The 8th International Conference on Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis (CMD 2020)

Detection of Axial Displacement of Transformer

Winding by Frequency Response Analysis without
Past Measured Reference Data
Satoru Miyazaki
Electric Power Engineering Research Laboratory
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
Kanagawa, Japan
[email protected]

Abstract—Frequency response analysis is applied to ground faults may also occur inside the power transformer.
diagnosis of a power transformer that experiences a ground This is catastrophic as it may cause an extended power outage.
fault due to a lightning strike. Because no past measured
reference data are available for comparison, the measured data In [4], a quantitative diagnostic method for the AD based
are compared between three phases. The diagnosis procedure on comparison of the measured TF with the past measured
focuses on resonances that show bipolar signatures in the reference data was proposed. However, in practice, the past
transfer functions of inductive inter-winding measurements measured reference data are not available in most real
because these resonances are sensitive to axial displacements. situations. The Central Research Institute of Electric Power
The resonances of the transfer function of the W phase are Industry (CRIEPI) applied FRA to a transformer that did not
found to disagree with those of the other phases. Therefore, it is have past measured reference data available and successfully
proposed that the W phase winding is displaced axially. The detected the axial displacement of a real transformer winding
transformer is dismantled and a tilt in the low-voltage winding [5]. This case is introduced in this paper.
of the W phase, which is a type of axial displacement, is found.
This result indicates that frequency response analysis is II. APPLICATION OF FRA TO A REAL TRANSFORMER
applicable to detection of axial displacement, even when no past
A real transformer experiences internal ground faults at the
measured reference data are available.
W phase winding because of lightning strikes. The
Keywords— power transformer, axial winding displacement, specifications of the transformer under test here are
frequency response analysis, past measured reference data summarized in Table I. The high current that flows during the
ground fault causes an electromagnetic force to be generated
I. INTRODUCTION that may result in some mechanical faults. FRA is therefore
Frequency response analysis (FRA) [1-3] has attracted applied to the transformer to investigate the mechanical
considerable attention for use as a diagnostic method for conditions inside the transformer.
mechanical faults in the windings of power transformers Several FRA connection schemes are standardized as
(which are referred to as transformers hereafter), including follows [1].
axial displacements (ADs). In FRA, the frequency responses,
i.e., the transfer functions (TFs) of the devices under test, are • End-to-end open circuit (OC) measurement
measured. The frequency response is defined as the amplitude • End-to-end short circuit (SC) measurement
ratio and the phase difference between the voltages measured
at two terminals of a transformer under test over a range of • Inductive inter-winding (IIW) measurement
frequencies when one of these terminals is excited using a
voltage source [1]. In FRA, faults are basically detected by • Capacitive inter-winding (CIW) measurement
detecting changes in the TFs when compared with reference Schematic illustrations of the four connection schemes are
data that are measured when the power transformers are shown in Fig. 1. Additionally, a connection scheme called
performing normally. So-called initial data are sometimes capacitive inter-winding measurement with short-circuiting
used as reference data. However, the initial data that are windings (CIW-SC) was proposed in [4] to eliminate the
measured in the initial stages of the transformer life, e.g., effects of the magnetizing inductance in CIW measurement
immediately after installation, are not always necessary for and is illustrated in Fig. 1(e). In this study, the OC, SC, IIW,
reference to make comparisons in FRA. For example, the data and CIW-SC connection schemes are employed. The
measured when device operation is stopped for maintenance measured transformer TFs are shown in Fig. 2.
can also be used as a reference for comparison in FRA, as long
as the transformer is operating normally at that time. TABLE I. SPECIFICATION OF TRANSFORMER THAT EXPERIENCES
Therefore, in this paper, the term “past measured reference GROUND FAULT.
data” is used rather than “initial data.” Itme Specification
Axial displacement of the transformer winding is one of Rated voltage 75.25/22 kV
the most severe mechanical faults in power transformers
because it may result in an increase in the mechanical force Rated capacity 20MVA
generated when a high short-circuit current flows into the Vector group YNyn0+d
winding. This strong mechanical force may cause insulation
papers and/or pressboards to break, and short-circuit and/or Manufacture year 1982
Experiences ground fault due to a lightning strike
Remarks
to the transmission line

978-1-7281-5931-7/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE

393

Authorized licensed use limited to: Raytheon Technologies. Downloaded on May 19,2021 at 02:33:45 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 The 8th International Conference on Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis (CMD 2020)

(a) OC (b) SC (c) IIW

(d) CIW (e) CIW-SC

Fig. 1. Connection schemes for measurement of TFs in FRA.

