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Reduction of Harmonics and Inrush Current of

Power transformer using Prefluxing Technique

Article · June 2015

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 International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869, Volume-3, Issue-6, June 2015

Reduction of Harmonics and Inrush Current of Power

transformer using Prefluxing Technique
Girraj Singh, Dr. Mukesh Kr. Gupta

Abstract— At the time of transformer energisation, a high
II. NATURE OF INRUSH CURRENT
current will be drawn by the transformer. The mentioned
current is called transient inrush current and it may rise to ten The saturation of the magnetic core of a transformer is the
times the nominal full load current of transformer during main cause of an inrush current transient. The saturation of the
operation. Energisation transients can produce mechanical core is due to an abrupt change in the system voltage which
stress to the transformer, cause protection system malfunction
may be caused by switching transients, out-of-phase
and it often affects the power system quality and may disrupt the
operation of sensitive electrical loads such as computers and synchronization of a generator, external faults and faults
medical equipment connected to the system. Reduction and the restoration. The energization of a transformer yield to the
way to control of energisation transient currents have become most severe case of inrush current and the flux in the core can
important concerns to the power industry for engineers. A reach a maximum theoretical value of two to three times the
technique has been proposed to mitigate inrush current in three rated value of peak flux. There is no direct evidence that the
phase transformer, by a process called pre- fluxing. After setting energization of a transformer can cause an immediate failure
the initial fluxes of transformer it is energized by conventional due to high inrush currents. However, insulation failures in
controlled switching. In this paper, a system of power power transformers which are frequently energized under no
transformer of specified rating is simulated in
load condition support the suspicion that inrush currents have
MATLAB/simulink and results were obtained.
a hazardous effect. A more typical problem caused by the
energization of transformers is due to harmonics interaction
Index Terms— Transformer, Harmonics, Inrush Current, with other system components that develops into
Prefluxing, MATLAB/Simulink over-voltages and resonant phenomena. The study of the
energization of a transformer installed in an industrial facility
carried out in highlights problems due to harmonics,
I. INTRODUCTION over-voltages and resonances. In the authors show how the
harmonic distortions caused by the switching of lightly loaded
Inrush Current is a form of over-current that occurs during
or unloaded transformers may be amplified during a power
energisation of a transformer and is a large transient current
system restoration process, creating high harmonic
which is caused by part cycle saturation of the magnetic core
over-voltages [3] [4]. In the energization of large size
of the transformer. For power transformers, the magnitude of
transformers in EHV substations with long transmission lines
the first peak of inrush current is initially several times the
is discovered to cause significant temporary disturbances
rated load current but slowly decreases by the effect of
when harmonic resonances are reached. In particular, when
oscillation damping due to winding and magnetizing
there are transformers already connected to the bus, the
resistances of the transformer as well as the impedance of the
disturbances caused by the energization of one more
system it is connected to until it finally reaches the normal
transformer have greater duration and intensity. In it is
exciting current value. This process typically takes several
discussed how transformer inrush current can excite
minutes. As a result, inrush current could be mistaken for a
resonance frequencies in inter-connected offshore power
short circuit current and the transformer is erroneously taken
systems [5] [6].
out of service by the over - current or the differential relays
[1]. The transformer design and station installation
parameters affect the magnitude of the inrush current
significantly. Therefore, it is important to have an accurate Factor Affecting Inrush Current
 Starting phase angle of voltage
calculated value of the magnitude and other parameters of
inrush current in order to design the relaying to properly  Residual flux in core
differentiate between inrush and short circuit incidents. Also,
a proper calculation of the minimum % ratio of 2nd harmonic  Core material
content of inrush current is an especially important parameter
for this differentiation [2].  Supply/Source impedance
This paper contains basic principle, fundamental theory and
mitigation of inrush current in transformer. The effects of  Loading on secondary winding
inrush current are described in brief The MATLAB Simulink  Size of transformer [7] [8]
is used for the simulation.
Reduction of inrush current using Prefluxing

Girraj Singh, Scholar, M.tech, Jagannath University, Jaipur The innovation behind the prefluxing inrush current reduction
Dr. Mukesh Kr. Gupta, Professor, Deptt. of Electrical Engg, JNIT Jaipur strategy lies in the prefluxing device itself. The prefluxing

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 Reduction of Harmonics and Inrush Current of Power transformer using Prefluxing Technique

