The Transformer is a device used to convert the energy at one voltage level to the
energy at another voltage level. During this conversion process, losses occur in the
windings and the core of the transformer. These losses appear as heat. The
transformer’s output power is less than its input power. The difference is the amount
of power converted into heat by core loss and winding losses. The losses and the
heat dissipation increases with increase in the capacity of the transformer.
The temperature rise of a transformer can be estimated by the following formula:
ΔT = (PΣ/AT)0.833
Where:
ΔT = temperature rise in °C
PΣ = total transformer losses (power lost and dissipated as heat) in mW;
AT = surface area of transformer in cm2.
Cooling of Transformers
Cooling of a transformer is the process of dissipation of heat developed in the
transformer to the surroundings. The losses occurring in the transformer are
converted into heat which increases the temperature of the windings and the core. In
order to dissipate the heat generated cooling should be done.
How to Cool the Transformer?
There are two ways of cooling the transformer:
First, the coolant circulating inside the transformer transfers the heat from the
windings and the core entirely to the tank walls and then it is dissipated to the
surrounding medium
Second, along with the first technique, the heat can also be transferred by coolants
inside the transformer.
The choice of method used depends on the size, type of applications and the
working conditions.
Coolants
The coolants used in the transformer are air and oil. In dry type transformer air
coolant is used and in oil immersed one, oil is user. In the first said, the heat
generated is conducted across the core and windings and is dissipated from the
outer surface of the core and windings to the surrounding air. In the next, heat is
transferred to the oil surrounding the core and windings and it is conducted to the
walls of the transformer tank. Finally the heat is transferred to the surround air by
radiation and convection.
Methods of Cooling of Transformer
Based on the coolant used the cooling methods can be classified into:
1. Air cooling
2. Oil and Air cooling
3. Oil and Water cooling
1. Air cooling (Dry type transformers)
Air Natural(AN)
Air Blast (AB)
2. Oil cooling (Oil immersed transformers)
Oil Natural Air Natural (ONAN)
Oil Natural Air Forced (ONAF)
Oil Forced Air Natural (OFAN)
Oil Forced Air Forced (OFAF)
3. Oil and Water cooling (For capacity more than 30MVA)
Oil Natural Water Forced (ONWF)
Oil Forced Water Forced (OFWF)
1. Air Cooling (Dry Type Transformers)
In this method, the heat generated is conducted across the core and windings and is
dissipated from the outer surface of the core and windings to the surrounding air.
Air Natural
Air Natural (AN)
This method uses the ambient air as the cooling medium. The natural circulation of
the air is used for dissipation of heat generated by natural convection. The core and
the windings are protected from mechanical damage by providing a metal enclosure.
This method is suitable for transformers of rating up to 1.5MVA. This method is
adopted in the places where fire is a great hazard.
Air Blast
Air Blast (AB)
In this method, the transformer is cooled by circulating continuous blast of cool air
through the core and the windings. For this external fans are used. The air supply
must be filtered to prevent accumulation of dust particles in the ventilating ducts.
2. Oil cooling (Oil immersed transformers)
In this method, heat is transferred to the oil surrounding the core and windings and it
is conducted to the walls of the transformer tank. Finally, the heat is transferred to
the surrounding air by radiation and convection.
Oil coolant has two distinct advantages over the air coolants.
It provides better conduction than the air
High coefficient of conduction which results in the natural circulation of the oil.
ONAN
Oil Natural Air natural (ONAN)
The transformer is immersed in oil and the heat generated in the cores and the
windings is passed on to oil by conduction. Oil in contact with the surface of windings
and core gets heated up and moves towards the top and is replaced by the cool oil
from the bottom. The heated oil transfers its heat to the transformer tank through
convection and which in turn transfers the heat to the surrounding air by convection
and radiation.
This method can be used for the transformers having the ratings up to 30MVA. The
rate of heat dissipation can be increased by providing fins, tubes and radiator tanks.
Here the oil takes the heat from inside the transformer and the surrounding air takes
away the heat from the tank. Hence it can also be called as Oil Natural Air natural
(ONAN) method.
ONAF
Oil Natural Air Forced (ONAF)
In this method, the heated oil transfers its heat to the transformer tank. The tank is
made hollow, and the air is blown to cool the transformer. This increases the cooling
of transformer tank to five to six time its natural means. Normally this method is
adopted by externally connecting elliptical tubes or radiator separated from the
transformer tank and cooling it by air blast produced by fans. These fans are
provided with automatic switching. When the temperature goes beyond the
predetermined value, the fans will be automatically switched on.
Oil Forced Air Natural (OFAN)
In this method, copper cooling coils are mounted above the transformer core. The
copper coils will be fully immersed in the oil. Along with the oil natural cooling, the
heat from the core passes to the copper coils, and the circulating water inside the
copper coil takes away the heat. The disadvantage of this method is that since water
enters inside the transformer any kind of leakage will contaminate the transformer
oil.
OFAF
Oil Forced Air Forced (OFAF)
In this method, the oil is cooled in the cooling plant using air blast produced by the
fans. These fans need not be used all the time. During low loads, fans are turned off.
Hence the system will be similar to that of Oil Natural Air natural (ONAN). At higher
loads, the pumps and fans are switched on, and the system changes to Oil Forced
Air Forced (OFAF). Automated switching methods are used for this conversion such
that as soon as the temperature reaches a certain level, the fans are automatically
switched on by the sensing elements. This method increases the system efficiency.
This is a flexible method of cooling in which up to 50% of rating ONAN can be used,
and OFAF can be used for higher loads. This method is used in transformers having
ratings above 30MVA.
3. Oil and Water Cooling
In this method along with oil cooling, water is circulated through copper tubes which
enhance the cooling of transformer. This method is normally adopted in transformers
with capacities in the order of several MVA.
OFWF
Oil Forced Water Forced (OFWF)
In this method, copper cooling coils are mounted above the transformer core. The
copper coils will be fully immersed in the oil. Along with the oil natural cooling the
heat from the core passes to the copper coils and the circulating water inside the
copper coil takes away the heat. The disadvantage in this method is that since water
enters inside the transformer any kind of leakage will contaminate the transformer
oil. Since heat passes three times as rapidly from copper cooling tube to water as
from oil to copper tubes, the tubes are provided with fans to increase the conduction
of heat from oil to tubes. The water inlet and outlet pipes are lagged in order to
prevent the moisture in the ambient air fro condensing on the pipes and getting into
the oil.
Oil Forced Water Forced (OFWF)
In this method, hot oil is passed though a water heat exchanger. The pressure of the
oil is kept higher than that of the water. Therefore, there will be leakage from oil to
the water alone, and the vise verse is avoided. This method of cooling is employed in
the cooling of transformers with very larger capacity in the order of hundreds of MVA.
This method is suitable for banks of transformers. Maximum of three transformers
can be connected in a single pump circuit. Advantages of this method over ONWF
are that the transformer size is smaller and the water does not enter into the
transformer. This method is widely used for the transformers designed for hydro
electric plants.
