VI - 36 Session- VI

Session VI - Paper 8
Monitoring & Diagnostics

Online Monitoring of Transformer: A Case Study

Ragini Agarwal S. V. Kulkarni B. K. Sahoo V. R. Sardeshpande Raghvendra Deshpande

M.Tech Professor Executive Engineer DGM Manager Instrumentation
ESE Department EE Department EM Division Energy Product Development

Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay EcoAxis System Pvt. Ltd., Pune

1.0 Introduction the mathematical model which takes into account

variations of ambient temperature. The developed
In a power system, transformer is an important
algorithm has been tested on 1 MVA transformer in
asset and hence requires special attention to ensure
one of the IIT Bombay substations. The calculation of
its normal functioning. Knowledge of transformer
aging rate, based on monitored parameters, is also
condition is essential for lowering the total cost of
elaborated.
ownership. For increasing availability and reducing
maintenance costs, online condition monitoring for 2.0 Online Monitoring System
the power and distribution transformers is essential
and indispensible. One of the most critical parameters The online monitoring has been done on 1 MVA, 22
which govern the life of a transformer is the temperature kV / 433 V transformer of KReSIT substation in IIT
rise in various active parts of the transformer [1]. Bombay. Pt 100 sensor is immersed in oil pocket on
Monitoring of oil and winding temperatures helps to tank to measure oil temperature. Data logger, when
decide the overloading capability of transformers. It connected to the equipment control system, acquires
can also help in estimating the life gained or lost by key operating parameters and stores the same in
the transformer and hence in maintaining the normal memory, and periodically uploads these parameters
life expectancy. over file transfer protocol to a central web server,
through various means such as broadband (LAN),
Online monitoring is necessary to find the incipient GPRS, and CDMA etc. Remote monitoring software
faults in transformers [2]. Faults can occur due to on the application server provides access to data
overloading or malfunctioning of fans, pumps, etc. through internet browser for authorized users. The
When load on the transformer increases, the losses online monitoring scheme used is as shown in Fig. 1.
increase due to which the overall temperature
increases, and if the temperature exceeds beyond
acceptable limits, the dielectric strength of the
insulation decreases thereby increasing the risk of
failure [3]. Hence, there is a need for online monitoring
of the transformer for taking an appropriate action
when the hot spot temperature crosses the limit
defined by the international standards. Remotely
monitored load and ambient temperature can be
used to predict the top-oil temperature. The predicted
temperature can be continuously compared with the
measured one. If the measured temperature is higher
than the predicted one, some kind of abnormality can
be suspected inside the transformer.
In this paper, the modified IEEE thermal model [4]
based on linear regression algorithm is used to
calculate the top-oil temperature of the transformer at
any instant using load current, ambient temperature
and previous top-oil temperature values. The
measured top-oil temperature is compared with Fig.1 : Online monitoring scheme
 Session - VI Paper 8 VI - 37

Specific hardware is used to capture the top-oil
temperature, ambient temperature, tap position
and motor current of on-load tap changer; the
data is forwarded to the application server through
the data logger. A digital energy meter has been
installed to read the values of current, harmonics,
voltage and power factor.
3.0 Thermal model
A) Top-oil temperature rise model
The IEEE model for calculation of top-oil temperature
rise over ambient temperature is given by [1],
(1)
where, C1 , C2 are the coefficients which can be
determined using the measured data through
linear regression analysis. Q 0 [x -1] is the top-oil
temperature rise at previous instant of time, I[x] is
the per unit load at a particular instant of time, R
is the ratio of load losses at rated load to no load
losses, and n is the exponent defined by the cooling
mode.
In this method, the variation in ambient temperature
has not been taken into account, which can give
appreciable error when ambient temperature
variation is large over a day. Therefore, a new
model has been proposed in [4], which incorporates
ambient temperature variation:
(2)
where, D1 , D 2 and D 3 are the coefficients that can
be determined using the measured data through
linear regression analysis and Q a [x] is the ambient
temperature at a particular instant of time.
B) Winding hot spot temperature model
Winding hot spot rise over top-oil temperature is
given by [1]:
spot temperature [5, 6]. The life of the transformer
is about 30 years while operating in normal
conditions. The per unit life of the transformer is
given as,
(4)
where, A is constant.
4.0 Results
The IEEE thermal model [1] was applied on 1 MVA
transformer. The data was taken for a period
of 3 days in the month of December 2008. The
algorithms described in section 3 were programmed
in MATLAB for top-oil temperature model, winding
hot spot model and aging acceleration factor.
A) Top-oil temperature
The load was approximately 27%, and ambient
temperature was assumed to be constant. The value
of n has been taken as 0.8 as cooling is natural,
and R is 8. The coefficients obtained through linear
regression are:
C 1 = 0.8483
C 2 = 0.7969
Fig. 2 shows the plot of measured values and
curve-fitted values. This regression model
and corresponding coefficients were used for
subsequent monitoring.
The fitted model was then used to estimate top-oil
temperature for the set of data of next 2 days; the
corresponding predicted temperature is compared
with measured values in Fig. 3. The maximum
temperature difference between the predicted
and measured temperature was 2.05 0C, over the
particular time horizon, thus indicating that there
was no abnormality in the transformer

