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C
Presentation of Cigre SC A2 ‘Transformers’ H
Technical developments N
and inputs from present activities I
C
by Pierre Boss*, Chairman of CIGRE SC A2 ‘Transformers’
A
L
problems) of this new generation of transformers was

The scope of Study Committee (SC) A2 ‘Transform-

major topics for SC A2 activities in the late Sixties and
early Seventies. R
ers’ (former SC 12) covers all kinds of power transform-
ers including industrial, DC converter and phase-shift- Impulse stresses E
ing transformers; all type of reactors (shunt, series,
saturated, smoothing, ...); transformer components
Intensive and extended work was devoted to the
aspects of impulse stress phenomena in HV-windings
P
(bushings, tap changers, accessories). Since 2002, instru-
ment transformers have been transferred to SC A3 ‘HV
and to the development of appropriate impulse test pro-
cedures. In those days the risk of failure in service caused
O
Equipment’. In its field, SC A2 aims to facilitate and pro-
mote the progress of engineering and the international
by lightning stroke or under impulse test was high. R&D
work focused on the design of windings able to with-
R
exchange of information and knowledge, and to add
value to this information and knowledge, by means of
stand impulse stress and on related test procedures.
T
synthesizing state-of-the-art practices and developing Dielectric tests
recommendations. Another field of activity was the development of
In the past, with the increasing demand of electrical non-destructive test methods in order to confirm reli-
energy and the growth of grid systems, the activities of able dielectric performance of large HV transformers.
SC A2 concentrated on design problems related to the Ionisation problems and Partial Discharge (PD) mea-
rapid increase of rated voltage and power and the appli- surement became an important item in the work. The
cation of new materials. For the last two decades discus- results were of major influence in drawing up the
sions have centred around service conditions and their related IEC standards for dielectric tests including PD
impact on the transformer performance, along two measurement and in the development of adequate
strategic directions: measuring devices.
● Continue working on transformer technology

issues and consider new information technologies Other aspects

(data, communication, web services). The recent development of UHV transformers in the
● Provide services to CIGRE customers (reliability range of 1100 kV, for AC application, and of 800 kV con-
and availability including impact of accessories, verter transformers for DC application, will probably
life management, economic issues, tutorials, etc.). require further investigation where SC A2 may play a
major role.

Currentt Rellatedd Prooblems

Vo
oltage Rellated d Pro oblems Losses
Until the middle of last Century the highest system The increase of rated voltage was accompanied by
voltage had increased step by step to roughly 300 kV. But a steep increase in the power rating of transformers. It
from then on, in the space of 15 years rated voltage rose culminated in 1300 MVA rating of a GSU transformer
to 800 kV and above. The development of transform- in 1972 and 2000 MVA bank rating of single phase auto-
ers and reactors for Ultra High Voltage (design and test transformers in 1980. As a consequence of the

*Email: pierre.boss@ch.abb.com

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C rapid power increase, manufacturers and users were faced Very fast transients
H with new problems [1] concerning losses, short circuit
withstand and thermal performance.
When gas insulated systems (GIS) for EHV applica-
tion with direct SF6-connection to the transformer was
N introduced, a new kind of overvoltage impact on the
transformer appeared: very fast transients (VFT), raised
I by switching operations in the GIS. It is the rise time of
nano seconds and the high frequencies in the MHz range,
C which impose a new kind of stress on the transformer
windings [2]. SC A2 is still tackling this issue in coop-
A eration with other SCs.

L Static electrification
About 30 years ago Japanese experts reported for
the first time on phenomena of static electrification in

R HV-transformers. An increasing number of faults were

recorded, which were clearly related to static charg-

E Manufacturing of transformer coil ing in large oil filled transformers in the early Eight-
ies. In collaboration with EPRI and other scientific

P Though the efficiency of large transformers is

extremely high (99.5 % or more) the amount of load loss
institutions SC A2 started a JWG with SC D1 ‘Mate-
rials and Emerging Technologies’ to look into the basic

O exceeded the hallmark of 1000 kW with considerable

impact on the performance of the internal cooling. The
physics of the phenomenon and to determine the influ-
encing parameters and counter-measures. The results

R development and application of OD (oil directed) cooling

was only one consequence. Methods for loss measurement
were presented in TB N° 170 but some questions are
still open.

