B 05-Acronyms used in Transformer

Engineering-1
• Published on January 12, 2022

P Ramachandran

Specialist, Power Transformers

64 articles

An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the
successive parts or major parts of a compound term. Acronyms are usually formed from the
initial letters of words, as IEC (International Electro-Technical Commission)
and EU (the European Union), but sometimes use syllables, as in Benelux (short for Belgium,
the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). Acronyms can be pronounced as words, like CAPEX and
OLTC; as individual letters, like in ONAN and ACSR.

Transformer engineers, like in any other profession use a large number acronyms in their
daily communications and writing. I have compiled common terms used by power engineers
with regard to transformers. Please see how many of them are familiar to you. Please
supplement if I have missed any commonly used acronyms.

A - Ampere

AAC –All Aluminum Conductor

AC -Alternating Current

ACB -Air Circuit Breaker

ACFTD- Air cleaner Fine Test Dust (ISO particle counting test –see MTD)

ACLD- Alternating current long duration test. (Long duration induced overvoltage test)

ACSD -Alternating current short duration test. (Short duration induced overvoltage test)
ACSR- Aluminum Conductor, Steel Reinforced

ADC - Analogue to digital conversion

AF - Air Forced (transformer cooling)

AFWF- Air -Forced /water-forced (transformer cooling)

AI –Artificial Intelligence, Aluminum

AISI – American Iron and Steel Institute, USA

AN - Air Natural (transformer cooling)

ANN - Artificial Neural Network

ANSI - American National Standards Institute, USA

AR -Auto- Reclosure

ARU –Active Rectifier Unit

ASC -Arc Suppression Coil

ASEA- Allimana Svenska Electriska Aktiebolaget (Swedish Electrical Company, 1893-1984)

ASME- American Society of Mechanical Engineers, USA

ASTM- American Society for Testing and Materials, USA

ATE -Assessed Thermal endurance index

AVR -Automatic Voltage Regulator

AV - Applied Voltage Test

B2B- Business to Business

BAT- Best Available Technique

BCT- Bushing Current Transformer

BEA -Boundary Element Analysis, Also BEM Boundary Element Method

BEP- Best Environmental Practice

BHT- Butylated hydroxyl toluene = DBPC (oxidation inhibitor for oil)

BIGT -Bi-mode Insulated Gate Transistor

BIL -Basic Impulse Level (impulse test level for transformers)

BIS - Bureau of Indian Standards (= IS), India

BOM - Bill of Material

BSL -Basic Switching Impulse Insulation Level

BTA - 1,2,3 Benzo Trazole (metal passivator for oil)

CAD/CAE – Computer-aided Design /Computer-aided Engineering

CAPEX- Capital Expenditure

CBIP - Central Board of Irrigation and Power, India

CBM- Condition Based Maintenance

CC -Circulating Current

CCD – Covered Conductor Deposition (Test for detecting corrosive sulfur in oil)

CEA –Central Electricity Authority, India

CESI-Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano (High Power Lab in Milano, Italy)

CFD - Computational Flow Dynamics

CFL- Compact Fluorescent Light

CFR- Cost, Freight (for marine transport)

CI - Computational Intelligence

CIF – Cost, Insurance & Freight (for marine transport)

CIP -Carriage & Insurance Paid to (for transport)

CIGRE- Council on Large Electric System

CIP - Continuous Improvement Process

CIT - Combined Instrument Transformer

CM - Condition Monitoring
CO2 –Carbon dioxide

COG -Coefficient of Grounding

CM -Condition Monitoring

CMB- Common Marshalling Box

CPRI- Central Power Research Institute (India-High Power lab at Bangalore & Bhopal)

CPT –Carriage Paid To

CPU -Central Processing Unit

COPS-Constant Oil Pressure System (oil Preservation system with air cell in conservator)

CRC –Circulating Reactive Current

CRCA-Cold Rolled Continuously Annealed (steel for radiator panels)

CRGO- Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (Silicon steel)

CS -Compact Switchgear

CSA -Canadian Standards Association

CSM -Charge Simulation Method (calculation of electric field)

CSS- Compact Secondary Substation

CT- Current Transformer

CTC- Continuously Transposed Cable (for making transformer windings)

Cu - Copper

CVT -Capacitor Voltage Transformer

DAR- Dielectric Absorption Ratio

DAP- Delivered at Place

DAT- Delivered at Terminal

DAU- Data Acquisition Unit

dB -Decibel
DBP- 2,6 di–tert-butyl- phenol (oxidation inhibitor for oil)

DBPC-2,6 di-tert- butyl –para-cresol (oxidation inhibitor for oil) or 2,6 di-tertiary, butyl para
cresol = BHT

DBDS- Dibenzyl Disulphide (Sulphur compound found or added as inhibitor in oil, which
can result in copper sulphide pollution in paper)

DBS – Dibenzyl sulfide (Sulphur compound found in oil)

DC -Direct Current

DCB -Disconnecting Circuit-Breaker

DCM- Dynamic Capacitance Measurement

DCS -Distributed Control Systems

DD - Dielectric Displacement

DDP - Delivered Duty Paid

DER -Distributed Energy Resources

DETC-De- Energised Tap-Changer, Off -Circuit Tap-Changer. Same as OCTC, NLTC

DF -Dissipation Factor

DFR -Dielectric Frequency Response (Test) = FDS

DFSS -Design for Six Sigma

DGA -Dissolved gas Analysis (of oil)

