Grid-like Vibration Measurements on Power Transformer Tank during Open-Circuit and Short-Circuit Tests

Abstract

In this work, the vibrations on the surfaces of the tank wall, stiffeners, and the cover of a 5 MVA transformer experimental model were measured during open-circuit and short-circuit transformer tests. Vibration measurements of a transformer tank side were conducted at discrete points using two different voltage sources in no-load test. Using interpolation functions, the RMS values of acceleration and vibration velocity are visualized and compared for each considered measurement configuration (no-load and load tests and two different excitation sources). Significant differences in mode shapes and amplitudes of vibrations at different frequencies are observed. The maximum RMS values of acceleration, velocity and displacement in the open-circuit test are 0.36 m/s2, 0.31 mm/s, and 0.42 µm, respectively. The maximum values in short-circuit test are 0.74 m/s2, 1.14 mm/s, and 1.8 µm, respectively. In the short-circuit test, the frequency component of 100 Hz is dominant. In the open-circuit test, the first few 100 Hz harmonics are significant (100 Hz, 200 Hz, and 300 Hz). In addition to the visualization of RMS values during the open-circuit and short-circuit tests, animations of the vibrations are created. Fourier analysis and phase comparison between frequency components are also used to show vibration animations at dominant frequencies in the spectrum (100 Hz harmonics). The visualization of the vibrations at the tank wall surfaces is transferred into 3D space in such a way that all 15 surfaces are mapped to the spatial coordinates of the surfaces so that a 3D model of the acceleration, vibration velocity, and displacement of the transformer tank is shown.