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5492 0031-100 en

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29 views2 pages

5492 0031-100 en

Uploaded by

Leonel Bermudez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Info. No.

5492 0031-100 en
ABB Power Technologies From/Date COM/F 2003-11-10

Product Information

On-load tap-changers for coarse/fine regulation


leakage inductance switching

Introduction IEC 60214-1, edition 2003-02, states that the tap-changer manufacturer shall declare any
limitations related to leakage inductance switching.
This phenomenon, which may cause increased breaking stress, has, by ABB, been
considered as extremely rare as our tap-changers generally have high ohmic values of the
transition resistors, which in turn make them robust to leakage inductance switching.
With the increased responsibility imposed by IEC, ABB has taken the decision to request
additional information from the transformer manufacturers as part of our order clearance
procedure for all types of on-load tap-changers with coarse/fine regulation, Fig. 1.

Fig. 1. Details of tap-changer order data sheet.

Background When changing from one end of the fine winding to the end of the coarse winding, a high
leakage inductance can be set up with the two windings in series. The critical moment
occurs at switching the tap-changers mechanical mid-position, as the circulating current is
passing through not only one loop but also the entire coarse and fine tap winding.
The leakage inductance that occurs from one loop (Fig. 2) is neglectible but can be
substantial from the complete coarse and fine winding (Fig. 3).

Main winding

Coarse winding

Fine winding

Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Postal adress Telecopier


ABB Power Technologies AB Nat 0240 – 121 57
Components Int +46 240 121 57
SE-771 80 LUDVIKA, Sweden
5492 0031-100 en
Page 2
COM/F 2003-11-10

Effect of leakage inductance switching


A leakage inductance of substantial level as described in previous section causes a phase
shift between the switching current and recovery voltage inside the tap-changer. Since
breaking occurs at current zero, an elevated voltage at current zero due a high phase shift is
a complicating factor. If not compensated for, this may result in longer arcing time,
increased contact wear, burn-marks on surfaces other than the contacts and increased stress
on the transition resistors. It shall however be emphasised that in most cases, none of these
effects are very drastic to its nature as they only occur when switching the tap-changers
mechanical mid-position.
IEC has in light of some previous incidents with tap-changers of various make, decided to
bring this issue to everyone’s attention by imposing a more strict responsibility for the tap-
changer manufacturer to verify the breaking conditions, provided the value of the leakage
inductance for a given application is made available by the transformer manufacturer.

Design considerations of the tap-changer


The phase shift increases with increasing leakage inductance (L) relative to the ohmic value
of the transition resistors in the tap-changer (R), and becomes dangerous when reaching a
certain level ( k ).
This can generally be expressed as:

L
⋅ 2 ⋅π ⋅ f ≤ k
R
where

f is the frequency [Hz ]


k is specific to the tap-changer selected and depended type, current rating, connection, step
voltage, switching current and number of positions. The value of the factor k decides
which actions, if any, is taken by ABB to ensure safe operation during leakage inductance
switching.

Design considerations of the transformer


The leakage inductance represents the short-circuit impedance of the coarse and fine tap
winding and is determined by the transformer manufacturer by either calculation or
measurement.
Generally, having coarse and fine winding axially located causes higher leakage inductance
compared to placed radially.
Estimations of the leakage inductance can be performed from the transformers short-circuit
impedance. Approximative formulas exist but are hazardous to use since design specific
parameters such as geometrical shape and location of the different windings, spacing inside
the windings, type of transformer and type of connection in reality influences the actual
leakage inductance. Any such calculations have to be performed by each transformer
manufacturer applying their respective design rules.

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