T and heat-run tests had to be revised and adapted to the new

demand. Stray flux problems and the application of ade- Copper sulphides
quate protection against local hot-spots became more The phenomenon had caused numerous failures in
essential and initiated the development of calculation tools. transformers and reactors. In 2005, WG A2.32 was set up
to deal with the problem of formation of copper sulphide
Short-circuit in transformer insulation. Some progress has now been
Another main concern was the short-circuit with- made, especially in the field of test methods.
stand capability of very large transformers reflecting that A prerequisite for the formation of copper sulphide
the short circuit forces were increasing dramatically with is the presence of corrosive or potentially corrosive sul-
the increase of the short circuit power of the systems. phur species in the oil. The oil needs not necessarily be
These problems were extensively discussed in a WG and corrosive in conventional metal strip tests such as DIN
several times addressed as Preferential Subjects (PS) at 51353 or ASTM D 1275, or even in “extended” versions
Sessions. Looking through the list of PS since 1972, and of these tests. Both naphthenic and paraffinic or inter-
reviewing the relevant publications and WG reports, we mediate oils may be affected. The phenomenon is not
can say that SC A2 played an active part in the develop- related to the absence or presence of phenolic antiox-
ment of standards. idant. Regardless of the nature of the oil, the occur-
rence of oils showing corrosive properties has increased
New cha allengges for the tra
ansfformer insullation in the last decade. Temperature is obviously a strong
systtem influential factor, since all chemical reaction rates are
transie
Fast tr ansients
nts temperature dependent. However, temperature is not
In the late Seventies unexplained failures in large the only factor determining the occurrence, nor is the
power transformers under transient voltage conditions location of sulphide formation. In laboratory experi-
sparked off extensive studies on resonance phenomena ments copper sulphide formation was demonstrated
in windings. The investigations covered the frequency in the range 80ºC to 150ºC. The large majority of the
range up to several hundreds kHz typical for conven- failures known so far are within the groups shunt reac-
tional transmission systems and stations. The action of tors, HVDC transformers and generator step-up trans-
WG 12.07 "Fast Transients" resulted in recommendations formers. A common factor to these types is relatively
for adequate design and testing [2]. high loads; otherwise the connection is less evident.

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There are so far very few reports of failures in open
C
breathing equipment. These aspects deserve to be more
closely studied and considered. As a consequence of
H
the temperature dependence, factors such as load,
ambient temperature and cooling settings will have an
N
influence. Any extraordinary electrical stresses would I
also increase the risks of failures due to sulphide
deposits. In particular, the occurrence of large and/or C
very frequent transients seems to have had a signifi-
cant impact. A
Serviicea
ability of power tra ansfformerss L
In 1973 the “oil crisis” put an end to the trend
towards steady increase of energy consumption and Revision of GSU Unit 380 MVA/400 kV on site
further increase of power and voltage ratings of the
related equipment. Serviceability, safe operation and SC A2 contributes to these considerations through
R
E
environmental and economic aspects became pre- the intensive work of a WG on Life management (TB 227
dominant. ‘Life management techniques for power transformer’).

