Overload Criterions of Mineral-Oil-Immersed
Distribution Transformer Rated 100kVA and
Less Using the Characteristics of Top-Oil
Temperature Rising
Chang-Ho Park, Member, IEEE, Jae-Chul Kim, Member, IEEE, Sang-Yun Yun, Student Member, IEEE
Abstract—This paper presents the general recommendations
for the overload criterions of mineral-oil-immersed distribution
transformers rated 100kVA and less in Korea. For this purpose,
the experiments are performed to analyze the characteristics of
top-oil temperature rising for distribution transformer at KERI
(Korea Electrical Research Institute) from December 2000 to
May 2001. The twenty pole transformers are used for the test
samples and they are supplied from KEPCO (Korea Electric
Power Corporation). The experiment results are represented by
the critical time of overload for each transformer capacity.
Finally, we present the overload criterions of distribution
transformer for summer and winter season, respectively.
Index Terms—Distribution transformer, transformer loading,
overload criterion, mineral oil immersed transformer,
distribution transformer, load management, top-oil temperature,
transformer insulation.
I. INTRODUCTION
A S THE social framework has shifted to the information
and industrialization-centered society, the electrical
power demands steadily increase. Above of all, the concerns
of load management for distribution transformers that directly
supply electrical power to customers have been concentrated
and the outages due to the distribution transformer failure
deteriorate the reliability and power quality in customers and
utilities.
Overload failure of distribution transformer accompanies
with the oil spouting and explosion, and decreases the
potential reliability of supply power for customers. And also,
lots of time and cost is needed for their maintenance and
system restoration. For these reasons, utilities have been
operated a variety of overload criterions that fits for each
distribution system circumstances [1,2]. In Korea, we
established the overload criterions for distribution
transformers based on the foreign standards that published
before twenty years ago. These criterions have the weak points
C. H. Park is with the Power System Laboratory, Korea Electric Power
Research Institute, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Taejeon 103-16, Korea
(email: chpark@kepri.re.kr).
J. C. Kim and S. Y. Yun are with the Department of Electrical Engineering,
Soongsil University, Seoul 156-743, Korea (e-mail: jckim@ee.ssu.ac.kr;
drk@ee.ssu.ac.kr).
0-7803-7519-X/02/$17.00 © 2002 IEEE
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for the change of transformer design specifications and the
various load demand patterns of customers [3]. Therefore, the
enhanced overload criterions for distribution transformer that
correspond to the specifications of distribution transformer in
Korea are needed.
This paper presents the research results for the
establishments of overload criterions for mineral-oil-immersed
distribution transformers rated 100kVA and less in Korea. The
capacities of distribution transformer deal with this paper
contain the whole overhead type and a part of pad type
transformer in Korea. For this purpose, we analyze the
characteristics of top-oil temperature rising through the actual
experiments for the mineral-oil-immersed distribution
transformer.
Section II outlines the conventional overload criterions of
distribution transformers in Korea and explores the weak
points and countermeasures. Section III summarizes the
experiment processes and results. The experiments are
performed at KERI (Korea Electrical Research Institute) from
December 2000 to May 2001. For the extraction of oil
temperature rising factors, we introduce the 2-step load curve.
In Section IV, we present the proposed overload criterions of
distribution transformer. The findings of the criterion are
divided into the summer and winter season, respectively.
II. OVERLOAD CRITERIONS OF DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS
IN KOREA
In this section, we examine the conventional overload
criterions of distribution transformers. The defects of
conventional criterions are takes out and its countermeasures
are proposed.
A. Present State of Overload Criterions
The decision of overload for distribution transformer in
Korea is performed on spring and fall season, not on summer
and winter season when the actual overloads are predicted.
Thus, we forecast the predictive overload of each distribution
transformer for summer and winter season at spring and fall
season, respectively. Through this estimation, utilities are able
to determine the replacement time and the new capacities of
 Table 1. Overload criterions of distribution transformer for each connection
Lamp-Use Customer Motor-Use Customer types in Korea.
(Peak load(IPL) estimation (Peak load(IPM) estimation
using load regression Eq.) using the customer factor) Connection Types Overload Rate%
1 φ 2w 220V 130
Peak Load 1 φ 3w 220/110V 110
Current(IP) for 3 φ 3w 200V 130
Individual Distribution 130 (3φ only)
Tr. = IPL + IPM 3 φ 4w 220/110V
110 (1φ and 3φ common)
3 φ 4w 220/380V 110

