TAPCHANGER Voltage of the system can be varied by changing the turn ratio of transformer.

The device tapchanger is used for adding and cutting out turns of primary or secondary winding of the transformer. Basically tapchanging equipment can be divided in two categories:- Off-circuit tapchanger On-load tapchanger 1. Off- Circuit Tapchanger I. The cheapest method of changing the turn ratio of a transformer is the use of offcircuit tapchanger. II. As the name implies, it is essential to de-energize the transformer before changing the tap. III. An off-circuit tapchanger consists of principally the following three parts:- Operating handle projecting outside the transformer Fixed contact with connecting terminal Insulating shaft with moving contact system IV. The basic transformer winding circuit arrangements using off-circuit tapchanger are:- Linear Single-bridging Double-bridging Series-parallel Star-delta V. To prevent unauthorized operation of an off-circuit tapchanger, a mechanical lock is provided. VI. Also to prevent inadvertent operation, an electromagnetic latching device or micro-switch is provided to open the circuit breakers to de-energize the transformer while operating the handle of tapchanger before movement of contacts on tap switch. 2. On-Load Tapchanger (OLTC) I. With the introduction of on-load tapchanger, the operating efficiency of the electrical system has considerably improved. Nowadays, almost all the large power transformers are fitted with on-load tapchanger. II. All forms of on-load tapchanging circuit possess impedance, which is introduced to prevent short circuiting of tapping section during tapchanger operation. The Impedance can be either a resistor or centre-tapped reactor. The OLTC can in general, be classified as resistor or reactor type.

(a) Reactor Transition Type OLTC I. In early designs, the use of centre-tapped reactor as tapchanging impedance was in general more popular, inspite of the inevitable shorter contact life. II. One of the principal advantages of mid-point reactor transition is that, twice as many active working positions as that of transformer tapings could be obtained. This can be of considerable advantage where large number of tapping positions is required. Reactor transition type OLTC are manufactured and used only in the United States of America. In other parts of the world, resistor transition type OLTC are being manufactured and used. (b) Resistor Transition Type OLTC I. Resistor transition has considerable advantage of longer contact life, due to relatively short arcing time associated with unity power factor switching. II. With the introduction of high speed resistor transition tapchanging, it is possible to break the arc at first to current zero. III. Furthermore, the introduction of contacts using copper/tungsten alloy arcing tips has brought about a substantial improvement in contact life. IV. Transition resistor type tapchangers can be divided into two types:- Single- compartment type: -- those which carry out selection and switching on the same contacts. Double- compartment type: -- those which have tap selectors and a separate diverter switch. Single- Compartment Type OLTC I. The single-compartment type employs a rotary form of selector switch with single transition-resistor or double-transition resistor. II. Asymmetrical Pennant Cycle:- The switching cycle consisting of switching sequence in moving from one tap to the next tap employing single-transition resistor. Tapchangers constructed with one transition resistor are suitable for power flow in one direction only. This particular contact arrangement is not suitable for power flow in reverse direction. III. Flag Cycle:- The switching cycle consisting of switching sequence in moving from one tap to the next tap employing two transition resistors. The arrangement is suitable for bi-directional power flow.

IV. Single compartment tapchangers available presently are suitable for currents upto 600 A and 66kV voltage class (with certain limitation upto 132kV class) winding of transformers. Double-Compartment Type OLTC I. On larger transformers, the on-load tapchanging equipment is more usually arranged with separate tap selectors and diverter switches. II. The tap selectors are generally arranged in a circular form. The diverter switches have contacts operating in rapid sequence with usually four separate make and break units. III. The sequence of tap change in most of the designs takes 40 to 80 ms. IV. For successive tap change in the same direction, first the tap selector contacts movement takes place. However, for the first reversal, the tap selector does not move. This feature is obtained by using a lost motion coupling in the mechanical drive of tap selector. Tapchanger Selection While selecting tapchanger for a particular transformer, following points are to be considered:- Voltage class of transformer winding and its rating Percent voltage variation required Maximum through current Step voltage between adjacent contacts The switching capacity (maximum through current, step voltage) Insulation level to ground and between various contacts Number of steps and basic connection (linear, reversing or coarse-fine) Temporary overloads Short-circuit strength required Number of operations required (any special duty) Latest Trends in Tapchanger Design At present tapchangers are available for the highest insulation level of 1475 kVp impulse and 630 kV power frequency voltage. Efforts are being made for developing tapchangers smaller in size. The use of vacuum switches in the diverter switch of tapchanger is being tried to increase its performance. Also, thyristorized tapchanger will be available in future for very special applications where excessively high number of operations is required.