(3)

where, ∆Q H is the hot spot temperature rise over

the top-oil temperature, oC. ∆Q HU is the ultimate
hot spot temperature rise over top-oil, 0C, ∆Q H,i is
initial hot-spot temperature rise over the top-oil
temperature, oC, τH is the thermal time constant of
the winding in minutes, and t is the duration of load
in minutes.
C) Aging and Life expectancy
The life of the transformer depends on the life of
the insulation which ultimately depends on the hot Fig. 2: Top-oil temperature rise model
VI - 38 Session - VI Monitoring & Diagnostics
Fig. 3 : Predicted values by top-oil temperature rise model
In second case, modified IEEE model [4] was used to
take ambient temperature variation into account. The
load was approximately 27%. The linear regression
coefficients of equation (2) were obtained by first
considering data of 3 days at 15 minutes interval
each (Fig. 4). The coefficients obtained after linear
regression were:
D1 = 0.8081
D2 = 0.2327
D3 = 0.4114
These coefficients were then used to estimate top-
oil temperature for the next set of data, and the
corresponding comparison with measured data is
shown in Fig. 5. The maximum temperature difference
between the predicted and measured temperature is
1.910C. After incorporation of ambient temperature
variation, the difference between the measured and
predicted temperature is lesser as compared to the
case when the ambient temperature was assumed
constant as in the previous model.
Fig. 4 : Top-oil temperature rise model with ambient variation
accounted
Fig. 5 : Predicted values by top-oil temperature rise model with
ambient variation accounted
Comments
1) The linear regression coefficients were calculated
when the transformer was highly under-loaded. At
much higher load conditions, the model has to be
trained again and the coefficients will change. If
this is not done, there may be a large error in the
predicted top-oil temperatures.
2) Ambient temperature was almost constant due
to indoor installation. For outdoor installations,
variation in ambient temperature may be high.
In such a case, the modified model based on
equation 2 [4] can give more accurate results as
compared to that as per equation 1 given in [1].
B) Winding hot spot temperature
The winding thermal time constant is very less as
compared to top-oil time constant. Hence, the hot
spot temperature changes rapidly when load changes
[7]. For 1 MVA transformer, the rated hot spot rise over
top-oil is taken as 150C and hot spot (winding) time
constant is assumed as 5 minutes. Fig. 6. shows the
hot spot temperature calculated using equation (3) with
ambient temperature variation taken into account.
Fig. 6 : Hot spot temperature

C) Insulation life
The curve in Fig. 7 relates per unit transformer insulation
life to winding hot spot temperature. The reference hot
spot temperature was taken as 980C. The graph gives
the ratio of life at a particular temperature with that at
980C (at which per unit life is 1.0 p.u.). The life lost by
insulation of considered 1 MVA transformer is very small
as hot spot temperature is very less due to the under-
loaded conditions. The data was monitored at every 15
minutes interval. On the basis of calculated hot spot
temperature (shown in Fig. 6), the aging acceleration
factor ( AF ) can be calculated by the following equation
[1]:
(5)
where Q H is the hot spot temperature.
The above equation can be used to calculate equivalent
aging of the transformer :
(6)
Fig. 7 : Transformer insulation life curve
where, F eq (A F) eq is the equivalent aging factor for the
total time period, m is the index of the time interval,
(t), M is the total number of time intervals, ( AF )m is
the aging acceleration factor for the time period, ∆tm
which is in minutes. For the temperature cycle given in
Fig. 6, the equivalent life of the transformer which will
be consumed in 47 hours is 6.70e-5 p.u. The value is
negligibly small due to the under-loaded conditions.
Session - VI Paper 8 VI - 39
5.0. Conclusion
Overloading and local overheating can cause high
temperatures in the transformers. Incipient faults and
abnormalities can be detected remotely to enable
the operator to take appropriate action and avoid
major failures. Online monitoring system has been
installed for obtaining real time top-oil temperature
of a transformer. Remote monitoring of temperature,
current, voltage, power factor, harmonics, tap position
and motor current of on-load tap changer, is done for a
1 MVA transformer in IIT Bombay campus.
Transformer top-oil temperature was estimated by
formulating a linear regression algorithm taking
into account the instantaneous load and ambient
temperature. The study found that the maximum
temperature difference between the predicted and
measured temperatures was 2.050C over a particular
time horizon. When the effect of the ambient
temperature variation was accounted the error
reduced to 1.910C. The small difference between the
predicted and measured temperatures indicated that
there was no incipient fault in the transformer. The hot
spot temperature was also estimated. On its basis,
equivalent aging factor and per unit life consumed
were calculated for the considered time period.
The prediction of top-oil temperature can be improved
if the measured harmonics are also accounted in the
model. In future, if fiber-optic sensor is installed, hot
spot temperature can also be monitored.
References
1) IEEE Guide for Loading Mineral-Oil- Immersed Transformers,
IEEE Std. C57.91- 1995.
2) T. D. Poyser, D. A. Yannucci, J. B. Templeton, and B. N.
Lenderking, ‘On-Line Monitoring of Power Transformers,’
IEEE Trans. on Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. 104, no.
1, pp. 207-211, Jan. 1985.
3) K. Karsai, D. Kerenyi, and L. Kiss, Large Power Transformers,
New York: Elsevier, 1987.
4) B. C. Lesieutre, W. H. Hagman, and J. L. Kirtley Jr, ‘An
Improved Transformer Top-oil Temperature Model for Use
in An On-Line Monitoring and Diagnostics System,’ IEEE
Trans. on Power Delivery, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 249-256,
1997.
5) S. V. Kulkarni and S. A. Khaparde, Transformer Engineering:
Design and Practice, Marcel Dekker, Taylor and Francis
Group, May 2004.
6) W. J. McNutt, ‘Insulation Thermal Life Considerations
for Transformer Loading Guides,’ IEEE Trans. on Power
Delivery, vol. 7, pp. 392-401, Jan. 1992.
7) D. Susa, M. Lehtonen, and H. Nordman, ‘Dynamic Thermal
Modelling of Power Transformers,’ IEEE Trans. on Power
Delivery, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 197-204, Jan. 2005.
n n n