2014 Annual Report Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena

Monte - Carlo Simulation of Particle Movement

in an Un-Energized Transformer
N. Vasantha Gowri1, M Ramlinga Raju2, B. P Singh3
1. Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, India
2. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada, India
3. St Martin's Engineering College, Secunderabad, India

Abstract- The paper deals with the random movement
of metallic particle in a high voltage transformer. A
particle is assumed to be in the annular gap between HV
winding and the press board cylinder nearest to HV
winding, which is initially resting at the bottom portion
of winding. Circulating oil induces movement in the gap
and the particle starts moving in random direction
depending on its shape and size. In order to generate a
path of particle, Monte – Carlo simulation is performed
by defining its velocity and random angle at every step of
movement. The final results show the probability of
striking the winding for a given velocity and angle. The
transformer is assumed to be un-energized for
computation. The probability of strike shows a definite
trend with random angle assumed and velocity of
movement generally encountered in Air Natural Forced
Oil Cooling (ANFC) System. The results obtained may
be helpful in determining the occurrence of partial
discharge for an energized transformer.
sizes may continue to remain at the bottom of the
tank. They become potential source of Partial
Discharges (PD) when the transformer is put into
operation.
For ANFC transformers, these particles are
dislodged and move freely in the inner space between
axial cylinder and winding between press board
cylinders and between discs. The particles also move
in the ducts region of discs and become source of PD.
The movement of particle depends not only on the
velocity of oil flow but also on the voltage of the
transformer, electric stress, shape, size and material of
the particles. A particle is forced into circulation by
the flow of oil and is affected by the charge acquired
during its movement. The location of particle near a
high voltage conductor may influence the initiation of
PD.

Key Terms: Monte-Carlo technique, Particle Although a more deterministic method of

movement, Power transformer
I. INTRODUCTION
To meet increasing demand of power the
transmission voltage in India has gradually increased
over a period of time. With every increase in
transmission voltage, the insulation requirement for
power equipment like transformer increases non-
linearly with voltage. Both AC and converter
transformers are sensitive to particles in transformers.
The particles found in transformers may be either
aluminum, lead, silver, tin, copper or zinc. Soldered
joints may leave silver and lead as residue. The
conducting particles like tin, zinc and silver may be
present due to connectors, bolts, lugs etc. Particles like
copper, aluminum and iron are naturally present due
to their availability in bulk quantities in the
transformer. They may be separated out due to
operation of tap changer. The presence of the particle
may pose a serious problem to the reliable working of
the transformers, particularly those of relatively higher
voltages.
Although standard methods are adopted to
filter out these particles, many of those remain stuck
between the ducts and block spacers and in between
the discs. Several particles of different shapes and
particle movement can be done by Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD), it has been the experience that
many such phenomena are well represented by Monte-
Carlo Simulation. Results obtained yield information
almost close to those achieved by other form of
deterministic methods. Several papers [1-4] have
reported work on movement of particle in Gas
Insulated System by Monte-Carlo technique. The
above papers utilize the statistical approach based on
Monte – Carlo technique for the determination of
metallic particle trajectory as well as axial and radial
movement in a Gas Insulated Bus Duct.
Monte-Carlo technique has been reported by
Dan Zhou et al.[5] to determine the effect of survival
data on the accuracy of life time models of large
power transformers. The simulation provided adequate
confirmation of result. Huashu et al.[6] has carried out
Monte-Carlo simulation based on Dissolved Gas
Analysis (DGA) method to estimate the reliability of
industrial transformers. It is predicted that failure
probability of industrial transformer will increase with
age if proper maintenance is not implemented. Work
of Weihui [7] reports the calculation of probabilistic
distribution of winding hot spot temperature by
Monte-Carlo technique to forecast the composite risk
of system.