DIL - Design Insulation Level

DIN -German Institute of Standardization

DISCOMS- Distribution Companies (Electric)

DLA – Tangent Delta

DM -Driving Mechanism (of Tap-Changer)

DOE- Department of Energy (USA)

DOL- Direct On line (starting of motor)

DP- Degree of Polymerization (For paper) Die Penetration Test (for welds)
DPv – Average Viscometric Degree of Polymerization (for insulating paper)

DPV -Distributed photovoltaic (power generation system)

DPG -Distributed Power Generation

DR -Domain Refined (CRGO Type)

DRM- Dynamic Resistance Measurement (of OLTC contacts)

DT -Distribution Transformer

DTMU- Distribution Transformer Monitoring Unit

DTMP -Dynamic Transformer Management Program (ABB)

DVC- Damodar Valley Corporation (Power Utility in West Bengal/Bihar), India

DVP- Dried Vapor Phase Process (=VPD)

EAC- Estimated Actual Cost

EAF- Electric Arc Furnace

EBoP -Electrical Balance of Plant

ECT -Electrostatic Charging Tendency ( of oil)

EEI – Edison Electric Institute, USA

EHV-Extra High Voltage

EIM- Electrical Insulating Materials

EIS- Electrical Insulation System

EMC- Electromagnetic - Compatibility

EMU- Electric Multiple Units (coaches)

EN -European Standard (German: Europa-Norm)

ENS- Energy Not Served (penalty)

EPC- Engineering, Procurement, Construction (contract)

EPR- Ethylene Propylene Rubber

EPRI- Electric Power Research Institute,USA

ERIP- Epoxy –resin Impregnated Paper

ERW –Electric Resistance Welding (tube)

ETC - Estimated to Come (Balance)

ETM -Electronic Temperature Monitoring (for transformers)

ETOS - Embedded Transformer Operating System (Siemens -Open system solution for
reliable monitoring, control, regulation and digitalization of power transformers)

EU - European Union

EXW – Ex works

FA – Forced Air cooling

FACTS- Flexible AC Transmission Systems

FAL- Furfural (of oil) 2-FAL

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

FAS - Free alongside ship (for marine transport)

FAT- Factory Acceptance Test

FC-Fault Calculation

FCA- Failure Cause Analysis, Free carrier (for transport)

FDS-Frequency Domain Spectroscopy (capacitance and tan delta variation with frequency)

(for checking the moisture content in paper insulation) = DFR

FDM- Finite Difference Method (calculation of magnetic field)

FDS – Frequency Domain Spectroscopy (Measuring insulation power factor from 1mHz to
1kHz)

Fe -Iron

FCAN- Full Capacity Above Nominal (tap)

FCBN -Full Capacity Below Nominal (tap)

FEA - Finite Element Analysis

FEC – Fire Extinguishing Cubicle (For NIFPES)

FEM –Finite Element Method (Calculation of Magnetic Field)

FEMM- Finite Element Method Magnetics

FES –Front End Sales

FDA- Finite Difference Analysis

FID –Flame Ionization Detection ( for Gas chromatography)

FMEA –Failure Mode Effect Analysis

FMECA - Failure Mode Effect (and Criticality) Analysis.

FMSA- Failure Mode and Symptom Analysis

FO -Fiber Optic

FOA - Forced-oil, forced-air cooling

FOB - Free On Board (for marine transport)

FOCS - Fiber Optic Current Sensor

FOW -Forced-oil, water cooling

FQ - Fluid quality (oil testing)

FQP - Field Quality Plan

FPI -Fault Passage Indication

FR -Filter Reactor

FRA -Frequency Response Analysis

FRLS- Fire Retardant Low Smoke (XLPE Cable)

FRP - Fiber–Glass Reinforced Polyester

FRSL - Frequency Response Stray Loss

FV - Fine Vacuum

G
GC - Gas Chromatography

G&T –Generation and Transmission

GDP- Gross Domestic Product

GE - General Electric, USA

GENCOS -Generation Companies (Electric Power)

GIC- Geomagnetic Induced Currents

GIL- Gas-Insulated Transmission Line

GIS-Gas Insulated Switchgear, Gas Insulated Substation

GIT- Gas Insulated Transformer

GOOSE- Generic Object Oriented System Event (Substation Protection- service for speedy
transmission of time critical information between IEDs))

GOR - Gas & Oil Relay ie Buchholz Relay

GPA- General Paralleling Application

GRP- Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester

GSU-Generator Step -Up Transformer (=GT)

GT- Generator Transformer (=GSU)

GTO- Gate Turn Off Thyristor

GTP- Guaranteed Technical Particulars

H&S - Health and Safety

Hi-B- High flux density (A grade of CRGO for high working flux density)

HMI- Human Machine Interface

HOLA- High Oil Level Alarm

HPLC- High Performance Liquid Chromatography

HRC –High-Rupturing-Capacity (fuse)

HTS – High Temperature Superconducting (Transformer)

HV- High Voltage

HVAC-Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

HVDC- High Voltage Direct Current

HVIC- High Voltage Insulator Coating

Hz – Hertz, unit of frequency

IC – Interval of Confidence (of expected value eg IC 95 %)

