The Altanova Guide

about Onsite Condition

Assessment of Power
Transformer

1
The Altanova Guide about Onsite
Condition Assessment of
Power Transformer

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Analysis of power transformer
failures
Windings and bushing failures If you manage to measure the
represent about the 50% of the overall parameters of bushings, OLTC+DTC
failures, while tanks and cooling system and winding, you have already 69% of
add an other 15% approximately. possible failure you can prevent.
Winding failures are basically due to the
lack of insulation inside the tank.

Ref. : Cacilda de Jesus Ribeiro; André Pereira

Marques and others. “Faults and Defects in
Power Transformers - A Case Study”

3
Possible power transformer
failures

Transformer winding damaged because of lack of oil reclamation.

Credit: globecore.com

Damage to inside of coil winding stack of

oil-filled transformer (photo credit: forensic.cc)

Transformer tank fault (photo credit: sintef.no)

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3 ways of assessing the condition
of a power transformer

By standard tests
• Standardized test
• Easier to interpret
• Easier to sharing experience, share advice
• More experience and historical data to compare with

By partial discharge testing

• Asset can be tested under the real working condition (online)
• Out of service not required (online)
• More refined test: interception of defect at the initial stage

By continuous monitoring
• Reduction of the probability of unplanned outage
• Localization of the possible defect
• Trending of aging process can be recorded
• More refined test: interception of defect at the initial stage, and the possibility to
trend that values can give us idea on future maintenance

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Standard
tests

1 Turn Ratio test

2 Winding Resistance test

3 OLTC Dynamic Resistance test

4 Short Circuit Impedance test

5 Frequency Response to Stray Losses test

6 No Load test

7 Sweep Frequency Response Analysis test

8 Tan Delta (DF, PF) test

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1. Turn Ratio test

Accessories that can make Accessories that can make

testing quicker: STCS testing quicker: STCS Plus

7
1. Turn Ratio test

The turn ratio is defined as the ratio
of the number of turns of wire in the
primary winding (NP) to the number of
turns of wire in the secondary winding
(NS).
Turn Ratio is the most basic aspect of
our transformer, which actually tells us
how the transformer works.

Turn Ratio = NP / NS

Vp: Voltage of primary side

Vs: Voltage of secondary side
Is: Current of primary side
Ip: Voltage of secondary side
Np: Primary winding
Ns: Secondary winding

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1. Turn Ratio test

The turn ratio (N) can be defined as:

The no-load voltage ratio between two windings of a transformer

Remember - Always generate on the Primary side and

measure on the secondary.
Otherwise high voltage on the primary side might
damage the measurement input.

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1. Purposes of Turn Ratio Test

• It identifies if there are any shorted turns and/or any open turns in HV winding

• It provides information on insulation failure between turns

• It helps in identifying the vector group of the transformer

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2. Winding Resistance Test

Accessories that can make testing quicker:

STCS STCS Plus 20 A DC booster STDE

Demagnetizer

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2. Winding Resistance Test

Transformer winding contains inductance and Resistance.

The DC current source must be extremely stable.

Vdc = I * R + (L di/dt)

I: DC current through transformer winding

R: resistance of the transformer winding
L: inductance of the transformer winding
di/dt: changing value of current (ripple)

• The inductor current must not be allowed to jump

instantaneously from one value to another
• Note: Open circuit is a physical inductor through which a
finite current is flowing, an arc will appear across the switch.

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2. Winding Resistance Test
Procedure
• For star connected winding, the resistance is measured
between the line and neutral terminal
• For star connected auto transformers, the resistance of
the HV side is measured between HV and LV terminal, then
between LV terminal neutral.
• If OLTC is present, resistance shall be taken at each Tap
continuously without discharging the transformer.
• If DETC is present, resistance shall be measured at each
tap and before changing the tap, transformer must be discharged.
• For delta connected windings, the resistance is measured between
pairs of line terminals

Test Requirement
• Stable DC current Source
• Voltmeter
• Algorithm for stable reading of the Resistance
• Discharging after Measurement
• Plot of Resistance with change in Tap

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2. Winding Resistance Test

How to evaluate the results ?

• If we have previous results for winding resistance, we compare

them and want to see the same results, with maximum
difference up to 2% or 3% depending on the standard and
country

• If previous results are not available, we will compare the

values for each phase and again expect to be within 2% or 3%
maximum difference

• Now in STS 5000 we have the option to directly compare phases

and see in percentage the difference

STS 5000 firmware screens.

