What are the main problem areas in Transformers?

Electrical failure typically involves line surges, which is a very common cause of transformer failure. Voltage spikes, switching surges and line faults are a few common culprits of electrical failure.

What are the possible causes of failure of transformer?

Cause of Failure

• Misapplication.
• Vibration.
• High Operating Temperature.
• Lightning or Line Surges.
• Overloading.
• Care of Control Equipment.
• Lack of Cleanliness.
• Care of Idle or Spare Equipment.

How can we prevent transformer failure?

Preventive maintenance includes oil sampling and analysis (oil quality, moist level, etc.) and electrical measurements (insulation resistance, winding resistance, etc.). The protection system is to protect the transformer from faults by first detecting the fault and then resolving it as fast as possible.

How does a transformer stop working?

Usually, a transformer fails only after another part in the electrical circuit shorts to ground or draws an unusually high amperage. In these cases, replacing the transformer without first finding and correcting the fault will only cause the transformer to fail again.

How is a transformer protected?

The protection of a transformer against the overloads is performed by a dedicated protection usually called thermal overload relay. This type of protection simulates the temperature of the transformer’s windings. The simulation is based on the measure of the current and on the thermal time constant of the transformer.

What are the common causes of transformer failure?

Causes of the failure of a transformer. Deterioration of the insulating oil Excessive load or mistakes in the connection of the cables. Mistake in the operation, and carelessness in the arrangement of the protection circuits. Insufficient inspection of the gaskets and valves. Poor maintenance of the accessories. Abnormal voltage.

What is the working principle of transformer?

The transformer works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Two coils are wound on a common core. The primary coil is connected to an AC voltage source. A current flowing in the primary coil generates a time-varying magnetic field in the core. This magnetic field induces AC voltage in the secondary coil.

What are the disadvantages of poor insulation in a transformer?

The poor insulation cause a short circuit in the magnetic flow, producing a constant short circuit current flow in this place and generating excessive heating up which can lead to serious defects. 3.2.4 Poor insulation due to a harsh operational condition such as excessive load.

Why is it important to inspect for defects in a transformer?

By means of this inspection a failure can be detected before it becomes serious, and reduce any damage in whatever possible. Some defects are caused by reasons beyond human control, such as sudden transformer failures and defects that develop slowly. Let’s describe each of these non-human related reasons.