Overload Rate % Table 2. Experiment results of foreign standard (ANSI/IEEE Standard

= (IP/IRated) X 100 % C57.91-1981)
Base Load 50% Base Load 75%
Fig. 1. Forecast of overload rate for individual distribution transformer in Terms Overload Overload
Korea Duration Duration
Rate% Rate%
139 4 133 4
pole-transformers in summer and winter season. The factor of Normal Life
154 2
overload decision is overload rate (%) of each distribution Range
transformer. Fig. 1 illustrates the simple diagram of overload 165 2
rate calculation for individual distribution transformer. All 171 8
electrical consumers in Korea is divided into the ‘lamp-use’ Life Loss 169 8
and ‘motor-use’ customer depending on the contract power Range 222 2
and supply type. Each distribution transformer composed of 229 2
lamp-use and motor-use customers as shown in Fig 1. In case
of lamp-use customers, the prediction of the peak load has
been traditionally performed through the peak load estimation of experiment for 20 years ago. Therefore, the difference
using the load regression equation [4]. The parameters of the with the recent distribution transformer in Korea can be
load regression equation are electric energy (kWh) and peak existed.
load current (A). Also, the peak load forecasting has been 3) The conventional overload criterions are identically applied
performed through the peak load estimation using the to the summer and winter seasons. It ignores the difference
customer factor for the case of motor-use customers [5]. of ambient temperature between summer and winter season.
Consequently, the predicted peak load of each distribution 4) The compositions of customers’ type are ignored in the
transformer is calculated by the sum of the predicted peak load conventional overload criterions. Thus whatever the
of lamp-use customer and motor-use customer. customer compose, the overload criterions for the
The overload rate that is calculated as Fig. 1 is used to distribution transformer with same connection types are
decide the decision of overload according to the overload identical.
criterions for connection types as shown in Table 1. The
standard value of overload criterions in Korea is overload rate We set the object of enhancement for the overload criterions
130% and it is based on the experiment results of ANSI/IEEE of distribution transformer as follows.
Standard C57.91 (1981) [6]. - The proposed overload criterions should consider the
Table 2 shows the experiment results of ANSI/IEEE characteristics of recent distribution transformers and
Standard C57.91 that is used for the basis of conventional customers’ load patterns.
overload criterion in Korea. We set 130 % for the basis of
overload criterion because the distribution transformer can be For the enhancement of overload criterion of distribution
sustained the normal life for the 4 hours and 130 % overload transformer, we should select the factor of transformer life loss.
as shown in Table 2. The temperatures of transformer inside are generally selected
B. Weak Points and Countermeasures of Conventional as a factor of transformer life loss. It is divided into the three
Overload Criterions parts as follows.
The conventional overload criterion of distribution 1) Hottest spot temperature: It means that the highest
transformer contains some weak points as follows. temperature of the transformer inside. It is impossible to
measure in practice.
1) The basis of conventional overload criterion, 130 % and 4 2) Average winding temperature: It means that the average
hours, is not absolute. temperature of the transformer inside. It is impossible to
2) The conventional overload criterion is based on the results measure in practice.

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 Table 3. Maximum permissible temperature of insulations (OC)
CT Insulations JEC-2200 ANSI.C57.12 IEC 76
(30/5A) A 105 105 105
IVR
E 120 - 120
(0~760VVariable) Test Maximum
PT Sample Permissible B 130 150 130
(440/110V
) Temperature of F 155 185 155
Insulations
V H 180 220 180
C Over 180 Over 220 Over 180
A
Temp.
Sensor
T For these reason, we select the top-oil temperature for the
factor of transformer life loss. In Korea, the basis of top-oil
Recorder temperature rising is 50K. It is decided by maximum
(a)Simple diagram of tests permissible temperature and ambient temperature condition is
40OC. Table 3 shows the maximum permissible temperature
for each standard.
In this paper, we decide the enhancement method of
overload criterion for distribution transformer as follows.

