F E A T U R E A R T I C L E

The Transformer Short-Circuit Test and

the High Power Laboratory in Chinathe
Past, Present, and Future
Key words: Transformer, short-circuit test, test laboratory, list of tested transformers, China.

Introduction He Yiyan and Wang Maosong

Shenyang Transformer Research Institute
O ver the last half century, the transformer industry in China
has experienced substantial development. Prior to 1949, only
distribution transformers up to 2000 kVA/33 kV were produced;
however, by the end of last century, China was producing 360720
MVA/500 kV power transformers [1], [2]. Nevertheless, the trans-
former short-circuit test held up transformer development in China. We review the short-circuit testing of distribution
In this paper, we review distribution transformer short-circuit and power transformers, and include a list of
testing from 1965 to 1993, power transformers from 1994 to the 110-220kV power transformers tested up to
present, and include a list of 110220kV power transformers tested February 2002.
up to February 2002. We will describe the HUSHITAI High Power
Test Laboratory (HST), its main equipment, and test capabilities.
HST, the largest high power testing laboratory in China, belongs to
the China National Transformer Quality Supervision Testing Cen-
ter (CTQC), an independent section of Shenyang Transformer Re-
search Institute (STI). The testing center was approved by the China
State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision (Ministry of the Prior to the 1960s, the pioneers of the Chinese transformer in-
State Council) and is an official government testing center. The dustry, Tang Ming-qi and Zhou Mao-pei, believed that a distribu-
potential for future development will also be discussed. tion transformer of 630 kVA/10 kV should be tested in the net-
The layout of HST is shown in Figure 1. It is located near the work. Thus, they performed the first short-circuit test of a distribu-
railway station in Hushitai, a satellite city of Shenyang, a major tion transformer in China in 1965.
city in northeastern China. In the 1960s and 1970s, four laboratoriesXian High Voltage
Apparatus Research Institute, Shanghai Switchgear Works,
Transformer Short-circuit Testing Between Shenyang Switchgear Works, and Beijing Electric Power Research
Institutewere set up as high power test laboratories for switchgear.
19651993
They could also test distribution transformers.
Power transformers operating in power systems are exposed to
At the beginning of the 1980s, STI designed a prototype power
short circuits, including single-phase, two-phase, or three-phase
transformer SJ-8000 kVA/35 kV with some pressure sensors in-
short circuits. Short circuits cause high short-circuit currents of more
stalled in the tank for research purposes. The transformer was sent
than 10 times the rated current and are dangerous to the transformer.
to Xian High Voltage Apparatus Research Institute for testing in
Thus, it is necessary to study the short-circuit performance of trans-
1984; this was the first short-circuit test of a power transformer in
formers using short-circuit tests. According to the IEC standards,
China. A 100% short-circuit current test of each phase was carried
such tests are special tests.
out and the pressures at specific locations measured. The trans-
former withstood the test and critical design data were derived.