Thermal performance
The scope covers general knowledge and theoretical issues,
diagnostics and monitoring techniques and operations
P
As a key issue of loadability, all aspects of the ther-
mal performance including determination and direct
to be conducted after a problem has been diagnosed. In
2000, a WG was created to prepare a guide related to the
O
measurement of tolerable hot-spot temperature, heat
run test procedure, application of Dissolved Gas Anal-
Economics of Transformer Management: TB 248“Guide R
on Economics of Transformer Management”.
ysis to evaluate the test results, overload practice and
its impact on remanent life expectation have been inves-
A number of publications were produced on these T
topics, which are listed in [3], [4], [5], [6].
tigated by a very active WG [3]. TB 96 “Thermal Aspects
of Transformers” was issued in 1995. HVD DC convertter tra ansfformers and d rea actors
The development and introduction of HVDC trans-
Environment mission systems is a new challenge for both transformer
Regarding the environment impact of transform- users and suppliers. Traditionally transformer technol-
ers noise reduction is of increasing importance. WG 12.12 ogy has to deal with AC phenomena and the design prin-
has elaborated the new IEC-standard on noise inten- ciples are related only to AC conditions. The designers
sity measurement based on extensive measurements per- have to learn how to match different dielectric require-
formed by the members of the group [4]. ments under transient and steady state DC conditions
Provisions against fire hazard and pollution by and to design adequate insulation structures able to with-
oil spill in case of catastrophic faults on large trans- stand DC voltage and superimposed AC voltage stresses
formers, new concepts with non-flammable insulation under test and service conditions.
systems and rupture proof tank design have been dis-
cussed [5].

Lif management of transformers

ifee manage
In recent years life management and reliability have
been the main areas of activity in SC A2 and will con-
tinue to be so in the near future [6]. The principal rea-
sons are that in the industrialised countries the bulk of
power transformers has come of age and that deregula-
tion of the energy supply market have given rise to eco-
nomic considerations on the user side. Both aspects raise
the question of more precise assessment of the remanent
life and improved reliability of the transformer in ser- HVDC Single-phase Converter Unit 500 kV -
vice. 620 MVA - Pacific Intertie project

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C Also, harmonics in the load current and DC excitation whether survey responses reflected the real cause. The
H of the core and their impact on noise and losses have to
be taken into consideration. Pollution of bushings and air-
report also provided definitions of parameters required
for the quantitative evaluation of reliability.
N side insulators require much more attention than under AC
conditions. To respond to the particular service conditions Ten years later WG 12.14 attempted to update the
I extensive development work had to be performed. New and survey, but experienced insurmountable difficulties in
adequate test procedures had to be introduced in the stan- obtaining adequate responses. Reliability is obviously
C dards.A JWG SC A2/SC B4 ‘HVDC and Power Electronics’ a key quality expected of electricity supply systems, so it
worked on preparation of standards for the specification is an obvious topic for study by CIGRE to give a world-
A and testing of HVDC transformers and reactors [7].A joint wide perspective against which local experiences, pos-
action SC A2 - SC B4 was re-initiated in 2004. sibly affected by recent trends in globalisation and de-
L regulation, can be assessed.
New tecchno ologies
Power transformers are continually evolving mature In 2000 SC A2 set up a Reliability Advisory Group to

R products. Over the years many incremental improve-

ments took place in materials, accessories and manufac-
consider and recommend how CIGRE could and should
contribute to activities relating to transformer reliabil-

E
turing, enhancing significantly operational reliability and ity, bearing in mind the difficulties experienced earlier.
reducing losses. This AG published its recommendations [12], with the

P Based on a practical application, the use of super-

creation of WG A2.37 as a result in 2008.

O conducting materials was assessed [8]. Significant

improvements can only be expected from new materials

R for conductors, magnetic circuit or electrical insulation.

