INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND CONTROL (IJESC)

Vol. 3, No. 1, Jan-June 2011, pp. 27 32

Analysis of the Voltage Stresses on Transformer Windings

under Different Type of Surges
Poulomi Mitra1, Abhinandan De2, and Abhijit Chakrabarti3

Abstract: Standard high voltage lightning and switching impulse tests are performed on Extra High Voltage
(EHV) transformers during manufacture to ascertain the breakdown strength of insulation used. But during their
service, transformers encounter numerous voltage transients of complex and varying wave shapes which do not
necessarily resemble these standard surge type voltages. This paper reports the results of investigation on the
internal response of transformer windings under standard lightning impulse voltage and system originated
oscillatory transient over-voltages and the results were compared. The present study should promote understanding
and assessment of voltage stresses in transformer windings under various probable terminal disturbances and this
knowledge may be useful in incorporating necessary changes in transformer dielectric test standards.
Keywords: Transformer, Excitation, Lightning Impulse, Oscillatory Transient.

1. INTRODUCTION
Transformers in EHV power networks often encounter
voltage transients of complex and varying wave shapes
which can result in voltage stresses well above normal
operating values in transformers or its sections. This
phenomenon have been investigated and reported in [1].
Transients, generated in electrical grid due to lightning
strokes, power system faults etc, have significant impact
on grid connected transformers. These voltage transients
are of unknown shapes and are mostly oscillatory in
nature. Dielectric test standards [2] are based on pulse
shapes which were felt to be reasonable simulations of
transient voltages which could be experienced in service.
As a consequence, the transformer designer has been
concerned about the response of windings to these standard
pulse shapes [3, 4]. However, the actual nature of terminal
disturbances experienced by a transformer in the field
are unknown and may be very different from these
standard pulse shapes and response of the transformer to
these non-standard disturbances need to be assessed.

St. Thomas College of Engineering and Technology,

West Bengal, India 4 Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata
700023, E-mail: Poulomi_hazra@rediffmail.com.

Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur,

Howrah, West Bengal, E-mail: Abhinandan.de@gmail.
com.

Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur,

Howrah, West Bengal, E-mail: A_chakraborti55@
yahoo.com.

This paper focuses on the response of transformer to

standard as well as non standard excitation voltages of
the following types:
(a) Standard lightning impulse voltage
(b) Non-standard oscillatory transient voltages
A comparative assessment of the voltage stresses
developed on windings under these excitation voltages
has been made. A high frequency Electromagnetic
Transient Programme (EMTP) model of a 400/220 kV
transformer has been developed for the study.
Investigations were made to know the nature of internal
voltage amplification and to assess the voltage stresses
on major and minor windings insulations under each of
the disturbances mentioned above. As said earlier,
responses of the same transformer under 1.2/50s
lightning impulse voltage have been studied to examine
whether the surge type test wave represents the worst
possible voltage stresses experienced by transformers or
whether oscillatory transient over voltages can produce
even more severe stress conditions for winding insulations.
The observations reported from the present study should
provide invaluable information for transformer designers,
manufacturers and power system professionals.
2. MODELLING OF THE TRANSFORMER
WINDINGS
For investigation of the transient phenomena inside a
transformer, a lumped parameter high frequency circuit
model of the concerned 400/220 kV transformer has been
developed by the authors based on transformer geometry

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International Journal of Electrical Systems and Control (IJESC)

and configuration [5, 6]. Complete details of the proposed

modelling technique are provided in Appendix A.
Relevant data pertaining to the transformer are provided
in Appendix B. Since the objective is to obtain the voltage
stresses on major and minor winding insulations, coil by
coil representation of the windings has been considered
to be sufficient for the present purpose. Following
parameters have been considered in the development of
the EMTP model:
(i) Self and mutual inductance of the coils for all the
windings - the value of core permeability is constant
and its value is estimated on the basis of operating
conditions. This assumption is valid since the

transformer is not operated near saturation.

