Analysis of Electric Field of HV Lead in

Ultrahigh Voltage Power Transformer

Linsuo Zeng*, Peng Xiao*, Shan Bai*, Yan Wu*, and Yuanhai Xia*
* School of Electrical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang Economic and Technological
Development Zone, Shenyang, Liaoning, China,110178

Abstract—Model of electric field of HV lead is set up must be considered. If the potential of lead becomes
based on insulation characteristics of Ultrahigh Voltage higher, the distance of lead to the various parts becomes
Power Transformer. In this paper, the SFP-400000/500 much worse.
power transformer is taken as an example and analyzed by To maximize the utilization of limited space in the
ANSYS. The maximum electric intensity and its position are design of the transformer, the intensity of lead insulation
determined, and the distributions of electric field in some
planes are shown. The results and especially the insulation
must be enhanced to reduce the distance of lead to each
of electric field are carried out analysis. part. For the general high voltage lead, a certain thickness
insulation package can be used to reduce the electric field
Index Terms—Electric field, Finite element, HV lead, intensity of the insulating layer of the outer surface of the
Power transformer oil [3]. For the lead of ultrahigh voltage, the method is to
increase the diameter of the lead. If there is need to
I. INTRODUCTION further improve the surface insulation resistance of
electrical intensity of oil, on the basis of the above
In order to meet domestic demand for electricity, in
measures, the partition structure to separate the oil-lead
recent years power transmission of our country is rapidly
insulation gap can be used in order to improve the
developed and the voltage class of power transformer is
discharge voltage in the oil. If there is still a need, shield
being gradually increased. Insulation configuration is an
is added to the lead and corresponding metal structures to
important component of the power transformer, which is
improve the electrode surface condition.
of decisive significance for a single one capacity and
At last, it should be noted that ultrahigh voltage lead
operation reliability [1].
are allowed to have any part of the exposed areas.
Lead insulation is the same as main insulation and
vertical insulation, which are all parts of transformer
insulation structure design. Generally the potential of lead III. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS MODEL OF HV LEAD
is the same as winding round end tap junction, with In this paper, taking SFP-400000/500 power
different potential of the end of winding lead, the shape transformer as an example, models of both plane and
of lead is changed, different shapes have different electric axial symmetrical electric field of bending part, shield
field, the insulation structure are very different. In this lead near winding, bushing equalizing ring located in HV
paper, for the complex geometry and HV lead system of lead are set up in the case of two-dimensional (hereinafter
three-dimensional composite structure, the model solved referred to as Model 1,Model 2,Model 3). The whole
in the project is established, numerical analysis and model of HV lead is set up in the case of three-
structural optimization of electric insulation are dimensional (hereinafter referred to as Model 4). These
completed. models are analyzed by FEM, the maximum electric
intensity and its position is given, and the distributions of
II. ELECTRIC FIELD OF HV LEAD AND INSULATION electric field in some planes are shown [4].
CHARACTERISTICS In this paper, the HV lead structure of transformer is
that directly out, which is shown as Fig.1, this includes
Electric field of HV lead in transformer refers to
the bushing, equalizing ring, HV lead, insulation paper,
electric field on its insulation paper, insulation cardboard
insulation cardboard, HV winding and tank.
around and among the tank walls. Generally speaking,
these parts are extremely non-uniform electric field,
analytical method used is almost impossible, but to use
numerical analysis method. For the winding of high
voltage level, multi-strand copper wires are used as the
lead to reduce the electric field and take into account
technology and operational convenience. For the winding
of ultrahigh voltage level, a large diameter hollow copper
rod can be used as its lead [2].
Because there is a fixed potential in the interior lead of
the transformer, in order to ensure the safe operation of
the transformer, the sufficient distance for lead to the
grounded metal structures, oil tank and other parts which
Fig. 1. The structure of HV lead
 HV lead insulation structure for transformer under Also, S '1 represents the tank wall of transformer, S "1
power frequency is expressed as static electric field, represents the outer surface of HV lead, S ' 2 represents
scalar potential φ is used to describe the lead region the round parts of HV windings and the top section of
electric field intensity, which is E = −∇φ . According to bushing. S "2 the interface of different media.
Maxwell’s equations, boundary value problem satisfied The boundary value problem of formula (1) and (2) are
by φ is easily obtained as follows (1) [5]: transferred into functional equivalent extreme problem,
after the discrimination mesh interpolation and imposing
⎧ the first boundary condition, this process yields a system
⎪ 2 ∂ 2φ ∂ 2φ of linear algebraic equations of nodal potentials, which
⎪∇ φ = 2 + 2 = 0, ( x, y ) ∈ Ω when solved, provides the required solution to the field
⎪ ∂x ∂y
problem.
⎪φ = 0, ( x, y ) ∈ Γ ' (1)
⎪⎪ 1