SC A2 presently operates 10 WGs. It also maintains,

T In a 2008 report [9], AG A2 ‘Transformer Technol-

ogy’ discussed present day practices, short-term and long-
or plans liaisons with multiple working bodies in SC D1:
Oil maintenance, Reclamation & Dechlorination, Furans
term assessment of various critical aspects of power measurement in transformers, Dielectric Response,
transformers: transformer technology and design, mate- Progress in DGA techniques and diagnosis and Oxida-
rials, manufacturing, processing and testing, accessories, tion Stability of Transformer Insulating Oils. Other
monitoring and controls. liaisons are in place with SC A3, B3, C4 and IEEE, IEC
TC 14 ‘Transformers’ and IEC TC 10 ‘Insulating liquids’.
From this analysis, it appears that the objective of
near term and long term efforts must be to produce Therrmal pe
WG A2.24 - The performanc
manceses (2003). The WG
transformers with improved reliability, enhanced per- is considering: fundamentals of thermal ageing of insula-
formance and lower cost, which will have to meet increas- tion system, thermal modeling of transformers (for mon-
ingly stringent environmental and safety requirements. itoring system) and thermal testing of transformers (con-
This will require greater collaboration between manu- tribution to measuring uncertainties at heat run tests).
facturers and end users. Industry standards will have to
keep pace with these changes. JWG
JW G A2/B4.28 - HVDC
HVD C CoConver ter Tr
Tr ansf
ansfoor me
merrs
(2004). A need to address specifications for HVDC trans-
Tra
ansfformer relliability formers which fully take into account interaction with
In 1983 a report [1] summarised the results of an converter valves has been identified. The new guide will
analysis of data collected on failures of large transform- be based on TB 204,“Guidelines for Conducting Design
ers aged 20 years or less, which occurred from 1968 to Reviews for Transformers 100 MVA and 123 kV”. Exten-
1978, relating to more than 1,000 failures over a total sion 3 of the original design review guide will address
of more than 47,000 unit-years. Failure rates were cal- specific aspects of HVDC transformers and their appli-
culated and the influences of various factors, e.g. appli- cation. Concerning test specification, it is likely that the
cation, voltage, presence of OLTC, were investigated. The JWG will come up with some recommendations on the
two main conclusions were that major failure rates were test requirement modifications and procedures cov-
about 2% per annum (p.a.) and that the first cause – in ered by the existing standards in order to ensure higher
three quarters of the cases – was design, manufacture reliability in service. One of the areas under considera-
or materials, although some doubt was expressed as to tion is the duration of the Polarity Reversal test.

