Testing

of
Transformer
K.N.Srinivasan

Traceabllity
Accuracy
Precision
Probability
Std. deviation
Standards
Accreditation

Insulation tests
Short ckt test
Power rating
Other tests

Overview
A MODERN TRANSFORMER IS A
COMPLEX
ELECTROMAGNETIC
APPARATUS
TRANSFORMERS
SERVE
FOR
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY
TRANSFORMERS
(DISTRIBUTION)
ARE THE LAST MAJOR LINK
BETWEEN UTILITY & CONSUMER

Introduction
TRANSFORMERS
ARE
STATIC
ALTERNATING CURRENT MACHINES
PRINCIPLE IS BASED ON MUTUAL
INDUCTION BETWEEN WINDINGS
THROUGH A COMMON CORE
OIL-IMMERSED AND DRY TYPES
POWER AND DISTRIBUTION TYPES
SPECIAL TYPES

Transformer on load
V1
I2

I1

I0

I2

E2

E = - 4.44 mf N

Routine tests
Measurement of winding resistance
Measurement of voltage ratio
Polarity test
Measurement of no-load loss & no-load current
Measurement of load-loss & short-circuit impedance
Measurement of insulation resistance
Dielectric tests

Type tests
Measurement of winding resistance
Measurement of voltage ratio
Polarity test
Measurement of no-load loss & no-load current
Measurement of load-loss & short-circuit impedance
Measurement of insulation resistance
Dielectric tests
Temperature-rise test

Special tests
Dielectric test
Short-circuit test
Measurement of zero-sequence
impedance of three phase transformers
Measurement of acoustic noise level
Measurement of harmonics of the no-load
current
Measurement of power taken by the fans
& oil pumps

Special tests
Dielectric test
Short-circuit test
Measurement of zero-sequence
impedance of three phase transformers
Measurement of acoustic noise level
Measurement of harmonics of the no-load
current
Measurement of power taken by the fans
& oil pumps

Dielectric test
Separate source voltage withstand test
Induced over voltage withstand test
Impulse voltage withstand test

Separate source voltage withstand test

Terminals of windings under test connected to HV terminal of the
source . All other windings, core, frame and tank are earthed.
Duration of test is 60 secs.
Highest system voltage(kV)
1.1
3.6
7.2
12
24
36
52
72.5

Power frequency voltage(kV)

3
10
20
28
50
70
95
140

Induced over voltage withstand test

This test is useful in determining
layer insulation and inter turn
insulation of windings.
HV is kept open & twice the rated
voltage at twice the rated frequency
is applied to the LV for a duration of
60 secs.

Impulse withstand test

Testing facilities
Impulse generator
Discharge circuit
Recording system
Voltage divider for measurement

Standard Impulse wave

Wave shape

Standard wave shape of impulse voltage is

1.2/50sec.
t1 is the rise time = 1.2secs.
t2 is the tail time = 50 secs.
Tolerance on t1 is 30% & 20% on t2.

Impulse generator

Impulse wave is generated by discharge of

capacitors charged in parallel into a wave shaping
circuit.

Connection

Fig.7.3.1.Connection diagram
lmpulse Application : (Negative Polarity).
Oscillograms : 7.3.1 Reduced full wave
7.3.2. 100% full wave
7.3.3 Reduced Chopped wave

100 kV (Peak)
170 kV (Peak)
103 kV (Peak)

7.3.4. 100% chopped wave

170 kV (Peak)

7.3.5. 100% chopped wave

170 kV (Peak)

7.3.6. 100% full wave

170 kV (Peak)

7.2.7. 100% full wave

170 kV (Peak)

Oscilograms

Oscilograms contd.

Oscilograms contd.

Fig 7.3.3 Connection diagram

Generator capacitance

0.0625 uF

Series resistance

160 ohms

Tail resistance

1040 ohms

Voltage divider

1200 pF in parallel with 100 ohms

Impulse applications : (Negative Polarity)

Oscillogram No. 7.3.15. Reduced full wave
7.3.16. 100% full wave
7.3.17. 100% full wave

43 kV (Peak)
-

75 kV (Peak)
75 kV (peak)

Comparison of oscillograms 15 & 16 indicates that the second voltage wave

oscillogram has collapsed and the corresponding point of the neutral current
there are high frequency oscillations. This indicates an arc over across major
portion of the transformer winding as a result of failure of the transformer
insulation.

