Distribution transformers

ADDIS ABABA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

COMMUNICATION STREAM

DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS
Biruk Eyasu
December, 2013

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Distribution transformers Introduction

A tr !"#$rmer is an apparatus for converting electrical power in an ac system at one voltage or current into electrical power at some other voltage or current without the use of rotating parts.

F%&'re 1: The elementary transformer The primary winding is the winding of the transformer which is connected to the source of power. It may be either the high- or the low voltage winding, depending upon the application of the transformer. The secondary winding is the winding of the transformer which delivers power to the load. It may be either the high- or the low-voltage winding, depending upon the application of the transformer. The core is the magnetic circuit upon which the windings are wound. The high-tension winding is the one which is rated for the higher voltage. The lowtension winding is the one which is rated for the lower voltage. A step-up transformer is a constant-voltage transformer so connected that the delivered voltage is greater than the supplied voltage. A step-down transformer is one so connected that the delivered voltage is less than that supplied; the actual transformer may be the same in one case as in the other, the terms step-up and step-down relating merely to the application of the apparatus.

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F%&'re 2: Distribution transformer

Classification of transformers
. According to method of cooling a. !elf-air"cooled #dry type$ b. Air-blast"cooled #dry type$ c. %i&uid-immersed, self-cooled d. 'il-immersed, combination self-cooled and air-blast e. 'il-immersed, water-cooled f. 'il-immersed, forced-oil"cooled g. 'il-immersed, combination self-cooled and water-cooled (. According to insulation between windings a. )indings insulated from each other b. Autotransformers *. According to number of phases a. !ingle-phase b. +oly-phase ,. According to method of mounting a. +ole and platform

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b. !ubway c. -ault d. !pecial .. According to purpose a. /onstant-voltage b. -ariable-voltage c. /urrent d. /onstant-current 0. According to service a. %arge power b. Distribution c. !mall power d. !ign lighting e. /ontrol and signaling f. 1aseous-discharge lamp transformers g. 2ell ringing h. Instrument i. 3. /onstant-current !eries transformers for street lighting

F%&'re 3: Active parts distribution transformer

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Transformer cores
4ntil recently, all transformer cores were made up of stac5s of sheet-steel punching firmly clamped together. !ometimes the laminations are coated with a thin varnish to reduce eddycurrent losses. )hen the laminations are not coated with varnish, a sheet of insulating paper is inserted between laminations at regular intervals. A new type of core construction consists of a continuous strip of silicon steel which is wound in a tight spiral around the insulated coils and firmly held by spot welding at the end. This type of construction reduces the cost of manufacture and reduces the power loss in the core due to eddy currents.

Cooling of transformers
A certain amount of the electrical energy delivered to a transformer is transformed into heat energy because of the resistance of its windings and the hysteresis and eddy currents in the iron core. 6eans must be provided for removing this heat energy from the transformer and dissipating it into the surrounding air. If this were not done in a satisfactory manner, the transformer would operate at an e7cessively high temperature, which would destroy or harm the insulation of the transformer. In self-aircooled transformers, the windings are simply surrounded by air at atmospheric pressure. The heat is removed by natural convection of the surrounding air and by radiation from the different parts of the transformer structure. Air cooling has long been employed for transformers of very small capacity. The development of satisfactory coil insulation materials, such as porcelain, mica, glass, and asbestos, which will withstand higher temperatures than the more common insulating materials, has made possible the application of air cooling to transformers of large capacity. 87cept in the smaller si9es, the sheet-metal enclosure is provided with louvers or gratings to allow free circulation of the air over and through the windings. !elf-aircooled transformers are commonly called dry-type transformers. The present-day use of self-aircooled transformers has been e7tended to units of at least *:::5-A capacity at .,::: -.