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WG A2.32 - CoCopper sulp
sulphid
hidee in po
power tr
transf
ansfo
orme
merr practice, Handling, experiences of these new fluids with
C
insulatio
insulat ion
n (2005). The WG has dealt with several sub-
tasks, including development of new tests for corrosive
cellulose, d) standards: Review what standards exist for
these fluids, highlight deficiencies, propose remedies and
H
sulphur, metal passivator long term stability, sulphur spe-
ciation and recommendations for mitigation techniques.
e) further work: identify the knowledge gaps/concerns
and propose solutions, or work for other groups.
N
In collaboration with WG A2.32, IEC TC 10 WG 35 has I
prepared a new standard, IEC 62535, for the detection of WG A2.36 - Guid
Guidee fo
for Tr
Transf
ansfo
orme
merr Pr
Procur
cureeme
ment
nt
potentially corrosive sulphur in insulating oil. Inter- Process (2008). The aim is to carry out a full review and C
mediate results of the WG have been published in Elec- update of the existing SC A2 documents on procurement,
tra [10] and [11]. The final report is due by the end of taking into account the current market conditions and A
this year, and a Tutorial is also under preparation. the new commercial pressures experienced by customers.
An update to Brochure 156 on ‘Customers Specifications’ L
WG A2.33 - TrTransf
ansfo
orme
merr Fire
Fire Saf
Safeety Pr
Practic
ices
es (2006). and to Brochure 204 on ‘Design Reviews’ will be car-
IEC TC 14 has shown an interest to integrate recommen- ried out. A new document will provide guidance on how
dations regarding transformer fire into the relevant stan-
dards. The aim is to prepare recommendations for trans-
to evaluate new vendors to assess their technical compe-
tence and experience. R
E
former fire safety practices that will help designers and
users to define and apply best practices. The scope will WG A2.37 - Tr Transf
ansfoorme
merr Re
Reliab
liabilit
ilityy Sur
Survvey (2008).
cover different aspects: avoidance of tank rupture, pre-
caution to fire victim and precautions to fire origin.
The aim is to prepare a TB describing international trans-
former reliability survey practices. A new survey will not P
WG A2.34 - Guid Guidee fo
for Tr
Transf
ansfo
orme
merr Maint
Mainteenanc
nancee
be conducted but data and information already in the
public domain and usually available only locally, will
O
(2006). The aim is to prepare a guide for transformer
maintenance that will help users to define and apply best
be presented in a comprehensive manner. The differences
in contexts like failure definition, transformer usage and
R
practices for maintenance. The Scope will be divided
into 3 parts as follows: a) best practices, list of periodic
transformer specification that may influence survey
results will be discussed and best practices identified.
T
actions applied in service or with outage, checking and Finally, where applicable, the brochure should include
testing in order to evaluate transformer condition, recommendations to improve the compatibility of the
b) advanced maintenance activities, usually referred to data compiled in the different countries and propose a
as condition based maintenance, such as oil additives, uniform way of collecting, compiling and presenting
oil filtering, oil regeneration, and insulation drying and data.
c) human and material aspects of transformer mainte-
nance, with maintenance planning, maintenance tasks Transf
WG A2.38 - Tr ansfo
orme
merr The
Therrmal Mo
Modelling (2008).
tracking, maintenance resources, cost references, level The aim is to describe the state of the art in transformer
of competences required for different tasks, training, thermal modeling to evaluate winding hottest spot as
on-site repair, etc. well as hot spots on other metallic parts (outside the
windings). Advanced transformer modeling tools and
WG A2.35 - Exp
Expeerie
ienc
nces
es in ser
servic
icee with
with new
new liquids
liquids application of hottest spot direct measurement should
(2006). In the Eighties, the same type of fluids have been be studied. If applicable, recommendations will be made
used to improve the physical (thermal, dielectrical) for standard improvement. The applicability of thermal
or/and the environmental performances and other safety modeling to revise old transformer thermal performance
issues of all types of power transformers. In some appli- will also be discussed with examples.
cations, the new fluids are combined with new solid insu-
lating materials. Such applications are now defined in JWG
JW Elec t r ical Tr
G A2/C4.39 - Elec Tr ansie
ansient
nt Int
Inteer ac tio
ionn
new standards like IEC 60076-14-2004. The aim is to col- betw
tweeen Tr
Transf
ansfo
orme
merrs and the Po Power Sy
Syst
steem (2008).
late and review the in-service experience of using the new The objective of the JWG is to assess and discuss the
fluids in a way which is relevant and beneficial to the elec- different types of electrical transient interaction
trical industry. between transformers and other components of the
Areas to be covered are: a) basic properties like phys- T&D power system, motivated by a general increase in
ical and chemical and electrical differences between the transformer dielectric failures, some of them with no
new fluids and mineral oil, fire safety, toxicity, etc. specific causes. Technical articles have been written and
b) design considerations, c) maintenance, Retrofilling recently IEEE and CIGRE have summarized the

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C relevant findings. It has been agreed that fast transient [2] Electrical environment of Transformers:

H overvoltages do exist and can cause damage on trans-

✔ Electrical environment of Transformers –
Impact of fast transients, Electra 218, 2005
former windings. However, still a lot of unknowns
N
✔ Study of Very Fast Transients Overvoltages in
remain regarding this issue, with reference to trans-
transformers (VFTO), Electra 179, 1998
former design and testing, – concerning in particular
I
✔ The resonances overvoltages in power trans-
its insulation, – to transformer protection and to inter-
former, WEB SC A2, 2007
actions between transformers and fast transient sys-
C
✔ Use of ZnO varistors in transformers, Electra
tem ‘sources’, such as circuit breakers, capacitor banks,
143, 1992
power electronics. In this context, the focus of the JWG
A is to pursue an improvement of the transformer reli- [3] Thermal aspects of power transformers:
✔ Considerations on the safe maximum operation
ability, based on recommendations regarding equip-
L ment specifications, design review, system planning temperature, Electra 129, 1990
✔ Lifetime evaluation of transformers, Electra 150,
and operation.
1993