(ii) Coil- to-coil capacitances for all the windings- the
values have been calculated from the principles of
electrostatic energy conservation.
(iii) Coil-to - ground capacitances for all the windings
capacitances- the values have been calculated
assuming that the coils and core leg and the metal
tank form cylindrical electrode systems.
However, small capacitances formed between a coil
and other distant coils, spurious stray capacitances existing
in the transformer were not considered as it is impossible
to ascertain their values accurately and also they have

Fig. 1: Developed Equivalent Circuit Model of the 315 MVA 400/220 kV Transformer.

marginal effect on the models response.

A schematic diagram of the lumped parameter model
developed for the 315 MVA, 400/220kV transformer is
presented in Fig. 1 for detailed understanding of the
model.
The frequency responses of the winding admittance
(neutral current/applied impulse voltage) of the original
transformer match very closely with the results obtained
from the model, showing similar resonant peaks and crossovers. The agreement in both amplitude and frequency
is very good, which is indicative of good modelling
accuracy.

Fig. 2: Transfer Function (Winding Admittance)

Frequency Response of the Transformer.

3. RESPONSE OF THE 400 KV MAIN AND TAP

WINDINGS UNDER DIFFERENT TYPE OF
SURGES
In order to design the insulation structure of a transformer,
the transient voltage stresses [7, 8, 9] to which all
sub-components of the structure will be exposed must
be known. The effect of different types of terminal
disturbances on the transformer windings are discussed
below:
(a) Response Under Standard Lightning Impulse
Lightning Impulse tests are traditionally conducted on
transformers with standard wave-shape of 1.2/50s. It is
to be noted that lightning disturbances do not always
have the standard wave-shapes like a laboratory simulated
full waves, chopped waves or steep front waves. However,
by defining the amplitude and shape of these waves, it is

Analysis of the Voltage Stresses on Transformer Windings under Different Type of Surges

possible to establish a minimum impulse dielectric strength

that a transformer should meet. If a lightning disturbance
travels some distance along the line before it reaches a
transformer, its wave-shape often approaches that of the
full wave referred above. Response of the transformers
400 kV winding under 1.2/50s standard lightning
impulse is shown in Fig. 3.

29

Fig. 4: Response of Transformer Terminal Due to

Oscillatory Transient Excitation.

Fig. 4a: Response of Main Winding under Oscillatory

Transient Excitation.

Fig. 3: Response of Windings under Lightning

Impulse

The peak voltage across the group of 15 disk coils

of the 400 kV main and tap windings are observed to be
40% and 10% of the applied terminal voltage respectively.
(b) Effect of Oscillatory Transient Excitation Voltage
As majority of the system generated transients resemble
damped sinusoids [10, 11] of the form Ve (t) sin 2ft
where determines the degree of damping), hence such
a form of wave has been the natural choice for simulation
of oscillatory excitation voltage [12, 13].
Fig. 4 represents the voltage response of the group
of 15 disk coils of main and tap windings when
transformer terminal is excited by their natural frequencies.
The maximum voltage across the main disk coil is 62%
while that of tap is 19.2%. The result depicts the resonance
phenomenon which occurred at the disk coils due to
matching of their natural frequencies at the terminal
oscillation frequency.

Fig. 4b: Response of Tap Windings under Oscillatory

Transient Excitation.

Fig. 5 represents the response of the same group of

main winding disk coils when the excitation frequency
is de-tuned from resonance by about 30%, keeping the
amplitude unchanged. The results reveal that 30%
detuning from resonant frequency results in as large as
49% reduction in voltage amplification, illustrating the
sensitivity of the winding to resonant frequency.

Fig. 5: Response of Main Winding under Oscillatory

Terminal Excitation When Detuned.