IEC- International Electro-technical Commission (standardization body)

IED- Intelligent Electronic Device (Protection)

IEEE- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, USA

IEMA - Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (later became IEEMA),
India

IEEMA- Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association, India

IFT-Interfacial Tension (oil characteristic)

IGBT- Insulated (integrated) Gate Bipolar Transistor

IGCT –Integrated Gate Commutated Thyristor

I/O – Input /output

IOT –Internet of Things

IIOT-Industrial Internet of Things

IMB – Intermediate Marshalling Box ( cooler control cubicle)

IP-Ingress Protection Rating, International Protection Rating (Code number for Cubicles)

IPC- Industrial PC

IPP- Independent Power Provider

IPR- Intermediate Pressure Reduction (with VPD drying)

IR- Insulation Resistance

IS- Indian Standard (also BIS)

I2R – Resistive heating

IRR –Internal Rate of Return

ISO-International Standardization Organization

IT-Information Technology, Instrument Transformer

ITMA –Indian Transformer Manufacturers Association, India

IV -Intermediate Voltage

IVPD – Induced Voltage PD (test)

This is the second part of the acronyms commonly used by transformer engineers.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/p-ramachandran-3a93118_acronyms-commonly-used-by-
transformer-engineers-ugcPost-6886922971437514752-fODG

KPI- Key Performance Indicators

kV – kilo Volt

kVA- kilovolt–Ampere

kWh- kilowatt-hour

LCM –Life Cycle Management

LAN- Local area Network

LCC-Line Commutated Converter Technology (for HV DC Transmission), Line current

compensation (tap changer control), Life cycle cost

LCD-Liquid Crystal Display

LD -Logical Devices (Protection)

LDC –Line drop compensation (for tap changer control)

LED -Light Emitting Diode

LF -Ladle Furnace, Load Factor

LFH- Low Frequency Heating (for transformer dry out)

LFT -Low frequency Transformer

LI -Lightning Impulse

LL -Load Loss

LN -Logical Node (Protection)

LN2 -Liquefied Nitrogen

LOI -Letter Of Intent (for purchase order)

LOLA -Low Oil Level Alarm

LSF -Loss factor

LTC -Load Tap-Changer (USA), same as OLTC

LTI -Liquid Temperature Indicator (USA), same as OTI

LV -Low Voltage

MB -Marshalling Box

MCB- Miniature Circuit Breaker

MCC- Motor Control Centers

MCCB-Molded-Case Circuit breaker

MCOV- Maximum continuous operating voltage (of Surge Arrester)

MEPS- Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards (for Transformers)

MF -Master follower (tap-changer control)

MFT -Medium Frequency Transformer

MIG- Metal Inert Gas (Welding)

MIND- Mass impregnated non-draining cable (EHV Cable)

MMI – Man -Machine Interface

MMS- Maintenance Management System

MO - Mineral Oil

MOA -Metal Oxide Arrester. See SiC

MOG -Magnetic Oil Level Gauge

MOSA- Metal Oxide Surge Arrester

MOV-Metal Oxide Varistor. See SiC

MSD – Molecular sponge dry out

MTBF-Mean Time between Failures

MTD - Medium Test Dust (ISO Particle counting Test- see ACFTD)

MTI - Motor Torque Index ( Diagnostics of OLTC)

MTMP- Mature Transformer Management Program (ABB)

MTTF - Mean time to failure

MV -Medium Voltage

MVA- Mega Volt Ampere –one million VA

MVAr-Mega Var –one million VAr

MW - Megawatt – one million watts

N2 - Nitrogen

NCC -Network Control Centre

NEMA –National Electrical Manufacturers Association, USA

NHPC -National Hydropower Corporation, India

NHPTL –National High Power Test Laboratory (at Bina, India)

NIFPS - Nitrogen Injection Fire Protection System

NIFPES -Nitrogen Injection Fire Prevention cum Extinguishing System

NLL - No -Load loss

NLTC -No-Load Tap-Changer, OCTC, DETC, OCS ( correct term DETC)

NPV -Net Present Value

NR -Negative Reactance

NTPC -National Thermal Power Corporation, India

OCEF – Open Circuit Earth Fault

OCTC –Off-Circuit Tap-Changer, DETC, NLTC, OCS

OCS - Off-Circuit Switch, OCTC, DETC, NLTC (correct Term is DETC)

OD - Oil Directed

ODAF – Oil-Directed, Air-Forced (Cooling System)

OEM -Original Equipment Manufacturer

OES - Optical Emission Spectrometry (a PMI to find alloy content in metals)

OFAF- Oil-Forced Air-Forced (Cooling System)

OGA- Outline General Arrangement

OIP - Oil Impregnated Paper (Condenser Bushing)

OIT - Oil Insulated Transformer

OLCM- On-Line Condition Monitoring

OLTC- On-Load Tap-Changer, On-Line Tap-Changer, LTC, ULTC (Canada)

O&M –Operation and Maintenance

ONAF- Oil-Natural Air-Forced (transformer cooling)

ONAN- Oil-Natural Air-Natural (transformer cooling)

OT –Operational Technology

OTI- Oil Temperature Indicator

PAC- Project Acceptance Certificate

PAR -Phase angle Regulator (USA) =phase shifting transformer

PBR –Performance Based Rate

PCA-Polycyclic Aromatics (in oil)