14 IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine


Figure 1. HST test lab location. 1. A 220 KV substation; 2.
Northeast Electrical Bureau Electric Power Research Institute
H.V. test field; 3 Shenyang High Voltage Switchgear Works test
lab; and 4. HST high-power test lab.
According to the requirement of the State Machinery Ministry,
STI designed the SL7 series (aluminum wire) of 50 kVA to 1600
kVA/10kV transformers and the S9 series of 50 kVA to 1600 kVA/
10 kV in the early 1980s. Xian, Beijing, Shenyang and Shanghai
Laboratories tested about 20 sets of each series as a type test. At
the same time, 20-kV to 60-kVclass test transformers were tested,
with voltages of 110 to 132 kV (not listed in this article).
HST between 1994 and 2002
HST Set Up
Because a high power test laboratory is very important in the
development of power transformers [3], the China State Govern-
ment funded a project in its 7th 5-year plan to build HST, a high
power test laboratory in a Shenyang suburb. The design of HST
was made by Xian 7th Design Research Institute in cooperation
with EDF, Renerdieres, France, as a consultant [4]. The HST was
approved by the state committee [5] and became operational in the
beginning of 1994.
The HST has an area of 40,000 m2, including 5000 m2 floor
space. It has the following advantages/features:
Close to Shenyang Transformer Co. Ltd., the biggest transformer
manufacture in China
Close to a 220-kV substation of the northeast network in China
Convenient railway and highway transportation in Shenyang,
which is an industrial center in northern China
The lab has a 220-kV line for its power supply and has available
a three-phase short-circuit power of 12,000 MVA.
January/February 2004 Vol. 20, No. 1
By the end of 1993, HST was equipped with:
Two sets of intermediate test transformers (IT), 1200 MVA/220/
8224 kV, which can be arranged in series/parallel with eight
no-load tap-changes each to get 36 voltage steps regulated from
4448 kV, and 560 kA on the secondary side for testing
Circuit breaker with breaking capacity of 40 kA 0.2 ms
Automatic computer control device can control 24 channels at
the same time, with a time resolution of 0.1 ms
The measurement system of current transformers, voltage di-
viders, and transient recorders can measure several signals
Transport equipment consisting of a fixed outdoor lift 200-ton,
and four 100-ton special vehicles that can be combined
An assembly shop: 50 18 20 (H) m3, 32-ton lift, oil and
vacuum treatment equipment.
Test Methods in HST
There are two short-circuit testing methods, namely pre- and
postestablished short circuits when testing a main winding.
In service, faults can occur when the transformer is energized
and in normal operation. Hence, they bear the character of a post-
established short circuit, and, in general, it is preferable to repro-
duce such a situation during tests. With the postestablished short-
circuit procedure, one can prevent the inrush current from being
superimposed onto the test current, independent of the relative po-
sition of the energized and short-circuited windings. The
postestablished short-circuit procedure requires the power of the
test station be significantly larger than that of the testing station
during pre-established short-circuit testing. This depends on the
necessity to limit the transformer overexcitation to 1.15 p.u. in the
former case, while the problem does not arise in the latter. Figure 2
shows the power requirements of the testing station.
Figure 2. Power requirements of the testing station
Where Pa is the minimum short-circuit power of the testing
station; Pt is the power required by the transformer under test;
Va is the no-load voltage of the testing station power supply; and
Vt is the rated voltage of the transformer under test.
15
 under test, and Xs is the power system reactance including the in-
Table 1: Laboratory Test Limits termediate transformer [IT]), the transformer under test can absorb
1/4 of the system capability; Table 1 lists the maximum limits of
1 phase test 1.5 phase test * 3 phase test
the transformers that can be tested.
110 kV 150 MVA 100 MVA 31.5 MVA If post-short-circuit is used, the capability of the transformer
transformer 3-phase 3-phase 3 phase
(MVA) transformer transformer transformer
under test should be reduced to half the above values in the table.
Figure 3 shows the high power lab outline and photographs.
50 MVA
Single-phase
transformer New High Voltage Test Laboratory in HST
220 kV 80 MVA 120180 MVA
To complete all routine tests of transformers up to the 63-MVA,
transformer Single-phase Single-phase 110-kV class, after the short-circuit test, a new high voltage lab in
(MVA) transformer transformer HST was completed in 2000. The dimension of the high voltage
*1.5 phase as phase A in series with phases B and C in parallel. hall is 24 24 15 (H) m3 and contains a 750-kV cascade power
frequency transformer, and an 1800-kV impulse generator. The
power supplies are housed in a separate room. Figure 4 shows an
outline and photographs of the HV lab.
With the postestablished short-circuit method, the burden im-
posed by the required power of the testing station is balanced by Transformer Short-Circuit Test
the following benefits: From the beginning of 1994 to the end of 2001, HST tested 1000
The test is more representative of the real situation 10- to 35-kV S9 oil-immersed and 2000 S8S9 cast-resin trans-
The control of the peak value of test current is accurate formers. The first-time qualification rate for the former was 90%,
In the preestablished short-circuit procedure, the control of the and for the latter was 95%.
test current peak value becomes more difficult if the unit under From 1996 to 2002 we have tested 53 110220-kV power trans-
test is fed through a short-circuit transformer and the make switch formers [6], [7]. The data are tabulated in Table 2. The test stan-
is placed upstream of this transformer dards and methods are according to our GB 1094.5 national stan-
Assuming a test capability of a transformer under test for a pre- dard that is similar to IEC60076-2000, Part 5 (Power Transform-
short-circuit at Xt = Xs (Xt is the reactance of the transformer ersAbility to withstand short circuit).

Figure 3. The HST high power test lab. (a) The view of the lab, (b) the intermediate transformers, (c) and (d) 220-kV, 120-MVA
transformer under test.

16 IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine

Figure 4. High-voltage test lab. (a) General view, (b) power frequency transformer, (c) impulse generator, (d) generator hall.

The short-circuit reactance in ohms, evaluated for each phase at

the end of the tests, should not differ from the original values by
more than 2% (GB and IEC standards); but in practice, for the power
transformers listed in Table 2, the differences are less than 1%. The
largest reactance deviation is 0.70%, the smallest is 0.02%, and the
average of the total 53 sets is 0.28%.
For 220-kV transformers, the deviations in reactance are smaller.
Figure 5 shows the test oscillogram of a 220-kV/120-MVA trans-
former during a short-circuit test.
The reports of the test center (CTQC) are effective all over the
China.

