6/6/2019 Various Routine Test of Power Transformer-(Part-3) | Electrical Notes & Articles

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Various Routine Test of Power Transformer-(Part-3)

MARCH 5, 2015 12 COMMENTS

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(5) Short Circuit Test

Test Purpose:

The value of the short circuit impedance Z% and the load (copper) losses (I2R) are obtained.
This test should be performed before the impulse test-if the later will be performed as a routine test-
in order to avoid readings errors

Test Instrument:

Megger or
Multi meter.
CT ,PT

Test Procedure:

Suitable Low Voltage (3-phase 415V, 50Hz )will be applied to the terminals of one winding (usually
the H.V.) with the other winding short circuited with 50 sq. mm. Copper cable. (Usually the L.V.)
The applied voltage is adjusted to pass the needed current in the primary/secondary. In order to
simulate conditions nearest to full load, it is customary to pass 100%, 50% or at least 25% of full load
current.
Voltage to be increased gradually till the current in the energized winding reaches the required value
(50% to 100% rated current).
Measure the 3 Phase line currents at all tap position. If the tap-switch is an Off-Circuit tap-switch, the
supply has to be disconnected before changing the tap. A consistent trend in the increase or decrease
of current, as the case may be, confirms the healthiness of the transformer.
If transformer is equipped with a tap changer, tapping regulations are applied.
(1) If tapping range within±5% and rated power less than 2500kAV, load loss guarantee refer to the
principal tap only.

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(2) If tapping range exceeds±5% or rated power above 2500kAV, it shall be stated for which tapping
beside the principal tap the load losses will be guaranteed by the manufacturer.
Three phase LT supply is applied on HV side of power transformer at normal tap with rated current
on HV side and currents measured in all the phases on HV side and phases & neutral on LV side
values noted.
Readings to be taken as quickly as possible as the windings warm up and the winding resistance
increases. Hence, the losses value will increase accordingly.
Using appropriate instruments (conventional three wa meter method or digital wa meter with
ammeters & voltmeters) measurements of voltage, currents and power can be recorded.

(h ps://electricalnotes.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/untitled6.png)

Short Circuit Test (Without using CT,PT)

To avoid CT’s and PT’s, this method can be used at current levels of 2 to 5 A and measurement of
load losses is done at this condition. This measured load loss is then extrapolated to actual load
currents to obtain load losses at the operating current.
Example: – 11 kV/433 V, 1000 kVA transformer with 5% impedance, the voltage to be applied on H.V.
side during load test is estimated below.
V. side full load current (I1) = (KVAx1000/1.732xLine Voltage)
V. side full load current (I1) =(1000×1000/1.732×11000)=52.5 Amp
Line to line voltage to be applied on H.V side for ge ing 5 A on H.V. side,
Line to line voltage to be applied on H.V side Visc= (Line Voltagex1000xZx5/0.866xI1x100)
Line to line voltage to be applied on H.V side Visc=(11x1000x5xx/x0.866×52.5×100)=60.5 volts.
Since the current drawn on H.V. side is only about 5A in this test, CT’s can be avoided and hence
phase angle error is not applicable.

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(h ps://electricalnotes.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/untitled7.png)

Short Circuit Test (With using CT,PT)

(h ps://electricalnotes.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/untitled8.png)Acceptance Criteria:

Measured impedance to be within guaranteed value and nameplate value.

Load losses to be within guaranteed values.

Test can detect:

Winding deformation.
Deviation in name plate value.

(6) Open Circuit / No Load Test

Test Purpose:

In this test, the value of No-Load power (Po) & the No-Load current (Io) are measured at rated
voltage & frequency.

Test Instruments:

Wa meters.
Ammeter , Voltmeter or
Power analyses
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Test Procedure:

Test is performed at rated frequency.

Three phase LT Voltage of 415 V applied on HV side of Power transformer keeping LT open
Two voltmeters are connected to the energized winding, one is measuring the voltage mean value
and the other is for the Voltage R.M.S value.
Voltage applied to winding (usually to H.V. windings).It will be in a range from 90% of winding
rated voltage to 110% of the same in steps, each of 5% (i.e. for a 33/11kV transformer, applied voltage
values will be 29.7kV, 31.35kV,36.3kV)
Readings of wa meters, Voltmeters & Ammeters are recorded to obtain the values of V (r.m.s),
Vmean, Po and Io at each voltage step.
Test results are considered satisfactory if the readings of the two are equal within 3%. If it’s more
than 3%, the validity of the test is subjected to agreement.
Measured value of power loss is corrected according to the following formula:
Pc=Pm (1+d)
D= (Vmean – Vr.m.s) / Vmean
Measure the loss in all the three phases with the help of 3 wa meter method. Total no load loss or
iron loss of the trf = W1 + W2 +W3

Test Caution:

This test should be performed before the impulse test-if the later will be performed as a routine test-
in order to avoid readings errors

Acceptance Criteria:

No Load losses to be within guaranteed values.

(7) Continuity test:

Purpose of Test:

To know the continuity of windings of the transformer.

Test Instruments:

Megger or
Multi meter.

