Solid State Tap Changer For Transformer

Mr. Yogesh Borole

Mr. Satyajeet Lohar Mr. Pratik Ratnaparkhi
Student Member
Student Member Student Member
Department of Electrical Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering
Sandip Institute of Engineering &
Sandip Institute of Engineering & Sandip Institute of Engineering &
Management Nashik, India
Management Nashik, India Management Nashik, India
borole116@gmail.com
satyajeetlohar@gmail.com ratnaparkhi.pratik1467@gmail.com
 Abstract
The increase of distributed generation is predicted to
induce several inherent instabilities like power imbalance or
voltage deviation within the ability grid. At the distribution level
maintaining the bus voltage within the permissible limits of the
distribution networks. The answer for voltage
regulation near the output side usually requires manual and
automatic tap changers (automatic assisted with motor) of
transformer for constant output voltage and better and
unconstrained output voltage level as mechanical switches are
used. The normal mechanical tap changing systems
are among undesirable characteristics like high maintenance
cost and arcing, wear and tear of contacts resulting
in inappropriate stability of the system.
In this paper implementation of solid-state relay based on-load
tap changer, topology is introduced. It’s a prospective solution
for the current and future power system that has voltage
regulation. to beat the disadvantage of the standard tap
changing system the implementation of an influence electronic
assisted device (solid-state relay) is introduced. The proposed
approach has primary tapings rather than secondary taping and
urges constant output voltages with faster switching response
under several variations in voltage on the primary side. Solid-
state relay-based OLTC has key advantages like arc quenching,
faster response, no friction constant output voltage. Our project
solid state tap changer will effectively regulate the output voltage
of the transformer automatically to match the quality set value
by changing the tapping automatically and in an
exceedingly static way. There’ll not be any mechanical contacts
based switching during this taping to indicate the secondary low
voltage side. The results show that the voltage levels at the output
side are kept within stipulated boundaries when applied to the
proposed system of Solid-state relay-based on-load tap changer.
Keywords:  SST- Solid-state tap, MTC- Mechanical Tap changer,
OLTC- On load tap changer
I. INTRODUCTION
The main function of a tap-changer is to control the
output voltage. the most important object of the controller
within the tap-changer system is to attenuate the fluctuation
of voltage amplitude concerning the reference voltage of the
regulation bus. The secondary of the transformer removed
from this bus. The controller must set the voltage within a
given standard range. Power quality is that the most
significant thing nowadays. Both the ability utilities and
consumers are quite concerned with the standard of the
ability supply. they have these supplies to be at their
optimum value so that the price is efficient otherwise
problems like over-voltage, under-voltage, voltage swell,
voltage sag noise, and harmonics caused by the disturbances
within the power supply may be disastrous. So Solid-state
tap-changer has considerable advantages compare with
mechanical tap changers. These include higher performance,
lower volume, weight, and maintenance cost.
Voltage is one of all the foremost important parameters
for the control of an influence system A distribution
transformer maybe a transformer that gives the ultimate
voltage transformation within the electrical power
distribution system, stepping down the voltage utilized
within the distribution lines to the extend employed by the
customer. A transformer is intended to automatically
maintain a relentless voltage level. Solid-state tap changing
transformers offer significant advantages over mechanical
tap changers within the style of improved performance and
reduced maintenance costs. the issue arises in fitting a solid-
state tap changer that's economically competitive with a
mechanical tap changer using existing technology. The
concepts present during this project offer significant, steps in
closing the economic gap between solid-state and
mechanical tap changers without sacrificing the performance
of the solid-state tap changer. The solid-state tap changers
presented during this paper are supported by employing a
reduced number of transformer tap windings (compared to a
mechanical tap changer) solid-state switches, and an artless
control strategy that permits us to maximize the uti1ization)
of the solid-state devices. This work represents a big
departure from previous efforts to comprehend solid-state tap
changers, which are fundamentally very just like innovations
that are presented for solid-state voltage regulators.
These are also classified into two groups
A. Electronically assisted (or hybrid) on-load and
B. Fully electronic (or solid-state) tap-changers
The first circuit for the Electronically assisted tap-
