TRANSFORMER TESTING

Reference:
IEEE C57.12.90-1993, Standard Test
Code for Liquid-Immersed Distribution,
Power, and Regulating Transformers

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 Test Classification
› Routine Tests - tests made for quality control
by the manufacturer on every device or
representative samples to verify that the
product meets the design specifications.
› Design Tests - tests made to determine the
adequacy of the design of a particular type, or
model of equipment to meet its rating and to
operate satisfactorily under normal service
conditions.
› Other Tests - tests that maybe specified by the
purchaser in addition to routine tests.

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 ROUTINE TESTS
500 KVA & Smaller
» Ratio Test
» Polarity and Phase
Relation Test
» No-Load Loss Test
» Low Frequency
a) Applied Potential
Test
b) Induced Voltage Test
» Leak Test
501 KVA & Larger
» Winding Resistance
» Ratio Test
» Polarity & Phase
Relation Test
» No-Load Loss Test
» Load Loss &
Impedance Test
» Low Frequency (APT
& IVT)
» Leak Test

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 DESIGN TESTS
500 KVA & Smaller 501 KVA & Larger
» Resistance Test
» Load Loss & %IZ Test
» Temperature Rise Test
» Lightning Impulse Test
» Audible Sound Level
» Lifting & Moving
Devices
» Pressure Test
» Temperature Rise Test
» Lightning Impulse Test
» Audible Sound Level
» Lifting & Moving
Devices
» Pressure Test
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 OTHER TESTS
500 KVA & Smaller
» Load Loss & %IZ Test
» Lightning Impulse Test
» Radio Influence Voltage
» Insulation Power Factor
» Insulation Resistance
» Audible Sound Level
» Short-Circuit Capability
» TIF
501 KVA & Larger
» Zero-Phase Sequence
Impedance voltage
» Temperature Rise Test
» Lightning Impulse Test
» Front of wave impulse
» Switching Impulse
» RIV
» IPF
» Insulation Resistance
» Audible Sound Level
» Short-circuit Capability
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WINDING RESISTANCE TEST

● Used to:
• check proper connections and
• determine if an open circuit or high resistance
exists

● Field test results should be within 5% of

factory values.

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INSULATION RESISTANCE TEST
● Used to measure condition of major insulation system
(between winding and ground or between windings)

● Minimum value for 1 minute resistance measurement, in

Mega Ohms:
R = CE/(KVA)0.5

C= 1.5 for oil immersed transformers at 20 deg C

E = volts, phase to phase for delta connection; phase to neutral
for wye connection
KVA = rated capacity of windings being tested (i.e. 3 phase
capacity for three phase transformers)

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 RATIO TEST

● Used to diagnose problem in the minor insulation

system ( winding turn-to-turn and section-to-section)

● Measured ratios compared to calculated ratios from

nameplate voltage should be within .5%

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POLARITY AND PHASE RELATION
TEST

Polarity and phase-relation tests are of

interest primarily because of their bearing
on paralleling or banking two or more
transformers

Phase-relation tests are made to determine

angular displacement and relative phase
sequence
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 INSULATION POWER 

FACTOR TEST

› Used to:

› check proper drying procedure and dryness

of insulation

› check integrity of insulation and its overall

condition (e.g. analyzing exciting current,
capacitance)

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ANALYSIS USING IPF TEST RESULTS

› Compare against manufacturer’s factory

data

› Compare against previous test results

› Comparison against known data for similar

units

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 NO LOAD LOSS & LOAD LOSS
TESTS
› Used to:

› check comformity with design and

specifications

› check quality of workmanship

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 APPLIED POTENTIAL (AC HIPOT)
TEST
› Used to:

› check integrity of major insulation from HV to

Ground, LV to Ground and HV to LV.

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 INDUCED VOLTAGE TEST
› Used to check integrity of minor insulations
(i.e. turn to turn and layer to layer)

› Used in conjunction with partial discharge

test

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 TEMPERATURE RISE TEST
› for design certification to Engineering
› to evaluate thermal characteristics of the
transformer
› to determine and calculate for top oil rise,
winding temperature rise, cooling surface
temperature rise, terminals, & other metal parts
› to simulate transformer loading

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 SOUND LEVEL TEST
› design certification for Engineering
› determine the amount of audible noise
generated by the transformer
› unit is energized through the secondary at
rated voltage, and sound levels are measured
at prescribed intervals around the perimeter of
the unit
› the readings are averaged to obtain the
transformer sound level

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END OF PRESENTATION

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