⎨ φ = V0 , ( x , y ) ∈ Γ "
1 IV. ANSYS SOFTWARE APPLICATION
⎪ ∂φ ANSYS software is a kind of large-scale and universal
⎪ = 0, ( x, y ) ∈ Γ ' 2
⎪ ∂n CAE software, which can be used to analyze problems
⎪ ∂φ − + stemming from mechanical, calorific, electromagnetic
⎪⎡ε ⎤ ⎡ ∂φ ⎤ fields, etc. It owns lots of functions and application tools,
= ε "
⎢ ∂n ⎥ , ( x, y ) ∈ Γ 2
⎪⎩⎢⎣ ∂n ⎥⎦ ⎣ ⎦ such as geometry modeling, automatic meshing, post
processing, optional designing, etc [6]. In this paper,
Where ε is dielectric constant, Γ’ 1 represents the first some general parametric models are established with
type boundary condition of side AB, BC, DE, EF, FG, ANSYS, which can be used in the two-dimensional and
GH. Γ” 1 represents the border of lead with the first type three-dimensional finite element analysis of the electric
boundary condition. Γ’ 2 represents the second type fields of HV lead.
boundary condition of side AH, CD, which are different A. Modeling
media interface.
In the model as shown in Fig.1 and Fig.2, the bushing
The structure of three-dimensional model is shown as
in figure is lower porcelain, below the bushing is
Fig.2, all the components are the same as two-
equalizing ring, which can make voltage uniform and
dimensional figure.
reduce the field intensity. Below the equalizing ring to
the middle of HV winding is HV lead, there are many
layers of insulation papers in the surface of HV lead,
there also has insulation cardboards at the exit of HV lead,
which can divide the oil-gap and improve the breakdown
field intensity. Other places are filled with transformer oil,
which plays the role of heat elimination and insulation,
and then the most lateral is the tank.
B. Giving attribute and meshing
In the calculation of electrostatic field, attribute mainly
for all materials are given through relative dielectric
(a) HV lead and equalizing ring (b) Tank surface constant, and for the metal electrode, resistivity is given.
Fig. 2. Three-dimensional model of HV lead After the above two-dimensional model for the analyzed
region, triangular elements are used to discrete the model
Based on the above analysis, the three-dimensional automatically, while for the above three-dimensional
calculation model of HV lead electric field of ultrahigh model, tetrahedral elements are used to discrete the model
power transformer can be obtained. The boundary value automatically. The total number of elements of model 1,
problem in calculating the field can be written as (2): model 2, model 3 and model 4 is 6150, 2619, 1439 and
461738 respectively.
⎧
⎪ 2 C. Loading and solving
∂ 2φ ∂ 2φ ∂ 2φ
⎪∇ φ = 2 + 2 + 2 = 0, ( x, y , z ) ∈ Ω In the finite element analysis of 400000/500 power
⎪ ∂x ∂y ∂z
transformer, equalizing ring and HV lead all are set
⎪φ = 0, ( x, y , z ) ∈ S 1 '
⎪⎪ (2) 680kV potential, and AB,BC,CD,DE,EF,FG,GH are set
⎨φ = V0 , ( x, y , z ) ∈ S 1
"
potential zero, AH is the second boundary condition,
⎪ ∂φ which is automatically satisfied. The loading of three-
⎪ = 0, ( x, y , z ) ∈ S ' 2 dimensional is similar to two-dimensional, loaded in the
⎪ ∂n corresponding surface. Calculated by ANSYS software
⎪ ∂φ − +
⎪ ⎡ε ⎤ ⎡ ∂φ ⎤ based on the physical properties of the problem that
⎢ ⎥ = ⎢ε ⎥ , ( x, y , z ) ∈ S " 2
⎪⎩ ⎣ ∂n ⎦ ⎣ ∂ n ⎦ automatically for the user to select a solver, the frontal
solver is used to solve the linear equation system and the
results are gained.
D. Post processing
Some commands for post processing, such as PLNSOL,
PLVECT, *GET etc, are applied to get the corresponding
graphics and data of the selected regions, which visually
show the electric field distributions with vector arrows or
deprograms.
V. CALCULATION RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Through the above calculation, the electric field
intensity value of HV lead of power transformer is
obtained in the power frequency voltage of 680kV.
Figure 3 is equipotent lines distribution of bending part
of HV lead (Model 1). The results show that more
concentrated electric field distribution appears near HV
winding in the exit of the lead. The position of the
maximum field intensity is near the upper and lower
corner of insulation cardboard as well as filler site of
equalizing ring, the maximum value is 8.03kV/mm and
3.06kV/mm respectively.
Fig. 3. Equipotent lines distribution of bending part
Figure 1 shows that shielding lead insulation near HV
winding is provided with symmetry axis, thus Model 2
reflect the actual distribution of the electric field more
accurately than Model 1. Placing the multi-layer
insulation cardboards around the lead electrode to split
the oil-gap, which makes use of thin paper tube and small
oil-gap. Model 2 is calculated by ANSYS, equipotent
lines distribution of shielding lead can be shown in figure
4, which shows that coaxial cylindrical electric field
decreases with increasing radius, and the position of the
maximum electric intensity is lower side of the corner of
the tank with the value is 8.74kV/mm.
Fig. 4. Equipotent lines distribution of shielding lead
In order to determine both the best insulation structure
of bushing equalizing ring and electrical insulation
intensity, the electric distribution and the structure size of
bushing equalizing ring is detailed calculated in Model 3.
For example, the arc radius of equalizing ring is impact
of electric field intensity. Figure shows that equipotent
lines distribution of bushing equalizing ring, the result
demonstrates that the position of the maximum electric
field intensity is lateral arc parts of equalizing ring, the
table I shows that the maximum value of electric field
intensity by the impact of changed in radius. Based on the
theory of transformer oil-paper insulation structure, oil is
the weakest link, identification of permit electric field
intensity is relation with the oil-gap length, electrode
surface insulation thickness and other factors. Therefore,
in the design of bushing equalizing ring, the permit
electric field intensity value of arc radius of equalizing
ring is bigger than the linear part.
Fig. 5. Equipotent lines distribution of bushing equalizing ring
TABLE I
DIFFERENT RADIUS OF THE MAXIMUM FIELD INTENSITY
Radius
0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2
(%)
The maximum
electric field
6.60 6.43 6.30 6.23 6.20
intensity
(kV/mm)
HV lead of ultrahigh power transformer is analyzed in
the situation of two-dimensional, the results of electric
field distribution of local and two-dimensional plane can
be got. In order to obtain comprehensive and accurate
results of HV lead, there is need to analyze its three-
dimensional finite element modal [7].
After meshing the model, loading the excitation
condition and boundary conditions, the calculation
method is still the wave front method, it takes about forty
minutes to yield the computational results. Post
processing is the same as two-dimensional modal, three
different heights---cross-section equipotent lines
distribution of near the bushing, equalizing ring and HV
lead is given in figure 6.

