The Impact of Iron Core Model on Dynamic Behavior of Three-Phase Power Transformer Dynamic Model

This paper deals with the evaluation of various dynamic models for modeling of three-limb core power transformers. Due to the specific construction of such transformers, the magnetic fluxes in individual core limbs are interdependent. For applications, such as simulations and testing protection devices and algorithms, adequate prediction of inrush currents waveforms is crucial and indispensable. In this paper, various different dynamic models are tested where the limitations of standard models that are available in commercial program packages are pointed out. Two groups of models are evaluated separately: standard three-phase models composed of three-single phase transformer models and advanced three-phase models, where the topology of the magnetic circuit is considered. Furthermore, in both transformer model groups, three different material descriptions are evaluated, where linear, non-linear, and hysteretic material properties are considered. The comparison between measured and calculated waveforms of inrush currents is used to evaluate individual models. The comparison of evaluated models shows that standard dynamic models cannot provide proper waveforms of inrush currents regardless of which magnetically non-linear behavior of the iron core is considered. For adequate modeling of discussed transformers the consideration of the topology of the magnetic circuit is crucial.