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Distribution transformers
In liquid-immersed, self-cooled transformers, the core and windings are immersed in some insulating li&uid and enclosed in a metal tan5. The li&uid, in addition to providing some of the re&uired insulation between the windings, carries the heat from the core and windings to the surface of the tan5. The heat is then removed into the surrounding atmosphere by natural convection of the surrounding air and by radiation from the tan5. In the smaller si9es the tan5s have a smooth surface. In larger si9e, tan5s are corrugated or finned or have e7ternal tubes, and in very large units the tan5s must be supplied with e7ternal radiators through which the oil circulates by natural convection, owing to differences in temperature in the li&uid. This method can be employed for units of any si9e or voltage rating, although large-capacity units become rather e7pensive and bul5y. The common li&uid employed is insulating oil. ;onflammable and non-e7plosive li&uids have been developed for use as a cooling and insulating medium for electrical e&uipment. These li&uids are used in transformers where their nonflammable and non-e7plosive &ualities warrant their additional e7pense. The use of such a li&uid is particularly advantageous for transformers installed in buildings, since the transformer can then be installed in general areas without the use of a fireproof vault enclosure.

F%&'re (: %i&uid filled transformer

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Pur ose of transformers
Transformers can be classified according to the purpose of transformation for which they are employed. The function of a constant-voltage transformer is to change the voltage of a system. It is designed to operate with its primary connected across a constant-voltage supply and to provide a secondary voltage which is substantially constant from no load to full load. It is the ordinary, common type of transformer. The currents of both primary and secondary vary with the load supplied by the transformer. A variable-voltage transformer is also intended for changing the voltage of a system but is so designed that when operated with its primary connected to a constant-voltage supply, the secondary voltage will vary widely with the load. !uch transformers are necessary for the operation of many gaseous-discharge lamps. A current transformer is one which is designed for changing the current of a system. The primary winding of such a transformer is connected in series with the circuit of which it is desired to change the current. The voltage of both primary and secondary will change with the value of the current of the system. !uch transformers are used for instrument transformers and in some series street-lighting installations. Constant-current transformers are designed for supplying a constant value of secondary current regardless of the load on the transformer. The primary is connected to a constant-voltage source. The secondary voltage varies proportionally with the load, while the secondary current remains constant. The primary current and 5ilovoltamperes will be constant for all loads, but the 5ilowatt input and power factor will vary with the load. The most important application of constant-voltage transformers is raising the voltage of an electric transmission circuit so that energy can be transmitted for considerable distances with small voltage drop and small energy loss and then lowering the voltage for safe usage by motors, lights, and appliances. <or the transformation of a large amount of power, more than .:: 5-A, are called power transformers. Transformers for general constant-voltage power transformation, whose rating is .:: 5-A or less, are called distribution transformers. All the methods of cooling are employed for power transformers. The choice depends upon which will result in the best overall economy, including first cost, operating e7pense, and space occupied.
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Distribution transformers generally are li&uid immersed, self-cooled. +ower and distribution transformers are normally of the standard type with the windings insulated from each other, although those with autotransformer construction can be obtained for special applications in which the voltage ratio is small. +ower transformers are always of the platform type. Distribution transformers are made with tan5s for pole and platform mounting and with tan5s of the subway and vault types. The tan5s of the platform-type transformers of .:-5-A capacity and smaller are e&uipped with lugs or brac5ets for direct pole mounting or for the attachment of hanger irons for crossarm pole mounting. A constant-voltage transformer maintains an appro7imately constant voltage ratio over the range from 9ero to rated output.

Met!ods of mounting
Transformers are constructed with different types of metal enclosing structures to meet the re&uirements of different conditions of installation. 'ne type of enclosure #<igs. ..= and .. >$ is designed for mounting on poles, either directly or with hanger irons, for use in overhead distribution wor5. Another type of enclosure, called the platform type #<igs. .. :, .. , and

.. ($, is suitable for installations in which the transformer stands upon its own base. It can be mounted on any flat hori9ontal surface having sufficient mechanical strength, such as a floor or a platform between poles. Subway transformers have watertight tan5s which are designed primarily for underground installations when the transformer may be completely submerged in water. Vault transformers also have watertight enclosures so that they will not be in3ured by total submersion, but they are not designed to operate satisfactorily under such conditions. The vault transformers are intended for operation in underground vaults in which the transformer would not be re&uired to operate for any considerable length of time while submerged.

