Novel approach to reducing the inrush current of a power transformer

Author

Cheng, C.-K. ; Liang, T.-J. ; Chen, J.-F. ; Chen, S.-D. ; Yang, W.-H.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Nat. Cheng Kung Univ., Tainan, Taiwan

Volume

151

Issue

3

fYear

2004

fDate

5/8/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

289

Lastpage

295

Abstract

An inrush current is a transient current that results from a sudden change in the exciting voltage across a transformer´s windings. It may cause inadvertent operation of the protective relay system and necessitate strengthening of the transformer´s mechanical structure. A novel approach to reducing the inrush current of power transformer, by increasing the transient inductance of the primary coil by changing the distribution of the coil winding is presented. During the period of this study, 30 patterns of 220 V/110-220 V 5 kVA-power transformers with three-layer and four-layer winding structures were developed as demonstrations of the approach. According to field tests and theory, the proposed method successfully limits the inrush current.

Keywords

overcurrent protection; power transformer protection; relay protection; transformer windings; transients; 220 to 110 V; 5 kVA; inrush current reduction; power transformer; protective relay system; transformer winding; transient current; transient inductance;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Electric Power Applications, IEE Proceedings -

Publisher

iet

ISSN

1350-2352

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/ip-epa:20040223

Filename

1290920