Pages From FRA 5310-2 - Theo CIGRE
Pages From FRA 5310-2 - Theo CIGRE
Pages From FRA 5310-2 - Theo CIGRE
12.1 Interpretation
This chapter contains information regarding interpretation of the frequency response curves.
12.1.1 General
For interpretation of curve behaviour (changes in amplitude, resonance peaks, overall appearance, etc) we refer also to the CIGRE WG A2.26 paper (
Frequency Response Analysis for detecting transformer winding movements). That paper shall become the guidance document for the industry to interpret
FRA measurements.
12.1.2 Introduction
The power transformer equivalent circuit is a complex network of distributed resistive, capacitive and inductive elements including :
Capacitance between the neighbouring turns of the same winding, between the turns of different windings and between the turns. and the ground.
Conductor dc resistance, resistance that accounts for dielectric losses in insulation and resistance that accounts for eddy losses in conducting and magnetic
components.
Depending on the test connection, the equivalent circuit involved in the measurement represents an individual phase of the winding, the space between
phases in a given winding or the space between the windings. Size of the conductors, diameters of the coils, distance between the coils, distance between
the windings, number of turns, type of the core, winding configuration, type and thickness of insulation, geometry and size of supporting material are among
the factors that define the elements of the equivalent circuit.
Furthermore, each element is specific to the transformer design and even influenced by the ability of the manufacturer to replicate the transformers of the
same design. Therefore, there is a direct relationship between the geometry of core-winding configuration and the network of distributed resistive, capacitive
and inductive elements.
The signature that represents the change of the network impedance with frequency uniquely describes the geometry of the core-winding configuration for a
given transformer.
The ratio of the output and input signals (network impedance), is often referred to as the transfer function.
The frequency response analysis uses the transfer function behaviour over the specified range of frequencies as the transformer diagnostic signature
(fingerprint). The transfer function is described by the magnitude and the phase angle.
The magnetic circuit of the core determines the inductive characteristics and the resistive characteristics are dominated by the resistance of the winding and
the receiver impedance.
An example of transfer function magnitude and phase for a open circuit (3 phase) measurement is shown in Magnitude plot and Phase plot.
In Phase plot the phase angle goes down to -60 degrees, indicating the resistive part moving towards the inductive nature of the total impedance (in the
region up to 500kHz).
For a three-legged core-type unit, the magnetic flux coupled with the outer phase faces a different reluctance than the flux coupled with the middle phase.
Therefore, the corresponding magnitude traces, in the low frequency range, differ as well. The traces for the two outer phases correlate very closely and are
shifted from the middle-phase trace.
The presence of the residual magnetism may also have an effect on relationship between the traces. This is the same phenomenon that, during exciting
current and loss measurement, creates a pattern of two high similar and one lower reading under normal conditions and a slightly distorted pattern in the
presence of residual magnetism.
54 Appendix