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International Journal of Electrical Systems and Control (IJESC)

The peak voltage stresses on the main and tap winding coil groups are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1
Peak Voltage Stresses on the Main and Tap Winding Coil Groups
Type of excitation voltage
1.2/50s standard lightning impulse

Peak voltage across Main

Winding coil groups
40%

Oscillatory switching transient voltage

62%
19.2%

The results clearly indicate that the classical

transformer test standards like lightning impulse test do
not stress the insulation to the level encountered under
oscillatory terminal excitation which often arises during
transformer energization and de-energization under light
loads, faults (initiation and clearing), capacitor and reactor
switching (both connection and disconnection) etc.
4. COMPARISON OF THE STRESSES ON INTER
DISK INSULATION UNDER DIFFERENT
EXCITATION VOLTAGES
The response of the 400 kV winding to 1.2/50s standard
lightning impulse at BIL voltage of 1400 kV (peak) has
been studied for comparing the voltage stresses on the
windings. Fig. 6 shows a comparison of the developed
voltages across the disk coils of the 400 kV main and tap
windings under 1.2 p.u.(392 kVpeak) oscillatory terminal
excitation and under the 1400 kVpeak standard lightning
impulse.

Fig. 6: Comparison of the Voltage Stresses on Main

Wnding Coils under Oscillatory Terminal Excitation
and under Standard Lightning Impulse.

Peak voltage across Tap

winding coil groups
10%

Fig. 6a: Comparison of the Voltage Stresses on Tap

Winding Coils under Oscillatory Terminal Excitation
and under Standard Lightning Impulse.

The bar charts show that in all cases the developed

voltage stresses on the disk coils of main and tap windings
under the oscillatory terminal excitation exceed the
stresses under standard lightning surge. As evident from
Fig.6a, for the tap changer coils, which are physically
located far away from the transformer live terminal, the
impact of a line end incident surge on the tap changer
coils is much less. On the contrary these coils experienced
severe voltage stresses under oscillatory terminal
excitations, possibly due to internal resonance and voltage
amplifications there off. The voltage stresses developed
in some of the tap changer disk coils under oscillatory
terminal excitation were observed to be as high as 14
times the stress under standard lightning impulse voltage
excitation.
5. CONCLUSION
The data presented suggest the following conclusions:
Surge waveforms as specified in ANSIC57:12.90 do
not reflect the worst possible working stresses on
transformers. Studies indicate that windings response to
certain oscillatory voltages can be worse than lightning
impulse. For power transformers, where the investment
is substantial, it is therefore important for the industry to
recognize the potential hazards associated with these
oscillatory transient voltages and to assess how the
windings will respond to such voltages. Suitable
oscillatory transient over voltages tests can also be adopted
in transformer test standards in conjunction with
necessary design modifications to overcome this problem.
APPENDIX A
1. Self Inductance of Disk Coils
The formula used here applies to coils of disc shape, for
which the radial dimension is considerably greater than
the axial dimension. The equivalent self inductance is
given by
L = Ls 0.004 N a(G1 + H1 ) ...(1)
Ls = 0.001 N2 aP H(a is in cm)
and

...(2)

Analysis of the Voltage Stresses on Transformer Windings under Different Type of Surges

31

2
8a
1 c 8a

In

0.5
+

24 2a In + 3.583 ...(3)
P = 4 c
c

All nomenclatures are given along with Fig.7

Fig. 8: Reduction of Coils to Equivalent Filaments.

3. Series Capacitance of Interleaved Disk Coils

The series capacitance of a disk coil is composed of two
parts, being the resultant of inter-disc capacitance and
inter-turn capacitance.

Fig.7. Schematic of a Disk Coil.

2. Mutual-Inductance Between the Elements

A. Determination of Average Inter Disk Capacitance

The mutual inductance between two coaxial circular

filaments of negligible cross-sectional area and radii
a and A, respectively, separated by distance d between
their planes is found to be dependent upon the two
parameters: a/A and d/A. The mutual inductance is
computed by Lyle method of equivalent filaments. The
dimensions of equivalent filaments are illustrated by
Fig. 8. It shows two circular coils of rectangular crosssections of mean radii a and A, axial dimension b1 and
b2, radial dimensions c1 and c2, having number of turns
N1 and N2 and spacing of median planes D. The Lyle
method replaces the two coils by four equivalent
filaments. Each filament is assumed to have half the
number of turns of its coil. If the axial cross-sectional
dimension b1 is greater than radius c1, filaments 11 and
22 will have an equivalent radius r1 slightly larger than
the mean radius a, and the two filaments are located at
an axial distance on either side of the median plane.
If on the other hand the second coil has its radial
dimension c2 greater than axial b2 the coil is to be replaced
by two co-planer circular filaments 33 and 44 located
at the median plane but having equivalent radii (r2 + )
and (r2 ) respectively.
The mutual inductance between the two coils is then
given by

