Experience on detecting and locating

a winding buckling in power transformer

Case studies
By
Mr.Chitapon Jedwanna
Chitapon.j@egat.co.th
Transformer Maintenance and Workshop Department
Transmission System Maintenance Division
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT)

Content
Introduction to EGAT
Principle of winding buckling in power
transformer
Case studies of the winding buckling in
power transformer in 2012
Conclusion

Introduction to EGAT

About EGAT
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
(EGAT) is a state enterprise under the Ministry of
Energy for generating, providing, transmissioning
electrical power in Thailand

EGAT Generating capacity

Generating capacity in Thailand (July,2013)
Overseas
7% ,
2,404.60 MW

IPP & SPP

48% ,
15,906.29
MW

EGAT
45% ,
15,010.13
MW

Total generating capacity is 33,321.02 MW

5

EGAT Transmission system

Nominal voltage Number of HV Substation Transformer (MVA rating) Transmission line (Circuit-km)
500 kV
11
20,849.99
4,094.86
230 kV
71
50,960.04
14,116.24
115 kV
130
14,617.49
13,785.43
132 kV
133.40
8.71
69 kV
18.80
300 kV HVDC
388.02
23.07
Total
212
86,948.94
32,047.10
(August,2013)

There are 622 units and 86,948.94 MVA rating of

power transformers in the transmission system.

Principle of winding buckling in

power transformer

Stress acting on the power transformer

Dielectric stresses
Such as system overvoltage ,Transient impulse
conditions.

Thermal stresses
Such as overload ,malfunction of cooling equipment.

Mechanical stresses
Such as inrush current ,External short circuit
conditions.
8

External short circuit

During the external
short circuit, the windings
of the power transformer
are subjected to both
radial and axial forces
due to the short circuit
current.

Effect of radial forces on the windings

Inward radial force
=> Compressive
stress

Outward radial force

=> Tensile stress

Fig. shows the tangential stress caused by radial forces in core-type power transformer.
10

Effect of radial forces on the windings

Radial forces result in :
Buckling for inner windings
Increased radius for outer windings
Spiraling of end turns in helical
windings

Inner winding

Outer winding
11

Effect of radial forces on the windings

Buckling

Spiraling
12

Winding buckling
The presence of
buckled segment , which
changes the coupling of the
leakage flux to the winding
and a geometric of the
winding , results in the
change of ;
Leakage reactance.
Winding capacitance.
Frequency response of
winding.
13

Case studies of the winding

buckling in power transformer
in 2012
Case 1. LV winding (X2-X0) buckling of power
transformer, 50 MVA ,115-22 kV, Vector group Dyn1,
Year 1990
Case 2. LV winding (X2-X0) buckling of power
transformer, 50 MVA, 115-22 kV, Vector group Dyn1,
Year 1994

14

50 MVA and 115 kV Power transformer

Fig. shows the power transformer ,50MVA , 115-22 kV ,Vector group Dyn1
which found LV winding buckling (x2-x0) of both cases.
15

50 MVA and 115 kV Power transformer

Fig. shows the

sequence from core to
outward of winding in
the 50 MVA power
transformer of both
cases study.

16

On-site testing : Single phase leakage

impedance

Tap

Case 1 :

Case 2 :

Energized WDG. H1-H2 /

Shorted WDG.X2-X0

First
()

test Latest test ()

7L
124.330
2R 89.950
10R 67.400

% Deviation

Energized WDG. H1-H2 /

Shorted WDG.X2-X0

Tap

(21 May,2012)

128.711
92.892
69.870

3.52%
3.27%
3.66%

First test Latest test () %

()
(17 September, Deviation
2012)

7L
2R
10R

123.410 126.590
89.780
92.205
66.620
68.815

2.58%
2.70%
3.29%

For both cases , the single phase leakage impedance (Energized

WDG.H1-H2/Shorted WDG.X2-X0) was found different from the first
test value.
17

On-site testing : Single phase leakage

impedance

Energized WDG. H1-H2 /

Shorted WDG.X2-X0
Testing current : 2 A

Fig. shows the testing circuit for single phase leakage

impedance of Dyn1 power transformer
18

On-site testing : Single phase leakage

impedance

Tap

Case 1 :

Case 2 :

Energized WDG. H2-H3 /

Shorted WDG. X3-X0
First
()

test Latest
()

test %
Deviation

Energized WDG. H2-H3 /

Shorted WDG. X3-X0
Tap

123.290
89.350
66.620

123.156
89.290
66.630

test % Deviation

(17 September,
2012)

(21 May,2012)

7L
2R
10R

First test Latest

()
()

-0.11%
-0.07%
0.01%

7L
2R
10R

123.320 122.940
89.135
89.225
66.470
66.300

-0.31%
0.10%
-0.26%

For both cases ,the single phase leakage impedance (Energized

WDG.H2-H3/Shorted WDG.X3-X0) was found normal.
19

On-site testing : Single phase leakage

impedance
Case 1 :

