Naser Hashemnia

Understanding power transformer frequency response analysis signatures

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the effects of various faults on the FRA signatures of a transformer simulated by a high-frequency model. The faults were simulated through changes in the values of some of the electrical components in the model. It was found that radial displacement of a winding alters the FRA signature over the entire frequency range (10 Hz-1 MHz), whereas changes due to axial displacement occur only at frequencies above 200 kHz. A Table listing various transformer faults and the associated changes in the FRA signature was compiled and could be used in the formulation of standard codes for power transformer FRA signature interpretation.

Improved power transformer winding fault detection using FRA diagnostics – part 1: axial displacement simulation

Frequency response analysis (FRA) has become a widely accepted tool to detect power transformer winding deformation due to the development of FRA test equipment. Because FRA relies on graphical analysis, interpretation of its signature is a very specialized area that calls for skilled personnel, as so far, there is no reliable standard code for FRA signature identification and quantification. Many researchers investigated the impact of various mechanical winding deformations on the transformer FRA signature using simulation analysis by altering particular electrical parameters of the transformer equivalent electrical circuit. None of them however, investigated the impact of various physical fault levels on the corresponding change in the equivalent circuit parameters. In this paper, the physical geometrical dimension of a single-phase transformer is simulated using 3D finite element analysis to emulate the real transformer operation. A physical axial displacement of different fault levels is simulated in both low voltage and high voltage windings. The impact of each fault level on the electrical parameters of the equivalent circuit is investigated. A key contribution of this paper is the charts it introduces to correlate various axial displacement levels with the percentage change of all transformer equivalent circuit parameters due to the axial displacement fault. In contrary with other researchers who only considered mutual inductance between low voltage and high voltage windings, simulation results shown in this paper reveal that other circuit parameters should be changed by a particular percentage to accurately simulate particular fault level of transformer winding axial displacement. Results of this paper aid to precisely simulating winding axial displacement using transformer equivalent circuit that facilitates accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of transformer FRA signatures.

Detection of power transformer bushing faults and oil degradation using frequency response analysis

Frequency response analysis (FRA) has been globally accepted as a reliable tool to detect mechanical deformation within power transformers. However, because of its reliance on graphical analysis, interpretation of FRA signature is still a challenging area that calls for skilled personnel, as so far, there is no widely accepted reliable standard code for FRA signature identification and quantification. While several papers investigating the impact of various mechanical winding deformations on the transformer FRA signature can be found in the literature, no attention was given to investigate the impact of various bushing faults and transformer oil degradation on the FRA signature. This paper introduces a detailed simulation and practical analyses to elaborate the impact of bushing faults as well as transformer oil degradation on the transformer FRA signature. In this regard, the physical geometrical dimension of a three phase power transformer is simulated using 3D finite element analysis to emulate the real transformer operation. Various bushing faults have been emulated on the studied model and oil degradation is implemented through changing oil permittivity. Practical FRA test is conducted on a three phase 132 kV, 35 MVA power transformer to validate the simulation results. Results show that bushing faults and oil degradation can be visibly detected through FRA signature.

Improved power transformer winding fault detection using FRA diagnostics – part 2: radial deformation simulation

Frequency response analysis (FRA) is proven to be a powerful tool to detect winding deformation within power transformers. Although the FRA test along with the equipment are well developed, interpretation of FRA signature is still a challenge and it needs skilled personnel to identify and quantify the fault type if exists as at this stage, there is no reliable standard code for FRA signature classification and quantification. As it is very hard to implement faults on physical transformer without damaging it, researchers investigated the impact of various mechanical winding deformations on the transformer FRA signature by randomly changing the value of particular electrical parameters of the transformer equivalent electrical circuit. None of them however, precisely investigated the correlation between physical fault level and the percentage change in each parameter. In this paper, the physical geometrical dimension of a single-phase transformer is simulated using 3D finite element analysis to emulate the real transformer operation. A physical radial deformation of different fault levels is simulated on both low voltage and high voltage windings. The impact of each fault level on the electrical parameters of the equivalent circuit is investigated and the correlation between the fault level and the percentage change in each parameter of the equivalent circuit is provided. This will facilitate precise fault simulation using transformer equivalent electrical circuit and ease the quantification analysis of FRA signature.

Impact of axial displacement on power transformer FRA signature

Frequency response analysis (FRA) is gaining global popularity in detecting power transformer winding movement and core deformation due to the development of FRA test equipment. However, because FRA relies on graphical analysis, interpretation of its signatures is still a very specialized area that calls for skillful personnel to detect the sort and likely place of the fault as so far, there is no reliable standard code for FRA signature classification and quantification. This paper investigates the impact of transformer winding axial displacement on its FRA signature as a step toward the establishment of reliable codes for FRA interpretation. In this context a detailed model for a single-phase transformer is simulated using 3D finite element analysis to emulate a close to real transformer. The impact of axial displacement on the electrical distributed parameters model that are calculated based on the transformer physical dimension is examined to investigate how models parameters including inductance and capacitance matrices change when axial displacement takes place within a power transformer.

