2019 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Asia
Grounding Current of Converter Transformer Core and
Core Clamp and Its Harmonic Characteristics
Minghong Su, Xiao Yao, Dianbo Zhou, Yuhang He, Jing Zhang
State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Research Institute
Chengdu, China
Abstract—The energized test of grounding current of converter
transformer core and core clamp is helpful to detect the
grounding fault of converter transformers. In this paper, the
grounding current of core and core clamp of tens of converter
transformers in a ±500 kV and ±800 kV converter station were
measured and corresponding harmonic characteristics were
obtained, respectively. The results showed that the grounding
current of core and core clamp contain a lot of harmonics. The
fundamental current is much smaller than the total grounding
current as the harmonics contribute much to the total grounding
current. The harmonics contained in the total grounding current
of core and core clamp should be considered together with its
fundamental current when condition assessment is performed
for converter transformers.
Index Terms—converter transformer, grounding current, core
and core clamp, harmonic characteristics
I. INTRODUCTION
Converter transformers are the key equipment in high
voltage direct current (HVDC) and ultra high voltage direct
current (UHVDC) transmission systems [1-3]. The core and
core clamp of transformers are required to be one-point
grounded to avoid the floating potential and consequent
discharge [4-5]. If they are multi-point grounded, the large
loop current between the grounding points may result in
overheat of the transformer core, increase in core loss and
decomposition of the insulating oil, and may even lead to
certain catastrophic power accidents [5-6]. Based on this
principle, the grounding current of core and core clamp of
converter transformers is usually monitored to indicate the
condition of the converter transformers and it is of great
importance to the safe operation and condition-based
maintenance of converter transformers [7].
There have been no universal criteria for grounding current
of core and core clamp of converter transformers up to now. In
China, the Chinese enterprise standard Q/GDW 11368—2014
Site application guide for live test technology of ground
current of transformer core recommends that the grounding
current of core should meet the following criteria listed in
Table I [8]. However, it is sometimes found that the grounding
current of core of a converter transformer in a ±800 kV
converter station exceeds 300 mA. Likewise, the grounding
current of core of a converter transformer in a ±500 kV
Project supported by State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company, China
(Project No. 521997170012)
978-1-7281-3520-5/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE
converter station sometimes exceeds 100 mA. However, none
of the above transformers have any abnormality. The
operation condition of converter transformers is quite different
from that of conventional AC power transformers [9]. The
valve side winding of a converter transformer connected to the
converter valves withstands both AC, DC and harmonics
voltages [10]. This is expected to result in various harmonics
and contribute to the total grounding current of core and core
clamp. Therefore, this prompts us to pay attention to the
fundamental current and harmonics of grounding current of
core and core clamp rather than just to the total grounding
current. Up to now, few publications have presented the
harmonic characteristics of grounding current of converter
transformer core and core clamp with the field energized test
data.
TABLE I. ALARM VALUE OF GROUNDING CURRENT OF CORE
Equipment category Alarm value
transformers with the rated voltage of 1000 kV ≤300 mA
Converter transformers and smoothing reactors in
≤300 mA
a ±800 kV converter station
Other transformers ≤100 mA
This paper presents some basic onsite measuring results of
the grounding current of transformer core and core clamp in a
±500 kV converter station and a ±800 kV converter station,
respectively. The total and fundamental current were
presented and then the basic harmonic characteristics of the
grounding current of core and core clamp were obtained and
discussed.
II. ENERGIZED TEST OF GROUNDING CURRENT OF CORE
AND CORE CLAMP
A. Information on the Converter Transformers
In this paper, the energized test of grounding current of
core and core clamp was conducted for 12 converter
transformers in a ±500 kV converter station and 24 converter
transformers in a ±800 kV converter station, respectively. The
±500 kV converter station has two poles and the rectifying
section in each pole consists of 1 typical single 12-pulse valve
bridge, as shown in Fig. 1. Likewise, the ±800 kV converter
station has two poles and the rectifying section in each pole
consists of 2 typical single 12-pulse valve bridges. The rated
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capacity and voltage of this HVDC and UHVDC transmission
line project is 3000 MW and 500 kV, and 8000 MW and 800
kV, respectively. During the test, both of the converter stations
were in the bipolar operation condition.
Pole I YDA, Pole I YDB, Pole I YDC, Pole II YDA, Pole II
YDB and Pole II YDC, respectively. Similarly, sequence
numbers 1 to 24 are used to represent the 24 converter
transformers in the ±800 kV converter station, and the number
1 to 24 corresponding to the converter transformers with the
label of Pole I HYYA, Pole I HYYB, Pole I HYYC, Pole I
LYYA, Pole I LYYB, Pole I LYYC, Pole II LYYA, Pole II
LYYB, Pole II LYYC, Pole II HYYA, Pole II HYYB, Pole II
HYYC, Pole I HYDA, Pole I HYDB, Pole I HYDC, Pole I
LYDA, Pole I LYDB, Pole I LYDC, Pole II LYDA, Pole II
LYDB, Pole II LYDC, Pole II HYDA, Pole II HYDB, Pole II
HYDC, respectively. YY/YD refer to the winding connection
type of the converter transformers and A/B/C means the phase
of the transformers. For example, the label “Pole I YYA”
corresponding to the sequence number 1 stands for the
converter transformer of phase A in pole I with Y/Y winding
connection. For the transformers in the ±800 kV converter
station, H and L stands for the transformers connected to the
rectifying unit that generates the high voltage of 0~±400 kV
and ±400~±800 kV, respectively.