Summary
Fifty-three sets 110- to 220-kV transformers from 44 factories
(note that the 30- to 60-kV system in the northeast network is the
same class as 110 kV in other parts of China) passed the short-
circuit test. The rate of first-time-qualified 110-kV transformers
was close to 100%. If transformer manufacturers need to pass the
short-circuit test, they can usually do it by themselves; otherwise,
STI (R&D department) can provide help.
Forty transformers that passed the test were delivered to cus-
tomers and they are now in operation in the power system all over
China. The remaining 13 transformers are in the process of assem-
bly and delivery. Feedback from clients suggests that all these trans- Figure 5. Test oscillograms of a 220-kV/120-MVA transformer. 1,
formers function well. They have been operating from a few months 3, 5 = test oscillograms of voltage supplied to transformer; 2, 4,
to more than five years. The report from the State Electric Com- 6 = test oscillograms of current supplied to transformer.

January/February 2004 Vol. 20, No. 1 17

 Table 2. Transformers Tested from 1996 to Feb. 2002.
No. Works name Model Date Test station Result
1 Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd SF8-50000/110 1996.8 China National Passed
Transformer Quality
Supervision Testing
Center (CTQC)
2 Hengyang Transformer Works SFZ8-31500/110 1996.7 (CTQC) Passed
3 Yunnan Transformer Works SF3-QY-31500/110 1997.2 (CTQC) Passed
4 Nantong Transformer Works SFSZ8-31500/110 1997.10 (CTQC) Passed
5 Jinan Transformer Works SFZ8-31500/110 1997.12 (CTQC) Passed
6 Xinjiang Special Transformer Electrical Co., Ltd SFZ8-31500/110 1998.2 (CTQC) Passed
7 Hubei Transformer Works SFZ8-40000/110 1998.5 (CTQC) Passed
8 Jiangshu Hua Peng Transformer Works SFZ8-31500/110 1998.7 (CTQC) Passed
9 ChangzhouTransformer Works SFZ8-40000/110 1998.8 (CTQC) Passed
10 Qingdao Transformer Works SFZ9-31500/110 1998.9 (CTQC) Passed
11 Shanghai Transformer Works SFZ7-31500/110 1998.9 (CTQC) Passed
12 Wuxi Electric Power Transformer Works SFZ9-40000/110 1998.10 (CTQC) Passed
13 Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ7-26000/132 1998.10 (CTQC) Passed
14 Lianyungang Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ8-31500/110 1999.1 (CTQC) Passed
15 Zhejiang Third Transformer Group Co., Ltd SFSZ8-31500/110 1999.1 (CTQC) Passed
16 Changzhou TransformerWorks SSZ10-50000/110 1999.3 (CTQC) Passed
17 Nanjing power Transformer Works SFZ9-31500/110 1999.4 (CTQC) Passed
18 Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ7-31500/132 1999.5 (CTQC) Passed
19 Ningbo Transformer Works SFZ9-40000/110 1999.6 (CTQC) Passed
20 Zhejiang Power Transformer Works SFZ8-31500/110 1999.6 (CTQC) Passed
21 Jiangxi Transformer Works SZ9-40000/110 1999.6 (CTQC) Passed
22 Shandong Jinmanke Electric Applance Co., Ltd DCZ9-10500/110 1999.8 (CTQC) Passed
23 Chengdu Shuangxing Electric Applance Co., Ltd SFZ9-40000/110 1999.8 (CTQC) Passed
24 Guangzhou Power Equipment Works SFZ9-40000/110 1999.9 (CTQC) Passed
25 Yunnan Transformer Works SFZ-QY-25000/110 1999.11 (CTQC) Passed
26 Changsha Transformer Works SFZ9-31500/110 1999.12 (CTQC) Passed
27 Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ10-40000/110 1999.12 (CTQC) Passed
28 Nangtong Transformer Works SFZ9-M-40000/110 1999.12 (CTQC) Passed
29 Shichuan Shuneng Electric Applance Co., Ltd SFSZ9-31500/110 1999.12 (CTQC) Passed
30 Anshan Electric Power Equipment Works SFZ9-31500/66 1999.12 (CTQC) Passed
31 Guiyang Transformer Works SFZ9-40000/110 2000.3 (CTQC) Passed
32 Fuzhou Transformer Works SFZ8-31500/110 2000.3 (CTQC) Passed
33 Panyu Mingzhu Electric Applance Co., Ltd SZ8-40000/110 2000.4 (CTQC) Passed
34 Xinjiang Sprcial Transformer Electrical Co., Ltd SZ10-M-50000/110 2000.4 (CTQC) Passed
35 Taiyuan Transformer Works SFZ9-40000/110 2000.5 (CTQC) Passed
36 Hefei Transformer Works SFZ9-40000/110 2000.6 (CTQC) Passed
37 Beijing Transformer Works SFZ9-50000/110 2000.6 (CTQC) Passed
38 Henan Nanyang Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ9-25000/110 2000.7 (CTQC) Passed
39 Shandong Xiandai-dachi Transformer Works SFZ9-31500/110 2000.7 (CTQC) Passed

