NATIONAL GRID DISCOVERED A HIGH POWER FACTOR DURING ACCEPTANCE TESTING of a new 40-MVA transformer in 2004. The unit was then returned to the factory for repairs, burdening both the utility and manufacturer with additional costs and delays. This article reviews the information gathered and lessons learned from this event, including testing and root-cause determination results from the teardown/repair process.

National Grid's electricity delivery companies in the United States serve 3.3 million electricity customers in New England and upstate New York through more than 1200 substations. As part of a substation expansion project, a 24/32/40-MVA, 115-kVD/13.2-kVY transformer was purchased and installed at a National Grid substation in New England.

The transformer was delivered to the substation. The radiators and bushings were installed. The unit was vacuum processed, filled under vacuum and tested by the transformer manufacturer's personnel. The following tests were performed at the substation after the unit was oil filled:

• Transformer turns ratio on all taps
• Insulation power factor of transformer and all bushings (C1 and C2)
• 10-kV excitation on all taps
• Core ground and winding resistance
• Oil quality and dissolved gas analysis (DGA).

The power factor of the high-voltage winding was elevated. The measured value of 0.58% did not meet industry-standard acceptable values or National Grid's required values. All other tests results were acceptable.

Insulation power factor tests are used to measure dielectric losses, which relate the wetness, dryness or deterioration of transformer insulation. Both factory and field testing are performed to verify the insulation integrity of substation transformers. Power factor testing a two-winding transformer is conducted by energizing the winding at a known ac voltage (typically 10 kV for windings rated greater than 10 kV) with the common winding bushings shorted together.

The results of overall power factor tests on power transformers reflect the insulation condition of the windings, barriers, tap changers, bushings and oil. Modern oil-filled power transformers should have power factors of 0.5% or less, corrected to 20°C (68°F), for individual windings to ground (C_H and C_L) and interwinding insulations (C_HL). The National Grid transformer specification states that the power factor of the insulation system shall not exceed 0.5% at 20°C.

As part of the investigation into the high power factor, the transformer manufacturer retested the power factor with similar results. The high-voltage bushings were replaced and the unit was retested. The results did not change.

The unit was drained and an internal inspection was performed; nothing was found. The vendor performed a 24-hour hot oil and vacuum process to rule out the possibility of moisture in the insulation. The power factor was again retested and still had high C_H results. Both the seller and purchaser agreed that the unit should be returned to the factory for further investigation.

The results of the factory tests performed initially when the transformer was built were reviewed.

• Temperature rise tests were acceptable.

• Preliminary tests of resistance, polarity, phase relation, ratio, no-load loss and excitation current, impedance and load loss, excitation and power factor were all acceptable.

• Dielectric impulse, applied and induced potential tests were acceptable, following IEEE guidelines, although enhanced voltage test results were elevated.

• DGAs taken before tests and after OA and FA heat run tests were acceptable.

• DGA results after high-voltage tests indicated a problem.

Due to the gassing, the unit had been drained, reprocessed and vacuum filled. The induced voltage test and DGA tests were repeated with acceptable results. The unit was shipped.

The purpose of the induced voltage test is to prove the insulation strength between parts of the same winding and insulation to ground that was not proved during the applied potential test. It also proves the condition of the insulation between windings and between phases. The voltage applied during the induced voltage testing is on the order of 1.5 to 2 times the rated voltage. Weaknesses in dielectric design, processing or manufacturing may cause partial-discharge (PD) activity during this test. PD is generally monitored on all line terminals rated 115 kV or higher during the induced voltage test. A special generator with a frequency greater than 60 Hz must be used so the core does not saturate due to the higher-than-normal voltage that is induced in the windings. For most power transformer testing, this generator is 120 Hz, 180 Hz or 240 Hz. The induced voltage test is the final dielectric test. All class II power transformers shall be induced voltage tested with the required test levels induced in the high-voltage winding. The taps shall be selected so that the test levels developed in the other windings are 1.5 times their maximum operating voltage. The voltage is raised to the one-hour level and held long enough to verify there are no PD problems. The voltage is then raised to the enhanced level and held for 7200 cycles. The voltage is then reduced to the one-hour level and held for one hour. During the one-hour period, PD measurements should be recorded at 5-minute intervals on each terminal 115 kV and above. The test is performed with the neutral terminals solidly grounded; this will stress the insulation at the same per unit of voltage.

The test frequency is increased relative to the operating frequency to avoid core saturation per IEEE standard C57.12.90.

Per IEEE C57.12-2000, the following criteria shall be met:

• Failure may be indicated by the presence of smoke and bubbles rising in the oil, an audible sound such as a thump or a sudden increase in test current. Any such indication should be carefully investigated by observation, by repeating the test or by other tests to determine whether a failure has occurred.

• In terms of interpretation of PD measurements, the results shall be considered acceptable and no further PD tests required under the following conditions:

  a. The magnitude of the PD level does not exceed 100 µV.

  b. The increase in PD levels during the 1-hour test does not exceed 30 µV.

  c. The PD levels during the 1-hour test do not exhibit any steadily rising trend, and no sudden, sustained increase in levels occurs during the last 20 minutes of the tests.

• Judgment should be used on the 5-minute readings so that momentary excursions of the radio-influence voltage (RIV) meter caused by cranes or other ambient sources are not recorded. Also, the test may be extended or repeated until acceptable results are obtained.

• Unless breakdown occurs or very high PDs are sustained for a long time, this test is considered as nondestructive. A failure to meet the PD acceptance criterion shall, therefore, not warrant immediate rejection, but lead to consultation between purchaser and manufacturer about further investigations.

DGA of oil during factory testing will assist in determining if any arcing, corona discharge, low-energy sparking, overloading and overheating has occurred. The detection of gases greater than the allowable limits shall require further investigation. DGA samples should be taken before, during and after thermal performance and high-voltage tests to determine the amount of gas generated during testing. The limits listed in the table on page 58 are National Grid maximum allowable increases for gases from the beginning of any testing to the completion of all testing. Any results higher than those listed in the table would require further investigation.

As agreed upon by National Grid and the manufacturer, the transformer was returned to the manufacturer for inspection. The core and coils were removed from the tank, the high-voltage delta connection was broken, and single-phase winding power factor tests were performed with the unit on the drip pad.

Treeing on the phase barrier board between H2 and H3 was found on the surface of barrier board at the base of the coils where the windings are the closest to one another.

The normal watts loss/power factor of H1 and higher watts loss/power factor on both H2 and H3 indicates the problem is common to H2 and H3 windings.

The barriers were then removed and retested, the H1 remained unchanged and the H2 and H3 watts loss/power factor lowered to the H1 values. This indicates that the contamination was related to H2-H3 barriers.