PCB- Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls (non-inflammable insulating fluid, now banned for use)

PCD –Pitch Circle Diameter (for bolting)

PCM- Production Cost Monitoring

PCT-Poly Chlorinated terphenyls (Insulating fluid)

PD- Partial Discharge

PDC- Polarization Depolarization current (method) –diagnostic test for finding out moisture
content in Transformer insulation

PDIV- Partial discharge Inception Voltage

PDU –Power Distribution Unit

PE -Poly Ethylene

PEI -Polyetherimide (enamel covering for conductors)

PEN -Polyethylene Naphthalate (enamel covering for conductors)

PF -Power Factor

PGCIL-Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd

PI - Polarization Index (related to IR)

PIM - Product Information Management

PLC - Programmable Logic Controller

PM -Protective Margin (Lightning Arresters)

PMI -Positive Material Identification (chemical analysis by XRF, OES etc)

PMU - Phasor Measurement Unit (for Protection)

PNRV-Prestressed Non-Return Valve(in Buchholz pipe between conservator and tank )

PO - Purchase Order

POP -Persistent Organic Pollutants

POW -Point of Wave Switching, Controlled Switching

ppb –parts per billion

PPE -Personal Protective equipment

PPLP-Polypropylene Laminated Paper

ppm- parts per million

PPS- Polyphenylene Sulphide

PR- -Protective Ratio (Lightning Arrester)

PRD- Pressure Relief Device, same as PRV

PRV- -Pressure Relief Valve –same as PRD

PT- Potential Transformer

PTC- Projected to Come

PU- Polyurethane

PV – Photovoltaic (generator, inverter)

PVA –Poly Vinyl Acetate (glue)

PVC-Polyvinyl Chloride

PVT- Power Voltage Transformer (voltage transformer for feeding auxiliaries)

PWM – Pulse-Width Modulated (Power Converter for AC drives)

QAP- Quality Assurance Plan

RAL- Imperial Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance (German)

R&D –Research and Development; Rating and Diagram Plate

RBP- Resin Bonded Paper (type of bushing)

RBM- Rehabilitation Based Maintenance

RC- Resistive Capacitive

RCD- Residual Current Protective Device

RCM- Reliability- Centered Maintenance

R&D- Research &Development

RDBMS- Relational Database Management System

RDC – Remote Diagnostic Centers

REF –Restricted Earth Fault

RIO- Remote Input-output unit

RIP- Resin Impregnated Paper (Condenser Bushing)

RIS-Resin Impregnated Synthetic (Condenser Bushing)

RIV- Radio Influence Voltage (USA)

RLA –Residual Life Assessment

RMS –Root-mean-square (also rms, r.m.s)

RMU-Ring Main Unit

ROI –Return on Investment

RPRR- Rapid Pressure Rise Relay, same as SPR

RSD – Relative Standard Deviation

RT -Routine Test

RTCC- Remote Tap-Changer Control Panel

RTD-Resistance Temperature Detector/Device

RTE- Relative Thermal Endurance Index (of insulating materials)

RTU-Remote Terminal Unit

RTV-Room Temperature Vulcanizing (methyl-vinyl- Polymer material)

RVM- Recovery Voltage Measurement – diagnostic test for moisture in transformer

insulation

SAS- Substation Automation System

SAT-Site Acceptance Test

SCADA- Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition

SCC-Short Circuit Calculation

SCCL-Short Circuit Current Limiter

SCL- Substation Configuration Description Language (XML based)

SD-Switch- Disconnector

SDF-Switch-Disconnector/Fuse

SEB-State Electricity Board

SECRC – Sweden Corporate Research Centre (of ABB)

SF6- Sulphur Hexafluoride (gas)

SFRA-Swept (sweep) Frequency Response Analysis (frequency range 0. 1mHz -25MHz)

SI - Switching Impulse

Si C- Silicon Carbide (arrester) See MOV /MOA

SLD-Single Line Diagram

SLG – Single line to ground (fault)

SMAW- Shielded Metal Arc Welding

SOE- Sequence of Events

SOP-Standard Operating Procedure

SPAR- Single Phase Auto-Reclosing (of Transmission lines)

SPDD – Self Protection and Disconnecting Device (for Self-Protected Distribution

transformers)

SPE – Solid Phase Extraction (connected with gas chromatography)

SPR- Sudden Pressure Relay, Same as RPRR

SRBP- Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper (Condenser Bushing)

SRI- Silicon Rubber Insulator

SSRV- Solid State Reduced Voltage (starting of motors)

SST – Solid State Transformer

ST -Special Test; Smart Transformer

STD -Average Standard Deviation

STATCOM-Static Synchronous Compensator

SV- Step Voltage (IR Test); Sample values (of currents and voltages)

SVC –Static Var Compensator

SVS –Static Var System

SWER –Single Wire Earth Return (Transformer)

TAI - Transformer Assessment index

TBCM –Time -Based Condition Monitoring

TBM- Time - Based Maintenance

TCG – Total Combustible Gas (DGA)

TCIV – Transformer Conservator Isolation Valve

TCM- Trouble Call Management

TCO- Total Cost of Ownership

TCR- Thyristor –Controlled Shunt Reactor

TCS –Total Corrosive Sulphur

TCSC- Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor

T&D - Transmission &Distribution

TDCG- Total Dissolved Combustible Gas (DGA)