Figure 1. Schematic of 12-pulse valve bridge

The transformers in both converter stations are all single-

phase two-winding converter transformers. For the ±500 kV
converter station, there are twelve converter transformers in
total, with six converter transformers in each pole. For the six
transformers in each pole, the winding connection of three
transformers of them is Y/Y and the other three Y/D. For the
±800 kV converter station, there are twenty-four converter
transformers in total, with twelve converter transformers in
each pole. For the twelve transformers in each pole, the
winding connection of six transformers of them is Y/Y and the Figure 2. Grounding current of core of transformers in the ±500 kV converter
other six Y/D. station

B. Detecting and Analyzing Method

The grounding current of core and core clamp was
measured with a handheld tester in the form of energized test.
The clamp ammeter was adopted as the sensor to acquire the
signal of grounding current. The measurement was performed
by clamping the outgoing line of the grounding wire of core
and core clamp, respectively. When each sampling time was
due, the total grounding current of core and core clamp and
their harmonics whose number was no more than 20 were
calculated and recorded by the tester.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A. Grounding Current of Core and Core clamp
1) Grouding current of core
Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 depict the grounding current of core for
each converter transformer in the ±500 kV converter station
and the ±800 kV converter station, respectively. For the
convenience of expression, sequence numbers 1 to 12 are used
to represent the 12 converter transformers in the ±500 kV
converter station, and the number 1 to 12 corresponding to the
converter transformers with the label of Pole I YYA, Pole I
YYB, Pole I YYC, Pole II YYA, Pole II YYB, Pole II YYC,
Figure 3. Grounding current of core of transformers in the ±800 kV converter
station
It is obviously seen that, for all the 12 converter
transformers in the ±500 kV converter station, the total
grounding current of core is over the alerting value, i.e., 100
mA. However, none of those converter transformers
underwent grounding fault and no other abnormalities were
found. The fundamental current is much smaller compared
with the total grounding current of core, and this indicates that

