Thermal Time Constant

&
Temperature Rise Curve

NOORNABI SHAIKH
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING
 INTRODUCTION
Rotating electrical machines when working as a generator convert mechanical
energy in to electrical energy and vice – versa when working as motor.

In case of transformer electrical energy is transferred from one voltage level to

another.

In both cases energy conversion are accompanied by energy losses [I 2R loss in

conductors and fluxes producing core loss. Stray leakage fluxes develop
comparable losses in associated parts such as tanks, end – plates and
covers].

These losses are occurring in core material, windings and places of contacts
like bearings etc.

2 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 As all losses appear as heat, temperature of each part so affected is raised
above that of the ambient medium (normally the surrounding air).
The temperature – rise above ambient is related
1. To the rate of heat production.
2. The rate of cooling.
3. The thermal capacity.
First insulating material deteriorate due to temperature rise.
The rise in temperature depends upon the heat generation and heat dissipation.
The temperature stop to rise when the rate of heat dissipated becomes equal to
heat developed.
The machine has now attained its final rise in temperature. For the final
temperature rise to remain well within the withstanding limit of the
insulating material an elaborate cooling arrangement is to be designed.

3 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 Thermal Time Constant
Suppose that, the body is homogeneous and heat is produced uniformly at steady
rate.

Let

H = Thermal capacity of body in calories/oC

(i.e., product of mass and specific heat)
C = The rate at which the body dissipates heat for each 1oC rise in
temperature, measured in watts……….. W/oC.
Θ = The temperature rise at any time t
P = Power wasted inside the body in watts.

When the body will attain final steady – state temperature Θm, after that time all
the heat generated inside the body will be equal to the heat dissipated by the
body i.e., there will be no further storage of heat in the body.

4
MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH
 i.e.,
Power Wasted (Heat Generated) = Power Dissipated (Heat Utilized)
Or

P  C  m
P
m  ......... (1)
C

Before the body attains steady – state final temperature Θm, the rate of heat
produced in excess
, (for storage) at any time.

 ( P  C  ) Watts

P  C
 calories / sec [1 calorie = 4.2 watt - sec]
4.2
d P  C 
... Rate of temperature rise  ... O
C / s ..........(2)
dt 4.2 H
5
MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH
 Or
dt d

4.2 H P  C

d
t
dt

0
4.2 H
 
0
P C

t 1 P  C
  log e
4.2 H C P
1  C 
  log e 1  
C  P 
C C t
log e ( 1  )  [ app anti log]
P 4. 2 H
C t
C
1   e 4. 2 H

P
P C t

  1  e .2 H
4 
C 
 
4.2 H
Let  T
C
P  t

.:   1  e T 
6 C  
 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH
 Or
   m (1  e  t / T ) (3)

4.2 H
Here T  is known as THERMAL or HEAT or
C
Temperature Time Constant.
It may be noted that thermal time constant depends upon the
following factors :

1. It is directly proportional to the thermal capacity of machine,

“H”.
2. It is inversely proportional to the capacity of machine to
dissipate heat for each 1oC rise in temperature, “C”

7 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 Temperature Rise Curve

T
P θm
100
Temperature rise θ (% θm)

80

60 63.2 %

40

20

O
Time

8 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 Temperature Rise Curve

The temperature of body after a time equal to its thermal time

constant (i.e. t = T) will be
   m 1  e 1 
 0.632  m

Let us assume that there is no dissipation of heat and all the

heat generated inside is being stored, in such a case from
relation (2), the rate of increase of temperature – rise will be
d P
 O
C / Sec if C  0
dt 4. 2 H

4.2 H
If this rise was maintained for a time T 
C
9 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH
 Then total rise in temperature =
P 4.2 H P
   m
4.2 H C C

It means that if there was no heat dissipation from the body,

the θm would have reached within time T and temperature –
rise curve would have followed straight line OP.

But practically under normal conditions along with heat

generation there is also heat dissipation, therefore the
temperature rise curve becomes exponentional.

10 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 EXAMPLE
The full load temperature rise of an oil immersed transformer is 12 oC after 1
hour and 21.5 oC after 2 hour. Find its final steady – state temperature rise on
continuous full load and its heating time constant.

Solution
1
From relation    m (1  e T )
1
12   m (1  e )
T
(1)
2
21.5   m (1  e ) T
(2)
1 2

Let e T  K :. e T  K2
Divide equation 2 by 1
21.5 1  K2  (1  K ) (1  K ) 
  
12 1 K  (1  K ) 
1.7916  1  K
1
1
: . K  0.792 Or e T
 0.792 [ ln (0.792)  ]
T
T  4.28 hrs
MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH
11
 For θm from equation (1)
1

12   m (1  e T )
Substituting T = 4.28
1

12   m (1  e 4.28
)
12   m (1  0.792)
12  0.208  m
  m  57.69 O
C

12 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 PROBLEM (HW)
The temperature rise of a transformer is 25 oC after 1 hour and 37.5 oC after 2 hours,
after energizing from cold conditions. Calculate its final steady – state temperature rise
and the heating time constant.

If its temperature falls from final steady – state value to 40 oC in 1.5 hour, when it is
disconnected from the supply. Calculate the cooling time constant. The ambient
temperature is 30oC .

PROBLEM (HW)

A 1000KVA transformer with a rated I2R loss of 4 times the core loss operates in an
ambient temperature of 25 oC. Form cold it has a winding temperature – rise of
24 oC after 1 hour and 38.5 after 2 hours on rated load. Calculate
1. The final temperature – rise on rated load and heating time constant of the
windings.
2. For a maximum winding temperature of 97 oC
a. The continuous overload that can be sustained &
b. The time for which 2p.u rated load can be taken after continuous operation on no
– load.

13 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 PROBLEM

The temperature rise of a transformer is 25 oC after 1 hour and 37.5

o
C after 2 hours, after energizing from cold conditions. Calculate its
final steady – state temperature rise and the heating time constant.

If its temperature falls from final steady – state value to 40 oC in 1.5

hour, when it is disconnected from the supply. Calculate the cooling
time constant. The ambient temperature is 30oC .

14 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 SOLUTION
During Heating , from relation :
   m (1  e  t / T )
25   m (1  e 1 / T ) .... (1)
37.5   m (1  e  2 / T ) .... (2)
Dividing (2) by (1)
37.5 1  e 2/T (1  e 1 / T ) (1  e 1 / T )
 1 / T

25 1  e (1  e 1 / T )
1.5  (1  e 1 / T )
1
e 1 / T  0.5 or    0.693
T
 T  1.44 Hour
Substituting T in equation (1)
25   m (1  0.5)  0.5 m
  m  50 OC

15 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH

 If its temperature falls from final steady – state value to 40 oC in 1.5 hour, when it is
disconnected from the supply. Calculate the cooling time constant. The ambient
temperature is 30oC

During cooling :
Temperatur e rise after 1.5 hour of cooling  40  30  10 OC
Initial temperatur e rise :
 i  50 OC , from cooling curve    i e  t / TC
Or 10  50 e  1.5 / TC
Or e  1.5 / TC  1 / 5
 1.5
Or   1.61
TC
 TC  0.932 hr.

16 MDET/THERMAL TIME CONSTANT/NNSHAIKH