Assignment - 1

Transformer Cooling Methods

Name : Jayasinghe W.G.P.

Department : Material Science and Engineering.
Index No : 050180T
Subject : EE2802 Applied Electricity
Introduction:
Transformers are static devices for reducing or increasing the voltage of an electric power
supply, usually to allow a particular piece of electrical equipment to be used. To do that, transfers
electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors (The
transformer's coils). A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux
in the transformer's core, and thus a varying magnetic field through the secondary winding. This
varying magnetic field induces a varying electromotive force (EMF) in the secondary winding. During this
transformation some energy are lost as copper loss and core loss. For core loss include eddy current
loss and hysteresis loss.
Like all other electric device these most of loss energy convert to heat energy.

Importance of Cooling Methods

When the heat is emitted, all components temperature in the device increases. Generally all
components in the device have higher limit of temperature to work without damaging. If the
component goes beyond that limit its damage. As well as the components have the temperature limit
for proper work, when this limit exceed the components are not properly work and efficiency and
performance going down. Therefore there must be a proper cooling mechanism to protect the
component in the device and get to its maximum performance.

Different Types of Cooling Methods

Generally there are different cooling mechanisms used in transformer. Sometime these
mechanisms also used to classify the transformers. Some of the main cooling mechanisms are given
below,
1. Air cooling.

Air cooling transformer is less maintenance compare with the oil cooling and oil-water
cooling. But it is not good for higher voltage application because air cooling mechanism less
efficient than oil-cooling and oil-water cooling. But it also have good electric insulation
property compare with other main two.
2. Oil cooling.
Oil transformers have more maintenance requirement than air cooling but less than oil
water cooling. Mainly oil must change when the sometime after used it because the oil
properties change with time.

3. Oil-water cooling.
Generally water is the best water cooling fluid compare to oil and air, but its react with
other material easily compare with oil. So generally oil use around the transformer
component then oil transfer that heat to water; in this process is more efficiency than oil
direct cooling through air.

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Maintenance Procedures for Cooling Systems
Basically maintenance requirements are different with cooling mechanism and fluid. Generally
maintenances are begging with inspections.
An inspection and maintenance schedule should be established to maximize the life of these
equipments. Evidence of rusting, corrosion, coolant level and quality, and deterioration of the
insulation, varnish or paint should be checked and corrective measures taken when necessary.
Auxiliary devices should be inspected and serviced during these inspections. Windings should be
inspected for dirt, especially on insulating surfaces or where it could restrict fluid flow. Also check for
loose connections, for condition of tap changers, terminal boards and for the general condition of the
transformer. Check for signs of overheating and tracking or carbonization marks. For more harsh
environments where there are dust or chemical fumes, a more frequent inspection may be required.
Usually after a few inspections, a schedule can be established based on the existing conditions.
Always de-energize a transformer and ground its case before entering or working on the
transformer. Connect the ground to all transformer terminals. Remove these connections before re-
energizing the transformer.
According to coolant level and quality re filed the coolant. Dirt or residues on windings or
insulators should be removed to permit free circulation of fluid and to reduce the possibility of
insulation breakdowns. Particular attention should be given to cleaning windings and vents. The
windings may be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, a blower, or with compressed air. The compressed
air or nitrogen should be clean and dry and should be applied at a relatively low pressure (not over 25
lb/in2) when use as cleaning fluid. Lead supports, tap changers and terminal boards, bushings, and
other major insulating surfaces should be brushed or wiped with a dry lint-free cloth. The use of
liquid cleaners is undesirable because some have a deteriorating effect on insulating materials.
The insulation resistance test is used to determining the moisture content of a transformer’s
insulation material and coolant fluid. The insulation resistance test should be made before
conducting an applied voltage test. The test data should be recorded with temperature and humidity
at the time of measurement.
If a transformer’s insulation resistance readings do not meet the minimum values according to
required value, it should be get required level before the applied voltage test is performed or before
the transformer is placed in service.

Other Details
Reducing Energy loss get lot of advantages including to effective cooling mechanics, so during
transformer building and power transmission time use different technique to reduce energy loss. In
practical transformers energy is dissipated in the windings, core, and surrounding structures. Larger
transformers are generally more efficient because requires a larger core, good-quality silicon steel, or
even amorphous steel, for the core, and thicker wire. These transformers have efficiency better than 98%.
But workability and applied to portable device is not more effective.
Winding resistance dominates load losses, whereas hysteresis and eddy currents losses contribute to
over 99% of the no-load loss.

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 Reduce Frequency loss
The EMF of a transformer at a given flux density increases with frequency. By operating at
higher frequencies, transformers can be physically more compact because a given core is able to
transfer more power without reaching saturation and fewer turns are needed to achieve the same
impedance. However core loss increase when frequency increases. So power generating is used 50 Hz
- 60 Hz to get optimum level.

 Winding resistance
Current flowing through the windings causes resistive heating of the conductors. At higher
frequencies, skin effect and proximity effect create additional winding resistance and losses

 Hysteresis losses
Each time the magnetic field is reversed, a small amount of energy is lost due to hysteresis
within the core. For a given core material, the loss is proportional to the frequency, and is a function
of the peak flux density to which it is subjected.

 Eddy currents
Ferromagnetic materials are also good conductors, and a core made from such a material also
constitutes a single short-circuited turn throughout its entire length. Eddy currents therefore
circulate within the core in a plane normal to the flux, and are responsible for resistive heating of the
core material. The eddy current loss is a complex function of the square of supply frequency and
Inverse Square of the material thickness. Eddy current losses can be reduced by making the core of a
stack of plates electrically insulated from each other, rather than a solid block; all transformers
operating at low frequencies use laminated or similar cores.

 Magnetostriction
Magnetic flux in a ferromagnetic material, such as the core, causes it to physically expand and
contract slightly with each cycle of the magnetic field, an effect known as Magnetostriction. This
produces the buzzing sound commonly associated with transformers, and can cause losses due to
frictional heating.

 Stray losses
Leakage inductance is by itself largely lossless, since energy supplied to its magnetic fields is
returned to the supply with the next half-cycle. However, any leakage flux that intercepts nearby
conductive materials such as the transformer's support structure will give rise to eddy currents and
be converted to heat. There are also radiative losses due to the oscillating magnetic field, but these
are usually small.