FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON BUSHINGS (FAQ)

Design and Engineering:

1. What is the requirement of short time current rating of the bushing?

Erection, Commissioning and Service issues:

1. Do we have to take specific care in transportation of transformer bushing?

2. What are the checks to be carried out on receipt of bushings at site or transformer
factory?
3. If low oil level is observed, can the bushing be topped with oil at site?
4. What are the precautions to be taken while measuring tan delta and capacitance at
site?
5. What are the precautions to be taken during installation of the bushing into the
transformer?
Design and Engineering:

1. What is the requirement of short time current rating of the bushing?

As per standard short time current rating should be 25 times rated current of the
bushing. However, with lower short time current rating, the size of current carrying
parts of the bushings will be lower as compared to higher STC level of say 40 kA for 3
sec. This will not be suitable to cater mechanical load of terminal connector and
connected jumper. Therefore it is recommended to have standard short time current
rating of 25 kA for up to 66 kV, 40 kA 1 or 3 sec for 132 kV and above. In some cases it
may be 50 kA 1 sec also.

Erection and Commissioning:

1. Do we have to take specific care in transportation of transformer bushing?

Bushings are transported in inclined position. There are possibilities of nitrogen

cushion in the expansion chamber migrating into the condenser core. This can lead to
failure of the condenser core due to high PD. Hence, minimum settling time should be
given as per manufacturers’ recommendation.

2. What are the checks to be carried out on receipt of bushings at site or transformer
factory?
a. Check for any leakages from the sealing joints.
b. Check for any leakage from test tap pin (soldered ).
c. Check for oil level inside the bushing
d. Check for any missing accessories like terminals, shields etc.
e. Check for any hairline cracks on the porcelain surface

3. If low oil level is observed, can the bushing be topped with oil at site?

It is not recommended to top up the bushing with oil at site. The oil is filled inside the
bushing under controlled conditions of temperature and vacuum at factory. Bushing
manufacturer should be contacted for further advice.

4. What are the precautions to be taken while measuring tan delta and capacitance at
site?
a. Ensure the bushing surface is cleaned thoroughly, specific attention to the test
tap area and porcelain surface.
b. Measurements to be carried out in UST mode.
c. Ensure there is no HV interference, which can affect the measurements.
d. Do not carry out measurements under rainy conditions, high humidity (> 60%
RH)
e. Do not carry out measurements with bushings placed in packing box or in
horizontal position.

Factory test results can vary from the site measurements as they do no resemble
the factory test conditions. The site measurements carried out before
 commissioning should be taken as the reference for comparison during future
measurements.

5. What are the precautions to be taken during installation of the bushing into the
transformer?

a. Ensure the bottom electrode / stress shield is not damaged or any paint peel off.
This will affect the stress distribution in the oil end side and can lead to
catastrophic failure.
b. Ensure the detachable bottom electrode (in case of 245 kV & 420 kV) are fixed
with their necessary hardwares.

c. The oil end insulator should not hit the transformer turret while lowering the
bushing. There can be mechanical damage or hairline crack on the oil end
insulator leading to failure.

d. The top terminal is provided with a gasket sealing to the bushing socket. It is
important to ensure proper compression of the top terminal gasket to avoid any
entry of rain water /moisture into the centre tube of the bushing.

e. Bushing is placed on turret with fresh gasket and both are tightened with torque
wrench as per value specified by OEM.

f. Copper lead or rod of bushing must be joined with winding lead with due care as
per drawing. Any looseness in this joint will lead to hot spot.