Fault monitoring of distri"ution transformers

Distribution Transformers have a long service life if they are operated under rated conditions. The distribution transformer is a critical item of e&uipment in power systems and its correct functioning is essential to the reliable operation of the system. It is therefore, necessary to monitor the operating condition and performance of these transformers in order to avoid or
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reduce disruption due to sudden une7pected failure. Their life is significantly reduced if they are overloaded, resulting in une7pected failures and loss of supply to a large number of customers thus affecting system reliability. 'verloading and ineffective cooling of transformers are the ma3or causes of failure in distribution transformers. The trend of transformer monitoring systems is from data ac&uisition to data interpretation to give clear information to the operator through the cellular?mobile phone technology. The reliability of distribution networ5s can be increased by using automatic monitoring systems for transformers not only for high voltage power transformers as it had hitherto been but also for low voltage distribution transformers. 6ost power companies use the !/ADA system for online monitoring of power transformers but e7tending the !/ADA system for online monitoring of distribution transformers is &uite e7pensive. DISTRIBUTION AUTOMATION SYSTEM The Institute of 8lectrical and 8lectronic 8ngineers #I888$ has defined Distribution Automation !ystem #DA!$ as a system that enables an electric utility to remotely monitor, coordinate and operate distribution components, in a real-time mode from remote locations. The distribution automation system is based on an integrated technology, which involves collecting data and analy9ing information to ma5e control decisions, implementing the appropriate control decisions in the field, and also verifying that the desired result is achieved. The location, from where control decisions are initiated, is generally called Distribution /ontrol /entre #D//$. DA system is beneficial in day-to-day operation and maintenance of distribution networ5. The other benefits of the distribution automation are: reduced technical and commercial losses, improved cash flow, lower electric service restoration time, reduction in e&uipment damage, better availability of system information, improved operational planning, remote load control and shedding, and enhanced power &uality and reliability. 2elow we will see few of the most relevant communications and networ5ing technologies applicable to the DA.

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Distribution transformers
GSM )G*$b * S+"tem #$r M$b%*e C$mm'!%c t%$!",, is the world@s most popular technology for mobile telephone systems. 1!6 is considered a second generation #(1$ mobile phone system. 1!6 technology offers low-cost implementation of the short message service #!6!$, which is supported on other mobile phone standards as well. 4sing the !6! function of a digital cellular networ5 can be used to provide low-cost substation automation to control and monitor, substation performance when small amounts of control information or monitoring data is needed. ;ewer versions of the standard are GPRS )Ge!er * +ac5et R -%$ Ser.%ce, !- EDGE )E!/ !ce- D t Aates #$r GSM E.$*'t%$!,, #$r /%&/er "0ee- - t tr !"m%""%$!1 CDMA )C$-e D%.%"%$! M'*t%0*e Access$ is a cellular technology originally 5nown as I!->., where data and voice are separated from signals using codes and then transmitted using a wide fre&uency range. 2ecause of this, there are more space left for data transfer for broadband access and the use of big multimedia messages. <or the *1 generation networ5, /D6A uses l7 8-D' and 8--D- technologies. A 2eb b "e- "+"tem has been designed and developed for remote monitoring of electric power distribution networ5. The developed system is based on three-tier architecture and enables to manage the distribution networ5 through a computer connected on the Internet or Intranet. 4nder this been converted into commercial database. <urther, the data from commercial database is published over the )eb using Internet technology. /onse&uently, the recent and past information of power distribution networ5 is available to electric utility for the purpose of networ5 monitoring and its development, the real time database, which is a part of practical Distribution Automation system, has been converted into commercial database. <urther, the data from commercial database is published over the )eb using Internet technology. /onse&uently, the recent and past information of power distribution networ5 is available to electric utility for the purpose of networ5 monitoring and has better planning. S te**%te c$mm'!%c t%$! is a technology that has been used in electric utility networ5s to provide connectivity for !/ADA and other applications such as voice, video or data to
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remote substation sites that cannot be reached by other communications technologies. /urrently, satellite communications has evolved in improving performance reliability and reducing costs. !atellite networ5s provide two-way communications, they are built on I+ and support broadband data rates. In addition, advances in satellite communications and in particular -ery !mall Aperture Terminal #-!AT$ technologies have e7panded the range of potential applications within the !mart 1rid. These systems use small antennas, I+-compatible terminal e&uipment, and better performance than traditional satellite systems. -!AT satellite networ5s provide fle7ible data rate performance, ranging from 0 5bps suitable for basic !/ADA connectivity to speeds of 6bps and above to support voice, video and data applications. -!AT satellite systems can provide new solutions for remote monitoring and control of transmission and distribution substations providing e7tensive coverage. They also provide location and time synchroni9ation #import ant far successful use of +64s$ based on a global positioning system #1+!$. M%cr$3 .e is a technology that is used in geographic ally difficult areas as an alternative transport technology for voice, data, and video applications. It can be used to create complete networ5s or 3ust to carry out the last mile connections of larger wired or fiber networ5s. )hen there is no infrastructure li5e optic al fibers available, a solution is to install point-to-point microwave lin5s. 6icrowave technology is a fle7ible and costeffective solution for transmission of voice, data, and video services in all parts of a fi7ed or wireless mobile networ5, including applications far bac5haul or direct access services. 8nhancements in wireless technology have also allowed higher order modulation schemes that offer better spectral efficiencies, permitting less bandwidth for the same capacity or higher capacities with the same bandwidth compared to older models. This technology is mainly focused on +DB, meaning bandwidths of (, ,, = or *, 6bits #/I1A8, (::0$. Bowever, newer microwave systems supp ort !DB standards and will better integrate into modern broadband digital networ5s for the !mart 1rid. D%&%t * tr'!4e- r -%$ is a +6A #+rivate 6obile Aadio$ technology that uses unguided electromagnetic waves to propagate information, thus wireless transport of data. A
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trun5ed radio system is a comple7 type of computer- controlled radio system. Trun5ed #resource sharing$ systems use a few channels #the actual fre&uencies$ and can have virtually unlimited tal5 groups. The control channel computer sends pac5ets of data to enable one tal5 group to tal5 together, regardless of fre&uency. The primary purpose of this type of system is efficiency; many people can carry many conversations over only a few distinct fre&uencies #+ublic, >>>$. Trun5ing is used by many government entities to provide two-way communication for fire departments, police and other municipal services, who all share spectrum allocated to a city, county, or other entity. Trun5ing technology can be used in a smart grid environment to provide electric utilities networ5s with fleet management and disaster management. SCADA The term !/ADA usually refers to centrali9ed systems which monitor and control entire sites, or comple7es of systems spread out over large areas #anything between an industrial plant and a country$. 6ost control actions are performed automatically by Aemote Terminal 4nits #AT4s$ or by programmable logic controllers #+%/s$. Bost control functions are usually restricted to basic overriding or supervisory level intervention. <or e7ample, a +%/ may control the flow of cooling water through part of an industrial process, but !/ADA system may allow operators to change the set points for the flow, and enable alarm conditions, such as loss of flow and high temperature, to be displayed and recorded. The feedbac5 control loop passes through the AT4 or +%/, while the !/ADA system monitors the overall performance of the loop.

