(5) Short Circuit Test

Test Purpose:

The value of the short circuit impedance Z% and the load (copper) losses
(I2R) are obtained.
This test should be performed before the impulse test-if the later will be
performed as a routine test- in order to avoid readings errors

Test Instrument:

Megger or
Multi meter.
CT ,PT

Test Procedure:

Suitable Low Voltage (3-phase 415V, 50Hz )will be applied to the terminals of
one winding (usually the H.V.) with the other winding short circuited with 50
sq. mm. Copper cable. (Usually the L.V.)
The applied voltage is adjusted to pass the needed current in the
primary/secondary. In order to simulate conditions nearest to full load, it is
customary to pass 100%, 50% or at least 25% of full load current.
Voltage to be increased gradually till the current in the energized winding
reaches the required value (50% to 100% rated current).
Measure the 3 Phase line currents at all tap position. If the tap-switch is an
Off-Circuit tap-switch, the supply has to be disconnected before changing the
tap. A consistent trend in the increase or decrease of current, as the case may
be, confirms the healthiness of the transformer.
If transformer is equipped with a tap changer, tapping regulations are applied.
(1) If tapping range within5% and rated power less than 2500kAV, load loss
guarantee refer to the principal tap only.
(2) If tapping range exceeds5% or rated power above 2500kAV, it shall be
stated for which tapping beside the principal tap the load losses will be
guaranteed by the manufacturer.
Three phase LT supply is applied on HV side of power transformer at normal
tap with rated current on HV side and currents measured in all the phases on
HV side and phases & neutral on LV side values noted.
Readings to be taken as quickly as possible as the windings warm up and the
winding resistance increases. Hence, the losses value will increase
accordingly.
Using appropriate instruments (conventional three watt meter method or
digital watt meter with ammeters & voltmeters) measurements of voltage,
currents and power can be recorded.

Short Circuit Test (Without using CT,PT)

To avoid CTs and PTs, this method can be used at current levels of 2 to 5 A
and measurement of load losses is done at this condition. This measured load
loss is then extrapolated to actual load currents to obtain load losses at the
operating current.
Example: 11 kV/433 V, 1000 kVA transformer with 5% impedance, the
voltage to be applied on H.V. side during load test is estimated below.
V. side full load current (I1) = (KVAx1000/1.732xLine Voltage)
V. side full load current (I1) =(10001000/1.73211000)=52.5 Amp
Line to line voltage to be applied on H.V side for getting 5 A on H.V. side,
Line to line voltage to be applied on H.V side Visc= (Line
Voltagex1000xZx5/0.866xI1x100)
Line to line voltage to be applied on H.V side
Visc=(11x1000x5xx/x0.86652.5100)=60.5 volts.
Since the current drawn on H.V. side is only about 5A in this test, CTs can be
avoided and hence phase angle error is not applicable.

Short Circuit Test (With using CT,PT)

Acceptance Criteria:

Measured impedance to be within guaranteed value and nameplate value.

Load losses to be within guaranteed values.

Test can detect:

Winding deformation.
Deviation in name plate value.

(6) Open Circuit / No Load Test

Test Purpose:

In this test, the value of No-Load power (Po) & the No-Load current (Io) are
measured at rated voltage & frequency.

Test Instruments:

Watt meters.
Ammeter , Voltmeter or
Power analyses

Test Procedure:

Test is performed at rated frequency.

Three phase LT Voltage of 415 V applied on HV side of Power transformer
keeping LT open
Two voltmeters are connected to the energized winding, one is measuring the
voltage mean value and the other is for the Voltage R.M.S value.
Voltage applied to winding (usually to H.V. windings).It will be in a range
from 90% of winding rated voltage to 110% of the same in steps, each of 5%
(i.e. for a 33/11kV transformer, applied voltage values will be 29.7kV,
31.35kV,36.3kV)
Readings of watt meters, Voltmeters & Ammeters are recorded to obtain the
values of V (r.m.s), Vmean, Po and Io at each voltage step.

Test results are considered satisfactory if the readings of the two are equal
within 3%. If its more than 3%, the validity of the test is subjected to
agreement.
Measured value of power loss is corrected according to the following formula:
Pc=Pm (1+d)
D= (Vmean Vr.m.s) / Vmean
Measure the loss in all the three phases with the help of 3 watt meter method.
Total no load loss or iron loss of the trf = W1 + W2 +W3

Test Caution:

This test should be performed before the impulse test-if the later will be
performed as a routine test- in order to avoid readings errors

Acceptance Criteria:

No Load losses to be within guaranteed values.

(7) Continuity test:

Purpose of Test:

To know the continuity of windings of the transformer.

Test Instruments:

Megger or
Multi meter.

Test Procedure:

Check Continuity of Transformer by using multi meter or by Megger between

following Terminals

Transformer P-P
HV Side
R-Y
LV Side
r-y

P-P
Y-B
y-b

P-P
B-R
b-r

Test can detect:

Open circuit / loose connection of winding

Result
Zero Mega ohm or continuity
Zero Mega ohm or continuity