Tank Current Measurement of Three-Phase Transformer: Its Resonance Behavior and Sensitivity to Detect Mechanical Faults

摘要

In this paper, a novel technique to improve the fault detection sensitivity in a three-phase transformer using the tank current method is reported. The tank current method was first published by the first author in recent past for single isolated transformer winding. A fault in single isolated transformer winding was uniquely identified employing the typical resonance behavior of tank current, but for three-phase transformer, such implementation is yet to be explored. The present scope of this paper is only for uniformly wound three-phase transformer windings. Implementing the tank current method for such a three-phase transformer may not be very simple, since the neighboring windings, unlike in the case of isolated winding, strongly influence the measurement of the tank current. Therefore, this paper appropriately considers the effect of neighboring windings in a three-phase transformer and investigates the resonance behavior of its tank current to propose a promising innovative extension approach of the method. Experimental results on actual transformers are also presented for practical validation of the proposed method. Results imply that the tank current method is indeed very sensitive to identify the fault in an actual transformer compared to the conventional neutral current method. The authors also believe that the method needs to be reinforced by field measurements on several transformers to ascertain its viability.