtained from the cost permittivity in static is ε S = 3.6 .
comparison between primary and improved main insulation
structure of transformer. The validity of main insulation
structure has been proved by insulation test to electric power
transformer. The electric field distribution for new structure is
uniform in comparison with the old main insulation structure.
The conclusions are derived that the improved insulation
structure of 110kV voltage class is more advanced and meets the
requirements of reliability.

This worker is supported by Foundation of Liaoning Province Education Fig.1 Geometrical structure of main insulation for transformer
Bureau under Grant 05L279.

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 The electric field calculation combined with boundary 3mm and 4 mm in the main insulation structures. The distance
condition for the solved region are given by from high voltage coils to yoke core is 70mm and the distance
⎧ from high voltage coils to bottom yoke core is 70mm .The
⎪ 1 ∂ ∂ϕ ∂ 2ϕ square ring is not put on the terminal of high voltage coils.
⎪ (r )+ 2 = 0
⎪ r ∂r ∂r ∂z
⎪ϕ (CDEF ) = 0
⎪
⎨ϕ ( AB) = 0 (4)
⎪ ∂ϕ
⎪ =0 (BC、 AF )
⎪ ∂n
⎪ ∂ϕ1 ∂ϕ
⎪ε1 = ε2 2 (GH )
⎩ ∂n ∂n

III. ANALYSIS BETWEEN NEW AND OLD TYPE OF

TRANSFORMER STRUCTURE

A. Old Type Transformer Structures

The old type of transformer structure is shown in Fig.2. The
outlines of transformer are core iron and yoke iron. The main
insulation is located between high voltage coils and low voltage
coils and its width is 40mm. There are there baffle plates in the
main insulation structures. The distance from high voltage coils
to yoke core is 70mm. The square ring is not put on the terminal
of high voltage coils. Fig.3 Geometrical structure of new type transformer

IV. CALCULATION RESULTS

The potential distribution of main insulation structure for
110kV power transformer can be calculated based on (1). In
order to compare to the old structure, the potential distribution
for the old and new type main insulation structure are calculated.
The sketch mesh for the old type main insulation structure and
the potential distribution are shown in Fig.4 and Fig.5
respectively. It is concluded from calculation results that the
maximum of electric intensity is 7.503 kV/mm.

Fig.2 Geometrical structure of old type transformer

The new type of main insulation structure for 110kV power
transformer is shown in Fig.3. The outlines of transformer are
core iron and yoke iron. The main insulation is located between
high voltage coils and low voltage coils and its width is 38mm. Fig.4 Mesh for the old type main insulation for transformer
There are there baffle plates which widths are respectively 3mm,

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 Fig.7 Electric intensity curves around high voltage coils
Fig.5 Potential distribution of the old type main insulation The manufacture costs have been reduced by main insulation
The potential distribution for the new type main insulation structure improved. The costs of old and new type transformer
structures and the are shown in Fig.6 It is concluded from are given in Table I. We can know from Table I that the copper
calculation results that the maximum of electric intensity is weight has been reduced 142kg, the iron weight has been
7.861 kV/mm. The maximum of electric intensity can be found reduced 811kg and the oil weight has been reduced 525kg. The
in inner side of angle ring next to the terminal of high voltage
valid costs has been reduced 6.2％. It is saved ¥120,000 if a
coils. It is well known that electric field is concentrative overly
transformer’s price is ¥2000,000.
if the main insulation distance has been reduced from 40mm to
TABLE I
38mm.
THE MAXIMUM OF ELECTRIC INTENSITY AT ANGLE RING TURNING
Width of main Copper weight Iron weight
insulation ( mm ) ( kg ) (kg)
40.00 4878 9816
38.00 4736 9005

Width of main Oil weight Valid costs

insulation ( mm ) ( kg ) (¥)

40.00 4870 638868

38.00 4344 601472

V. EXPERIMENTS RESULTS
The distance of new type main insulation structure of 110kV
power transformer has been reduced largely, so the
measurement and experiments must be taken to insure the
reliability of insulation design for power transformer. The
Fig.6 Potential distribution of the new type main insulation condition and results for applied over-voltage test is shown in
It can be derived from calculation that the shape of angle Table II and the condition and results for induced over-voltage
ring should keep the same as possible as shape of the equal test is also given in Table III.
potential curves. Otherwise, the slip discharge may happen due TABLE II
to the action of the tangential component of electric intensity. RESULTS FOR APPLIED OVER-VOLTAGE TEST
Fig .7 shows the electric intensity vector curves around high
Position of applied Test voltage Test time Results
voltage coils. It can be seen that the higher intensity occurs voltage ( kV) (s)
around the terminal of the high voltage coils.
Comparing the manufacturing cost of the two examples, the High voltage to ground 140 60 Pass
or low voltage
advantages and practicability of the new main insulation
structure are feasible. Low voltage to ground 25 60 Pass
or high voltage

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 TABLE III
Upk=-479.58kV T1=1.48us T2=49.01us
RESULTS FOR INDUCED OVER-VOLTAGE TEST Tested
50% lightning wave
Product
Position of switching Applied voltage Induced voltage
voltage (kV) (kV)
5 L.V. H.V.
12.6 200

Times of induction Frequency test time Results

(Hz) (s)

2 200 30 Pass

The lightning strike over-voltage tests are operated according

to test program. Test results for Phase B terminal are given in
Fig.5. It can be seen from test results that the improved power
transformer can bear lightning strike. c) Tested wave for 100% lightning over-voltage at T2=49.1us

Upk=-240.27kV T1=1.48us T2=48.40us Upk=-478.82kV T1=1.48us T2=49.00us

Tested 50% lightning wave Tested 100% lightning wave
Product
Product

a) Tested wave for 50% lightning over-voltage

d) Tested wave for 100% lightning over-voltage at T2=49.0us
Upk=-478.87kV T1=1.48us T2=48.90us 3) Comparing the manufacturing costs between the new and
Tested
Product
100% lightning wave old transformers, the advantage and practicability of improved
main insulation structure is feasible and it can bear the strike
over-voltage from test examination.

b) Tested wave for 100% lightning over-voltage at T2=48.9us
VI. CONCLUSIONS
1) The maximum of electric intensity is 8.354kV/mm for
improved transformer. It is less than the intensity permissible
value 8.5kV/mm.
2) 6.2％ manufacturing costs of power transformer is saved
by reducing insulation distance from 40mm to 38mm.
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