changer was handover in 1996. This structure reduces the
arcing considerably. However, its major disadvantage is that
although two thyristors are ON over short periods during the
tap-changing process, it’s permanently connected to the
circuit of the deviation switches and it probably gets burnt.
this might therefore reduce the reliability of the system.
Advantages of Solid-state tap changer include:
a. Avoids arcing during tap changing.
b. Less maintenance cost as compared to mechanical
tap-changer.
c. Fast operation as compared to mechanical OLTC.
d. Low-Cost
e. No wear and tear of circuit parts as there is no
moving part.
Problems in the existing model
 The mechanical regulating tap-changer of the
traditional OLTC transformer produces the
electrical arc within the tap changing process, and
the tap changer's movement speed is slow, the
regulating response time is long.
 Mechanical drive components, brushes, and
contractors require regular maintenance or
replacement.
 Frequent overloads can damage brushes.
 Speed of voltage correction correct might not be
fast enough for electronic loads
 It has a high failure rate, maintains difficultly, and
is unable to accurately control regulating time. So
this kind of mechanical on-load tap changer has not
been ready to completely satisfy the security of the
modern electrical network and the request of
economical movement.
 Comparison of SSTC & MTC
TABLE I. COMPARISON OF MTC &SSTC
Mechanical Tap Changer Solid State Tap Changer
(MTC) (SSTC)
Fig.1 Proposed block diagram of solid-state tap changer
The tap changing process The tap changing process of a
of a mechanical tap- solid tap-changer is fast, A. Incoming power source:
changer is slow, non- continuous. In our project, we are using a single phase 230v ac
continuous and one step at power supply at a standard frequency of 50HZ. In practical
a time. conditions, this power supply will be input to the
There is such limitation in There is no such limitation in transformer from the grid at a higher voltage level
the mechanical tap-changer the solid tap-changer and the (Typically in kilovolts). This power supply is going to feed
and the frequency reduction frequency reduction of the step down transformer and auxiliary power supply which
of the tap-changing tap-changing operations is feeds the microcontroller.
operations is therefore therefore not necessary.
necessary. B. Power transformer with tapping
Slow operation fast operation This is the important component block of our project. The
main power supply will be feed through this unit. This
High Arcing Less Arcing transformer is designed for tapping on the secondary side of
it. The low voltage side is chosen for the toppings for 2
Slow reaction time Fast reaction time reasons in our project. The first is about the safety of
operation and the second are design challenges on the high
High Maintenance Low Maintenance
voltage side. The low voltage side gives safety and less
design challenges. Total 4 tapping is provided on the
negative side and positive side with center tapping of 12V
Scope of Project and a reference tapping with ground voltage. This means
A solid-state tap changer can be integrated with the smart input will be single phase 230v ac at phase neutral terminals
grid controllers where they can also be integrated with the and output will Tapping’s vary from 8V To 16V.
fault sensing units. Making it safe from radio interference or
reducing the radio interference created by them can be C. Auxiliary power supply:
avoided in the future. Radio interference can be reduced by This is the SMPS Based 230/12V DC, 1 Amp power supply
installing magnetic shields around them. The cooling and used for supplying microcontroller and all other
arrangement will also be planned in future works, as they
auxiliary purposes such as trigger circuits.
are handling the bulk amount of power they may get heated
due to losses, they need forceful cooling arrangements.
D. Thyristor switches and trigger unit:
 It can provide a smooth transition, which leads to a The thyristor is the thing that works in the solid-state
more relaxed tap operation. version. For switching load between tapings, we need a
 It requires fewer remote data measurements switch that will operate in minimum time delay and takes no
compared to the centralized approaches. more time to produce the arcing between contacts as there
are no moving contacts in it. Thyristors are capable of
handling high levels of voltage and a large number of
II. HARDWARE DESIGN
currents through them at minimum costs. They just need
The hardware model consists of an Incoming power supply, trigger signals produced by the control unit.
power transformer model with tappings, load, voltage
measurement unit, control & indication unit, auxiliary E. Load:
power supply. We are using inductive coils as load in our project as the
system is loaded by the R-L type of load so we are using
inductive coils.
F. Control and indication unit:
This is the microcontroller unit of our project. Output
voltage measurement and thyristor control will be done
through the microcontroller.

