Experiences with continuous on-line monitoring of developing fault conditions in large power transformers

In power transformers, energy losses in the form of heat are about 2 percent of their rated power, and in transformers of large power centers reach hundreds of kilowatts. Heat is dissipated into the environment and heats the street air. Therefore, there is a need to consume this thermal energy as a source of heat supply to nearby facilities. (Research purpose) To develop methods and means of using excess heat of power transformers with improvement of their cooling system design. (Materials and methods) The authors applied following methods: analysis, synthesis, comparison, monographic, mathematical and others. They analyzed various methods for consuming excess heat from power transformers. They identified suitable heat supply sources among power transformers and potential heat consumers. The authors studied the reasons for the formation of excess heat in power transformers and found ways to conserve this heat to increase the efficiency of its selection. (Results and discussion) The authors developed an improved power transformer cooling system design to combine the functions of voltage transformation and electric heating. They conducted experiments to verify the effectiveness of decisions made. A feasibility study was carried out on the implementation of the developed system using the example of the TMG-1000/10/0.4 power transformer. (Conclusions) The authors got a new way to use the excess heat of power transformers to heat the AIC facilities. It was determined that the improved design of the power transformer and its cooling system using the developed solutions made it possible to maximize the amount of heat taken off without quality loss of voltage transformation.

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Temperature Distribution in the Insulation System of Condenser-Type HV Bushing—Its Effect on Dielectric Response in the Frequency Domain

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14134016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (13) ◽

pp. 4016

Author(s):

Krzysztof Walczak ◽

Jaroslaw Gielniak

Keyword(s):

Temperature Distribution ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Dielectric Response ◽

Power Transformers ◽

Response Analysis ◽

Insulation System ◽

Large Power ◽

Catastrophic Failures ◽

Significant Temperature ◽

Specific Construction

HV bushings are an important part of the equipment of large power transformers, responsible for their many serious (including catastrophic) failures. Their proper exploitation needs to apply correct and reliable diagnostics, e.g., the use of dielectric response methods, that take into account their specific construction and working conditions. In this article, based on laboratory tests carried out on a real bushing, it has been shown that the significant temperature distribution within its core significantly affects the shape of the dielectric response of its insulation; therefore, the approach to its modeling should be changed. Hence, a new method for interpreting the results, using the so-called the 2XY model, is proposed. Subsequently, based on the measurements made on the insulators in operation, a new modeling method was verified. In conclusion, it can be stated that the 2XY model significantly improves the reliability of the dielectric response analysis, which should be confirmed in the future by tests on withdrawn and revised insulators.

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