Comparative the effect of distribution transformer coil shape on electromagnetic forces and their distribution using the FEM

Abstract

During the normal life of the transformers, they are subjected to different electromagnetic stresses. One of these stresses is the electromagnetic forces resulting from the passage of short-circuit current in the transformer coils due to internal or external faults and may lead to the failure of the transformer when this electromagnetic force exceeds the threshold level. This work deals with the computation and analysis of leakage magnetic flux and electromagnetic forces when the worst-case fault (symmetrical short-circuit current) occurs in distribution transformer (DT) coils using the finite element method (FEM). The three types of DTs that were adopted in this work are similar in capacity and voltage transformation ratio (250 kVA and 11,000/416 V), but they are different in the shape of coils (oval, cylindrical, and rectangular coils).

Keywords

• electromagnetic force
• transformers
• short-circuit
• finite element analysis