1) The status of overload for distribution transformer is

decided that the top-oil temperature rising is over the 50OC.
2) The characteristics of top-oil temperature rising for
distribution transformer are obtained from the experiment
for distribution transformer in Korea.

III. EXPERIMENTS OF DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER

In this paper, the experiments are used to decide the
characteristics of top-oil temperature rising for distribution
transformer. The magnitude and duration of overload were
changed, and the top-oil temperatures for each time were
(b) Actual test view
recorded. We performed experiments using a test facility at
Fig. 2. Top-oil temperature rising test for distribution transformer KERI (Korea Electrical Research Institute) in 2001. For the
test method, we use the short testing method [7]. The diagram
1.0 E
of the test and the actual test condition are shown in Fig. 2(a)
D
Actual Load Curve
Peak Load Magnitude

F and (b).
0.8 2-Step Load Curve If the top-oil temperature is rising at the peak load time of
daily load cycle, then it is reducing at the base load time of
Load (P.U.)

0.6 daily load cycle. Therefore, the period of distribution

A+C+G = B+D+E+F
transformer overload is decided on the daily load curve. For
0.4 the reflection of the relation between the electrical load and
Peak Load Duration G
C top-oil temperature, we use the 2-step load curve in IEC
0.2 A
B
Standard 354(1971) and ANSI/IEEE Standard C57.91(1981)
Base Load Magnitude
[6, 8].
0
0 6 12 18 24
Fig. 3 illustrates the method that the actual load curve
represents the 2-step load cycle. The concept of the 2-step load
Time (h) cycle is equal to the actual curve for the aspect of energy. The
Fig. 3. 2-Step load curve for actual load curve
constraint of transformation for 2-step load curve is that the
sum of the areas of A, C, and G is equal to the sum of the areas
of B, D, E, and F as shown in Fig. 3.
3) Top-oil temperature: It means that the highest oil The decision factors of top-oil temperature rising for the
temperature of the transformer inside. It is possible to distribution transformer are as following three elements.
measure in practice.
1) Magnitude of the peak load for transformer
2) Duration of peak load
3) Magnitude of base load for transformer

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 Table 4. Conditions for performing the experiment
Conditions
Duration of Experiment
Test Sample
Test Sample Extraction
Limit of Overload
Base Load
Experiment Duration
Ambient Temperature
Experiment Interruption
Contents
December 2000 – April 2001
5 units for each 30, 50, 75, 100kVA
distribution transformer
Korea Electric Power Corporation
100%-160% (variation for each 10%)
25, 50, 75%
Total about 24 hours (8 hours for
overload)
About 13OC
-Test duration limit arrival
: Overload 8 hours
-Top-oil temperature limit arrival
: 110OC
(a) 30 kVA transformers
-Gush of oil from tank