R
✔ Analytical and experimental determination of
the hot-spot factor, Electra 156, 1994
✔ Survey of power transformer overload field
E Proposals for future activities have been received
practices, Electra 156, 1994
✔ Review DGA during heat-run test, Electra 161,
P from various Working Bodies as well as from SC
members.
1995

O The following areas are concerned: - reactors, - trans- [4] Transformer noise: determination of sound
former transportation, - requirement for transformer power level using the sound intensity measurement

R tank, - contingency of transformer practices & standard-

ization and short circuit capability in the context of trans-
method, Electra 144, 1992

[5] Fire Avoidance in Transformer Substation,

T former ageing. During the SC meetings of 2006 and 2008,
workshops have been organised under the leadership
Electra 231, 2007

of some AGs of SC A2, to identify and define global tar- [6] Life management and reliability of power trans-
gets. These are dealing with UHV and HVDC aspects, oil formers:
issues and asset management. Other actions have already ✔ Furanic compounds analysis - a tool for pre-
dictive maintenance of oil-filled electrical equip-
started.
ment (issued by WG D1-01), Electra 175, 1997
✔ Economics of transformer management (see
also CIGRE Brochure N° 248), Electra 214,
2004
✔ Dielectric response methods for diagnostic of
The author acknowledges with thanks the perma-
power transformers (issued by WG D1-01) (see
nent support and contributions from the members of
also CIGRE Brochure N° 254), Electra, 215, 2004
the SC A2 Advisory Group ‘Strategy’. These members are ✔ Recent developments in the interpretation of
Mrs A. ROCHA, MM J. AUBIN, T. BRECKENRIDGE, DGA (issued by WG D1-01) (see also CIGRE
M . DA H LU ND , P h . GU UIN IC , J. HE RM AN S , Brochure N° 296), Electra 226, 2006
J. LAPWORTH, P. LORIN, R. MARTIN, S. MEHTA, ✔ Ageing of cellulose in mineral-oil insulated
A. PETERSEN, Cl. RAJOTTE, M. SARAVOLAC, transformers (issued by WG D1-01), Brochure
Y. SHIRASAKA and S. TENBOHLEN. A special 323, 2007
thank is adressed to Cl. RAJOTTE, Secretary and Web-
[7] HVDC Transformers:
master of SC A2.
✔ In service performance of HVDC converter
transformers and oil-cooled smoothing reac-
tors, Electra 155, 1994
✔ The relationship between test and service
stresses as a function of the resistivity ratio for
[1] An international survey on failure in large power
HVDC converter transformers and smoothing
transformers in service, Electra 88, 1983 reactors, Electra 157, 1994

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C
✔ Considerations of impedance and tolerances for [9] Power Transformers technology review and
HVDC converter transformers, Electra 167, assessments, Electra 236, 2008 H
N
1996
[10] Copper Sulphide in transformer insulation,
✔ HVDC converter transformer noise considera-
Electra 224, 2006
tions, Electra 167, 1996
✔ Load losses in HVDC converter transformers, [11] Copper sulphide in power transformer insula-
I
Electra 174, 1997
✔ Analysis of HVDC Thyristor converter trans-
tion, Electra 230, 2007 C
former performances, Electra 212, 2004
[12] Transformers reliability surveys, Electra 227,
2006 ■ A
[8] High temperature superconductor application
in electrical power systems, Electra 193, 2000
L

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E
P
O
R
T