Assessment of overload capabilities of power transformers by thermal modelling

Abstract

This contribution presents an approach to determine the overload capabilities of oil-cooled power transformers depending on the ambient temperature. For this purpose the investigated method introduces a simplified, empirical based thermal model that predicts changes in oil temperature with high accuracy. This model considers the entire transformer as a single, homogenous tempered body with a certain thermal capacity. All electrical losses are perceived as an input of equally distributed heat and assumed to be the sum of the load and no-load losses given by the transformer design. In contrary to earlier approaches the heat exchange with the ambience is modelled as a complex function depending first of all on the temperature difference between the transformer and its surroundings. Furthermore, the loading rate, material properties, levels of temperatures and emerging temperature gradients are taken into account as influencing factors determining the heat exchange. To display the behaviour of a specific transformer, the model employs several empirical factors. For determination of these empirical factors an evaluation time of two to four representative weeks of transformer operation is found to be sufficient. To validate the created model and test its operational reliability, measuring data from several ONAN- and ONAF-transformers are consulted. These data sets comprise the top oil and ambient temperature as well as the loading rate and the status of the cooling system. Furthermore, the corresponding name plate data is integrated. Subsequently to the calculation of the top oil temperature, the maximum constant loading rate resulting in a hot-spot temperature below critical level is determined based upon the remarks of IEC 60076 - 7 [1]. Finally, a characteristic linear function for each investigated transformer displaying the maximum loading rate depending solely on the ambient temperature is derived. In case of the investigated ONAN- and ONAF-transformers within a power range of 31.5 - 63 MVA, significant overload potentials could be disclosed.