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F%&'re 56 1eneral layout of !/ADA system

!/ADA monitors, controls and alarms the plant and?or regional facilities@ operating systems from a centrali9ed location. It includes the communication of information between a !/ADA central host computer, many scattered units and?or +rogrammable %ogic /ontrollers. <or e7ample, in a water filtration plant, the remote units measure the pressure in pipes and report the readings to the central computer located somewhere in the control tower. In case of any anomaly, the !/ADA system would alert the main station of the problem appraising it of other details li5e the severity of the anomaly and measurement values in an organi9ed fashion. The systems may vary from simple, li5e temperature reporting in a building to comple7 li5e monitoring the traffic on many traffic lights. The system consists of the following elements: . !/ADA 6aster !tation /omputer !ystems: It is the repository of the real-time or near real-

time reported data collected from the remote terminal units connected to it. It is generally standard computer hardware e&uipment and very few !/ADA system suppliers have ventured out to ma5e their own computer e&uipment. A few companies li5e I26 and /D/ did try ma5ing hardware for it, but the effort was short lived and commercial off-the-shelf computer products continue to be the main stay. The bac5 end !/ADA software must be able to repeatedly poll the AT4s for data values, should have software for their retrieval, storage and processing. The processing may include unit conversion, cataloguing into tables etc.

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(. Buman-6achine Interface: This is the eye candy part on the host station. The values that

have been stored in the host computers are presented to the human operator in an understandable and comprehensible form using B6Is. These may provide trending, diagnostic or management information and detailed schematics and animations representing the current states of the machines under its control. +ictorial representation being more understandable to humans is the preferred form in !/ADA B6Is.

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