12 Transformer Factory Tests Briefly Explained

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Factory tests
The remainder of the twelve factory tests are briefly summarized below. The details of the test set connections and
formulas of some of the listed tests are already described in separatly published articles, and for the rest you are
directed to ANSI/IEEE Standard C57.12.90 for these details.

This list is not complete, there are few tests missing, not mentioned here, like Turn ratio test or Measurement of
voltage ratio and check of phase displacement, but you can find them also separatly published at EEP (use Search).

12 Transformer Factory Tests Briefly Explained (on photo: 420 kV power transformer, rated power 400
MVA produced by KOLEKTOR ETRA; transformer total mass is more than 400 ton and it operates in
power plant in Germany, owned by SWM Infrastruktur GmbH.)

1. No-Load Losses
2. No-Load Excitation Current

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 3. Load Losses and Impedance Voltage
4. Dielectric Tests
5. Switching Impulse Test
6. Lightning Impulse Test
7. Partial Discharge Test
8. Insulation Power Factor
9. Insulation Resistance
10. Noise Measurement
11. Temperature Rise (Heat Run)
12. Short-Circuit Test

1. No-Load Losses

The tests measures the no-load losses at specified excitation voltage and a specified frequency. Sine-wave voltages
are used unless a different waveform is inherent in the operation of the transformer.

The recommended method is the average-voltage voltmeter method, employing two parallel-connected
voltmeters. One voltmeter is an average-responding but RMS calibrated voltmeter and the other voltmeter is a true
RMS-responding voltmeter.

The test voltage is adjusted to the specified value as read by the average-responding voltmeters. The readings of
both voltmeters are used to correct the no-load losses to a sine-wave basis.

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2. No-Load Excitation Current

This current is measured in the winding used to excite the transformer with the other windings open-circuited .
It is generally expressed in percent of the rated current of the winding. No-load excitation current is not sinusoidal
and contains, as we have seen, odd harmonics (predominantly third harmonic current).

The ammeter used to record the no-load excitation current is an RMS meter which reads the square root of the sum
of the squares of the harmonic currents.

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3. Load Losses and Impedance Voltage

The transformer must be in a specific state before the load losses and impedance voltage are measured. The
temperature of the insulating liquid must be stabilized and the difference between the top and bottom oil
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temperatures shall be less than 5C.

The winding temperatures must be measured (using a resistance method) before and after the test and the
average taken as the true temperature. The difference in the winding temperature before and after the test must
not exceed 5C.

The two test methods for measuring load losses and impedance voltage are:

1. Wattmeter-voltmeter-ammeter method and

2. Impedance bridge method.

These tests generally apply a reduced voltage to one set of windings with the other set of windings short-circuited.
For three-winding transformers, these tests are repeated for each combination of windings taken two at a time.

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4. Dielectric Tests

These
tests
consist
of
applied-
voltage
tests

Connection diagram for measuring no-load losses

and induced-voltage tests.

Applied-voltage tests apply a high voltage to all bushings of a winding, one winding at a time, with the other
windings grounded. A 60 Hz voltage is increased gradually over 15 s and held for 40 s and reduced to zero over 5 s.
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Induced-voltage tests apply a high voltage across a winding with the other windings open-circuited in order to test
the quality of the turn-to-turn insulation. In order to prevent core saturation at the higher excitation voltage, the
frequency of the induced-voltage test is increased (typically around 120 Hz). The induced voltage is applied for
7200 cycles or 60 s, whichever is shorter.

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5.

Circuit for the impedance and load-loss measurement

Switching Impulse Test

The switching impulse test applies a switching impulse wave between each high-voltage line terminal and
ground.

The test series consists of one reduced voltage wave (50% 70% of specified test level) followed by two full-voltage
waves. Either positive or negative polarity waves, or both, may be used. A voltage oscillogram is taken for each
applied wave. The test is successful if there is no sudden collapse of voltage. Successive oscillograms may differ
because of the influence of core saturation.

