Frequency and time fault diagnosis methods of power transformers

The authors describe experimental and theoretical analyses of faults of power transformer winding. Faults were caused by mechanical effect of short-circuit currents. Measurements of transformer were carried out in high-voltage laboratory. Frequency and time diagnostic methods (method SFRA - Sweep Frequency Response Analysis, impact test) were used for the analyses. Coils of transformer windings were diagnosed by means of the SFRA method and the time impact test. The analyzed methods had a significant sensitivity to a relatively small deformation of coil. In the analysis a new technique for analyzing the effects of short-circuit currents is introduced. This technique is developed for high-voltage transformers (different types of power). The proposed analyses show that it is necessary to analyze the value of short-circuit current. Short-circuit current represents a danger for the operation of the power transformer. The proposed approach can be used for other types of transformers. Moreover, the presented techniques have a potential application for fault diagnosis of electrical equipment such as: transformers and electrical machines.