A Low-Cost Online Health Assessment System for Oil-Immersed Service Transformers Using Real-Time Grid Energy Monitoring

Abstract

In this paper, we present a low-cost health assessment system for oil-immersed service transformers using a monitoring device to measure energy in real time. By assessing the important level of transformer components, three indicators, top oil temperature, vibration, and transformer load, were selected as main indicators to investigate the service transformer’s condition. An evaluation system using Fuzzy logic method is also presented in the paper to support monitor transformer health without adding the extra cost of installing expensive sensors. Different testing scenarios with different case studies were carried out on a simulated 50 kVA oil-immersed service transformer to express the feasibility and effectiveness of this low-cost, fast response health assessment system.

Review of Modeling Approaches for Conjugate Heat Transfer Processes in Oil-Immersed Transformers

“…Understanding the thermal dynamics of a transformer is a key factor in ensuring the reliability of its operation [15,114,115]. Considering that almost all properties of materials (thermal conductivity, heat capacity, density, electrical conductivity, etc.)…”