18 IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine

 Table 2. (continued) Transformers Tested from 1996 to Feb. 2002.
No Works name Model Date Test station Result
40 Saanxi Hanzhong Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ9-31500/110 2001.1 (CTQC) Passed
41 Shenyan Zhonghui Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ9-30000/66 2001.1 (CTQC) Passed
42 Luohe Hongda Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ9-40000/110 2001.1 (CTQC) Passed
43 Liuzhou Jiali Transformer Works SFZ-20000/110 2001.4 (CTQC) Passed
44 Shandong Electric Equipment Works SZ-50000/110 2001.5 (CTQC) Passed
45 Saanxi Tongchuan Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ9-31500/110 2001.7 (CTQC) Passed
46 Shandong Luneng Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ9-31500/110 2001.7 (CTQC) Passed
47 Guangzhou Guanggao Transformer Co., Ltd SZ10-M-40000/110 2001.7 (CTQC) Passed
48 Changsha Shunte Transformer Works S8-QY-20000/110 2001.9 (CTQC) Passed
49 Baoding Tianwei Transformer Co., Ltd SF-PQY-25000/110 2001.11 (CTQC) Passed
50 Dalian Transformer Works SZ10-31500/110 2001.11 (CTQC) Passed
51 Yinchuan Transformer Co., Ltd SFQY-31500/110 2002.1 (CTQC) Passed
52 Wuhan Transformer Co., Ltd SFZ10-31500/110 2002.1 (CTQC) Passed
53 Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd SF9-120000/220 2002.2 (CTQC) Passed

pany indicates that there is no fault in the system due to the new
products from 40 factories (the same series type produced after
special short-circuit test). This suggests that transformer manufac-
turing and testing in China has improved and become more reliable
than previously and that HST contributes significantly to the Chi-
nese transformer industry.
Future Development
In the next two to three years, we will fully solve the problem of
110-kV power transformers withstanding short circuits. This means
that all types of transformers (no-load and on-load tap change,
double- or triple-winding transformers) from each factory can pass
the short-circuit test.
We have successfully tested a 220-kV, 120-MVA power trans-
former. We will pay more attention to 220-kV class power trans-
formers and test a few 220-kV, 120-MVA to 180-MVA power trans-
formers in the near future.
The rate of qualification of distribution transformers has im-
proved (Table 2), indicating further improvements in the manufac-
ture and assembly of the active part of the transformers.
Although HST has reached a high industrial level and tested
many power transformers, the equipment for testing higher voltage
classes is still not up to date. Currently, we are not capable of test-
ing 330- to 500-kV class power transformers. In the future, we will
expand HST by adding one generator with a short-circuit power
capacity of 6500 MVA and two IT with the same specifications,
combining the generator with the network. Thus, the test voltage
can potentially reach the 500-kV level and we will be capable of
testing a variety of transformers and further developing transformer
short-circuit tests in China.
References
[1] Y.-Y. He, H.-W. Je, D.-B. Zhu, and J.-X. Yang, The rapid develop-
ment of the transformer industry in China, IEEE Electrical Insula-
tion Magazine, vol.14 , No.4, pp.23-27, 1998.
[2] Y.-Y. He, 500kV power transformer and its partial discharge, ICEM,
1998.
[3] Y.-Y. He, Feasibility study of Transformers High Power Test Sta-
tion, Transformer, 12, 1985.
[4] Y.-L. Jing, H. Yiyan, T.-L. Zhang, J.P. Martin (EDF) Shenyang high
power test station present and future, ICAAA, 1993.
[5] Y.-Y. He, HUSHITAI high power test laboratory, Transformer, 5,6,
1995.
[6] Y.-Y. He, M.-S. Wang, W.-G. Tian, J.-S. Du, Test capability of high
power test lab. For distribution, middle, large transformer in the world,
Transformer, 4, 2000.
[7] Y.-Y. He, Present state and improving measures of power transformer
short-circuit withstanding capability in China and IEC standard, Elec-
trical Equipment, vol. 2, 2001.
He Yiyan was born in Wuhan Hubei, China on Jan. 13, 1931. He
received his B.S. degree from the Department of Electrical Engi-
neering at Wuhan University and joined the Xiangtan Electrical
Machinery Works in 1952. He joined the Shenyang Transformer
Works and Institute in 1956 for H.V. Technology, High Power Test
Lab for R&D. He is a deputy director and a professor of engineer-
ing.
Wang Maosong was born in Shenyang, Liaoning, China on Nov.
23, 1968. He received his B.S. degree from the Department of Me-
chanical Engineering in Shenyang Polytechnic University in1991.
He joined the Shenyang Transformer Research Institute for high-
power testing and research. He is a director and senior engineer of
the High-Power Test Lab.

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