
The transformer oil of the GK type for
processing refers to naphthenic oils with positive
gas resistance. To increase stability against
oxidation, the transformer oil is subjected to
intensive processing (hydro-cleaning) of hydrogen
at high pressure and high temperature with the use
of catalysts. All chemical reactions in the process of
hydro-cleaning are in a state of equilibrium and it is
possible that they can theoretically go in the
opposite direction under conditions other than those
under which the process of hydro-cleaning took
place.
The new equilibrium is established in practice
when new transformer oil is commissioned and the
environment in which the oil exists
changes. Balance can change due to changes in
temperature, pressure, vibration, and pollution,
causing a slight gas formation. In the absence of any
external factors leading to gas generation, gas
production in the transformer for 6-8 months, and
sometimes more, months, stops. The main gas of
this gas generation is hydrogen.
The decomposition of transformer oil and solid
insulation with the release of hydrocarbon gases,
oxide, and carbon dioxide occurs under the
influence of electrical defects (electric arc in oil,
partial discharges and arc in the oil barrier isolation,
etc.) and thermal defects (heat decomposition of oil
and oil barrier insulation, solid insulation
overheating, aging of solid insulation and oil, etc.)
[7].
3 Power transformer defects
Defects that cause gas generation and are
identified by the results of DGA should be divided
conditionally into several groups, namely:
Defects of the first group - defects that cause
gas generation, are associated with structural and
operational features, namely, defects with
circulating currents in windings and short-circuited
contours, induced by scattering flux created by
wind-ups during operation and testing.
Windings with an asymmetrical and uneven
distribution of linear load relative to the middle of
windings and other windings (input coils from the
end of windings, adjustment coils, etc.),
asymmetrical location of windings relative to the
magnetic window systems, asymmetrical location of
shunts relative to the ends of windings, etc. refer to
the design features of such transformers.
Uneven load of split windings (more than 20%)
of transformers with split windings short-circuit of
parallel conductors, multi-height windings,
deformation of windings, turn-to-turn short-circuit,
i.e. modes and defects leading to the uneven and
asymmetrical distribution of loads by the height of
the windings are the operational features of
transformers.
Electromagnetic scattering is an incomplete
electromagnetic connection in a transformer caused
by the presence of magnetic flux that is not common
to both windings, i.e. closed outside the magnetic
system, and called the scattering flux. The degree of
incomplete electromagnetic connection has a great
impact on many technical parameters, including
short circuit parameters.
It is known that the magnetic field (stream) of
scattering, in a real transformer can be represented
in the form of three fields: a longitudinal field,
created by a full number of winding turns with
current; a cross-field caused by the final height-
width ratio of windings and the second cross field
caused by the uneven distribution of linear load by
the height of windings.
Defects that cause gas generation are associated
with the presence of magnetic scattering flux in the
closed circuits of the magnetic scattering space of
windings.
The induced voltage from the scattering fields is
applied precisely to the insulation gaps of the joints
in the presence of butt connectors in the circuits;
therefore, a section is formed with a high
inhomogeneous electric field, causing discharge
phenomena in the oil gap of the joint.
The prolonged exposure (months and years) of
this insignificant electric field to the transformer oil
in the joint area leads to the gradual accumulation of
gases in the oil.
This process can be called partial discharges at
the joints of closed loops.
Here, a typical example can be for distribution
transformers a violation of the insulation of the tie
rods, and yoke pressing beams, when as a result
short circuits are formed with butt gaps in the
openings of the channels of the yoke beams with
studs.
Discharge phenomena can occur between the
parallels themselves, which are separate electrodes,
between which in the insulation gap (butt connector)
an electromagnetic force (EMF) is applied in the
case of parallel branches. The relatively small value
of this EMF during prolonged (for months)
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on POWER SYSTEMS
DOI: 10.37394/232016.2023.18.13
Khrennikov A. Yu., Aleksandrov N. M.