Table 5. Composition of sample transformers for the experiment

Top-oil Temperature
Capacity Primary Secondary
No. Rising for Rated
(kVA) Voltage (V) Voltage (V)
Load (OC)
1 30 12600 230/115 45.7
2 30 12600 230/115 39.6
3 30 12600 460/230 43.5
4 30 12600 230/115 39.7
5 30 12600 460/230 41.9
6 50 12600 460/230 44.6
7 50 12600 230/115 43.6
(b) 50 kVA transformers
8 50 12600 230/115 42.9 Fig. 4. Experiment result for 30 and 50 kVA transformers
9 50 12600 460/230 40.1
10 50 12600 460/230 44.1
11 75 12600 460/230 45.6 The conditions for performing the experiment are selected
12 75 12600 460/230 46.3 as Table 4. The constitution of the test samples is shown in
13 75 12600 230/115 45.8
Table 5. The experiment results of 30 and 50kVA transformers
are shown in Fig. 4 (a) and (b). In Fig. 4, The X-axis
14 75 12600 230/115 44.2
represents the duration of overload and the Y-axis denotes the
15 75 12600 230/115 48.5
magnitude of top-oil temperature rising.
16 100 12600 230/115 49.2
17 100 12600 460/230 45.7 IV. OVERLOAD CRITERIONS OF DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER
18 100 12600 230/115 50.0 DUE TO TOP-OIL TEMPERATURE RISING
19 100 12600 230/115 49.4 As mentioned in Section II, the conventional basis of top-oil
20 100 12600 230/115 48.0 temperature rising set 50K for ambient temperature 40OC. It
may be occurs a large error because the condition considers
the high ambient temperature in summer season. However, the
The equation formula [6] of the magnitude of peak and base ambient temperature has difference between summer and
load is winter season in Korea. Therefore, it is necessarily to reflect
the difference of ambient temperatures between summer and
M 21 × t1 + M 2 2 × t 2 + ....... + M 2 n × t n winter season. The ambient temperatures of major cities in
Equivalent Value = (1) Korea for summer and winter season are shown in Fig. 5(a)
t1 + t 2 + t 3 + ....... + t n
and Fig. 5(b), respectively [9]. The temperature of the summer
season is the maximum temperature among the June, July, and
where M 1 , M 2 , M n represent the load value and t1 , t 2 , t n August in a year. For the winter season, the maximum
denote the duration of each load value. In this paper, we use temperature among the December, January, and February in a
the three factors of 2-step load curve for performing the year is selected. The maximum ambient temperature for
experiments of top-oil temperature rising. summer and winter season is 39.4OC and 22.2OC, respectively.

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 V. CONCLUSION
This paper presents the overload criterions of mineral-oil-
immersed distribution transformers rated 100kVA and less.
We analyze the characteristics of top-oil temperature rising for
mineral-oil-immersed power distribution transformer rated
100kVA and less, manufactured in Korea using the
experiments. The experiments are performed at KERI (Korea
(a) Summer season Electrical Research Institute) from December 2000 to May
2001. From these experiment, we obtained the overload
reaching time of distribution transformer for each overload
factors. These overload factors is obtained from the
conversion of actual load curve into 2-step load curve. Finally,
we present the overload criterions of distribution transformer
for summer and winter season, respectively. The proposed
overload criterions could be used to evaluate the overload
(b) Winter season impact of expected electrical load on distribution transformer
Fig. 5. Maximum ambient temperatures of major cities in Korea
in Korea.

From these results, we decided that the basis of ambient Capacity Overload%
100 110 120 130 140 150 160
[kVA] Base load
O
temperature in summer season is 40 C and the basis of
Summer - 10 5 4 3 3 2
25%
ambient temperature in summer season is 20 OC. Therefore, Winter - - 19 11 7 5 4
the basis of top-oil temperature rising of summer and winter Summer - 6 4 3 3 3 2
30 50%
Winter - - 18 10 8 5 4
season set 50K and 70K, respectively. It is that the differences
Summer - 5 3 2 1 1 1
75%
20K is the margin for the difference between summer and Winter - - 14 6 4 4 3
winter season ambient temperature. 25%
Summer - 10 6 4 4 3 3
Winter - - - 15 8 6 5
The proposed overload criterions of distribution
Summer - 10 5 4 3 2 2
50 50%
transformer in Korea for summer and winter season are shown Winter - - 23 13 8 6 4
in Table 6. The values in Table 6 represent the border time of Summer - 9 4 3 2 1 1
75%
Winter - - 21 10 6 4 3
transformer overload. For example, suppose a transformer
Summer 11 5 4 3 2 2 1
25%
capacity is 30kVA, the base load is 50%, and overload rate is Winter - - 12 6 4 3 3
130%. This transformer is expected 3 hours that reach the 75 50%
Summer 9 5 3 2 2 1 1
Winter - - 9 5 4 2 2
over load criterion in summer season.
Summer 5 3 2 1 1/2 1/5 1/5
75%
Winter - - 8 5 3 2 1
Summer 11 5 3 2 2 2 1
25%
Winter - - 10 5 4 2 2
Summer 10 4 3 2 1 1 1
100 50%
Winter - - 11 5 4 2 2
Summer 6 3 2 1 1/2 1/5 1/5
75%
Winter - - 10 5 3 2 1