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3. OLTC Dynamic Resistance test
Ripple and Slope

Accessories that can make testing quicker or more apropriate:

STCS STCS Plus 20 A DC booster STDE

Demagnetizer

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3. OLTC Dynamic Resistance test
Ripple and Slope

OLTC (On Load Tap Changer) contains:

• Diverter Switch performs the operation of changing
• Selector Switch holds the different taps inside

Function of OLTC On Load Tap Changer:

To provide the constant voltage to the LV Winding

GOAL: Changing of the Tap without De

Energising the transformer
The Location of the OLTC in Transformer
is in HV Winding because the current
in HV is lower than the current in the
LV and current is the parameter we are
taking in consideration.
• Nr of Turns in HV winding are more so
voltage regulation is good.
• HV winding Current Carring capacity is
less than LV winding.

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3. OLTC Dynamic Resistance test
Ripple and Slope

Static resistance provides values of all internal contacts of

+
OLTC (diverter switch, tap selector switch, internal contacts)

Winding Resistance.

Static resistance with Ripple and Slope provides values of:

+
All internal contacts

+
Winding Resistance

Information on Dynamic movement of Diverter Switch.

KEEP IN MIND! Test is always performed

for both upward movement and downward
movement of tap position.

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4. Short Circuit Impedance Test

Short Circuit Impedance Test tells us how much the

resistance of the copper contributes to the losses of our
transformer.

(% Impedance Test)
(Leakage Reactance Test)

Accessories that can make testing quicker: STCS Plus

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4. Short Circuit Impedance Test

Short Circuit Impedance is the % of the normal

terminal voltage at on side required to circulate full load
current under short circuit conditions on other side.

Z% = Impedance Voltage x 100

Rated Voltage

Primary side Secondary side

Why Short Circuit Impedance Test?

• To determine the maximum value of fault current that will
flow under fault conditions.
• Winding Movement caused by the heavy Fault Current.
• Winding Deformation Caused while transportation.

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5. Frequency Response
to Stray Losses

Accessories that can make testing quicker: STCS Plus

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5. Frequency Response
to Stray Losses
Frequency Response to Stray Losses is basically the short
Circuit Impedance Test but done in different frequences.

• FRSL is a Short Circuit Impedance Test, but the test at

Variable Frequency i.e. 15Hz to 500Hz.
• Used for the indication of increase in Eddy current by
Phase-to-Phase comparison

Conclusion:
• FRSL Test Advance which provides more information than
short Circuit Impedance Test.
• Skin effect can be identified with the FRSL test
• Skin effect is normally not identified in other Routine Tests.

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6. No Load Current Test

No load Current Test (Excitation Current Test)

Accessories that can make Accessories that can make

testing quicker: STCS Plus testing quicker: TD 5000

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6. No Load Current Test

No Load Current Test indicates:

• Abnormal core grounds
• Winding faults: shorts, open circuits
• On Load Tap Changer problems
• Manufacturing defects

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7. Sweep Frequency Response
Analysis

What is SFRA?
One of the Reliable and sensitive Method to Evaluate the
mechanical and electrical deformation of the Transformer.
Test is performed to obtain the transfer function of the
transformer over wide range of frequency.

SFRA can detect:

• Core Deformation
• Core earth Removed
• Extra Core earth
• Magnetized core
• Collapsed Winding
• Radial Deformation
• Raised/lowered winding
• Unclamped winding
• Shorted turns
• Open Circuit
• Broken conductor strands
• Unclamped core

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8. Tan Delta (DF, PF) test

Tan Delta (DF, PF) Test Set

Accessoriesthat are necessary for the test: TD 5000

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8. Tan Delta (DF, PF) test

Short description
What do we measure?
• The capacitance of the isolator.
• The tangens of the angle “delta” of the R-C network
By “delta” we mean the difference between 90 and the angle
we measure between x axis and the result current.

Why does it matter?

Both parameters are related to the isolator aging and
degradation.
The increase of the capacitance is a sign of the reduced
ability of maintaining the isolation level.
The decrease of the resistance means heating up the device.

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8. Tan Delta (DF, PF) test
Tan Delta is the ratio of in-phase (resistive) current to the
90-degree (capacitive) current
IR
Tan Delta =
IC
Tan Delta is the Dissipation Factor

Power factor (PF; COS ϕ ) is the ratio in-phase (resistive)

current to the total current.

When we are around the 90°

How to interpret the results?