TDD- Total Demand Distortion

TDR –Time Domain Reflectometry (for locating fault point in cables)

TDSP- Transmission Distribution Service Provider

TGC –Typical Gas Concentration (DGA)

THD- Total Harmonic Distortion

TLM- Transformer Lifecycle Management

TICM -Transformer Intelligent Condition Monitoring

TIF- Telephone Influence Factor (Test for Distribution Transformers)

TIG – Tungsten Inert Gas (Welding)

TOBS –Transformer Oil Base Stock

TOC- Total Owning Cost

TOV- Temporary Overvoltage (of Surge Arrester)

TPI –Tap Position Indicator

TRANSCOS- Transmission Companies (Electric)

TRGI –Typical Rate of Gas Increase (DGA)

TRV- Transient Recovery Voltage

TS - Tests at Site

TSC –Thyristor switched Capacitor

TSR –Thyristor Switched Reactor

TSSC-Thyristor -Switched Series Capacitor

TT- Type Test

TU - Thermally Upgraded paper

TV-Tertiary Voltage

TVRT- Transient Voltage Resistant Transformer

B 06-Acronyms used in Transformer
Engineering-2
• Published on January 15, 2022

P Ramachandran

Specialist, Power Transformers

64 articles

This is the second part of the acronyms commonly used by transformer engineers.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/p-ramachandran-3a93118_acronyms-commonly-used-by-
transformer-engineers-ugcPost-6886922971437514752-fODG

KPI- Key Performance Indicators

kV – kilo Volt

kVA- kilovolt–Ampere

kWh- kilowatt-hour

LCM –Life Cycle Management

LAN- Local area Network

LCC-Line Commutated Converter Technology (for HV DC Transmission), Line current

compensation (tap changer control), Life cycle cost
LCD-Liquid Crystal Display

LD -Logical Devices (Protection)

LDC –Line drop compensation (for tap changer control)

LED -Light Emitting Diode

LF -Ladle Furnace, Load Factor

LFH- Low Frequency Heating (for transformer dry out)

LFT -Low frequency Transformer

LI -Lightning Impulse

LL -Load Loss

LN -Logical Node (Protection)

LN2 -Liquefied Nitrogen

LOI -Letter Of Intent (for purchase order)

LOLA -Low Oil Level Alarm

LSF -Loss factor

LTC -Load Tap-Changer (USA), same as OLTC

LTI -Liquid Temperature Indicator (USA), same as OTI

LV -Low Voltage

MB -Marshalling Box

MCB- Miniature Circuit Breaker

MCC- Motor Control Centers

MCCB-Molded-Case Circuit breaker

MCOV- Maximum continuous operating voltage (of Surge Arrester)

MEPS- Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards (for Transformers)

MF -Master follower (tap-changer control)

MFT -Medium Frequency Transformer

MIG- Metal Inert Gas (Welding)

MIND- Mass impregnated non-draining cable (EHV Cable)

MMI – Man -Machine Interface

MMS- Maintenance Management System

MO - Mineral Oil

MOA -Metal Oxide Arrester. See SiC

MOG -Magnetic Oil Level Gauge

MOSA- Metal Oxide Surge Arrester

MOV-Metal Oxide Varistor. See SiC

MSD – Molecular sponge dry out

MTBF-Mean Time between Failures

MTD - Medium Test Dust (ISO Particle counting Test- see ACFTD)

MTI - Motor Torque Index ( Diagnostics of OLTC)

MTMP- Mature Transformer Management Program (ABB)

MTTF - Mean time to failure

MV -Medium Voltage

MVA- Mega Volt Ampere –one million VA

MVAr-Mega Var –one million VAr

MW - Megawatt – one million watts

N2 - Nitrogen

NCC -Network Control Centre

NEMA –National Electrical Manufacturers Association, USA

NHPC -National Hydropower Corporation, India

NHPTL –National High Power Test Laboratory (at Bina, India)

NIFPS - Nitrogen Injection Fire Protection System

NIFPES -Nitrogen Injection Fire Prevention cum Extinguishing System

NLL - No -Load loss

NLTC -No-Load Tap-Changer, OCTC, DETC, OCS ( correct term DETC)

NPV -Net Present Value

NR -Negative Reactance

NTPC -National Thermal Power Corporation, India

OCEF – Open Circuit Earth Fault

OCTC –Off-Circuit Tap-Changer, DETC, NLTC, OCS

OCS - Off-Circuit Switch, OCTC, DETC, NLTC (correct Term is DETC)

OD - Oil Directed

ODAF – Oil-Directed, Air-Forced (Cooling System)

OEM -Original Equipment Manufacturer

OES - Optical Emission Spectrometry (a PMI to find alloy content in metals)

OFAF- Oil-Forced Air-Forced (Cooling System)

OGA- Outline General Arrangement

OIP - Oil Impregnated Paper (Condenser Bushing)

OIT - Oil Insulated Transformer

OLCM- On-Line Condition Monitoring

OLTC- On-Load Tap-Changer, On-Line Tap-Changer, LTC, ULTC (Canada)

O&M –Operation and Maintenance

ONAF- Oil-Natural Air-Forced (transformer cooling)

ONAN- Oil-Natural Air-Natural (transformer cooling)

