Tony McGrail
Doble Engineering
This presentation shows the effects of
tap changer position on FRA results.
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Purpose
• Assess Mechanical Condition of Transformers
(Mechanical Distortions)
• Detect Core and Winding Movement Due to
– Large Electromagnetic Forces From Fault
Currents
– Winding Shrinkage Causing Release of
Clamping Pressure
– Transformer Relocation or Shipping
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Available Techniques
• Frequency Response Analysis (FRA)
• Leakage Reactance
• Capacitance
• Excitation Current
• These Independent Diagnostic Methods Have
Their Place in Ascertaining Transformer
Condition
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Why SFRA and not FRA?
• To distinguish the Doble product which uses a
SWEEP approach
• Some inferior products use an impulse technique
• Impulse results have poor resolution, lack the
range required for good diagnosis and are usually
unrepeatable
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Use of SFRA
• Measure the Frequency Response of Passive
Elements (RLC) for Various Types of Power
Apparatus
• The Result is a Transfer Function Which Produces
a Fingerprint Related to the Mechanical Geometry
for a Given Type of Apparatus
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Are Baseline Results Necessary?
• Not always - but they are preferable
• Phase-to-phase comparisons
• Comparison with sister units
• Comparison with units from the same
manufacturer
• Results have a generally predictable shape
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Modeling a transformer
• A transformer may be modeled using lumped
parameters
• A simple model is a parallel RLC circuit
• This has a predictable response
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Parallel RLC Circuit
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Response of the RLC Circuit
Capacitive
response
Inductive Resonance
response
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Capacitor & Inductor
Capacitance
Inductance
Combined Capacitance & Inductance: Resonance
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Typical Transformer Results
Three LV Phases
Three HV Phases
Three Phases Interwinding
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Results
• Amplitude Change and Phase Shifts Are Measured
from 10 Hz to 10 MHz
• 1250 points are used to record data on a log scale
• Amplitude results are used in interpretation
• Phase results are rarely used
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Frequency Sensitivity
• Experience: Certain Frequency Bands
Indicate Different Problem Conditions
< 2kHz: Core Deformation, Open Circuits,
Shorted Turns & Residual Magnetism
< 20kHz: Bulk Winding Movement Relative to
Each Other, clamping structure
< 200kHz: Deformation Within the main and tap
windings
< 2MHz: Movement of main and tap winding
Leads
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Frequency Sensitivity
• Generally...
< Larger objects respond at lower frequencies
< Smaller objects respond at higher frequencies
< Responses of different objects may overlap
substantially
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Testing Preparations
• Transformer Should be Disconnected From
System
• Transformer Should be in Normal Service
Condition (Assembled, Oil-Filled)
• Make Connections as Determined by Winding
Configuration
– Phases Not Under Test Are Left Floating
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Testing Preparations
• Where tap windings are present, two sets of results
are needed for that winding
– with all tap winding included
– with no tap winding included
• Record tap positions; at neutral tap, record
previous tap position also
• Record red and black clip locations e.g. H1-H2
• Do a general inspection of the transformer; record
any variations e.g. replaced bushings
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Test Set Preparation
• Follow the user guide
• If cold - let test set warm up for 15 minutes
• Calibrate after switching on before each test
session
• Perform a leads check
• Check the waveform at start of each trace
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M5100B
• Comes in Rugged Package
• All Connections Accessible From Front
• Intuitive Software for Data Collection and Display
• High-Intensity Color Monitor - Full Sun Viewable
• Data Media Options
– Internal hard drive
– USB to external device
• Ethernet Connection
• Printer Port
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M5100B
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M5100 Connections
• At Test Set - color coded leads
– Yellow - Signal (Gives Vin)
– Red - Reference (Measures Vin)
– Black - Test (Measure Vout)
• At Transformer
– Red => Vin
– Black => Vout
– Lead grounds to base of bushings
– Safety Ground - Twist Lock to Transformer
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Typical Test Connections
Delta-Wye
• H1-H2 } HV Winding Tests
• H2-H3
• H3-H1
• X1-X0 } LV Winding Tests
• X2-X0
• X3-X0
• H1-X1 } Inter-Winding Tests
• H2-X2
• H3-X3
• It is possible to do additional tests - e.g. various tap
positions, short circuit tests, tertiary tests etc.
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Eg:Wye-Delta Transformer
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Test Connections Per Previous Nameplate
Test consistently: in this case, energize top of winding
(red), measure at bottom (black)
Red Black
H1 H0
H2 H0
H3 H0
X1 X2
X2 X3
X3 X1
H1 X1
H2 X2
H3 X3
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Connections
ALWAYS CHECK THE NAMEPLATE!!!
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M5100 Connections
Test
lead
Signal &
Reference
Leads
M5100
Shield
Ground
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Open Circuits
• Open circuits caused by faulty test leads produce
an obvious sign,which is best described as an
unstable resistive trace.
• Open circuits that occur within the test specimen
have a tendency to be more stable than open
circuits within test leads, because additional
distributive RLC elements within the test
specimen provide alternative distributive return
paths, thus creating a different stable transfer
function.
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Open Circuit Traces
-4 0
-5 0
Open
-6 0 Circuit
inside test
-7 0
specimen
-8 0
dB
-9 0
-1 0 0
Open
-1 1 0
Circuit
-1 2 0
2 3 4 5 6
within test 10 10 10
F re q u e n c y - H z
10 10
leads
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Poor Grounding
• The trend of poor grounding causes the SFRA
scan to shift in the 300 kHz – 500 kHz range.
• Since winding scans are collected in groups of
three, poor grounding is easily identified if one of
the traces behaves as described above.
• Check test lead ground connections first, then
investigate the bushing flange if necessary.
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Poor Grounding (Staged)
-5 3 traces
-1 0
with good
grounds
-1 5
-2 0 1 traces
dB
with poor
-2 5
ground
-3 0
-3 5
-4 0
5 6
10 10
F re q u e n c y - H z
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Transformer Relocation (Normal)
HV Tap 1
0
This graph contains 6 traces: A, B and C
-10
before and after relocation
-20
Amplitude in dB
-30
-40
-50
-60
Phase to phase variations:
-70
A to B to C
-80
0 50 100 150 200
No identifiable
Frequency in kHz
differences after
relocation
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Transformer Relocation (Problem)
B phase HV to LV
-10
Frequency shift compared to
-20
reference
Amplitude in dB
-30
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
0 5 10 in kHz
Frequency 15 20
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Example: Faulted Transformer
HV Tap 9 6/5/98
0
-10 Phase with
-20 shorted turn
-30
Amplitude in dB
-40
-50
-60
-70
-80
-90
-100
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Good phases Frequency in kHz
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Evaluation of Results
• Compare Signatures of corresponding tests and
Look For Deviations
• Compare Signatures From Previous Tests and
Look for Deviations From Benchmark
– SFRA Provides Excellent Repeatability
• Compare Signatures With Similar or Sister Unit
Transformers
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Conclusions
• SFRA is a powerful and reliable tool for use in
confirming mechanical integrity of transformers
• The M5100 is robust, easy to use and supports
decision making
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