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6.
Lightning
Impulse
Test

The test Switching on-off impulse test connection diagram

sequence
consists of
one reduced full wave, two chopped waves, and two full waves. Tap connections are made with the minimum

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effective turns in the winding under tests and regulating transformers are set to the maximum buck position.
Oscillograms are taken of each wave.

The general technique for interpreting the results is to look for differences in the shapes of the reduced full
wave and the two full waves, which indicate turn-to-turn insulation failure.

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Transformer impulse testing and fault detection connections

Additional test criteria are found in IEEE Std. C57.98-1993. The impulse tests probably have the highest likelihood
failures among all of the factory tests that are typically performed.

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7. Partial Discharge Test

This test detects radio-frequency (0.851.15 MHz) noise generated from partial discharges within voids in the
insulation. An applied voltage is gradually increased until partial discharge starts to occur, which is the inception
voltage. The voltage is then decreased until the partial discharge stops, which is the extinction voltage.

The extinction voltage must be less than the operating voltage of the transformer; otherwise, once partial discharge
starts in the field (due to some voltage transient), it would continue indefinitely and possibly cause damage or failure.

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8. Insulation Power Factor

Partial discharge measuring connection circuit

Insulation power factor is the ratio of the power dissipated in the insulation in watts to the apparent power (volt-
amperes) under a sinusoidal voltage. The applied 60 Hz voltage of this test is generally lower than the operating
voltage of the trans- former. The Doble Test Set is designed specifically to carry out this test.

Portable versions are used to measure the insulation power factor of transformers in the field. This test usually must
be done by a trained technician. The test results are temperature-corrected to a reference temperature of 20C.

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9. Insulation Resistance

This test applies a high-voltage DC voltage to one winding at a time with the other windings grounded. The
leakage current is measured and the insulation resistance is calculated using Ohms law.

A Insulation resistance test set is designed specifically to carry out this test, and its meter is calibrated in
megohms in order that the calculation may be avoided. The Megger as well as other manufacturers has a portable
instrument that can easily carried around in the field.

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10. Noise Measurement

The noise measurement test is carried out while the transformer is energized at rated voltage with all of the
cooling equipment running. Room geometry can greatly affect the measurements, so it is preferable that the
transformer be inside an anechoic chamber. However, if such a chamber is not available, no acoustically reflecting
surface may be within 3 m of the measuring microphone other than the floor or ground.
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The recording microphones are positioned in 1 m intervals around the perimeter of the transformer , with no
fewer than four (4) microphone positions for small transformers..

Sound power levels are measured over a

specified band of frequencies. The sound
power levels are converted into decibels
(dB).

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11. Temperature Rise (Heat Run)

The transformer is energized at rated

voltage in order to generate core
losses. The windings are connected to a
loading transformer that simultaneously
circulates rated currents through all of the
windings in order to develop load losses.

Naturally, the excitation voltage and the

applied circulating currents are electrically
90 apart to minimize the KW
requirements for this test. Nonetheless, a
large power transformer can consume up
to 1 MW of total losses and the heat run
test is an expensive test to perform.

Therefore, in order to reduce the total Noise measurement zone and layout of measuring points of Power transformer 242 kV / 15.65
expense, heat run tests are normally kV, 112 MVA (credit: Aleksandra Petrovic, Ljubomir Lukic, Milan Kolarevic and Dusica Lukic at
University of Kragujevac)
performed on only one transformer on
a purchase order for multiple
transformers, unless the customer chooses to pay for testing additional units.

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12. Short-Circuit Test

The short-circuit test is generally reserved for a sample transformer to verify the design of a core and coil
assembly unless the customer specifies that a short-circuit test be performed on transformers that are purchased.

The customer should be cognizant of the ever-present risk of damaging the transformer during short-circuit
tests.

A low-voltage impulse (LVI) current waveform is applied to the transformer before and after the applications of short-
circuit test. The before and after oscillograms of the LVI currents are compared for significant changes in

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waveshape that could indicate mechanical damage to the windings.

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Reference // Power Transformers Principles and Applications John J. Winders, Jr.

(Purchase from Amazon)

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