OT –Operational Technology

OTI- Oil Temperature Indicator

PAC- Project Acceptance Certificate

PAR -Phase angle Regulator (USA) =phase shifting transformer

PBR –Performance Based Rate

PCA-Polycyclic Aromatics (in oil)

PCB- Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls (non-inflammable insulating fluid, now banned for use)

PCD –Pitch Circle Diameter (for bolting)

PCM- Production Cost Monitoring

PCT-Poly Chlorinated terphenyls (Insulating fluid)

PD- Partial Discharge

PDC- Polarization Depolarization current (method) –diagnostic test for finding out moisture
content in Transformer insulation

PDIV- Partial discharge Inception Voltage

PDU –Power Distribution Unit

PE -Poly Ethylene

PEI -Polyetherimide (enamel covering for conductors)

PEN -Polyethylene Naphthalate (enamel covering for conductors)

PF -Power Factor

PGCIL-Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd

PI - Polarization Index (related to IR)

PIM - Product Information Management

PLC - Programmable Logic Controller

PM -Protective Margin (Lightning Arresters)

PMI -Positive Material Identification (chemical analysis by XRF, OES etc)

PMU - Phasor Measurement Unit (for Protection)

PNRV-Prestressed Non-Return Valve(in Buchholz pipe between conservator and tank )

PO - Purchase Order

POP -Persistent Organic Pollutants

POW -Point of Wave Switching, Controlled Switching

ppb –parts per billion

PPE -Personal Protective equipment

PPLP-Polypropylene Laminated Paper

ppm- parts per million

PPS- Polyphenylene Sulphide

PR- -Protective Ratio (Lightning Arrester)

PRD- Pressure Relief Device, same as PRV

PRV- -Pressure Relief Valve –same as PRD

PT- Potential Transformer

PTC- Projected to Come

PU- Polyurethane

PV – Photovoltaic (generator, inverter)

PVA –Poly Vinyl Acetate (glue)

PVC-Polyvinyl Chloride

PVT- Power Voltage Transformer (voltage transformer for feeding auxiliaries)

PWM – Pulse-Width Modulated (Power Converter for AC drives)

QAP- Quality Assurance Plan

RAL- Imperial Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance (German)
R&D –Research and Development; Rating and Diagram Plate

RBP- Resin Bonded Paper (type of bushing)

RBM- Rehabilitation Based Maintenance

RC- Resistive Capacitive

RCD- Residual Current Protective Device

RCM- Reliability- Centered Maintenance

R&D- Research &Development

RDBMS- Relational Database Management System

RDC – Remote Diagnostic Centers

REF –Restricted Earth Fault

RIO- Remote Input-output unit

RIP- Resin Impregnated Paper (Condenser Bushing)

RIS-Resin Impregnated Synthetic (Condenser Bushing)

RIV- Radio Influence Voltage (USA)

RLA –Residual Life Assessment

RMS –Root-mean-square (also rms, r.m.s)

RMU-Ring Main Unit

ROI –Return on Investment

RPRR- Rapid Pressure Rise Relay, same as SPR

RSD – Relative Standard Deviation

RT -Routine Test

RTCC- Remote Tap-Changer Control Panel

RTD-Resistance Temperature Detector/Device

RTE- Relative Thermal Endurance Index (of insulating materials)

RTU-Remote Terminal Unit

RTV-Room Temperature Vulcanizing (methyl-vinyl- Polymer material)

RVM- Recovery Voltage Measurement – diagnostic test for moisture in transformer

insulation

SAS- Substation Automation System

SAT-Site Acceptance Test

SCADA- Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition

SCC-Short Circuit Calculation

SCCL-Short Circuit Current Limiter

SCL- Substation Configuration Description Language (XML based)

SD-Switch- Disconnector

SDF-Switch-Disconnector/Fuse

SEB-State Electricity Board

SECRC – Sweden Corporate Research Centre (of ABB)

SF6- Sulphur Hexafluoride (gas)

SFRA-Swept (sweep) Frequency Response Analysis (frequency range 0. 1mHz -25MHz)

SI - Switching Impulse

Si C- Silicon Carbide (arrester) See MOV /MOA

SLD-Single Line Diagram

SLG – Single line to ground (fault)

SMAW- Shielded Metal Arc Welding

SOE- Sequence of Events

SOP-Standard Operating Procedure

SPAR- Single Phase Auto-Reclosing (of Transmission lines)

SPDD – Self Protection and Disconnecting Device (for Self-Protected Distribution

transformers)
SPE – Solid Phase Extraction (connected with gas chromatography)

SPR- Sudden Pressure Relay, Same as RPRR

SRBP- Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper (Condenser Bushing)

SRI- Silicon Rubber Insulator

SSRV- Solid State Reduced Voltage (starting of motors)

SST – Solid State Transformer

ST -Special Test; Smart Transformer

STD -Average Standard Deviation

STATCOM-Static Synchronous Compensator

SV- Step Voltage (IR Test); Sample values (of currents and voltages)

SVC –Static Var Compensator

SVS –Static Var System

SWER –Single Wire Earth Return (Transformer)

TAI - Transformer Assessment index

TBCM –Time -Based Condition Monitoring

TBM- Time - Based Maintenance

TCG – Total Combustible Gas (DGA)

