Knowledge Is Power

SM

Apparatus Maintenance and Power Management

for Energy Delivery

Sweep Frequency Response

Analysis (SFRA) and Transformer
Diagnostics
M5100 Product Series
Doble Engineering

Introduction
This is an Sweep Frequency Response Analysis presentation:
A tool to investigate mechanical integrity of transformers
When: after relocation, after an incident, or to get a baseline

Test
lead

M5100

Signal &
Reference
Leads
Shield
Ground

2004 SFRA Presentation

Bushing failure.
This bushing failed
catastrophically

SFRA showed
that the
transformer
windings were in
good shape.
3

The transformer
did not need to
be scrapped.
2004 SFRA Presentation

Bridge Impact
Paint scrapes on delivery are suspicious?
How did the
scrapes get
there, and what
does the impact
recorder say?
Do we know if anything moved inside the
transformer? SFRA helps you decide...
4

2004 SFRA Presentation

Overview
SFRA is really a lot of measurements...

Some individual resonances

Frequency in MHz

Individual measurement made at each frequency of

interest to produce a fingerprint
5

2004 SFRA Presentation

Overview of test
If we can measure:

changes in the
frequency
response

Bulge in winding caused

by electrical fault

of a winding caused by
winding movement
then we can

detect winding
movement.
6

A good repeatable SFRA

measurement will detect
this problem
2004 SFRA Presentation

Interpretation
Experience: Certain Frequency Bands Indicate
Different Problem Conditions
<2kHz: Core
Deformation, Open
Circuits, Shorted
Turns & Residual
Magnetism
2kHz to 20kHz:
Bulk Winding
Movement Relative
to Each Other,
clamping structure
7

400kHz to
2MHz:
Movement of
main and tap
winding leads

20 kHz to 400kHz:
Deformation Within
the main and tap
windings
2004 SFRA Presentation

Transformer: Normal Response

Three normal open circuit responses

Results as expected and

8

Three phases
respond
differently at
low
frequencies
acceptable
2004 SFRA Presentation

One year later

After an incident - one year later...
One phase has clear
inductive roll off associated
with short circuit
measurement

Variation is clear indicator of shorted

turn on A phase
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2004 SFRA Presentation

Null result has value

Drax GT4 GEC A phase HV Tap 1
0

Four results overlaid on this

graph from four different years

-10

Amplitude in dB

-20
-30
-40
-50

1994, 1997, 1999, 2002

-60
-70

Clearly - the transformer

has not changed

-80
-90
-100
0

50

100

150

200

Frequency in kHz
21/07/94 N to HV, #1 LV terminals earthed
6/4/99 N to HV, #1 LV terminals earthed

20/05/97 N to HV, #1 LV terminals earthed

G0322
9/7/02 a1 earthed. All others floating

2004 SFRA Presentation

Bushing Failure
There are two traces here - suspect
phase of suspect unit and same
phase of sister transformer
The two traces are
clearly very similar can just see one trace
behind the other

Sister unit has exactly

the same shape

No variation between traces implies this

phase is OK, despite bushing failure
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2004 SFRA Presentation

Method Comparison
One winding tested twice with each method

Two impulse responses

Two SFRA responses

The impulse responses are roughly OK but the

huge variability loses the value of the test
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2004 SFRA Presentation

10. Conclusions
The VALUE of an SFRA measurement is in the
Repeatability: we can avoid false positives and false
negatives in decision making
The Range and Resolution, from 10 Hz to 2 MHz, and
+/- 1dB, means we can make confident diagnoses
Used as a decision making tool, SFRA can bring a lot of
value in practice
Decision making with respect to transformers is not an
easy job: SFRA helps
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2004 SFRA Presentation

Thank You.
Any questions?
http://www.doble.com/products/SFRA_Center/
m5100support@doble.com
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2004 SFRA Presentation

Dobles Application Support

SFRA User Group meets twice a year
On-line User Forum
On-line Client Reference Library
On-line resource center
Telephone application support
Interpretation of all results during first year
Client training

2004 SFRA Presentation

Support - User Forum

2004 SFRA Presentation

Support - on line results library

2004 SFRA Presentation

Difficult Technical Questions?

Here are some technical questions which
informed clients may ask

2004 SFRA Presentation

Difficult Technical Questions?

Does your test set guarantee repeatability to
+/- 1 dB?
Yes - it means we can trust the results

Does your test set give a resolution of less

than 10 Hz below 1 kHz?
Yes - so we can see shorted turns and see the
detail in short circuit measurements

Does your test set measure up to 2 MHz?

Yes - so we can see variation caused by tap and
winding lead movement

2004 SFRA Presentation

Difficult Technical Questions?

Does your test set have an interference band
width of less than 1/5 of frequency?
Yes - so we minimize effects of noise at each frequency
we measure

Does your test set give a response measured

down to -80 dB within 1 dB?
Yes - so we can see details of large HV windings

Does your test set use three leads?

Yes - to remove effects of leads on the measurements

2004 SFRA Presentation

Difficult Technical Questions?

Does your test set use coax all the way to the
bushing terminals
Yes - so we can remove the effect of incorrect terminations

Do different M5100s give the same results?

Yes - so we dont have to use the same test set on each
transformer each time

Do results change if you move the test set or

rearrange test leads?
No - the results are independent test set location and lead
disposition

2004 SFRA Presentation