device capacitor is charged to a user-specified voltage and

then discharged into the transformer when closing the device
switch. It is necessary for the prefluxing device to set the
residual flux of a transformer as high as possible to minimize
the inrush current, but also to do so efficiently. The prefluxing
reduction strategy is a two part process. First, the
transformer’s residual flux is set as close as possible to its
maximum achievable residual flux when the transformer is
de-energized. The second part of the process controls the CB
to energize the transformer at either an angle of 210 for
positive residual flux, or 330 for negative residual flux. These Figure 1: Simulink model of uncompensated System
angles are chosen as part of an inrush current reduction
strategy for three-phase transformers that enable the use of a A three phase 11 kV source connected with the transformer
three-pole CB. which is shown in figure 1. The results of uncompensated
system are shown as under.
Prefluxing device consists of a capacitor, a diode, a fuse, and
a switch. A charging circuit (not shown) establishes the initial
voltage across the capacitor. The device is used when the
transformer is isolated from the power system and connects
across one of the transformer windings [9]. When the
maintenance work is completed on the transformer, personnel
can charge the device. Once the prefluxing device is charged,
the charging circuit is disconnected from the device, and the
device is connected to the transformer through the isolators,
the switch is closed, and the transformer is fluxed to the
appropriate polarity depending on how the device is
connected. Prior to energisation, the prefluxing device is
Figure 2: Inrush Current in phase A
safely removed from the circuit and then an intelligent
electronic device, such as a protective relay, receiving a Figure 2 shows the inrush current in phase A which is equal to
voltage signal from a bus PT issues a close command to the 2900 kA. Figure 3 shows the inrush current in phase B. this
connecting CB to energize the transformer at the appropriate current is equal to 2400 kA.
angle given the flux polarity. The prefluxing inrush current
reduction method overcomes many of the shortcomings
inherent in the other inrush current reduction methods
discussed previously. Unlike the pre-insertion resistors, the
prefluxing device only operates during the isolation period
and then is removed from the power system prior to
energisation. The controlled closing with flux measurements
strategy acquires the residual flux information from the
transformer for consistent performance, but requires
additional, permanent measurement equipment be mounted
on the transformer terminals. The prefluxing device does not
require knowledge of the initial transformer flux since the
prefluxing device will set the transformer flux to the desired
Figure 3: Inrush Current in phase B
polarity. Hence, supplementary measurement equipment is
not needed. In addition, the prefluxing of the transformer is Figure 4 shows the inrush current in phase C which is equal to
performed after any measurements are made on the 850 kA and figure 5 shows the flux in all three phases which is
transformer during maintenance procedures to ensure the saturated.
residual flux is at the known polarity prior to the controlled
energisation [10].

III. SIMULATION MODEL AND RESULTS

 Without using any mitigation technique

A MATLAB model has prepared for simulation study. Here

three phase power transformer having a rating of 250 MVA,
11 kV/400 kV, 50 Hz, connected to a supply source as shown
in fig. . Figure 4: Inrush Current in phase C

73 www.erpublication.org
 International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869, Volume-3, Issue-6, June 2015

Figure 5: Flux in all three phases Figure 8: Harmonics in phase C

Harmonics With using prefluxing technique

Harmonics of uncompensated system is shown in figure 6,7 Figure 9 shown the simulation model which is same as
and 8. Figure 5 show harmonic in phase A, Total harmonics describe as above but in this model, a new technique has been
distortion is 37.37 %.The DC component in this phase is 68 % introduce to mitigate high inrush current. This technique
and second harmonic is 100 %. mitigate the inrush current till 90% and provide a smooth
wavefrom. The results are shown as below.

Figure 9: Simulink model of uncompensated System

Mitigate current
Figure 6: Harmonics in phase A

Figure 7 show harmonic in phase B, Total harmonics Figure 10, shown the inrush current in phase A in power
distortion is 46.46 %. The DC component in this phase is 62 transformer with using prefluxing. The magnitude of current
% which is large compare to phase A DC component but is 38 kA. Compare with figure 2, the inrush current is
second harmonic is 105 % which less than phase A second mitigating from 2900 kA to 38 kA.
harmonic

Figure 10: Mitigated current in phase A

Figure 11 , shown the inrush current in phase B in power

transformer with using prefluxing. The magnitude of current
is 35 kA. Compare with figure 3, the inrush current is
Figure 7: Harmonics in phase B mitigating from 2400 kA to 35 kA.
Figure 8 show harmonic in phase C, Total harmonics Figure 12 show the inrush current in phase C in power
distortions 110.86 %.The DC component in this phase is 55 % transformer with using prefluxing. The magnitude of current
which is large compare to phase A but less compare to phase is 35 kA. Compare with figure 4, the inrush current is
B. Second harmonic is 102 % which is highest among all three mitigating from 650 kA to 35 kA.
phases.

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 Reduction of Harmonics and Inrush Current of Power transformer using Prefluxing Technique

Figure11: Mitigated current in phase B Figure 14: Reduced Harmonic in phase A

Figure 12: Mitigated current in phase C Figure 15: Reduced Harmonic in phase B

Figure 13 shows the flux which is generated by prefluxing

device and system voltage source. This flux is more Figure 16 shown harmonic in phase C. Total harmonics
symmetrical then uncompensated system distortion is 0.04 %. The DC component in this phase is 0.025
% which is large compare to phase A DC component but
second harmonic is 0.050 % which less than the THD which
achieved in uncompensated system. The THD in
uncompensated system is 110.86 %

Figure 13: Flux in all three phases

IV. HARMONICS Figure 15: Reduced Harmonic in phase C

Figure 14 shown harmonic in phase A. Total harmonics

distortion is 0.02 %.The DC component in this phase is 0.12 V. CONCLUSION
% and second harmonic is 0.25% While THD in
This paper presented an inrush current reduction strategy
uncompensated system is 31.37.
which sets the residual flux of a three-phase transformer to a
large magnitude and specific polarity in a method known as
Figure 15 shown harmonic in phase B. Total harmonics prefluxing and then energizes the transformer at a specified
distortion is 0.02 %. The DC component in this phase is 0.12 system voltage angle based on the flux polarity. This strategy
% which is large compare to phase A DC component but has advantages over some of the presently suggested
second harmonic is 0.30 % which less than the THD which reduction strategies, including removing the need for residual
achieved in uncompensated system. The THD in flux measurements during transformer de-energisation. The
uncompensated system is 46.46% prefluxing device that sets the flux of the transformer is

75 www.erpublication.org
 International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869, Volume-3, Issue-6, June 2015
simple in form and flexible to apply to any range of
transformer sizes. In addition, the device can operate at low-
voltage levels, such as the substation ac or dc supply,
regardless of the voltage rating of the transformer.

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