Case 2 :

Tap

Energized WDG. H3-H1 /

Shorted WDG. X1-X0
First
()

test Latest
()

test %
Deviation

Tap

Energized WDG. H3-H1 /

Shorted WDG. X1-X0
First test Latest
()
()

(21 May,2012)

7L
2R
10R

123.580
89.400
66.770

123.228
89.760
66.725

-0.28%
0.40%
-0.06%

test %
Deviation

(17 September,
2012)

7L
2R
10R

123.160
89.650
66.315

122.330
88.840
66.060

-0.67%
-0.90%
-0.38%

For both cases ,the single phase leakage impedance (Energized

WDG.H3-H1/Shorted WDG.X1-X0) was found normal.
20

On-site testing : Winding capacitance

(pF)
Case 1 :
Position

First test

Case 2 :
Latest test

%Deviation

Position

First test Last test

(21 May,2012)

CHL+CH
CH
CHL+CL
CL

10305.0
3280.2
18089.5
11049.7

10234.6
3269.4
18993.1
12031.6

-0.68%
-0.33%
5.00%
8.89%

%Deviation

(17september
,2012.)

CHL+CH
CH
CHL+CL
CL

10311.0
3287.4
18082.0
11058.0

10208.0
3282.7
18978.4
12052.6

-1%
-0.14%
4.96%
8.99%

From capacitance value, it indicates that the LV winding of the transformer

possibly buckle because capacitance value of CL, CHL+CL deviated from first
test, but CH was still normal.

21

On-site testing : Winding capacitance

(pF)

Fig. shows a connection to measure the winding capacitance.

(Testing voltage = 10 kV)
22

Case 1 : the buckling of LV winding (X2-X0)

of case study 1

23

Case 2 : the buckling of LV winding (X2-X0)

of case study 2

24

Case 2 : the buckling of LV winding (X2-X0)

of case study 2

25

On-site testing : Frequency Response

Analysis (FRA) for Case study 1

Fig. shows a transfer function (H) of frequency response analysis (FRA).

Vout
H (dB) = 20 log10
Vin
Vout
H ( ) = tan
Vin
1

26

On-site testing : Frequency Response

Analysis (FRA) for Case study 1

The FRA result in phase degree of LV winding X2-X0 (Red curve)

was different from other LV windings in frequency range of 100
27
kHz-1000 kHz

On-site testing : Frequency Response

Analysis (FRA) for Case study 1

The FRA result in dB of LV winding X2-X0 (Red curve) was

different from other LV windings in frequency range of 100 kHz28
1000 kHz

On-site testing : Frequency Response

Analysis (FRA) for Case study 1
180

Phas e (degree)

120

60
0
-60

-120
-180
10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000

Frequency (Hz)

Sister unit (Normal)

EN X2 - X0 Open H1-H2-H3

Failed unit
EN X2 - X0 Open H1-H2-H3

The FRA result in phase degree of LV winding X2-X0 (Red

curve) was different from the FRA result in same winding of
the sister unit (Black curve) in frequency range of 100 kHz1000 kHz .

29

On-site testing : Frequency Response

Analysis (FRA) for Case study 1
Frequency response analysis

Amp litu d e (d B)

-20
-40
-60
-80
-100
-120
10

100

1000

10000

100000

1000000

Frequency (Hz)

The FRA result in dB of LV winding X2-X0 (Red curve) was

different from the FRA result in same winding of the sister
unit (Black curve) in frequency range of 100 kHz-1000 kHz .

30

Conclusion

31

Conclusion
According to two case studies mentioned earlier, it can
be concluded that the single phase leakage impedance,
winding capacitance measurement and frequency
response analysis (FRA) can be used to detect and
locate the winding buckling in the power transformer.

32

Conclusion
In addition, EGAT has established the recommended
criteria value and maintenance policy for all transformers
with the same rating manufactured by particular
manufacturer in order to prevent the transformer
breakdown. Such criteria value and maintenance policy
can be explained as follows,
If the transformer is subjected to the external fault in the
system, the single phase leakage impedance and
winding capacitance have to be measured to check the
winding condition.
33

Conclusion
If the single phase leakage impedance is deviated more
than 2% and the value of winding capacitance increase
comparing with those of the commissioning test or first
test , the transformer have to be de-energized and the
winding buckling may be confirmed by using frequency
response analysis (FRA).
A neutral grounding reactor (NGR) shall be installed to
prevent the winding deformation which is basically
caused by external ground fault, particularly the
transformers manufactured before 1996.This is because
it is found that the winding design was not good enough
to withstand the external fault condition.
34

Literature
[1] Giorgio Bertagnolli , Short-circuit duty of power transformer, ABB
handbook.
[2] EGAT testing standard , Testing standard for Power transformer ,
2012.
[3] Thomas Fogelberg , Surviving a short-circuit : Short-circuit
withstand capability of power transformers ,2008

35

Thank you for your attention.

36