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OLTC, Selector - Diverter Switch System & Changing Process

On-load tap changers (OLTC) are essential for modifying transformer output voltage without interrupting load current, operating through a selector-diverter switch system. The tap selector changes taps under no-load conditions while the diverter switch performs on-load changes, with two main selector types affecting the design and operation of the regulating winding. Understanding the OLTC's complex mechanism is crucial for maintainers to ensure proper synchronism and effective maintenance.

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163 views2 pages

OLTC, Selector - Diverter Switch System & Changing Process

On-load tap changers (OLTC) are essential for modifying transformer output voltage without interrupting load current, operating through a selector-diverter switch system. The tap selector changes taps under no-load conditions while the diverter switch performs on-load changes, with two main selector types affecting the design and operation of the regulating winding. Understanding the OLTC's complex mechanism is crucial for maintainers to ensure proper synchronism and effective maintenance.

Uploaded by

paradies230
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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How is the OLTC changing process in the selector- diverter

switch system
On-load tap changers modify the output voltage of the transformer without
interrupting the load current. The OLTC represent a critical component for HV
power transformers. Such device is a complex mechanism that should be known
in detail as much as possible by all those maintainers who have in charge
managing these assets. Since it is a synchronized operating system, it is
interesting to understand in detail how this assembly works.

In general, the regulating side of the power transformer has both, a main and a
regulating winding, so, how are the main (usually but not always, the HV) and the
regulation winding itself linked on the tapped regulating side of the transformer?
how do the main and regulating winding assembly operate together?

It is known that normally in OLTC operating under a selector-diverter switch


system, the tap selector changes the tap “on voltage” but in “no-load” condition,
while the diverter switch produces the tap change “on-load”.

Basically, in OLTC where the tap selection and the switching process are
physically executed in two different devices, the general assembly is as follows:

All the taps of the three-phase tapped regulating winding are connected to the
tap selector. Of all those taps, at all times the tap selector has an even and an
odd tap “selected” under voltage per each phase, being one of them on-load; on
the other side, both energized taps (per phase) are connected from the selector
to the diverter switch, where always the on-load switching process occurs.

The concept that is interesting to manage, is how this process develops. To


perform it, normally two selector types can be used, reversing change-over
selector type and coarse change-over selector. So then, reversing change-over
selector type or coarse change-over selector type? what makes it the difference
between them? The choice of one type or another is a decision that is usually
made jointly between the transformer manufacturer and the OLTC supplier.

Their different operating characteristics lead to major differences in the design of


the overall regulating winding. Thus, what should be evaluated is not only the tap
changing itself but also the regulating winding system as a whole.
Reversing change-over selector type requires a tapped regulating
winding that can be added to or subtracted from the main winding
(+ or -), depending on the position of the inverter. In position “+”
(output voltages lower than rated one), it adds turns “additively”
and in position “-“ (output voltages higher than rated one), adds
turns “subtractively”. From this assembly, depending on how the
turns are connected, main flux can be increased or reduced, and,
as a consequence, the secondary induced voltage be modified.

Coarse change-over selector type requires a coarse and a tapped fine regulating
winding. Coarse winding has a turns number equivalent to the complete fine
regulation winding, plus one more regulation step, with no taps. From
this assembly, main winding is connected to both, the coarse and the
tapped fine regulation winding, by means of a pre-selector (+ or -).
For output voltages higher than rated (lower number of turns),
main winding connects to the fine regulation winding (position “-“);
for output voltages lower than rated (higher number of turns), main
winding connects to the course regulation winding (position “+“),
and by means of this, to the fine regulation winding. This way, for
each position, the turn ratio is modified from 𝑈 = 𝑈 × ±

It can be concluded that overall OLTCs are a complex device; so, preserving their
proper synchronism throughout the switching process, results a key point to keep
it working correctly, which imposes having expert knowledge about it.
Consequently, maintainers of such assets are required to know them in as much
detail as possible, in order to make appropriate maintenance decisions.

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