TESTS ON TRANSFORMERS

Why transformer testing?

Tests serve as an indication of the extent to which a transformer is able to comply with a customer’s
specified requirements; for example:
• Loading capability
• Dielectric withstand
• Further operating characteristics
Tests are also part of a manufacturer’s internal quality assurance program. A manufacturer’s own criteria
have to be fulfilled in addition to requirements specified by customers and applicable standards.
Differing requirements are generally combined and published in national and international standards. The
primary Standards Organizations are IEC and ANSI. These standards are often used directly to develop
national standards. IEC is the abbreviation for International Electro-technical Commission and ANSI
stands for American National Standard Institute, Inc.
In the electric area, ANSI has to a great extent delegated the writing and publication of standards to IEEE,
the Institute of electric and Electronics Engineers, Inc. The IEC and IEEE Standards specify the
respective tests that verify compliance with the above requirements; e.g.: Temperature rise tests to verify
loading capability, Dielectric tests to demonstrate the integrity of the transformer when subjected to
dielectric stresses and possible overvoltages during normal operation, No-load and load loss
measurements, short-circuit impedance measurements, etc. to verify other operating characteristics.

The objective of testing is

To ensure quality
To ensure that the products manufactured have met the requirements of Customer Specification/Standard
To prevent accidents which may occur if a failed product is put into service.
To ensure that the product is fit for its intended use
 TESTS ON TRANSFORMERS
Transformer tests can be divided into two categories, alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC).
Direct current testing is widely accepted because of the portability of the equipment and because of the
nondestructive nature of the tests. Because the test potential can be applied without the reactive
component (capacitive and inductive charging and recharging), DC tests can be performed at higher
levels without stressing the insulation to the same degree as an AC test. It is important to note that, even
though a winding failure may result, it probably resulted from an incipient condition that the test was
designed to detect. If the deficiency had gone undetected, the failure may have occurred at an unplanned
time and resulted in additional equipment damage. a. When a DC potential is applied across an
insulation, there are three components to the resulting current. An understanding of the nature of these
currents will help with the application of the tests and the interpretation of the resulting data.
(1) Capacitance charging Current. when the insulation resistance is being measured between two
conductors, the conductors act like the plates in a capacitor. These “plates” absorb a certain amount of
electrical energy (the charging current) before the applied voltage is actually developed across them. This
current results in stored energy that should be discharged after the test by shorting across the insulation.
(2) Dielectric absorption current. As noted above, the two conductors between which the potential is
being applied act like a capacitor. The winding insulation and the insulating fluid then act as dielectric
materials and absorb electrical energy as their molecules become polarized, or charged. The absorption
current decreases as the materials become charged, resulting in an apparent increase in the insulation
resistance. The absorption current results in stored energy that takes longer to dissipate than it did to
build. The insulation should be shorted for a time period equal to or longer than the time the test was
applied, preferably longer.
(3) Leakage current. This is the current that actually flows throughout the insulation or across its surface.
Its magnitude is usually very small in relation to the rated current of the device, and it is usually
expressed in microamperes (one millionth of an amp). It indicates the insulation’s actual conductivity,
and should be constant for a steady applied voltage. Leakage current that increases with tie for a constant
applied voltage indicates a potential problem.