Optimal Design and Performance Analysis of Three-phase Distribution Transformer with Variable Loading

Abstract

Electrical power passes through several transformers after generation through consumption. The final stage of any power system consists of many small-rating distribution transformers. Since the loads connected to these transformers vary with time, their effective design and operation with variable loading conditions are crucial for the system to operate efficiently and reliably. In most previous works, loads connected to these transformers are treated as constant power and stray losses of the transformers are neglected in the calculations. Neglecting the load variation and stray losses reduces the transformer life span noticeably and impairs grid quality and reliability. In this work, a small-rating distribution transformer is designed and analyzed analytically and numerically. Detailed procedures on the conventional design are presented with the general design issues. The effect of variable loading on the transformer’s power losses, efficiency, temperature rise, voltage regulation, and output voltage variation is analytically and numerically investigated. Results show that the rating and power factor of the load significantly influence the performance characteristics of the transformer.

Keywords:

• distribution transformer
• finite element analysis
• loading
• losses
• transformer design

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Osamah Al-Dori

Osamah Al-Dori received his B.Sc. degree (with high honors) in electrical and electronics engineering from Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey, in 2021. His current research interests include the design of electrical machines, renewable energy, and power electronics.

Betül Şakar

Betül Şakar received her B.Sc. degree (with high honors) in electrical and electronics engineering from Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey, in 2021. Her current research interests include transformer design and modeling, robotics, AI, and control systems.

Atilla Dönük

Atilla Dönük received B.S. degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Inönü University in 2000, and Ph.D. degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Middle East Technical University in 2012 where he has been a Research Assistant between 2002 and 2013. He worked as a guest researcher in the Research Group of Power Systems in Electrical and Computer Science at University of Southampton (UK) between November 2010 and October 2011. He has worked in Department of Electrical-Electronics Engineering at Atatürk University between February 2013 and July 2013. Since July 2013, he has been working as assistant professor in Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Aydın Adnan Menderes University. His research interests include electrical machine design, power electronics, and renewable energy applications.