F

The Transformer Short-Circuit Test and

the High Power Laboratory in Chinathe
Past, Present, and Future
Key words: Transformer, short-circuit test, test laboratory, list of tested transformers, China.

Introduction

ver the last half century, the transformer industry in China

has experienced substantial development. Prior to 1949, only
distribution transformers up to 2000 kVA/33 kV were produced;
however, by the end of last century, China was producing 360720
MVA/500 kV power transformers [1], [2]. Nevertheless, the transformer short-circuit test held up transformer development in China.
In this paper, we review distribution transformer short-circuit
testing from 1965 to 1993, power transformers from 1994 to the
present, and include a list of 110220kV power transformers tested
up to February 2002. We will describe the HUSHITAI High Power
Test Laboratory (HST), its main equipment, and test capabilities.
HST, the largest high power testing laboratory in China, belongs to
the China National Transformer Quality Supervision Testing Center (CTQC), an independent section of Shenyang Transformer Research Institute (STI). The testing center was approved by the China
State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision (Ministry of the
State Council) and is an official government testing center. The
potential for future development will also be discussed.
The layout of HST is shown in Figure 1. It is located near the
railway station in Hushitai, a satellite city of Shenyang, a major
city in northeastern China.

Transformer Short-circuit Testing Between

19651993
Power transformers operating in power systems are exposed to
short circuits, including single-phase, two-phase, or three-phase
short circuits. Short circuits cause high short-circuit currents of more
than 10 times the rated current and are dangerous to the transformer.
Thus, it is necessary to study the short-circuit performance of transformers using short-circuit tests. According to the IEC standards,
such tests are special tests.

14

He Yiyan and Wang Maosong

Shenyang Transformer Research Institute

We review the short-circuit testing of distribution

and power transformers, and include a list of
110-220kV power transformers tested up to
February 2002.

Prior to the 1960s, the pioneers of the Chinese transformer industry, Tang Ming-qi and Zhou Mao-pei, believed that a distribution transformer of 630 kVA/10 kV should be tested in the network. Thus, they performed the first short-circuit test of a distribution transformer in China in 1965.
In the 1960s and 1970s, four laboratoriesXian High Voltage
Apparatus Research Institute, Shanghai Switchgear Works,
Shenyang Switchgear Works, and Beijing Electric Power Research
Institutewere set up as high power test laboratories for switchgear.
They could also test distribution transformers.
At the beginning of the 1980s, STI designed a prototype power
transformer SJ-8000 kVA/35 kV with some pressure sensors installed in the tank for research purposes. The transformer was sent
to Xian High Voltage Apparatus Research Institute for testing in
1984; this was the first short-circuit test of a power transformer in
China. A 100% short-circuit current test of each phase was carried
out and the pressures at specific locations measured. The transformer withstood the test and critical design data were derived.

IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine

By the end of 1993, HST was equipped with:

Two sets of intermediate test transformers (IT), 1200 MVA/220/
8224 kV, which can be arranged in series/parallel with eight
no-load tap-changes each to get 36 voltage steps regulated from
4448 kV, and 560 kA on the secondary side for testing
Circuit breaker with breaking capacity of 40 kA 0.2 ms
Automatic computer control device can control 24 channels at
the same time, with a time resolution of 0.1 ms
The measurement system of current transformers, voltage dividers, and transient recorders can measure several signals
Transport equipment consisting of a fixed outdoor lift 200-ton,
and four 100-ton special vehicles that can be combined
An assembly shop: 50 18 20 (H) m3, 32-ton lift, oil and
vacuum treatment equipment.

Test Methods in HST

Figure 1. HST test lab location. 1. A 220 KV substation; 2.

Northeast Electrical Bureau Electric Power Research Institute
H.V. test field; 3 Shenyang High Voltage Switchgear Works test
lab; and 4. HST high-power test lab.

According to the requirement of the State Machinery Ministry,

STI designed the SL7 series (aluminum wire) of 50 kVA to 1600
kVA/10kV transformers and the S9 series of 50 kVA to 1600 kVA/
10 kV in the early 1980s. Xian, Beijing, Shenyang and Shanghai
Laboratories tested about 20 sets of each series as a type test. At
the same time, 20-kV to 60-kVclass test transformers were tested,
with voltages of 110 to 132 kV (not listed in this article).

There are two short-circuit testing methods, namely pre- and

postestablished short circuits when testing a main winding.
In service, faults can occur when the transformer is energized
and in normal operation. Hence, they bear the character of a postestablished short circuit, and, in general, it is preferable to reproduce such a situation during tests. With the postestablished shortcircuit procedure, one can prevent the inrush current from being
superimposed onto the test current, independent of the relative position of the energized and short-circuited windings. The
postestablished short-circuit procedure requires the power of the
test station be significantly larger than that of the testing station
during pre-established short-circuit testing. This depends on the
necessity to limit the transformer overexcitation to 1.15 p.u. in the
former case, while the problem does not arise in the latter. Figure 2
shows the power requirements of the testing station.

