LOCATION OF TAP-CHANGER SWITCH

Posted by Ackerley Acton May 5 - 329 views - Filed in Transformer

Power transformers equipped with On-Load Tap-Changers (OLTCs) have been main components of electrical networks and industrial application for nearly 80 years. The OLTC allows voltage regulation and/or phase shifting by varying the transformer ratio under load without interruption. From the beginning of Tap-Changer development, two switching principles have been used for the load transfer operation, the highspeed resistor type OLTC and the reactor type OLTC. Over the decades both principles have been developed into reliable transformer components available in a broad range of current and voltage applications to cover the needs of todays network and industrial process transformers as well as ensuring an optimal system and process control There are two major strategies of tapping power transformers, namely CFVV and VFVV. In CFVV strategy which is more common, turns number of tapped winding changes so that smoothes the voltage across the untapped winding. In such strategy, peak value of flux density of magnetic core should not change considerably. However, in VFVV this variable would change. For the case of power transformers which connected to EHV lines with huge short circuit level, CFVV will lead to placing tap-changer at LV side. However, this choice has special difficulties during design and manufacturing processes. In this paper it will be shown that it is possible for such power transformers to place tap-changer on HV side without facing major problem during operation of transformers. One of the main requirements of any electrical system is that it should provide a voltage to the user which remains within closely defined limits regardless of the loading on the system, despite the regulation

occurring within the many supply transformers and cables, which will vary greatly from conditions of light load to full load. Although in many industrial systems, in particular, the supply voltage must be high enough to ensure satisfactory starting of large motor drives, it must not be so high when the system is unloaded as to give rise to damaging overvoltages on, for example, sensitive electronic equipment For many decades power transformers equipped with on-load tap-changers (OLTC) have been the main components of electrical networks and industry. The OLTC allows voltage regulation and/or phase shifting by varying the transformer ratio under load without interruption . Some industrial processes will not operate correctly if the supply voltage is not high enough and some of these may even be protected by undervoltage relays which will shut down the process should the voltage become too low Most domestic consumers are equally desirous of receiving a supply voltage at all times of day and night which is high enough to ensure satisfactory operation of television sets, personal computers washing machines and the like, but not so high as to shorten the life of filament lighting, which is often the first equipment to fail if the supply voltage is excessive. In this situation, therefore, and despite the reservations concerning the use of tap-changers, many of the transformers within the public supply network must be provided with on-load tap-changers without which the economic design of the network would be near to impossible In industry, transformers having on-load tap-changers are used in the provision of supplies to arc furnaces, electrolytic plants, chemical manufacturing processes and the like One important aspect on using tap-changers is the location they are used. In fact, such equipments could be located on high voltage, middle or low voltage windings. Each of these choices has its benefits and defects. In this paper, the effect of tapchanger location in a power transformer would be studied. Switching Principle The OLTC changes the ratio of a transformer by adding turns to or subtracting turns from either the primary or the secondary winding. Therefore, the transformer is equipped with a so called regulating or tap winding which is connected to the OLTC. Figure 2 shows the principle winding arrangement of a 3-phase regulating transformer, with the OLTC located at the wye-connection in the high voltage winding.

Simple changing of taps during energized condition is unacceptable due to momentary loss of system load during the switching operation . Therefore the make before break contact concept, shown in , is the basic design for all OLTCs. The transition impedance in form of a resistor or reactor consists of one or more units that are bridging adjacent taps for the purpose of transferring load from one tap to the other without interruption or appreciable change in the load current. At the same time they are limiting the circulating current (Ic ) for the period when both taps are used. Normally, reactor type OLTCs use the bridging position as a service position and, therefore, the reactor is designed for continuous loading.

The voltage between the mentioned taps is the step voltage, it normally lies between 0.8 % and 2.5 % of the rated voltage of the transformer. TAP-CHANGING EQUIPMENT The voltage of busses in generating stations, switching substations and receiving sub-stations should be held within permissible limits. The voltages of distribution lines and supply points to consumers should be held at constant rated values (with permitted deviation) under fluctuating load conditions The task of voltage control is closely associated with fluctuating load conditions and corresponding requirements of reactive power compensation and tap-changing . Almost all transformers incorporate some means of adjusting their voltage ratio by means of the addition or removal of tapping turns. This adjustment may be made on-load, as is the case for many large transformers, by means of an off-circuit switch, or by the selection of bolted link positions with the transformer totally isolated. The degree of sophistication of the system of tap selection

