The Study of Eddy Current Losses in Coaxially

Insulated Windings of Power Transformer

WANG Shishan, JI ShengChang, and I,I Yanming

On

the
condition
of
neglecting
demagnetization o f e d d y c u r r e n t , e d d y c u r r e n t losses
inside t r a n s f o r m e r windings consisting of r o u n d
s t r a n d e d conductors w e r e studied with leakage
magnetic field method. In o r d e r to obtain higher
precision, the formulas of calculating e d d y c u r r e n t
losses a b o u t t r a n s f o r m e r windings w e r e modified with
A@
-A
method
while
considering t h e
demagnetization. C o m p a r i n g t h e e d d y c u r r e n t losses of
calculating value with m e a s u r i n g o n e on model coil, t h e
validity of calculating m e t h o d on e d d y c u r r e n t lo!rses
w e r e verified while t h e s t r a n d s arent insulated
mutually. Finally, e d d y currentlosses inside windings of
tri-phase t r a n s f o r m e r w e r e simulated a n d calculated,
whose windings consist o f s t r a n d e d conductors. As a
result, it is illustrated t h a t insulating t h e conductors of
t r a n s f o r m e r winding is v e r y important, otherwise t h e
eddy c u r r e n t losses a b o u t l a r g e p o w e r t r a n s f o r m e r i:s so
h u g e . t h a t applying o f this type o f t r a n s f o r m e r is
difficult.
Abslm$r--.

Index Terms- demagnetization; e d d y c u r r e n t loss;

finite element method (FEM); p o w e r cable; p o w e r
transformer; proximity effect; skin effect.

1. INTRODUCTION

completely new type of transformer by the name of

Dryformer was recently presented by ABB Corporation
[I]. In the new concept for the power transformer, the
conductors are surrounded by an insulation system that
encloses the electric field. The insulation system is based on
high voltage cross-lined polyethylene (XLPE) , cable
technology. By allowing for a cylindrical conductor, the
surrounding field becomes much more uniform. The condu8:tor

Supported by the Doctorate Foundation of Xian Jiaotong University

(XJUDF2000-4)
WANG Shishan IS with rhe College of Electrical Engineering, W a n
Jiaotong University, Xian,
Shaaanni, China,
710049 (E-mail:
Wangshishan@163,nel), or Department of Automation and Power System
Engineering, Xian Petroleum Imtitute, Xian, Shaanxi, China, 710065. Tel:
86-29-2668626
JI Shengchang is with the College of Electrical Engineering, Xian
Jiaotong University, Xtan,
Shaanxi, China,
710049
(E-mail:
Jishengehang@HolmaIlcom).
LI Yanming is with the College of Eleetiical.Engineenng, Xtan Jiaotong
University, Xian, Shaanxi, China, 710049 (e-mail: YMLi@xjtu.edu.cn).

0-7803-7459-21021$17.W 0 2002 IEEE

is made up of a number of strands of either copper or

aluminum with cross-sectional area dependent on the desired
current density. In order to minimize eddy current losses in the
winding conductor it is necessaly to subdivide the conductor
into mutually insulated strands. Generally, the distribution of
radial and axial leakage field should be obtained when we
want to calculate eddy current losses inside windings for
conventional transformer. Then on the condition of neglecting
demagnetization, the eddy current density inside windings
conductor is educed. Applying this density, the analytic [2]
and experiential [3] formula of eddy current losses inside
single turn is obtained while the transposition of turns isnt
considered. However, by contrast with conventional
transformer, the conductors consisting of windings are strands
and spiral distance of one cycle is less than perimeter of turns
for transformer whose windings are coaxially insulated power
cable. Then the conductor inside single turn is considered as
transposition totally. So transposition among turns neednt be
adopted. As a result, circular current losses neednt be
considered. Because cross section of circular conductor whose
windings consist of coaxially insulation cable is much larger
than that of rectangular conductor for conventional transformer,
the formula of eddy current losses while .neglecting
demagnetization should be modified. Reference [2]discussed
the modified foimula of eddy current for rectangular conductor
on conventional transformer. The papers about which are
modified formulas of eddy current losses in circular conductor
while considering demagnetization are not found. Some
modified principles and coefficients will be researched and
discussed with A-0-A
method in this paper.
11. THEORY OF CALCULATING EDDY CURRENT
LOSSES rN COAXIALLY INSULATED WINDINGS OF
POWER TRANSFORMER