TCIV – Transformer Conservator Isolation Valve

TCM- Trouble Call Management

TCO- Total Cost of Ownership

TCR- Thyristor –Controlled Shunt Reactor

TCS –Total Corrosive Sulphur

TCSC- Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor

T&D - Transmission &Distribution

TDCG- Total Dissolved Combustible Gas (DGA)

TDD- Total Demand Distortion

TDR –Time Domain Reflectometry (for locating fault point in cables)

TDSP- Transmission Distribution Service Provider

TGC –Typical Gas Concentration (DGA)

THD- Total Harmonic Distortion

TLM- Transformer Lifecycle Management

TICM -Transformer Intelligent Condition Monitoring

TIF- Telephone Influence Factor (Test for Distribution Transformers)

TIG – Tungsten Inert Gas (Welding)

TOBS –Transformer Oil Base Stock

TOC- Total Owning Cost

TOV- Temporary Overvoltage (of Surge Arrester)

TPI –Tap Position Indicator

TRANSCOS- Transmission Companies (Electric)

TRGI –Typical Rate of Gas Increase (DGA)

TRV- Transient Recovery Voltage

TS - Tests at Site

TSC –Thyristor switched Capacitor

TSR –Thyristor Switched Reactor

TSSC-Thyristor -Switched Series Capacitor

TT- Type Test

TU - Thermally Upgraded paper

TV-Tertiary Voltage

TVRT- Transient Voltage Resistant Transformer

B 07-Acronyms used in Transformer
Engineering-3
• Published on January 22, 2022

P Ramachandran

Specialist, Power Transformers

65 articles

This is the last part of this series on acronyms used by transformer engineers. This also
includes protection relay numbers and means to keep oneself updated on National standards
and transformer literature.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/p-ramachandran-3a93118_acronyms-commonly-used-by-
transformer-engineers-ugcPost-6886922971437514752-fODG

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/b-06-acronyms-used-transformer-engineering-2-p-
ramachandran?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3B5JcJJBLiTd6IpCM
oaY94vA%3D%3D

UHF -Ultra High Frequency

UHV -Ultra High Voltage

UHVDC-Ultra High Voltage Direct Current

UL -Underwriters Laboratories

ULTC -Under Load Tap-Changer (Canada), OLTC

UPFC -Unified Power Flow Control

UPS -Uninterruptible Power Supply

USB -Universal Serial Bus

VAM -Vibro-Acoustic Method ( OLTC diagnostics)

VBA -Visual Basic for Applications

VCB -Vacuum Circuit Breaker

VCC -Vacuum cast coil (A type of Dry Transformer)

VDE- German-Association for Electrical, Elektronic and Information Technologies

VEE- Validation, Estimation and Editing

VFD- Variable Frequency Drives

VFT –Variable Frequency Transformers, Very Fast Transients

VOP -Vacuum oil Processor

VPD -Vapor Phase Drying (drying out of transformer in factory using heated kerosene vapor)
= DVP

VRDT -Voltage Regulating Distribution Transformer

VSC - Voltage Source Converter (technology for HV DC Transmission)

VSD -Variable Speed Drives

VT -Voltage Transformer

WAM -Wide Area Monitoring

WAMS -Wide Area Monitoring System

WAMPAS- Wide Area Monitoring Protection and Control

WAN- Wide Area Network

WPP- Wind Power Plant

WPS- Welding Procedure Certification

WTI -Winding Temperature Indicator

X

XLPE -Cross Linked Polyethylene (cable)

XML -Extensible Markup Language

XRF -X-ray Fluorescence (PMI to find elements in a metal alloy)

Zo -Zero sequence impedance

Zn O -Zinc Oxide (Arrester)

Zp - Positive sequence impedance

Relay Numbers for Transformer Engineers (IEEE Std C37.2 -2008-Standard for
Electrical Power System Device Function Numbers, Acronyms, and Contact Designations)

In the design of electrical power systems, the IEEE device numbers identify features of a
protective device such as relay or circuit breaker. Device numbers are used to identify
functions of devices shown on a schematic diagram. One physical device may correspond to
one function number, for example "29 Isolating Switch", or a single physical device may
have many function numbers associated with it, such as a microprocessor numerical
protective relay. Suffix & prefix letters may be added to further specify purpose & function
of a device.

24 -Over fluxing Relay

26Q1 -Top Oil Temp Alarm (60deg C)

26Q2 -Top Oil Temp Alarm (90deg C)

30 -Annunciator Relay

33 -Position Switch

49 -Transformer Thermal Relay

49W - Winding Temperature Relay

49C - Cooler actuation relay with WTI

50 - Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay

51 - AC Inverse Time overcurrent Relay, Phase overcurrent relay

51NS- Standby Earth Fault protection

52G – A C circuit Breaker

59N -Over voltage Relay

63 -Pressure Switch; Rapid Pressure Rise Relay Tank-Trip

63P -Pressure Relief Tank

63VP-V - 3.5 Vacuum Alarm

63VP -P-7.0 Pressure Alarm

64 -Ground detector Relay, REF Relay

67 - AC Directional overcurrent Relay

67N - Directional earth fault protection

68 -Blocking or out of step relay

71Q1 - Liquid Level Switch-Low

74 -Alarm Relay

80 -Flow Switch (oil or water)

81 -Frequency Relay

87B - Bus bar differential

87G -Generator Differential

87L -Line Differential

87N - Restricted Earth Fault

87T -Transformer Differential Relay

IEC 61850- Communication protocol (protection)