G. Voltage measurement unit

We are showing the regulated voltage by varying
the load and thus load voltage regulation. To measure the
voltage across the load we are using a series divider of
voltage and convert it into dc to be measured by the
microcontroller
 Fig. 2 Circuit diagram of solid-state tap changer
Figure 2 shows the circuit diagram of the proposed
model. It contains an input power supply side, a power
transformer with tapping’s on the secondary side, a power
supply side, load side, feedback, and a microcontroller unit.
The detailed circuit diagram is explained below.
A. Input supply side:
The input of a single phase is given to the project model
through a 2 pin mains cord. This single-phase connection is
given to the transformer with tapping which is rated 5 amps
on the secondary side. This supply is also given to the
transfer who supplies the microcontroller.
B. Power transfer with tapping’s on the secondary side:
The transfer with secondary tapings is provided with a
thyristor on each tap of the transformer. The transfer can
vary output voltage from 8 volts to 16 volts.
The transformer is loaded with resistive load using a lamp
and with resistive plus inductive load to vary its voltage at
the output side. This variation is shown by voltmeter across
the load.
E. Feedback and microcontroller unit:
The voltage across the load is to be a measure to operate
tapping according to the load variation. Thus voltage is first
measured by an ac to dc converter then series divide which
then scales it down to the limit of the microcontroller. The
microcontroller measures this output voltage converts it into
the scale of the original limits and compares it with the
reference values and takes action by operating the tappings
according to the reference set voltage.
III. METHODOLOGY

C. Power supply side:

The microcontroller works on the 12V DC Supply. Thus
AC Voltage from the small step-down transformer is
converted into Pulsating dc using a bridge rectifier. Then
capacitor filter removes the ripples from it. This voltage is
then converted into a 12V DC USING 7812 Voltage
regulator.

D. Load side:

Fig.3. Flow chart for SSTC
When we give 230 V AC supply to the transformer then
reference tapping switched across the load some amount of
voltage comes across the load by using power supply the
controller may turn ON the controller to measure the voltage
across the load if the voltage is not in the reference range
( then to increase voltage tapping may be shifted
automatically). In our project voltage across the load is
varies, changing the loads ON and OFF. And tap changing
is a completely automatic process that performs infractions
of milliseconds. In our programs we set a 12-volt factor,
then continuously compared, if it is low then take action, or
if it is high then also take action, these operations are very
quick likely in a few milliseconds. The microcontroller then
turns the respective thyristor on and other remains in off
(Open condition.) it is a close loop operation the main
principle is to maintain 12 V constant voltage through tap
changer all operations are automatic, only we can vary load
manually by using switches (we can vary 6 V to 18 V)
tapping.
IV. HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION & RESULT
The voltage variations were detected and the TRIACs
connected to the corresponding taps were triggered with the
help of Arduino. The inductive load is used. Finalized
hardware is shown in figure 4.
Features
 It has more controllability during the tap changing
process. And it helps to reduce arcing phenomenon.
 Minimize the fluctuation of voltage amplitude
concerning the reference voltage of the regulation
bus.
 Regulate the amplitude of the output voltage.
 It has a slow reaction time.
 Fast operation.
 Fast response.
 Less maintenance cost.
 Less labor is required.
 Avoid arcing problem.
Fig.4. Completed Hardware of SSTC
V. CONCLUSION
As the solid-state on loading tap changer of transformers
removes sparking problem, reduces switching loss and size,
fast response time, and more reliability.
Hence, we conclude that the solid-state tap changer for
transformers is suitable than the mechanical tap changer.
Our project solid state tap changer will effectively regulate
the output voltage of the transformer automatically to match
the standard set value by changing the tapping automatically
and during a static way. There’ll not be any mechanical
contacts based switching in these tapings.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We take this chance to increase our sincere because of Prof.
Sharmila M of the Department of Electrical Engineering,
Sandip Institute of Engineering & Management, Nashik for
sharing their valuable comments during the preparation of
the project.
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