Impact of capacitive coupling circuit on online impulse frequency response of a power transformer

Detecting the early signs of mechanical failures of power transformer winding is necessary and is possible with online monitoring techniques. Online impulse frequency response analysis (IFRA) is a promising diagnostic method when a transformer is in service. This paper examines the unrevealed problem existing in the method, namely, the impact of bushing capacitive coupling circuit on online impulse frequency response. An equivalent electrical model of capacitive coupling circuit and transformer winding is established. The frequency response of the capacitive coupling circuit is obtained to study its influence on online impulse frequency response. The parameter variations of capacitive coupling circuit caused by coupling capacitance variation and bushing dielectric breakdown are simulated to investigate their influence on online impulse frequency response signatures. A few experiments are eventually performed to verify the theoretical analysis and simulation results. This paper contributes to the application of online IFRA.

Finite Element Performance Evaluation of Online Transformer Internal Fault Detection Based on Instantaneous Voltage and Current Measurements

AbstractThis paper investigates the performance of a recently proposed online transformer internal fault detection technique through detailed non-linear three-dimensional finite element modelling of the windings, magnetic core and transformer tank. The online technique considers correlation of transformer instantaneous input and output voltage difference and input current at the power frequency and uses the ellipse shape ΔV-I locus as the finger print of the transformer that could be measured every cycle to identify any incipient faults. The technique is simple, fast and suitable for online monitoring of in-service transformers. A detailed three-dimensional finite element model of single-phase transformer is developed and various physical winding deformations with different fault levels are simulated to assess their impacts on the online ΔV-I locus. As transformer field testing under various internal fault conditions cannot be easily conducted, the main contributions of this paper are accurate finite elem...

Condition assessment of power transformer bushing using SFRA and DGA as auxiliary tools

Dielectric insulation of a transformer bushing deteriorates as a function of temperature, oxidation, and moisture. This causes accelerated aging of oil and cellulosic solid insulation, generating fault gases within bushing oil and eventual permanent failure. To prevent such failures, effective analyses and diagnoses need to be investigated. Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) can give the indication of internal abnormalities inside the transformer bushing. In addition, Frequency response analysis (FRA) is a widely accepted tool for mechanical deformation diagnosis within power transformers. Although a large number of studies have been conducted on the detection of transformer winding deformation by FRA technique, the impact of bushing faults on the transformer FRA signature has not been sufficiently investigated. It is the goal of this paper to propose precise simulation as well as practical analyses demonstrating the impact of bushing faults on the FRA signature. A real transformer bushing geometry is modelled through 3D finite element analysis (FEM) on which different bushing faults are emulated. To verify the derived simulation results, DGA of transformer oil as well as FRA are performed on a three-phase, 132 kV, 315 MVA power transformer. It can be observed clearly from the results, that bushing faults have an impact on the FRA signature and DGA of the power transformer.

Determination of nanosecond pulse parameters on transfer function measurement for power transformer winding deformation

Transfer function method is now a widely acceptable tool to diagnose transformer winding deformations. A sweep frequency sine wave generator is often used to excite the different modes of resonance and anti-resonances. However, it is time consuming. Nanosecond square wave pulse signal offers an alternative that can serve the same objective. However, as so far, there is no certain criterion for selecting pulse parameters. This paper provides a comprehensive method for the determination of nanosecond square wave pulse parameters for transfer function evaluation of power transformer for winding deformation studies.

Performance evaluation of on-line transformer winding short circuit fault detection based on instantaneous voltage and current measurements

This paper investigates the performance of a recently proposed on-line transformer winding short circuit fault detection approach through detailed nonlinear three-dimensional finite element modelling of windings, magnetic core and transformer tank. The technique considers correlation of instantaneous input and output voltage difference Δ V=(v1(t)-v2(t)) and instantaneous input current I=i(t) at the power frequency as a fingerprint of the transformer. The on-line measured ΔV-I locus of healthy and faulty transformer are compared to detect the internal fault. A detailed three-dimensional finite element transformer models based on the physical dimensions, parameters and magnetic core characteristics are developed and used to emulate internal winding short circuit faults and calculate the corresponding transformer ΔV-I locus. Detailed simulations and some laboratory measurements are performed and analysed to investigate the impact of winding short circuit faults on the on-line transformer ΔV-I locus.