Test Procedure:

Check Continuity of Transformer by using multi meter or by Megger between following Terminals

Transformer P-P P-P P-P Result

Zero Mega ohm or
HV Side R-Y Y-B B-R
continuity

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Zero Mega ohm or

LV Side r-y y-b b-r
continuity
Test can detect:

Open circuit / loose connection of winding

(8) Magnetic Current Test

Test Purpose:

Magnetizing current test of transformer locates the defects in the magnetic core structure, shifting of
windings, failure in turn to turn insulation or problem in tap changers.
These conditions change the effective reluctance of the magnetic circuit, thus affecting the electric
current required to establish flux in the core.

Test Instrument:

Multi meter.
Mill Ammeter

Test Circuit Diagram:

(h ps://electricalnotes.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/untitled9.png)

Three phases LT Voltage of 415 V applied on HV side of Power transformer and currents are to be
measured with mill ammeter.
The value shall be = (1 to 2 percent of rated full load current of TC / HT KV ) X Voltage Applied

Test Procedure:

First of all keep the tap changer in the lowest position and open all IV & LV terminals.
Then apply three phase 415V supply on the line terminals for three phase transformers and single
phase 230V supply on single phase transformers.
Measure the supply voltage and electric current in each phase.
Now repeat the magnetizing current test of transformer test with keeping tap changer in normal
position.
And repeat the test with keeping the tap at highest position.
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Generally there are two similar higher readings on two outer limb phases on transformer core and
one lower reading on the center limb phase, in case of three phase transformers.
An agreement to within 30 % of the measured exciting current with the previous test is usually
considered satisfactory. If the measured exciting current value is 50 times higher than the value
measured during factory test, there is likelihood of a fault in the winding which needs further
analysis.

Test Caution:

This magnetizing current test of transformer is to be carried out before DC resistance measurement.

FILED UNDER UNCATEGORIZED

About Jignesh.Parmar
Jignesh Parmar has completed M.Tech (Power System Control), B.E(Electrical). He is member of
Institution of Engineers (MIE) and CEng,India. Membership No:M-1473586.He has more than 16 years
experience in Transmission -Distribution-Electrical Energy theft detection-Electrical Maintenance-
Electrical Projects (Planning-Designing-Technical Review-coordination -Execution). He is Presently
associate with one of the leading business group as a Deputy Manager at Ahmedabad,India. He has
published numbers of Technical Articles in “Electrical Mirror”, “Electrical India”, “Lighting
India”,”Smart Energy”, “Industrial Electrix”(Australian Power Publications) Magazines. He is Freelancer
Programmer of Advance Excel and design useful Excel base Electrical Programs as per IS, NEC,
IEC,IEEE codes. He is Technical Blogger and Familiar with English, Hindi, Gujarati, French languages.
He wants to Share his experience & Knowledge and help technical enthusiasts to find suitable solutions
and updating themselves on various Engineering Topics.

12 Responses to Various Routine Test of Power Transformer-(Part-3)

peter says:
March 6, 2015 at 7:07 am
good

Reply
mahesh cha er says:
March 7, 2015 at 8:25 am
Dear Sir,

we are installing LV switch board which can be fed by 3Nos of DG set of low voltage with paralleling
between three DG set on requirement and infuture momentary paralleling with NEPA grid now the
question is no of pole for DG incomer and ACB..can it be three pole or it has to be four pole? can i
connect all neutral together? where my PEN has to be earthed?

Reply
Vasantha Joshi says:
March 7, 2015 at 10:48 am

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6/6/2019 Various Routine Test of Power Transformer-(Part-3) | Electrical Notes & Articles

Dear Sir the People working on High tension Substations should have first class supervisor License
or if he is an B E in Electrical Engineer or Diploma in Electrical engineer need not have first class
supervisor license.clarification required urgently

Reply
hanumanthappa.A anjinappa says:
March 7, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Hi,

I wanted to know, how to calculate the HT meter cubical constant and energy meter constant….

Thanks, Hanumanth

Reply
Romnick Hilario says:
March 8, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Kindly send me a schematic drawing of motor stater connection.this info can gave me a additional
knowledge that can help me and my sub-member.regards

Reply
Monir Hossain says:
March 9, 2015 at 10:42 am
How can calculated earth wire size for LT Pannel, MDB, DB, SDB and machine earthing? Please send
details any link.

Reply
mahendra rathod says:
March 9, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Good information Dear sir,

Thanks.

Reply
Manohar Kumar says:
March 27, 2015 at 4:18 am
Nicebook

Reply
lk says:
March 29, 2015 at 9:13 am
dear jignesh, interested in a lucrative middle east job ???

Reply
Vishal says:
March 29, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Realy I am new learner in electrical field.

Thank you very much. Your guideline is helpful to me for designing of such type system

Thanks

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Reply
Malik Imtiaz says:
February 14, 2016 at 12:40 pm
VERY INFORMATIC. THANKS.

Reply
Suyash Shrikhande says:
September 10, 2018 at 4:42 pm
For induced over voltage test how can we vary the voltage and frequency?

Reply

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