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the grounding current of core contains considerable
harmonics. Likewise, for 23 out of the 24 converter
transformers in the ±800 kV converter station, the total
grounding current of core is over the alerting value, i.e., 300
mA. However, none of the converter transformers underwent
grounding fault.
2) Grounding Current of Core clamp
Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 present the grounding current of core
clamp for each converter transformer in the ±500 kV
converter station and the ±800 kV converter station,
respectively. Similar to the grounding current of core, the
fundamental current of core clamp is much smaller than the
corresponding total grounding current, which also indicates
that the grounding current of core clamp contains considerable
harmonics.
Figure 4. Grounding current of core clamp of transformers in the ±500 kV
converter station
B. Harmonic Characteristic of Grounding Current of Core
and Core clamp
1) Harmonic characteristic of grouding current of core
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Fig. 6 shows the harmonic content of grounding current of
core of the 12 converter transformers in the ±500 kV converter
station. In this paper, the harmonic content refers to its ratio to
the fundamental harmonic in terms of percentage. The
grounding current of core has multiple harmonics. The content
of most harmonics exceeds 20 percent and some even exceeds
100 percent. This indicates that the harmonics contribute
much to the total grounding current of core.
Figure 5. Grounding current of core clamp of transformers in the ±800 kV
converter station
The harmonic characteristics exhibit some differences
considering the connection type of the transformer windings.
For the converter transformers with Y/D winding connection,
the harmonics with the odd order are quite obvious compared
with the even harmonics. For the converter transformers with
Y/Y winding connection, the harmonics are more uniformly
distributed compared with those of transformers with Y/D
winding connection, i.e., the difference between odd and even
harmonics in harmonic content is much smaller.
 Figure 6. Harmonic content of grounding current of core

Table II lists the order of harmonics of grounding current Because of space constraints, this paper does not present the
of core whose content is over 50 percent. For the converter harmonic content of grounding current of core and core clamp
transformers with Y/Y winding connection, the content of 3rd for the 24 converter transformers in the ±800 kV converter
harmonic is over 50 percent for 5 out of the 6 converter station.
transformers. The other odd harmonics whose content is over
50 percent are not distinct for all the 6 converter transformers. 2) Harmonic characteristic of grouding current of core
The content of 6th harmonic is over 50 percent for 3 out of the clamp
6 converter transformers. For the converter transformers with Fig. 7 shows the harmonic content of grounding current of
Y/D winding connection, the content of 3rd harmonic is over core clamp of the 12 converter transformers in the ±500 kV
50 percent for all the 6 converter transformers, the content of converter station. Similar to the grounding current of core, the
5th, 7th, 9th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 19th harmonic is over 50 grounding current of core clamp has multiple harmonics. The
percent for 5 out of the 6 converter transformers, and 11th for content of most harmonics exceeds 20 percent. This indicates
4 out of the 6 converter transformers. It should also be noted that the harmonics contribute much to the total grounding
that the content of 6th harmonic is over 50 percent for 4 out of current of core clamp. For the converter transformers with
the 6 converter transformers. Y/D and Y/Y winding connection, the differences between
them are similar to that of grounding current of core, i.e., the
distinct contrast between the odd harmonics and even
TABLE II. HARMONICS WITH CONTENT EXCEEDING 50 PERCENT OF harmonics for transformers with Y/D winding connection
GROUNDING CURRENT OF CORE
versus the more uniform distribution of odd harmonics and
Sequence Transformer
Order of harmonics even harmonics for transformers with Y/Y winding
number label connection.
1 Pole I YYA 1,3
2 Pole I YYB 1,2,7,18,19 Table III lists the order of harmonics of grounding current
3 Pole I YYC 1,3 of core clamp whose content is over 50 percent. For the
4 Pole II YYA 1,3,5,6,11,17 converter transformers with Y/Y winding connection, the
5 Pole II YYB 1,3,4,6,9,12,18
content of 3rd harmonic is over 50 percent for 5 out of the 6
6 Pole II YYC 1,3,4,5,6,12,13,19
7 Pole I YDA 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19
converter transformers. The other odd harmonics whose
8 Pole I YDB 1,3,5,6,9,11,13,15,19 content is over 50 percent are not distinct for all the 6
9 Pole I YDC 1,3,6,7,9,13,15,17,18 converter transformers. The content of 6th harmonic is over 50
10 Pole II YDA 1,3,5,7,9,15,17,19 percent for 3 out of the 6 converter transformers. For the
11 Pole II YDB 1,3,5,6,7,9,11,13,17,19 converter transformers with Y/D winding connection, the
12 Pole II YDC 1,3,5,6,7,9,11,13,15,17,18,19 content of 3rd, 9th and 17th harmonic is over 50 percent for all
the 6 converter transformers, the content of 5th and 19th
The harmonic characteristics of grounding current of core harmonic is over 50 percent for 5 out of the 6 converter
of the 24 converter transformers in the ±800 kV converter transformers, and the 7th, 11th, 15th for 4 out of the 6
station is similar to those of the 12 converter transformers in converter transformers. It should also be noted that the content
the ±500 kV converter station. The main difference is that the of 6th harmonic is over 50 percent for 4 out of the 6 converter
number of odd and even harmonic whose content exceeds 50 transformers.
percent increases, regardless of the winding connection type.