Since the region for single turn is too small, even though
FEM is adopted, it is difficult to mesh all turns simultaneously
and to obtain an exact solution. Commonly, the leakage
magnetic method is used to calculate eddy current losses in
windings of oil saturated transformer [2]-[3]and dry- type
reactor [4]-[6]. Suppose a circular conductor, whose loop
radius is Ri and conductor diameter is DO.situates in leakage
flux (Fig. I ) . For diameter Do is small, the magnetic tield
inside the conductor can be considered uniform and
demagnetization of eddy current can be neglected. When only
axial leakage field density B,, is considered, eddy current

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The conductor, whose diameter is Do, is split into

1 +6+12+18+. . . (k=l+6+12+18+. .., k splitting) conductors,

whose diameter is do (Fig. 2), and two cross sections are the
same, then
Do = &do
(6)

Fig. I R w i d conductor situated in leakage tlun

density in round conductor is educed analogously as that in

rectangular conductor
&.-.&-.-;
J.. = Y w B,, , r
(1)
Fig.2 Splitting of stranded conductor
Where
Y : Conductivity of round conductor;
B,!: z-component ofmagnetic flux density for i-th turn.
Supposing the area of stranded conductor shown as Fig. 2 is
Eddy current losses for one turn is
sufficient small, magnetic field is uniform within conductor
and distance from stranded conductor to axis is very larger
than conductor diameter, that is R,>>Do>do. From ( 5 ) , eddy
current losses for stranded conductor is
Also, eddy current losses induced by radial magnetic leakage
flux density B,. , for one turn is

(7)
From ( 5 ) and (7), the eddy current losses of insulated
conductors commrinq
. - with un-insulated ones is.

Total eddy current losses

P , = P ; , + P , , = n0,:yw
32

R,B:

P kd:
P
Do
~

(4)

~~

Where
B,: Compositive magnetic flux density, which is
calculated with numerical method or experiential formula. It is
obtained with finite element method (FEM) in this paper.
Eddy current losses for many turns or winding are

This means, if a turn is split into k-section having same

areas, then its eddy current will reduce to l i k times. Because
of not considering demagnetization, (7) should be modified.
Certainly, (8) should also be done.
C. M o d i h i n g

of

Eddy

Current

Losses /or

Stranded

Conductors

As above descriptions, (5) and (7) is educed on the

condition of not considering demagnetization of eddy current.
If it is sufficient considered, the formulas of eddy current
losses can be modified by the formula for one turn. The
A. Eddy Ciirrent Lussvses/or Air-core Coil
demagnetization o f eddy current has two parts -skin effect
The conductors can be considered as solid ones for air-core and proximity effect. In addition, the distance along axis is
coil because they are strands contacting closely. So, ( 5 ) can be much less than that along circumference at one cycle for single
adopted to calculating the eddy current losses. Since there are turn, so the strands are considered as full transposition, in the
some differences between solid conductor and stranded one, other words, there are no circular currents inside stranded
the formula should be modified with FEM. The modifying conductors. Therefore, the distribution of leakage field can be
theory is the same that of tri-phase one. It will be introduced at considered as 2 D symmetric.
( I ) Losses induced by Skin Efject:
part C
Eddy. current loss o f skin effect means that the loss is
B. Eddy Ciirrent Losses for Tri-phase Transformer
induced by self-current in every turn. It can be calculated
To reduce the eddy current loss in the conductor, the easily with A - @ - A FEM. After studied deeply in [I], a brief
conductor should be split and stranded, that is, it is made up of result was given--the insulating or not has less influence :o
many thin conductors, or strands. Concentric layers of strands skin effect of stranded conductors. Similarly, the result is
surround the central strand. Normally, the strands are insulated. obtained in this paper, which the eddy current loss induced by
If the strands are made of aluminium, it is not always skin effect is less 1%. than loss of DC resistance. If we accept
necessary to insulate them, because aluminium has a natural that 10% .loss of DC resistance is of the critical for eddy
layer of aluminium oxide, which provides partial insulation. If current loss, then the critical o f LV and HV windings areas
the strands are made of copper, the conductor surface must be are 700mm2 and 800 mm2, respectively. If 120mm2 is selected
treated specially with chemical method. This will not be for LH windings area, then the critical frequency is 320Hz. As
discussed in this paper.
a result, the error is less 1%. loss of DC resistance while losses

For (9,demagnetization of eddy current is neglected. If

we want to consider it, (5) should be modified.

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induced by skin effect is neglected in winding's conductors for

coaxially insulated cable transformer at normal state.
Therefore, the skin effect can be ignored.
(2) Losses Induced Proximity Effect:
Loss of proximity effect means the loss for every turn that
is situated in leakage flux comes into being of all turns. A
uniform magnetic field can simulate the leakage one for a turn
(Fig.3).

1 .

