Modelling and Simulation of an Enhanced Finite Element Method for Loss Computation in Power Transformers

Abstract

The problem of evaluating the various performance characteristics of power transformer such as temperature distribution, flux distribution, and losses, is an age long issue in electrical engineering, and an attempt to manually or analytically evaluate them is very difficult and subject to errors. Hence the development and application of Finite Element Method to complex engineering analysis of this nature. This research presented enhanced finite element model application to Power Transformer loss computation. The method applied is modelling and simulation. The Finite Element Analysis of a 1.25MVA Power Transformer Model was created using the TrafoSolve unit of the Simcenter MAGNET Multi-physics Analysis Software. The input, output voltage, and frequency of operation of the power transformer was defined and inputted into the design parameter section from where the phase current was computed. Other parameters of the Power Transformer were selected as appropriate in the design stage before the mesh generation was carried out by process of double discretization as well as normal adaptive discretization process. The Solution of the Model, covered Finite Element Force Calculation, Thermal Analysis, Short Circuit Analysis, and Harmonic Analysis. In summary, the double discretization result for winding loss 48431.63W, and that of normal adaptive FEM which was 48969.4W, produced a percentage absolute error of 1.11%. For individual coil lose computation, the result showed 1.54% absolute error for the low voltage winding section during the short circuit test, translating to 14320.29W for the double discretization algorithm and 14541.18W for the normal adaptive FEM. This validates the double discretization algorithm developed in this research.