AFD -Arc Flash Detector CLK Clock or Timing Source

DDR -Dynamic Disturbance Recorder

DFR -Digital Fault Recorder

ENV -Environmental Data

HIZ -High Impedance Fault Detector

HMI -Human Machine Interface

HST -Historian

LGC -Scheme Logic

MET -Substation Metering

PDC -Phasor Data Concentrator

PMU -Phasor Measurement Unit

PQM -Power Quality Monitor

RIO -Remote Input / Output Device

RTU -Remote Terminal Unit / Data Concentrator

SER -Sequence of Events Recorder

TCM -Trip Circuit Monitor

Suffixes & Prefixes Suffix letters or numbers may be used with device numbers. For
example, the suffix “N” is used if the device is connected to a neutral wire, hence 59N is a
relay used for protection against neutral displacement & suffixes X, Y, Z are used for
auxiliary devices. Similarly, the "G" suffix is used to denote a "ground", hence "51G" is a
time overcurrent ground relay. The "G" suffix can also mean "generator", hence "87G" is a
generator differential relay while “87T” is a transformer differential relay. "F" can denote
"field" on a generator or "fuse", as in the protective fuse for a transformer.

Suffix numbers are used to distinguish multiple "same" devices in the same equipment such
as 51-1 & 51–2. Device numbers may be combined if the device provides multiple functions,
such as instantaneous & inverse time overcurrent relay denoted as 50/51

Dissolved Gases in Oil

H2 -Hydrogen

N2 -Nitrogen

O2 -Oxygen

CH4 -Methane

C2H2 -Acetylene

C2H4 -Ethylene

C2H6 - Ethane

CO - Carbon Monoxide
CO2 - Carbon dioxide

TCG -Total Combustible Gas

TDCG -Total Dissolved Combustible Gas

Standardization Organizations

ANSI –American National Standards Institute

1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018

http://www.ansi.org/ ANSI

API- American Petroleum Institute

ASME- American Society of Mechanical Engineers- http://www.asme.org/

ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials

100 Barr harbor Dr., W. Conshohocken, PA, 19428- http://www.astm.org/cgi-

bin/SoftCart.exe/index.shtml?E+mystore

BIS- Bureau of Indian Standards- www.bis.org.in

BSI- British Standards Institution

CSA –Canadian Standard Association

http://www.csa.ca/Default.asp?language=English

DIN- Deutsches Institute for Normung

EEI – Edison Electric Institute

111 19 th Street SW, Washington, DC 20036

EPRI – Electrical Power Research Institute

P.O. Box 10412, Palo Alto, CA 64303

IEC- International Electro-technical Commission

1, Rue de Varembe, Geneva, Switzerland

www.iec.org

IEEE- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854

 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/browse/standards/collection/ieee

ISO- International Organisation for Standardisation

MIL- Military Specifications

NEMA- National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association

2101 L Street, Washington, DC 20037

NETA – International Electrical Testing Association

P.O. Box 687, Morrison, CO 80465

NFPA- National Fire Protection Association

For buying all standards esp. American Origin –www.techstreet.com

http://global.ihs.com/ Global Engineering Documents

http://www.aws.org/catalogs/index.html American Welding Society 2002 Catalog Index

http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/ ASSIST-QuickSearch

http://www.tssonline.net/standards.htm Technical Standards Services Online

http://ulstandardsinfonet.ul.com/ UL Standards Info Net

http://www.dstan.mod.uk/ DStan Corporate Web Site

http://www.rtca.org/ RTCA Standards

http://www.nfpa.org/Codes/index.asp NFPA Codes and Standards Home

http://www.uiaa.ch/commissions/download.asp?idobject=34 UIAA Online Standards

http://www.ili-info.com Standards Infobase (cross-referenced with materials suppliers) (*

MLoew)

How to keep abreast of the standards relevant to Transformers

National standards are continually updated and new standards on various aspects of
transformer engineering are also published frequently. Transformer engineers should know
these new standards apart from the revisions and the latest version of already published
standards. To know the latest ANSI/IEEE standards visit the following site:

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/browse/standards/collection/ieee

You can see the list of IEEE standards, sorted by numbers in ascending order. Here in this
site, there is an option for listing up standards by ‘newest number first’. When you select this
option, you can see what all IEEE standards (including C57 series that specifically covers
transformers) are in the process of revision or preparation of new standards. In case you take
subscription, you can download the standards too.

In the above ieee.explore site, you can also search for technical papers on specific topic
published so far in IEEE journals. For accessing the papers, of course, you should take
subscription.

You can join the IEEE and then its Power Engineering Society and sign up for the PES
database of papers, not the IEEE wide database (way too expensive) but just the Power
Engineering database for about $50-$60 per year over the price of IEEE membership and the
PES Society membership. Go to www.ieee.org to join IEEE.

When you join IEEE and PES data base, you will find an almost overwhelming volume of
professional papers on almost any topic in the power field. Many of them are tutorials so if
you are not up to the speed in an area, you have help available. You can do a very specific
search to find what you need and then download it for your use.

IEC is publishing a newsletter at the beginning of every month listing up titles (by subject
wise) of new IEC standards published during the previous month. You can subscribe for this
newsletter free of charge. Standards on transformers and related topics can be seen under
‘Electrical Engineering’.