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 Figure 7. Harmonic content of grounding current of core clamp

The harmonic characteristics of the grounding current of core

TABLE III. HARMONICS WITH CONTENT EXCEEDING 50 PERCENT OF clamp of the 24 converter transformers in the ±800 kV converter
GROUNDING CURRENT OF CORE CLAMP station is similar to those of the 12 converter transformers in the
Sequence Transformer ±500 kV converter station. The main difference is that the number
Order of harmonics
number label of odd and even harmonic whose content exceeds 50 percent
1 Pole I YYA 1,3 increases.
2 Pole I YYB 1,2,7,18,19
3 Pole I YYC 1,3 C. Discussions
4 Pole II YYA 1,3,5,6,11
5 Pole II YYB 1,3,4,6,9,12,13,18 From this energized test result of grounding current of
6 Pole II YYC 1,3,6,13 converter transformer core and core clamp, it can be seen that a
7 Pole I YDA 1,3,5,6,7,9,11,13,15,17,19 large grounding current of core and core clamp does not
8 Pole I YDB 1,3,5,6,9,11,13,15,17,19 necessarily indicate a transformer grounding fault. To a large
9 Pole I YDC 1,3,6,9,17,18 extent this large value can be attributed to the harmonics. The
10 Pole II YDA 1,3,5,7,9,15,17,19 harmonics of grounding current are both associated with the
11 Pole II YDB 1,3,5,6,7,9,11,13,17,19
12 Pole II YDC 1,3,5,6,7,9,11,15,17,19
converter transformer windings that connected to the AC and DC
side. Supposing that harmonics contained in the AC side are
negligible, the odd harmonics of the grounding current then
mainly derives from the nonlinear behavior of the 12-pulse

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converter valve connected to the DC side. The even harmonics, [1] D. Martin, J. Marks, T. K. Saha, O. Krause and N. Mahmoudi,
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of the three-phase network but need to be further verified. 2019, Aug. 2018.
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comparison with that of conventional AC transformers, rather power transformer paper insulation," IEEE Electr. Insul. Mag., vol. 33, pp.
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a) For the grounding current of core of Y/Y connected
converter transformers in the ±500 kV converter station, the 3rd
harmonic is the most obvious among the odd harmonics. For the
grounding current of core of Y/D connected converter
transformers, there are more odd harmonics whose content
exceeds 50 percent. The even harmonic like 6th harmonic is
obvious for most of the converter transformers. There are more
harmonics whose content exceeds 50 percent for the grounding
current of core and core clamp of the converter transformers in the
±800 kV converter station.
b) The harmonic characteristics of grounding current of core
clamp is similar to that of core. For the Y/Y connected converter
transformers, the 3rd harmonic is the most obvious among the odd
harmonics. For the Y/D connected converter transformers, there
are more odd harmonics whose content exceeds 50 percent. The
even harmonic like 6th harmonic should also be paid attention to.
More harmonics whose content exceeds 50 percent for the
grounding current of core and core clamp was found for the
converter transformers in the ±800 kV converter station.
c) The total grounding current of core and core clamp is much
greater than its fundamental current and the multiple harmonics
contribute to the total grounding current. The harmonics in the
grounding current should be paid attention to together with the
fundamental current when the condition assessment of converter
transformers is performed.

REFERENCES

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