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Finite Element Method APPLIED TO Design and

Analysis IN POWER TRANSFORMERS

Book · October 2010

DOI: 10.13140/2.1.4861.1520

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Xose M. LOPEZ-FERNANDEZ
University of Vigo
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Finite Element Method

APPLIED TO

Design and Analysis

IN

POWER TRANSFORMERS
ARWtr2010 FEMTUTORIAL

Published & Edited by

Xose M. López-Fernández
ARWtr 2010 Finite Element Method Applied to Design and Analysis in Power Transformers

ARWtr2010 FEMTUTORIAL

Published & Edited by

Xose M. López-Fernández
ARWtr 2010 Finite Element Method Applied to Design and Analysis in Power Transformers

Edited by: Xose M. López-Fernández

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, in a

retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission
from the authors.

The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the

accuracy of the information contained in this book and cannot accept any legal
responsibility or liability for any error that may be made.

Address for correspondence:

Prof. Dr. Xose M. Lopez-Fernandez
Os Pereiriños- A Xunqueira, 20
36378 BORREIROS
Gondomar- SPAIN

ISBN 978 - 84 - 614 – 3527 - 2

Nº Registro: 10/89384
ARWtr 2010 Finite Element Method Applied to Design and Analysis in Power Transformers

Contents
Preface

Part I: Introduction to FEM Analysis

By Patricia Penabad-Durán & Xose M. López-Fernández

1. Motivation …………………………………………………………….. 14

2. Formulation of the 2D-Magnetic Field problem starting from

Maxwell Equations ……………………………………………………... 14
2.1. Significance of the Magnetic Vector Potential …………….. 15

3. Variational Method ………………………………………………….. 18

3.1. Formulation of the 2D Magnetic Field problem …………… 18
3.2. Description of the FEM over a Triangular Element ………. 25
3.3. Funtional Minimization ………………………………………. 29

4. Galerkin Formulation ………………………………………………. 34

4.1. 2D Magnetic Field Problem …………………………………. 34
4.2. 2D Thermal Problem …………………………………………. 39
4.3. 2D Electromagnetic-Thermal Coupled Problem ………….. 47

5. Assembly …………………………………………………………….. 51
5.1. Boundary Conditions ………………………………………… 58

6. Solving for a 3-Element Problem considering different

Materials, Sources and Boundary Conditions …………………… 58

7. FEM Simple Worked-out Examples ……………………………... 63

7.1. Magnetostatic and Magneto Harmonic FEM example …... 63
7.2. Thermal FEM example ………………………………………. 71
7.3. Electromagnetic-Thermal Coupled FEM example ……….. 75

8. Conclusions …………………………………………………………. 82

9. References …………………………………………………………... 83
ARWtr 2010 Finite Element Method Applied to Design and Analysis in Power Transformers

Part II: Electromagnetic and Coupled Field

Computations in Transformers
By S V. Kulkarni

1. Introduction ………………………………………………………….. 86

2. Classification of the Electromagnetic Field Problems ………. 88

2.1. Based on Geometry…………………………………………… 88
2.1.1. Analysis Type …………………………………………... 89
2.2. Based on Material Properties ……………………………….. 92
2.3. Based on Formulations ………………………………………. 93

3. Coupled Fields in Transformers …………………………………. 94

4. Split-Winding Transformer (Field-Circuit Coupling) …………. 98

4.1. Theory …………………………………………………………. 98
4.2. Problem Definition and Formulation ………………………..105
4.3. Geometry, Material Properties and Boundary Conditions .108
4.4. Results and Discussion ……………………………………...112

5. Temperature Rise in Transformer Connecting Bars (Magnetic-

Thermal Coupling) ……………………………………………………..115
5.1. Theory ………………………………………………………… 115
5.2 Problem Definition and Formulation ……………………….. 117
5.3. Geometry, Material Properties and Boundary Conditions .120
5.4. Results and Discussion ……………………………………...121

6. Deformation of Winding Conductors (Magnetic-Mechanical

Formulations) ………………………………………………………….. 122
6.1. Theory ………………………………………………………… 122
6.2 Problem Definition and Formulation ……………………….. 128
6.3. Geometry, Material Properties and Boundary Conditions .130
6.3.1. Electromagnetic Analysis ……………………………. 130
6.3.2. Structural Analysis ……………………………………. 131
6.4. Results and Discussion ……………………………………...133

8. Conclusions ………………………………………………………….135

9. References ……………………………………………………………136
ARWtr 2010 Finite Element Method Applied to Design and Analysis in Power Transformers

Preface

Nowadays, even the simplest device relies on the numerical simulation

for evaluating and analyzing its design. This is because contemporary
issues usually cannot be solved accurately and cheaply using repetitive
physical testing, like it was done in the past. Now, it is simply too
expensive.

On the other hand, the advent of high-speed digital computers has

given tremendous impetus to all numerical methods for solving
engineering problems. It did possible to develop advanced engineering
systems implementing rigorous process of modelling, simulation,
visualization, analysis, designing, prototyping, testing, and finally,
fabrication and construction.

Finite element method (FEM) got to be one of the most popular classes
of such numerical methods. As a consequence, FEM became a staple
for predicting and simulating the physical behavior of engineering
products in the past decades. Its versatility makes possible to develop
general purpose software, attracting the attention in the market in such
way that it represents a commercial product itself. As a result, the
commercial finite element analysis (FEA) software packages gained
common acceptance among engineers in industry and researchers at
universities. Nevertheless, it is possible to observe that many engineers
are asked to use commercial FEM software packages without proper
knowledge of the FEM underlying theory and capability, which
represent a risk to manage results without real sense.

This ARWtr2010 Tutorial intends to cover needed aspects to take into

account in the application of FEA to the design and analysis of any
ARWtr 2010 Finite Element Method Applied to Design and Analysis in Power Transformers

device in general, and to power transformers particularly. For that,

special attention was paid to describe the FEM in easy language, and
not in overly obtuse symbols and terminology.

The ARWtr2010 Tutorial presents two concise and unified parts. Part I
summarizes the basic ingredients that are required for the
implementation of the finite element method, while Part II deals with
different design aspects related with electromagnetic and coupled field
in power transformers introduced, through representative examples in a
step-by-step fashion.

Since this ARWtr2010 Tutorial is focused for practicing engineers

introducing fundamental concepts in the FEM and presenting advanced
topics concerning modeling and analysis in power transformers, the
authors encourage the participants to innovate modifications in the
studied cases and implement new examples to be solved by
themselves.

Finally, I would like to note that this tutorial was organized in the frame
rd
of the 3 International Advanced Workshop of transformers held in
Santiago de Compostela-Spain in October 3-6, 2010 under patronage
of Cigre Spanish and Portuguese National Committees, and IEEE PES
Spanish Chapter. Therefore, I would like to thank all participants, as
well as institutions listed at the end for their active support.

Xose M. Lopez-Fernandez
The Publisher & Editor
ARWtr 2010 Finite Element Method Applied to Design and Analysis in Power Transformers
ARWtr 2010 Finite Element Method Applied to Design and Analysis in Power Transformers

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