Estimativa dos esforços eletromecânicos em transformadores submetidos a um curto-circuito trifásico

Abstract

Power transformers are essential and a large part of the asset cost structure of the electrical power system. When they present any defect or failure, it will be required high costs to repair or replace them, due their commercial costs and by the capability loss to transmit power during a period of time. Generally, transformer failure can occur as a result of the weakness insulation caused by the electrochemical processes involving the cooling liquid (oil), by vibrations due the electromagnetic forces in normal operation, i.e., steady state, and also by winding deformation as the result of short-circuits. It is expected that a transformer will experience and survive a number of short circuits during its service life. But one such event will cause some slight winding movement, which can gradually increasing and the ability of the transformer to withstand further electromechanical forces will be then reduced. It is therefore very important to check the mechanical condition of transformers periodically, particularly for older units, to provide an early warning of an impending catastrophic failure. Thus a specialist technique is required for the monitoring and assessment of mechanical condition of winding transformer. Despite designers and manufacturers, as well as the operation and maintenance technicians of power supply companies worry about this subject, new methodologies and tools to assess the strength effects as the result of short circuits in transformers are still necessaries. So, this work proposes to know the strength characteristics caused by the radial and axial forces in winding transformers. In this context, it will be presented different strengths that can occur in winding transformer, identifying the principal failures as the result of these stresses. Besides, it will be developed an analytical method to evaluate the forces and stresses in winding three phase transformer under a three phase short circuit. Finally, the analytical method results will be compared with a computer simulation based in time domain using the software FEMM, which applies the finite element method.