Dynamic Heat Dissipation Model of Distributed Parameters for Oil-Directed and Air-Forced Traction Transformers and Its Experimental Validation

Abstract

A traction transformer with narrow oil channels is usually cooled with the ODAF or “Oil Directed Air Forced” method, where its temperature greatly depends on the Joule heat of windings, the conjugate heat transfer in the transformer, and the secondary heat release via oil cooler, together with the oil flowrate generated by oil pump. Neither the thermal–electric analogy nor the CFD simulation approach is qualified to predict the temporal and spatial temperature variations in this type of transformer. In the current work, the distributed parameter models are built for traction transformers and oil coolers with the assumption of a one-dimensional temperature field in the oil flow direction, respectively. Then, the two models are combined with the lumped parameter ones of oil pumps and pipes via the flow rate, temperature and pressure continuities at their interfaces, resulting in the derivation of the dynamic heat dissipation model of oil-directed and air-forced traction transformers. Additionally, an efficient algorithm is proposed for its numerical solution, and the temperature rise experiment is performed for model validation. Finally, the fundamental of dynamic heat dissipation in traction transformers is investigated with the current numerical model and the effects of ambient temperature are studied.