On Load Tap Changer

(OLTC)
•As the name
suggests, permit tap
changing and hence
voltage regulation
with the transformer
during on-load.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Quick Review of Voltage Regulation
•“On Load Tap Changer” is used
to compensate the drop in output
voltage of high power
transformer, drop in output
voltage from no load to full load
in know as voltage regulation.

•Flow of current in “LV Side”

cause available voltage to drop
due to inherent resistance of the
winding.
 On Load Tap Changer
Quick Review of

V•(Load
oO taL geT R C eg)
on consumer end of ulati
l on
transformer is never fixed, it
varies at random, its higher value
is matter of concern.
 On Load Tap Changer
Quick Review of

V•(Light
oO ltaLLoad
Load; geTmay
RC be eg)u
low lation
due
to fact that much of the time not
all the connected load remain
“on”.
•Though at low load there is slight
drop in voltage at the load end
but not matter of concern up to
certain level.
 On Load Tap Changer
Quick Review of

V•(High
oO ltaLwhen
Load; geTsoRmany
Ceg)ulation
connected load gets on same
time high current is drown out
from transformer to drive all.

•Heavy magnitude load current

cause considerable voltage drop
in internal resistance of
transformer windings.

•Considerable drop in voltage

affect all the acting load, output
of each load get reduces due to
availability of less voltage then
desired.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Quick Review of Voltage Regulation
•Tap changer is used to
compensate for this, usually
connected on the HV
winding for two reasons:
1. Because the currents are
lower, the tap changer
contacts, leads, etc., can be
smaller. 3
2. HV winding is wound outside
the LV winding, it is easier to 2
get the tapping connections.

1
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Quick Review of Voltage Regulation
•Drop in voltage on LV side is
compensated by reducing
number of turns of HV side,
selector arm is moved from
tap 1 to tap 2 to reduce
number of turns.

•Turn reduction increase the 3

per turn voltage of HV side
2
results in increase of LV
terminals voltage.
1
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Quick Review of Voltage Regulation
•Tap changer is used to
compensate for this, usually
connected on the HV
winding for two reasons:
1. Because the currents are
lower, the tap changer
contacts, leads, etc., can be
smaller. 3
2. HV winding is wound outside
the LV winding, it is easier to 2
get the tapping connections.

1
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
1. Selector Switches High Voltage
These switches select the physical tap Winding
position on the transformer winding.

2. Reactors
During each tap change, there is an interval
where two voltage taps are spanned.
Bypass
Reactors (inductors) are used in the circuit
to increase the impedance of the selector
switch
circuit and limit the amount of current
circulating due to this voltage difference. Vacuu
m
3. Vacuum Switch switch
During each tap change the duty of circuit Reactor
breaker is performed by vacuum switch. Selector coil
switches
4. Bypass Switch
This switch operates during the tap changing
sequence but, at no time, does it make or
break load current.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
High Voltage
•Change in tap position during on load is not Winding
a quite simple process, proper steps must be
followed to do this without causing sever
transient and damage to the windings

Bypass

switch

Vacuu
m
switch
Reactor
Selector coil
switches
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 1
•tap changer selected to tap 1, all
switches in home position.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 2
•“Selector Switch” arm moving from Tap-
1 to Tap-2.

•“Vacuum switch” open, makes right part

of selector arm isolated.

•Due to moment of selector arm the

“Bypass Switch” stay at home position
and get only in contact with left part of
selector arm, isolating right part.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 3
•Isolated part of “selector arm’ comes in
contact with tap-2 which is relatively at
lower voltage than tap 1.

•“Vacuum switch” remain open till this

position.

•“Bypass switch” remain only in contact

with left part of “selector arm”.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 4
•“Vacuum Switch” get closed, tap 1 and
tap 2 get short.

•Current circulates through closed loop

formed by “Selector Switch” arms due to
voltage difference, instant rush of
current is counter by reactor coils in both
arm .

•“Bypass switch” remain only in contact

with left part of “selector arm”.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 5
•“Vacuum Switch” remain closed, voltage
of turns from tap-1 to tap-2 ceased at
line voltage.

•“Bypass Switch” switch now easily slide

from left part to right part.

•No spark/discharge occur as vacuum

switch is closed in parallel.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 6
•“Bypass Switch” gets completely in
contact with right part of “Selector
Switch”.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 7
•“Vacuum Switch” get opened, right part
get isolate.

•Current continues through right part in

to the main winding, Main winding’s
turns between tap-1 and Tap-2 gets out
of context.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 8
•Left part of “selector switch” can left
tap-1 without facing discharge/spark.
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC

Step 8
•“Selector Switch” completely rest on
Tap-2 after leaving Tap-1.

This way tap changing happens, following

a right sequence, same sequence must
be followed for selection of next tap i.e
Tap-3, tap. Tap-4 can’t be selected by
jumping over Tap-3.

Reverse sequence must be followed to

when moving in reverse direction i.e.
from 4 to 1
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
Detail Insight of OLTC
 On Load Tap
Changer R Y B
OLTC Connections
(OLTC)
High Voltage Winding connection without OLTC

C
B
A
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
OLTC Connections
R Y B

•High Voltage Winding

connection with OLTC
•Connections of winding A and B
with OLTC and Bushings

A
B
C
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
OLTC Connections
R Y B

•High Voltage Winding

connection with OLTC
•Connections of winding B and C
with OLTC and Bushings

A
B
C
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
OLTC Connections
R Y B

•High Voltage Winding

connection with OLTC
•Connections of winding C and A
with OLTC and Bushings

A
B
C
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
OLTC Connections
 On Load Tap Changer
(OLTC)
OLTC Connections

Thank You