Fig.6.Equipotent lines distribution of bushing, equalizing ring and HV
lead
From the above figure, the results showed are similar
to the ones of two-dimensional, equipotent lines
distribution are very sparse at the middle position of
bushing, the electric field intensity is relative small, this
can compare with figure 5. Equipotent lines distribution
are very intensive at the position of equalizing ring and
HV lead, the electric field intensity is very great, this
computational result is similar to theoretical analysis.
Therefore, in order to make internal insulation of
transformer much safer and reliable, there is need to
further strengthen the insulation.
The results of electric field intensity of all the parts of
HV lead under test voltage of 680kV can be obtained
after calculation, the electric field intensity value of some
main parts and their positions are shown in figure 7. This
can be seen from the specific distribution of electric field
on the basis of model color [8].
Fig. 7. Electric field intensity of bushing, insulation paper and insulation
cardboard
Seen from the above figure, the position of the
maximum electric field intensity of bushing is on the
edge of contact to the equalizing ring, which value of
electric field intensity is 8.51kV/mm. The position of the
maximum electric field intensity of insulation paper is at
the interior wall of the exit of HV lead, which value of
electric field intensity is 8.79kV/mm. The position of the
maximum electric field intensity of insulation cardboard
is near the edge of one side of lead, which value of
electric field intensity is 3.44kV/mm.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
Two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element
method has been successfully applied to analyze the
electric field at HV lead of SFP-400000/500 transformer
in this paper. The electric field distributions in all
components are visually shown. The maximum electric
field intensity and its position of every solid insulated
component are given. The characteristics of electric field
distributions are analyzed by means of the visual
computational results. The obtained conclusions are of
reference value to the insulation design of ultrahigh
power transformer.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was supported in part by Shenyang
Transformer Institute, P.R.China
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