I \ = -B,,(r+7)CL
2

'A; = A i ,

Not insulated
k , (n)

Insulated

I+6=7

0 8290

8.4456

1+6+12=19

0,7748

24 5236

1+6+12+18=37

0.7500

49.33

U")

(11.1)

A;(0)=0
A:

Slrands
(=n)

interface

.q+ = C(imknown cons tan t ) ,

(11.2)
(11.3)

(11.4)

n areas of stranded and not imulated

(=C,(i= I , ...n),
n areas of stranded and insul&ed

(11.5)

264 6

270 5

688 0

700 2

n,

C. Simulating Results of Eddy Current Lossesfor Tri-phase

Power Transformer
The eddy current losses for a transformer 800kVN10.5kV
/35kV are calculated and simulated (Table 111). As a result, it
i s efficient lo reduce the eddy current losses o f windings for
coaxially insulated cable transformer by splitting the conductor
o f winding and insulating mutually for. This is an important''
conclusion, that is, the conductors of coaxially insulated
winding must be split and insulated mutually to strands.
TABLEIll
SMJUTING

RESULTSOF EDDY CURRENT LOSSES FORTRI-PHASE

TRANSFORMER

Circuits", ACTA Universirorrs docroral rhesis, Uppsala, Swenden.

ACTA Universitatis Upsalineris, 2000.
(Soviet) C ti U h I O T M H C K M
Theory, nnd ,Calculor;on of
[2]
Power Troronrforormer. (Translated by Cui L i j q D u Entian), Beijing,
China: Mechanical Industry Press, 1983. (in Chinese)
[3]
(Hungary). KKarsi D.Sc, D Kerenyi D.Sc., L.Kiss DSc. Large
Power Tmmsformer (Tra"slatied by Wang Xiaoymg). BaoDing, Hebei
Province: Baoding Large Power Transformer Corporation of Tianwei
Group, 1997.1 (in Chinese)
[4] P.E.Burke, T.H Fawzi,'"Effect o f Eddy Losses on Design and Modellng
of Air-Cored Reactoii', IEEE Trrons. on Mag., 1991 Va1.27. No 6.
5001-5003
[SI K. Presis, "Eddy Current Loss Calculation in Air-Coils UShg FEM
Method", IEEE Trans. on Mag., 1982, Vo1.18, November: 1064-1066
[6] Ma Xiaojiu, Sudv of rheorericol calculolion and comprer meamrentem
/ o r air-core reacror, (mnner thesis) Wuhan, Hebei, China: Huazhang
Science and technology Univerxty,l994 (in Chinese)
[7] Ma.Xikui, Theory ond AppbcarionqlElearomngneric. Xi'an Jiaotong
University Press, 2000. (in Chinese)
[SI Feng Ciczhang. SIorrc Elecrromnnerrcs. Xi'an Jiaatong Univenity Press,
1985. (in Chinese)

(w)

!
Winding

Losses for
solid

2766 7

Strands

1+6+12=19

1+6+12+18=37

"

2367 5

=36889

=30556

VI.

BIOGRAPHIES

W A N G Shiahan was born m Shaanni province, on

AURUS~
23, 1967 He received his Master degree in
Electrical Engineering from Xi'an Jiaotang University
in 1995, and i s studying in the same university
pursuing the doctoral degree in High Voltage and
Insulated Technology His special fields of InEreSt
include hiqh voltage technolom.
_. computer aided
engineering
for
pawer
system
apparatus,
electromagnetic numerical method and its application

IV. CONCLUSION
A. On the condition o f neglecting demagnetization o f eddy
current, the formulas o f eddy current losses in windings
consisting of circular conductor and circular strands with
leakage magnetic method for power transformer were reduced.

B. The formulas o f eddy current losses have been modified

with A - A FEM while the demagnetization o f eddy
current was to be considered. The demagnetization o f eddy
current has two parts --skin effect and proximity effect. AAer
analyzed, the losses induced by skin effect can be ignored at
power frequency; jts error is less than
The losses induced
by proximity effects are the main origin. Splitting and
insulating conductor can reduce the eddy current losses of
winding. The modifying coefficients were obtained while
demagnetization ofeddy current was considered with FEM.
C. The eddy current losses for model coil and tri-phase
transformer were evaluated. The calculating values for model
coil were almost accord with measuring ones. AAer calculation
and simulation, it is illustrated that splitting and insulating the
winding's conductors are very important for decreasing
sharply the eddy current losses.

V. REFERENCES
[I]

Holmberg, " Modeling the Transient Rerpanne.of Winding, Laminated

Steel Cores and Electromagnetic Power Deviccr by Means of Lumped

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