Oscillograms 7.3.15 to 7.3.17

 MINOR INSULATION -conductor turns,

layers

enamel, paper

oil ducts, paper cylinders

MAJOR INSULATION- winding, core

press board cylinders, oil ducts

BUSHINGS - porcelain , condenser

Short-circuit test
Power & distribution transformers must be constructed to
withstand mechanical stresses caused by external faults.
These stresses are produced due to electromagnetic forces
as a result of very high current in the windings during
short-circuits.

Dynamic ability to withstand short-circuit

Prior to the short-circuit, transformer

is subjected to routine tests.
Asymmetrical current
The peak current that transformer is
required to withstand = Isc(peak)=K Isc
Value of K :
x/r 1
1.5
K

1.51

1.64

1.76 1.95

2.09 2.19 2.27

10

>14

2.38

2.46

2.55

Short-circuit testing procedure

Short-circuit may be
a) Preset or
b) Post set
Duration of each test
being 0.5 sec. ( > 5 MVA 0.25 sec)
For 1 Transformers
No. of tests = Three
one test with tap at highest voltage ratio, one test in principal taping &
one test in
lowest voltage ratio

3 Transformers
No. of tests = Nine
Three tests with tap at highest voltage ratio, three
tests in principal taping & three tests in lowest voltage
ratio
Tolerances on
Asymmetrical current = 5 %
Symmetrical current = 10 %
Test duration
= 10 %

Oscillogram of dynamic short-circuit test on

3Phase 11/0.433kV 500kVA Distribution
transformer

SC Test contd.

Analysis of the results

All the routine tests shall be repeated
Dielectric test shall be at 75%
Transformer shall be untanked
Reactance measured after s.c. test shall not
differ by more than 2% for circular coils & 7.5%
for non-circular coils.

Temperature rise test

This is to ascertain that transformer & its cooling arrangements
are effectively designed so that temp. rise of winding & cooling
medium does not exceed the permissible limits.
Temp. rise limits for Dry type transformers
Class of insulation
A
E
B
F
H
C

Temp. rise C
50
65
70
90
115
140

Temp. rise limits for oil immersed transformers

Part

Temp. rise C

External cooling medium

Air
Water

Winding
(temp.rise by resistance method)
Top oil

55

60

50

55

(temp.rise by thermometer method)

Loading methods
a) Direct loading
b) Back-to-Back method
c) Short-circuit method

Duration of test
Top oil temperature-rise does not vary more than
10 C/hour during 4 consecutive hourly readings

Partial Discharge Tests

100pC
500pC

Noise Level
Sound pressure level 20 log10 d/0.00002 dB
d Newton per square meter

meter

Highest voltage
for equipment
Um
kV
(r.m.s. value)

Rated short duration

power frequency
withstand voltage
kV
(r.m.s. value)

Rated
lightning impulse
withstand voltage
kV
(peak value)

3.6

10

20
40

7.2

20

40
60

12

28

60
75
95

17.5

38

75
95

24

50

95
125
145

36

70

145
170

52

95

250

72.5

140

325

123

(185)
230

450
550

145

(185)
230
275

(450)
550
650

170

(230)
275
325

(550)
650
750

245

(275)
(325)
360
395
460

(650)
(750)
850
950
1050

Highest
voltage for
equipment
Um
kV
(r.m.s. value)

Standard switching impulse

withstand voltage
-------------------------------------------------------Longitudinal
Phase-to-earth
Phase-to-phase
Insulation
(ratio to the
(note 1)
phase-to-earth
kV
kV
peak value)
(peak value)
(peak value)

Standard
lightning impulse
withstand voltage
kV
(peak value)

300

750

750

1,50

850
950

750

850

1,50

950
1050

850

850

1,50

950
1050

850

950

1,50

1050
1175

850

850

1,60

1050
1175

950

950

1,50

1175
1300

950

1050

1,50

1300
1425

950

950

1,70

1175
1300

950

1050

1,60

1300
1425

950

1175

1,50

1425
1550

1175

1300

1,70

1675
1800

1175

1425

1,70

1800
1950

1175

1550

1,60

1950
2100

362

420

525

765