FRA Diagnostics Measurement of Winding Deformation in Model Single-Phase Transformers Made with Silicon-Steel, Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Magnetic Cores

The power transformer is a key object in the electrical power system. The working principle hasn’t changed since its discovery. The main work nowadays is focused on the rising of the reliability of transformers and lowering power losses. The replacement of new materials instead of conventionally used ones can provide a solution. This procedure can improve factors, like a reduction of power losses, but also influence others normally neglected, like proper work in higher frequencies. The article presents the measurement results of the frequency characteristics of model test coils made with different magnetic materials cores (silicon steel, amorphous material, and nanocrystalline material), the measurements based on the sweep frequency response analysis (SFRA) method used for the determination of chosen frequency characteristics. The analysis presents the impact of different coil deformation levels on frequency characteristics. Results show that the replacement of conventional silicon steel with thinner high permeability materials can modify the state-of-the-art frequency response analysis (FRA) interpretation guidelines. The replacement of a new type of magnetic material as a magnetic core in the existing design of power transformer should lead to a full analysis of its behavior in the high-frequency domain.