(a) OC measurement of high-voltage winding (b) SC measurement of high-voltage winding

(c) OC measurement of low-voltage winding (d) SC measurement of low-voltage winding

flat

Bipolar signature

deep trough

(e) IIW measurement. (f) CIW-SC Measurement

Fig. 2. Measured transfer functions.

394

Authorized licensed use limited to: Raytheon Technologies. Downloaded on May 19,2021 at 02:33:45 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 The 8th International Conference on Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis (CMD 2020)

the transformer winding is not axially displaced. Therefore,

the disagreement of the resonance that shows the bipolar
signature may indicate an axial displacement of the W phase
winding. Note that it is important to confirm the agreement of
the resonances that show the bipolar signature among the TFs
of the three phases for transformers, which do not have the
AD, to establish the method used for detection of the AD by
FRA. This work will be undertaken in the near future.
III. RESULTS OF DISMANTLEMENT
The transformer was dismantled to confirm the presence
of the mechanical fault inside it. On dismantlement, the tilting
of the low-voltage winding of the W phase was found, as
shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows the measured distance from the
Fig. 3. Enlargement of resonance characteristics showing bipolar signature iron-core frame to the bottom of the low-voltage winding.
found in the TFs of the IIW measurements.
Although the initial states of the windings are not known, the
low-voltage winding of the W phase is tilted more than that of
-3mm -5mm -2mm -2mm the U phase winding. Note that tilting of the winding is a type
of axial displacement of the winding. It can then be understood
W-phase U-phase that tilting of the low-voltage winding of the W phase results
winding winding in the amplitude change in the resonances that show the
bipolar signature of the TF of W phase.
-0mm -1mm -0mm -1mm
IV. CONCLUSION
( reference ) ( reference )
In this study, a case study that successfully detects axial
Fig. 4. Measured distance from iron-core frame to the bottom of the low- displacement of the winding of a real transformer by
voltage winding (bottom view).
performing FRA without use of past measured reference data
It has been demonstrated previously that the IIW is introduced. The resonances of the TFs of the IIW
measurement scheme is the most sensitive to axial measurements of the W phase that show the bipolar signature
displacement of the winding [4, 6]. Typically, the TFs of IIW do not agree with those of the TFs of the other phases. This
measurements are flat in the frequency range below several indicates axial displacement of the W phase winding. The
hundreds of hertz because the TF within this frequency range transformer was dismantled and tilting of the W phase
is determined by the transformation ratio. In the case shown winding, which is a type of axial displacement, was found.
in Fig. 2(c), the upper bound is approximately 500 Hz. The TF From these results, the possibility of detection of axial
also typically shows a deep trough at a frequency of several displacement of the transformer windings by performing FRA
tens of kHz. In the case shown in Fig. 2(c), the deep trough without use of past measured reference data was confirmed. It
occurs at approximately 20 kHz. Within the frequency range will be necessary to confirm the agreement of the resonances
between these two frequencies, the TF generally presents a that show the bipolar signature among the TFs of the three
smooth curve, but there are resonances that show the bipolar phases for transformers which do not have the AD to establish
signature at frequencies of several kHz. In the case shown in the method for detection of the axial displacement by FRA
Fig. 2 (c), the bipolar signature is found at approximately 6 without using past measured reference data.
kHz. The amplitudes of the resonances that show the bipolar In practice, most real transformers do not have past
signature are changed because of the AD [4, 6]. The measured reference data available. Furthermore, only the OC
quantitative diagnostic method that was proposed in [4] also measurement is a standard measurement, and the SC, CIW,
focuses on the resonances that show bipolar signatures. and IIW measurements are defined as optional measurements
Fig. 3 shows an enlargement of the resonance in the IEC 60076-18:2012 standard [1]. Therefore, even if a
characteristics that show the bipolar signature. Although the transformer to be diagnosed by FRA did have past measured
resonances of the TFs of the U phase and the V phase agree reference data, these data would be from OC measurements,
almost completely with each other, that of the TF of the W and past measured reference data from IIW measurements are
phase does not agree with the resonances of the other phases. rare. The quantitative diagnostic method using the past
measured reference data from IIW measurements proposed in
Even a transformer does not have any mechanical faults, [4] will be helpful in detailed diagnosis of the AD. However,
the TFs of the three phases do not agree with each other that approach would only be applicable to a small fraction of
completely over the entire frequency range [7, 8]. However, real transformers. Therefore, not only the quantitative
the disagreements between the TFs in the high-frequency diagnostic method but also the detection method of the AD
range are remarkable, while the TFs all tend to agree in the without use of past measured reference data for the FRA, will
low-frequency range. Note that the difference between the be useful in practical maintenance applications.
TFs of the OC measurements at approximately 1 kHz
observed in Fig. 2(a) and (c) are due to the difference between ACKNOWLEDGMENT
the magnetic paths of the three phases. The residual flux also The author is grateful to the staff members of the Hokuriku
affects these resonant frequencies. Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Company for
The focused resonances are observed in the low-frequency their contributions to the measurement and dismantlement of
band, which occurs around 6 kHz. As a result, these the real transformer.
resonances are expected to agree with each other as long as