depends on the frequency with which it is required to change taps and the size and importance of the transformer Transformer users require tappings for a number of reasons To compensate for changes in the applied voltage on bulk supply and other system transformers. To compensate for regulation within the transformer and maintain the output voltage constant on the above types. On generator and interbus transformers to assist in the control of system VAr flows. To allow for compensation for factors not accurately known at the time of planning an electrical system. To allow for future changes in system conditions. All the above represent sound reasons for the provision of tappings and, indeed, the use of tappings is so commonplace that most users are unlikely to consider whether or not they could dispense with them, or perhaps limit the extent of the tapping range specified. However, transformers without taps are simpler, cheaper and more reliable. The presence of tappings increases the cost and complexity of the transformer and also reduces the reliability. Whenever possible, therefore, the use of tappings should be avoided and, where this is not possible, the extent of the tapping range and the number of taps should be restricted to the minimum. The following represent some of the disadvantages of the use of tappings on transformers Their use almost invariably leads to some variation of flux density in operation so that the design flux density must be lower than the optimum, to allow for the condition when it might be increased. The transformer impedance will vary with tap position so that system design must allow for this. Losses will vary with tap position, hence the cooler provided must be large enough to cater for maximum possible loss. There will inevitably be some conditions when parts of windings are not in use, leading to less than ideal electromagnetic balance within the transformer which in turn results in increased unbalanced forces in the event of close-up faults. The increased number of leads within the transformer increases complexity and possibility of internal faults. The tap-changer itself, particularly if of the on-load type, represents a significant source of unreliability. Off-Circuit Tap-Changers The simplest tap-changing device operates on a break before make principle and changes taps on the primary winding. Obviously, such a device cannot be operated when the transformer is carrying load or even when the transformer is energized because it would break load current and/or magnetizing current otherwise. This device is called a tap-changer for deenergized operation. Years ago, it was called a no-load tap-changer, but this description has fallen out of favor because the name implies that it can be operated when the transformer is energized but not carrying load, which is not the case. Nowadays, this type of tap-changer is acalled OCTC or Off-Circuit Tap-Changer Most tap changers for deenergized operation have a total of five tap positions. There are usually two tap positions above the nominal voltage rating and two tap positions below the nominal voltage plus a tap at the nominal voltage. The voltage increments between taps are generally 2.5% of the nominal voltage, so the full tap range is 10% Tap changers for deenergized operation are designed to be moved infrequently. The tap settings are generally specified for the particular location on the electrical system and the settings do not change unless system conditions permanently change. Because a good electrical contact often depends on contact wiping, it is generally a good idea to operate the tap changer periodically (when the transformer is out of service) to wipe

the contacts clean. The contacts themselves are generally silver- or tin-coated since bare copper has a tendency to develop a copper sulfate film under oil which increases the contact resistance. This can lead to a thermal runaway effect from oil coking. As the temperature around the contacts increases, the oil around the contacts can coke or turn into carbon. This forms a carbon film that can actually force the contacts apart so the load current must pass through a layer of highresistance carbon. This increases the temperature still further, leading to more coking and so forth until the contacts overheat and are destroyed On-Load Tap-Changers For many decades power transformers equipped with on-load tap-changers (OLTC) have been the main components of electrical networks and industry. The OLTC allows voltage regulation and/or phase shifting by varying the transformer ratio under load without interruption When load levels and/or system voltages change frequently, it is sometimes necessary to adjust the transformer tap ratio to follow the changes in system conditions. It is obviously impractical to do this while the transformer is deenergized or unloaded, so a special type of tap changer has been developed to change taps under full-load conditions Whereas the tap changer for deenergized operation is a break-before-make switching device, an on-load tap-changer (OLTC) must be a make-before-break switching device, requiring bridging over two adjacent taps before moving on to the next tap. If an electrical short circuit were placed between two taps, then the short-circuit current would be extremely large based on the large number of ampere turns with few turns. Therefore, an impedance must be inserted between the taps in order to limit the short-circuit current that flowing in the bridging position

From the beginning of OLTC development, two switching principles have been used for the loadtransfer operation, the high-speed-resistance type and the reactance type. Over the decades, both principles have been developed into reliable transformer components available in a broad range of current and voltage applications to cover the needs of todays network and industrial-process transformers as well as ensuring optimum system and process control For transformers with high amounts of rated voltage and power, it is preferred to use OLTCs rather than OCTCs. This is due to higher range of voltage variation of OLTCs and also their ability to tapping in loaded condition. IEC STATEMENTS ON TAP-CHANGING STRATEGIES

The short notation of tapping ranges and tapping steps indicates the variation range of the ratio of the transformer. But the assigned values of tapping quantities are not fully defined by this alone and additional information is necessary. This can be given either in tabular form with tapping power, tapping voltage and tapping current for each tapping, or as text, indicating category of voltage variation and possible limitations of the range within which the tappings are full power tapping According to IEC 60076-1&4 standards, the extreme categories of tapping voltage variation are Constant flux Variable flux voltage variation (VFVV) voltage variation (CFVV), and,

They are defined as follows: CFVV: The tapping voltage in any untapped winding is constant from tapping to tapping. The tapping voltages in the tapped winding are proportional to the tapping factors. VFVV: The tapping voltage in the tapped winding is constant from tapping to tapping. The tapping voltages in any untapped winding are inversely proportional to the tapping factors.

There is also another strategy considerable for tap-changing which is a combination of the introduced methods, namely CbVV (Combined Voltage Variation). In many applications and particularly with transformers having a large tapping range, a combination is specified using both principles applied to different parts of the range; combined voltage variation (CbVV). The change-over point is called Maximum Voltage Tapping. For the CbVV system the following applies CFVV: Applies for tappings with tapping factor below the maximum voltage tapping factor. VFVV: Applies for tappings with tapping factor above the maximum voltage tapping factor. Graphic presentation of tapping voltage variation categories using are shown in . UA, IA is Tapping voltage and tapping current in the tapped winding, UB, IB is Tapping voltage SAB is Tapping power References: M.J. Heatcote, the J&P transformer book, 12th edition, Planta Tree, 1998

K. Imhof, F. Oesch and I. Nordanlycke, modeling of tap-changer in an energy managment Goosen, P.V. Transformer accessories, (On behalf of Study Committee 12), CIGRE, 12104, 1996

Article Tags: #Power transformer #Flux density #OLTC location