TRANSFORMER

TESTING
Reference:
IEEE C57.12.90-1993, Standard Test
Code for Liquid-Immersed Distribution,
Power, and Regulating Transformers

Test Classification

Routine Tests - tests made for quality control

by the manufacturer on every device or
representative samples to verify that the
product meets the design specifications.
Design Tests - tests made to determine the
adequacy of the design of a particular type, or
model of equipment to meet its rating and to
operate satisfactorily under normal service
conditions.
Other Tests - tests that maybe specified by
the purchaser in addition to routine tests.
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ROUTINE TESTS
500 KVA & Smaller

Ratio Test
Polarity and Phase
Relation Test
No-Load Loss Test
Low Frequency
a) Applied Potential
Test
b) Induced Voltage
Test

Leak Test

501 KVA & Larger

Winding Resistance
Ratio Test
Polarity & Phase
Relation Test
No-Load Loss Test
Load Loss &
Impedance Test
Low Frequency
(APT & IVT)
Leak Test
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DESIGN TESTS
500 KVA & Smaller

Resistance Test
Load Loss & %IZ Test
Temperature Rise Test
Lightning Impulse Test
Audible Sound Level
Lifting & Moving
Devices
Pressure Test

501 KVA & Larger

Temperature Rise Test

Lightning Impulse Test
Audible Sound Level
Lifting & Moving
Devices
Pressure Test

OTHER TESTS
500 KVA & Smaller

Load Loss & %IZ Test

Lightning Impulse Test
Radio Influence
Voltage
Insulation Power
Factor
Insulation Resistance
Audible Sound Level
Short-Circuit Capability
TIF

501 KVA & Larger

Zero-Phase Sequence
Impedance voltage
Temperature Rise Test
Lightning Impulse Test
Front of wave impulse
Switching Impulse
RIV
IPF
Insulation Resistance
Audible Sound Level
Short-circuit Capability
5

WINDING RESISTANCE TEST

Used to:
check proper connections and
determine if an open circuit or high resistance
exists

Field test results should be within 5% of

factory values.

INSULATION RESISTANCE TEST

Used to measure condition of major insulation system

(between winding and ground or between windings)
Minimum value for 1 minute resistance measurement, in
Mega Ohms:
R = CE/(KVA)0.5

C= 1.5 for oil immersed transformers at 20 deg C

E = volts, phase to phase for delta connection; phase to neutral
for wye connection
KVA = rated capacity of windings being tested (i.e. 3 phase
capacity for three phase transformers)

RATIO TEST

Used to diagnose problem in the minor insulation

system ( winding turn-to-turn and section-to-section)

Measured ratios compared to calculated ratios from

nameplate voltage should be within .5%

POLARITY AND PHASE RELATION

TEST
Polarity and phase-relation tests are of
interest primarily because of their bearing
on paralleling or banking two or more
transformers
Phase-relation tests are made to
determine angular displacement and
relative phase sequence
9

Polarity Test
Additive Polarity

1.

Subtractive Polarity

8.66 KV and Below &

200 KVA and below

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Phase-Relation Test

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Phase -Relation Test

13

INSULATION POWER
FACTOR TEST

Used to:

check proper drying procedure and

dryness of insulation

check integrity of insulation and its overall

condition (e.g. analyzing exciting current,
capacitance)

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ANALYSIS USING IPF TEST

RESULTS

Compare against manufacturers factory

data

Compare against previous test results

Comparison against known data for similar

units
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NO LOAD LOSS & LOAD LOSS

TESTS

Used to:

check comformity with design and

specifications

check quality of workmanship

16

APPLIED POTENTIAL (AC HIPOT)

TEST

Used to:

check integrity of major insulation from HV to

Ground, LV to Ground and HV to LV.

17

INDUCED VOLTAGE TEST

Used to check integrity of minor

insulations (i.e. turn to turn and layer to
layer)

Used in conjunction with partial discharge

test

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LIGHTNING IMPULSE TEST

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TEMPERATURE RISE TEST

for design certification to Engineering

to evaluate thermal characteristics of the
transformer
to determine and calculate for top oil rise,
winding temperature rise, cooling surface
temperature rise, terminals, & other metal parts
to simulate transformer loading

20

SOUND LEVEL TEST

design certification for Engineering

determine the amount of audible noise
generated by the transformer
unit is energized through the secondary at
rated voltage, and sound levels are measured
at prescribed intervals around the perimeter
of the unit
the readings are averaged to obtain the
transformer sound level
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END OF PRESENTATION

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