395

Authorized licensed use limited to: Raytheon Technologies. Downloaded on May 19,2021 at 02:33:45 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 The 8th International Conference on Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis (CMD 2020)

REFERENCES
[1] IEC60076-18, Measurement of frequency response, ED. 1, IEC Std.
2012.
[2] IEEE guide for the application and interpretation of frequency
response analysis for oil-immersed transformers, IEEE Std. C57.149-
2012, pp. 1–72, 2013.
[3] P. Picher, S. Tenbohlen, M. Lachmann, A. Scardazzi, and P. Pavel,
“Current state of transformer FRA interpretation,” Procedia
Engineering, vol. 202, 2017, pp. 3-12.
[4] S. Miyzaki, M. Tahir, and S. Tenbohlen, “Detection and quantitative
diagnosis of axial displacement of transformer winding by frequency
response analysis,” IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution, vol.
13, no. 15, pp. 349-3500, 2019
[5] S. Miyazaki, “Hierarchical Evaluation of Failure Probability of Power
Transformer Concerning Axial Displacement of Winding - Detection
of Winding Displacement by Frequency Response Analysis (FRA)
without Past-Measured Reference Data -,” CRIEPI report, H19002,
2020 (in Japanese)
[6] S. Miyazaki, M. Tahir, and S. Tenbohlen, “Sensitivity of Connection
Schemes for Detection of Axial Displacement of Transformer
Winding by Frequency Response Analysis,” paper presented at 2018
International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and
Application, Athene, Greece, 2018, O-MD5-1
[7] J. Christian and K. Feser, “Procedures for detecting winding
displacements in power transformers by the transfer function
method,” IEEE Trans. on Power Delivery, vol. 19, 2004, pp. 214-220
[8] S. Miyazaki, Y. Mizutani, K. Matsumoto, and S. Nakamura, “On-site
Diagnosis of Abnormality of Transformer Winding by Frequency
Response Analysis -Diagnosis Without Initial Data-,” paper
presented at 2010 Condition Monitoring and Diagnosis, Tokyo,
Japan, 2010, pp. 2-54

396

Authorized licensed use limited to: Raytheon Technologies. Downloaded on May 19,2021 at 02:33:45 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.