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 The work reported in this paper is based on
Monte-Carlo simulation of a random particle available
at the base in the annular gap between the winding and
immediate cylinder close to the winding. In the
present simulation, the transformer is considered to be
in cold condition i.e., the effect of electric field is
neglected. Flow of oil forces the particle to move in a
random path and its velocity and angle of movement
decide its trajectory.
II. SIMULATION METHOD PROPOSED
In order to simulate the movement of particle
a 220/132/11 kV auto transformer is considered. Since
the above transformer has a center entry type of
winding as shown in Fig.1, only half of the HV coil is
examined. As per the design of the above transformer
the gap between the immediate press board cylinder
and coil is 8 mm and the half height of the coil is 957
mm.
For the purpose of investigation, it is
assumed that particle is located at any point in the
base. In order to locate the initial position of particle,
a rectangular random number between 0 and 1 is
generated. The random value generated is multiplied
by the numerical value of gap (say 8mm) which gives
particle position at the base.
Region of field
L M
8 to have struck a disc of the coil. The point of the strike
V V
m
m
Half coil
Annular Gap
Metal particle
Fig. 1 Internal winding position of 220/132/11kV transformer
The random number generator uses a seed
obtained from date and instantaneous time available in
computer. After first random number all subsequent
numbers follow a sequence. The random number has
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been tested for its uniform distribution through a large
number of sampling.
Once the location of the particle is fixed,
another random number is generated for allowing the
particle to move in a vertical direction through an
assumed solid angle as given in Fig 2.
X Distance
Present
position of
particle
Angle achieved in
Y Distance
present movement of
particle
Solid angle
Initial position of particle
Fig. 2 Trajectory of Particle at a point in annular gap
At the end of every small time interval a new random
number is assigned by the program and a new
trajectory is determined based on the initial solid angle
ascribed. For every initial data the program is
executed several times and the average value of the
probability of striking the winding is calculated. The
methodology to detect winding strike is based on the
maximum horizontal distance travelled during its
flight. If the distance travelled is equal to the annular
gap without vertically getting ejected, it is considered
is determined by the distance moved in Y-direction.
The solid angle assigned to the given particle
is changed for the next set of run and the other set of
probability is evaluated based on the method
described above. In order to examine the effect of
speed on the movement of particle, the particle speed
is varied between 0.1 and 10 meter / sec. Investigation
is also done by varying the annular gap between the
cylinder and the coil with three steps viz. namely
6mm, 8mm and 12mm.
575
 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Based on the variation of the parameters as
described above, a number of trials have been
performed. Fig.3 shows the variations for a annular
gaps of 6mm, 8mm and 12mm and solid angle from
20 degrees to 180 degrees.
Fig. 3 Probability of strike by a moving particle
at velocity of 0.5 m/sec
The probability determined on this basis is
found to have a definite trend of increasing probability
of strike for increased solid angle. The same trend of
probability is seen for higher initial velocity of the
particle.
Fig. 4 Probability of strike by a moving particle
at a velocity of 1 m/sec
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Fig. 5 Distribution of probabilities for 6mm annular gap for a
moving particle at velocity of 1 m/sec
Fig.4 shows a similar calculation for a
velocity of 1 m/sec. for different gaps between the
cylinder and the coil. The probability distribution is
similar to given in Fig.3. It is seen that probability
distribution trend is similar for increasing gap and
solid angle. In order to examine the probability
variation, several runs for the same condition was
made. A typical result is presented in Fig 5 for 6mm
gap and 1m/sec speed. The vertical lines in the plot
show the minimum and maximum variation from
average. It is seen that variation in probability is about
± 10% from its average.
A comparison of results between particles of
different velocities shows that for higher velocities the
probability of strike is higher. It is observed that same
is followed for all gaps examined. From the above
results it can be inferred that for natural air cooling,
where the speed of particle is low, probability of strike
is also low and hence lower likelihood of PD
occurrence.
In the present analysis the random numbers
generated are rectangular type; however more
appropriate probability distribution can be achieved if
the particles are treated to follow normal distribution.
The main basis for such consideration is that the
particles are constrained to flow vertically upward
under influence of forced oil flow.
The motion in horizontal direction is induced
due to shape of particle at the tip, size and turbulent
motion of oil.
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 IV. CONCLUSION Reliability Risk Management and Safety Engineering, pp.
1673-1676, 15-18th July 2013
In order to calculate movement of particles in
[7]. F.Weihui, D.James and V.Vittal “Risk management for
the annular space between windings and duct, a transformer loading”. IEEE Transaction on Power System
method based on Monte-Carlo technique is simulated. Vol, 16, No 3 PP. 346-353, August 2001
The objective of calculating probability of strike is to
utilize the result for predicting PD in the winding
when the transformer is energized. It is observed that
in forced oil cooled transformer there is a probability
distribution of particle touching winding and that it is
determined by the velocity of particle and random
solid angle at any instant of time.

Monte-Carlo method is more suited where

the computation relies on random sampling to obtain
numerical results. Particle movement calculation falls
in this category since they are not fully fixed in shape
and size and are free to move in any direction in the
restricted gap.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to the managements

of CBIT, SMEC and JNTUK for permission to
publish this paper.

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