The calculation of resultant inter-disc capacitance is based

on the principle that sum of the energies accumulated in
all the part capacitances within a section is equal to the
entire energy of the section. Let, Cdr = resultant inter
disk capacitance between two interleaved members and
C Dr = resultant inter disk capacitance between two
adjacent interleaved groups. Since there are 24 turns in a
main winding disc coil, each interleaved disc pair consist
of 48 turns. Assuming a linear distribution voltage among
the turns and applying the energy principle:

M13 + M14 + M 23 + M 24
M = N1 N2

...(4)

2
1 V (12 + 32 + 52 + ...... + 212 ) +
1
C dr V 2 = Cd 2 2
...(5)
2 48 (43 + ...472 )
2

and similarly
2
2
2
2
1
1 V 2 (1 + 3 + 5 + ...... + 23 ) +
C Dr V 2 = C D 2 2
...(6)
2
2 48 (49 + ...712 )

Cd and CD are calculated at mid-turn of the disc coils,

applying the formula for capacitance between parallelplate electrodes, assuming that pressboard covers 35%
of the total horizontal surface area of a disc coil and oil
covers the remaining 65%.
B. Determination of Inter-Turn Capacitances
Applying the same energy principle and assuming Ctr is
the resultant inter turn capacitance,
1 23 2

1 V 2

1
CtrV 2 = Ct 21 + Ct .V 21 ...(7)
2
2 48
2 2

Ct is calculated at mid turn of a disk coil, applying

the formula for parallel-plate capacitors with electrodes
separated by paper dielectric.

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International Journal of Electrical Systems and Control (IJESC)

4. EQUIVALENT HIGH FREQUENCY

RESISTANCE OF DISK COILS

Ke(ave) =

Here we assume a case of subdivided (laminated)

conductors placed in iron slot. Again it is assumed that
the conductor is divided in N layers, each of height h1,
width b and length L. Total height of all the layers is
h = N h1. The average loss ratio for N layers is given by:

0 bf

RAC
N2
= 1 + (h1)4
RDC
9

...8

where R DC is the DC resistance and R AC is the

equivalent AC resistance at high frequency considering
the skin effect. The factor is given as:

...(9)

where f is frequency and is the resistivity of the conductor. The generalized expression can be extended for a
transformer winding if each winding of axial height LC can be considered to be located in a slot of width Hw which
is the height of the transformer window and equation 14 can be modified as:

0 fLc
H

...(10)

APPENDIX B
Technical specifications of the transformer are as under:
Design Data
Tap Winding
1. Type of winding
continuous disk
continuous disk
2. Number of disk
36
3. Turns per disk
18
4. Separation between disks
interleaved disk pair
interleaved

Main Winding
Interleaved
Interleaved
48
24
(i) 8mm between
(i) 6 mm between

disk pairs
two successive
two successive
groups
groups

(ii) 12mm between

(ii) 8mm between
interleaved
interleaved

REFERENCES
[1] R.J Musil, G. Preininger, E. Sehopper, S. Wenger;
Voltage Stresses Produced by Aperiodic and
Oscillating System Over-Voltages in Transformer
Windings, IEEE Transactions on PAS, PAS-100,
no.1, January 1981.

[2] Power Transformer-Insulation Levels and Dielectric

Tests, IEC Publication, 76-3, 1980.
[3] ANSI C57.12.00-1968, General Requirements for
Distribution, Power and Regulating Transformers, and
Shunt Reactors.
[4] ANSI C57.12.90-1968, Test Code for Distribution,
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Reactors.
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