Condition of insulation
Transformer
Should be
Good May be acceptable
investigate

New DF <0.5% - -

Service-aged DF <0.5% 0.5% < DF < 1% DF > 1%

All values measured at 20°C 27

Partial discharge
testing

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Partial discharge
testing

• Asset can be tested under the real

working condition (online)
• Out of service not required (online)
• More refined test: interception of
defect at the initial stage

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Partial discharge
testing

Degradation markers

Thermal process causing degradation of

(detected by DGA and PD) :
• Cellulose (polymerization)
• Oil (oxidation, scission of polymeric chains)

Electrical problems causing:

(detected by PD)
• Partial discharges in paper-pressboard
• Corona (creeping) discharges in oil Transformer winding damaged

Localized problems in bushings:

(detected by PD):
• Defects in insulation
• Faulty bushing taps

Bulk problems in bushings:

(detected by capacitance/tandelta):
• Dielectric losses due to absorption of moisture/water
• Bad assembling/connections

OLTC (On Load Tap Charger)

Transformer bushing fault
(detected by PD):
• Mechanical contacts
• Arcing

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Partial discharge
testing

PD BaseII & PDCal

Manufacturing

Quality Control
& installation

Sensors

PD commissioning Service
Commissioning solution.
Test
Portable PD instrument &
instruments

Spot PD test Service solution.

Online
Spot Test Portable PD instrument & Alfa
Maintenance
Operation &

Permanent
Permanent PD sensor kit
Sensors

Complete distributed PD
Permanent monitoring system, 24/7
Monitoring automatic acquisition
& automatic alarms.

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 Partial discharge
testing

Quality control is performed in the factory

Quality Control where the equipment is manufactured.
IEC standard is very strict on that point, in
order to have a perfect asset coming out from
the factory.

PD BaseII & PDCal

Sensors

Commissioning test is performed after

installation, in order to check that all the
components of the asset are perfectly Commissioning
Test
working and also that the set up of the
system did not affect the insulation of the
system.

ALFA - Portable PD AQUILA - Portable

Testing Solution PD Testing Solution

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Partial discharge
testing
If we want to take care about constant random failures
Online along the life time of the asset, we can perform Partial
Discharge Online Spot test in order to have a quick
Spot Test screening of the asset. We can also install permanent
sensors that will make this spot test even faster. No big
investment is needed.

Tap Adapter UHF HFCT Acoustic

Software

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Global monitoring
system

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GTMS: Global Transformer
Monitoring System

An EFFECTIVE DIAGNOSIS emerging from a smart condition

based monitoring, can lead to:
• Reduction of the probability of unplanned outage
• Localization of the possible defect
• Trending of aging process can be recorded

35
GTMS: Global Transformer
Monitoring System

GTMS Global Transformer Monitoring System is able

to support the asset manager’s decisions on the
predictive and preventive maintenance actions on
transformers.
GTMS Global Transformer Monitoring System is a
modular system which involves 4 different acquisition
units: EDS MK3, TD GUARD, PD SCOPE and DGA .
The units can be used all together, for a global monitoring
system, individually or in combination.
Some parameters are strictly related to
faults/defects, while others are
stressing/enhancing factors for defects.
All the measurements have a warning
and alarm threshold in order to
highlight the problem to the
scada system and prevent failures.

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GTMS: Global Transformer
Monitoring System

Generic transformer parameters

monitoring EDS MK3
• Line currents
• Oil temperatures (bottom, top, cooling
system)
• Core and windings temperatures
• Cooling system current consumption
(fan and pumps)
• Hot spot temperature according to IEC
60076 7
• Loss of life

Bushing monitoring TD GUARD3

• Absolute Tan Delta
(6 bushings HV & LV)
• Relative Tan Delta
• Bushing Capacitance measurement
• Leakage current of each bushing
• Tandelta degradation over the time
• Fast change in bushing capacitance
• Measure the temperature of the
bushing
• Bushings currents and current
imbalance
• HV or LV Voltage (for TD calculation)

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GTMS: Global Transformer
Monitoring System

Partial discharge monitoring PD Scope

• Partial Discharge
• PRPD Pattern
• T/F Map
• Pulse shape
• Localization on arrival time

Dissolved gas monitoring DGA

Detected gasses
from 1 to 9 for instance:
• Hydrogen (H2)
• Oxygen (O2 )
• Methane (CH4)
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Ethylene (C2H4)
• Ethane (C2H6)
• Acetylene (C2H2)
• Nitrogen (N2)
• Moisture in Oil
• Oil Temperature

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TECHIMP - ALTANOVA GROUP
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