Table 6. Overload criterions of distribution transformer

(Hours, -: Not overload within 24 hours)

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 VI. REFERENCES
[1] Chang-Ho Park and Sung-Soo Jo, "A study on the improvement of
transformer load management,” Korea Electric Power Research Institute,
Taejeon, Chung-Nam, Korea, Tech. Rep. TR.96ES15.S1998.86,
February 1999.
[2] J. A . Jardini, H. P. Schmidt, C. M. V. Tahan, C. C. B. De Oliveira, and
S. U. Ahn, “Distribution transformer loss of life evaluation: a novel
approach based on daily load profiles,” IEEE Trans. Power Delivery,
vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 361-366, January 2000.
[3] Jae-Chul Kim and Chang-Ho Park, “A study on the optimal load
management of distribution transformer,” Korea Electric Power
Research Institute, Taejeon, Chung-Nam, Korea, Tech. Rep.
TM.00PJ06.M2001.333, August 2001.
[4] Sang-Yun Yun, Jae-Chul Kim, Gi-Hyun Kim, and Jin-Soon Im, “Peak
load estimation of pole-transformer in summer season considering the
cooling load of customer,” The Trans. of the KIEE, vol. 50A, no. 1, pp.
20-27, January 2001.
[5] Distribution Department of Korea Electric Power Cooperation,
Operation manual for low-voltage load management, Korea Electric
Power Cooperation, 1999.
[6] IEEE guide for loading mineral-oil-immersed overhead and pad-
mounted distribution transformers rated 500 kVA and less with 65℃ or
55℃ average winding rise, IEEE Standard C57.91-1981, July 1981.
[7] Won-Sik Hong, Jin-Chung So, Young-Gi Park, and Sun-Koo Kim, ’99
Transformer Practice Techniques, Korea Electrical Research Institute,
1999.
[8] Loading guide for oil-immersed power transformer, IEC Standard 354-
1991, September 1991.
[9] Daily temperatures in Korea [Online], Available: http://www.kma.go.kr.
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VII. BIOGRAPHIES
Chang-Ho Park (M’ 2002) was born in Jindo,
Korea, 1956. He received his B.S.E.E. degree from
Chungang University, Korea, in 1979, and received
his M.S.E.E. in Electrical Engineering from Yonsei
University, Korea in 1982. He is a member of KIEE
and KIIEE. He is presently a senior researcher at the
Power System Laboratory, Korea Electric Power
Research Institute, Korea Electric Power
Corporation. His areas of interest include load
management of distribution transformer, distribution
system automation, and power quality.
Jae-Chul Kim (SM’ 1984, M’ 1988) was born in
Chonbuk, Korea, 1955. He received his B.S.E.E.
degree from Soongsil University, Korea, 1979, and
M.S.E.E. and Ph.D. degrees from Seoul National
University, Korea, in 1983 and 1987, respectively.
He has served as a professor of Electrical
Engineering at the Soongsil University since 1988.
Prof. Kim is a member of KIEE and KIIEE. His areas
of interest are diagnosis of power system equipments,
power quality, distribution system automation, and
battery energy storage system (BESS).
Sang-Yun Yun (SM’ 1998) was born in Inchon,
Korea, 1970. He received his B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E.
degrees in Electrical Engineering from Soongsil
University, Korea, in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
He is currently working on his Ph.D. at the Soongsil
University. He is a member of KIEE and KIIEE. His
areas of interest include power quality, adaptive
reclosing, and load management of distribution
transformer.