Cooling of Transformers

Prof. Tejas H. Panchal

 Cooling of Transformers
• The heat developed in the transformers is dissipated to the
surroundings. The coolants used in transformers are:
• (1) air and (2) oil.

• The transformers using air as the coolant are called dry type
transformers while transformers which use oil as the coolant
are called oil immersed transformers.

• In dry type transformers, heat generated is conducted across

the core and windings and it is dissipated from the outer
surfaces of windings to the surrounding air through
convection.

• In oil immersed transformers, the heat produced inside the

core and windings is conducted across them to their surfaces.
• This heat is transferred by oil to the walls of the tank through
convection. Finally, heat is transferred from the tank walls to
surrounding air by radiation and convection.

• The cooling methods used for dry type transformers are:

1. Air Natural (AN)

2. Air Blast (AB)
• Air Natural (AN): This method uses ambient air as the
cooling medium.

• Natural circulation of surrounding air is utilized to carry away

heat generated by natural convection.

• This method is used for small low voltage transformers.

• However, development of insulating materials like glass and

silicone resins class C materials which can withstand higher
temperature (150 ° C) makes the method suitable for
transformers of ratings up to 1.5 MVA.

• The high rating transformers are used in special applications

like in mines where fire is a great hazard.
• Air Blast (AB): Cooling by natural circulation of air becomes
inadequate to dissipate heat from large transformers and hence
forced circulation of air (air blast) is employed in order to keep
the temperature within limits.
• The forced air circulation improves the heat dissipation.
• In this method, transformer is cooled by a continuous blast of cool
air forced through the cores and windings. The air blast is
produced by external fans.
Cooling methods for Oil Immersed Transformers
• 1. Oil Natural (ON): Oil as a coolant has two distinct
advantages:
• (i) It is better conductor of heat than air
• (ii) It has a high co-efficient of volume expansion with
temperature.

• The transformer is immersed in oil and the heat generated in

cores and windings is passed to oil by conduction.

• Oil in contact with heated parts rises and its place is taken by
cool oil from the bottom.
• The heated oil transfers its heat to the tank walls from where
heat is taken away to the ambient air.

• The heated oil thereby gets cooler and falls to bottom.

• Therefore, a natural thermal head is created which transfers

heat from the heated parts to the tank walls from where it is
dissipated to the surrounding air.

• The tank surface is the best dissipater of heat but in case of

large rating transformer tank will have to be excessively large,
if used without any auxiliary means of heat dissipation.

• The heat dissipating capability of transformers of ratings

higher than 30 kVA is increased by providing fins, tubes and
radiator tanks.
• The cooling tubes are welded to the tank walls at the top and
bottom. The use of cooling tubes provides additional cooling
surface but also improves the circulation of oil due to increase
thermal head.
Design of Tubes in Tanks
Cooling methods for Oil Immersed Transformers
• 2. Oil Natural Air Forced
(ONAF):

• The oil circulating under

natural head transfers heat
to the tank walls.

• Transformer tank is made

hollow and air is blown
through the hollow space to
cool the transformer.
Cooling methods for Oil Immersed Transformers
• 3. Forced Circulation of Oil (OF):

• In large transformers, natural circulation of oil is insufficient

for cooling and forced circulation is used.

• Oil is circulated by a motor driven pump from the top of

transformer tank to an external cooling plant(heat exchanger)
where the oil is cooled.

• The cold oil enters the transformer at the bottom of the tank.
• OF methods are classified as

(i) Oil Forced Air Natural(OFAN)

(ii) Oil Forced Air Forced (OFAF)
Cooling methods for Oil Immersed Transformers
(i) Oil Forced Air Natural(OFAN):

• Oil is circulated through the transformer with the help of a

pump and cooled in a heat exchanger by natural circulation of
air.

• This method is not commonly used.

Cooling methods for Oil Immersed Transformers
(ii) Oil Forced Air Forced (OFAF)

• Oil is cooled in external heat exchangers using air blast

produced by fans.

• The oil pump and fans may not be used all the time.

• At low loads, the losses are small and hence natural circulation
of oil with ONAN condition may be sufficient to cool
transformer.

• At higher loads, the pump and fans may be switched on by

temperature sensing elements.
OIL FORCED AIR FORCED COOLING (OFAF)