HST between 1994 and 2002

HST Set Up
Because a high power test laboratory is very important in the
development of power transformers [3], the China State Government funded a project in its 7th 5-year plan to build HST, a high
power test laboratory in a Shenyang suburb. The design of HST
was made by Xian 7th Design Research Institute in cooperation
with EDF, Renerdieres, France, as a consultant [4]. The HST was
approved by the state committee [5] and became operational in the
beginning of 1994.
The HST has an area of 40,000 m2, including 5000 m2 floor
space. It has the following advantages/features:
Close to Shenyang Transformer Co. Ltd., the biggest transformer
manufacture in China
Close to a 220-kV substation of the northeast network in China
Convenient railway and highway transportation in Shenyang,
which is an industrial center in northern China
The lab has a 220-kV line for its power supply and has available
a three-phase short-circuit power of 12,000 MVA.

January/February 2004 Vol. 20, No. 1

Figure 2. Power requirements of the testing station

Where Pa is the minimum short-circuit power of the testing
station; Pt is the power required by the transformer under test;
Va is the no-load voltage of the testing station power supply; and
Vt is the rated voltage of the transformer under test.

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Table 1: Laboratory Test Limits

110 kV
transformer
(MVA)

1 phase test

1.5 phase test *

3 phase test

150 MVA
3-phase
transformer

100 MVA
3-phase
transformer

31.5 MVA
3 phase
transformer

50 MVA
Single-phase
transformer
220 kV
transformer
(MVA)

80 MVA
Single-phase
transformer

under test, and Xs is the power system reactance including the intermediate transformer [IT]), the transformer under test can absorb
1/4 of the system capability; Table 1 lists the maximum limits of
the transformers that can be tested.
If post-short-circuit is used, the capability of the transformer
under test should be reduced to half the above values in the table.
Figure 3 shows the high power lab outline and photographs.

New High Voltage Test Laboratory in HST

120180 MVA
Single-phase
transformer

*1.5 phase as phase A in series with phases B and C in parallel.

With the postestablished short-circuit method, the burden imposed by the required power of the testing station is balanced by
the following benefits:
The test is more representative of the real situation
The control of the peak value of test current is accurate
In the preestablished short-circuit procedure, the control of the
test current peak value becomes more difficult if the unit under
test is fed through a short-circuit transformer and the make switch
is placed upstream of this transformer
Assuming a test capability of a transformer under test for a preshort-circuit at Xt = Xs (Xt is the reactance of the transformer

To complete all routine tests of transformers up to the 63-MVA,

110-kV class, after the short-circuit test, a new high voltage lab in
HST was completed in 2000. The dimension of the high voltage
hall is 24 24 15 (H) m3 and contains a 750-kV cascade power
frequency transformer, and an 1800-kV impulse generator. The
power supplies are housed in a separate room. Figure 4 shows an
outline and photographs of the HV lab.

Transformer Short-Circuit Test

From the beginning of 1994 to the end of 2001, HST tested 1000
10- to 35-kV S9 oil-immersed and 2000 S8S9 cast-resin transformers. The first-time qualification rate for the former was 90%,
and for the latter was 95%.
From 1996 to 2002 we have tested 53 110220-kV power transformers [6], [7]. The data are tabulated in Table 2. The test standards and methods are according to our GB 1094.5 national standard that is similar to IEC60076-2000, Part 5 (Power TransformersAbility to withstand short circuit).

Figure 3. The HST high power test lab. (a) The view of the lab, (b) the intermediate transformers, (c) and (d) 220-kV, 120-MVA
transformer under test.

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IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine

Figure 4. High-voltage test lab. (a) General view, (b) power frequency transformer, (c) impulse generator, (d) generator hall.

The short-circuit reactance in ohms, evaluated for each phase at

the end of the tests, should not differ from the original values by
more than 2% (GB and IEC standards); but in practice, for the power
transformers listed in Table 2, the differences are less than 1%. The
largest reactance deviation is 0.70%, the smallest is 0.02%, and the
average of the total 53 sets is 0.28%.
For 220-kV transformers, the deviations in reactance are smaller.
Figure 5 shows the test oscillogram of a 220-kV/120-MVA transformer during a short-circuit test.
The reports of the test center (CTQC) are effective all over the
China.

Summary
Fifty-three sets 110- to 220-kV transformers from 44 factories
(note that the 30- to 60-kV system in the northeast network is the
same class as 110 kV in other parts of China) passed the shortcircuit test. The rate of first-time-qualified 110-kV transformers
was close to 100%. If transformer manufacturers need to pass the
short-circuit test, they can usually do it by themselves; otherwise,
STI (R&D department) can provide help.
Forty transformers that passed the test were delivered to customers and they are now in operation in the power system all over
China. The remaining 13 transformers are in the process of assembly and delivery. Feedback from clients suggests that all these transformers function well. They have been operating from a few months
to more than five years. The report from the State Electric Com-

January/February 2004 Vol. 20, No. 1

Figure 5. Test oscillograms of a 220-kV/120-MVA transformer. 1,

3, 5 = test oscillograms of voltage supplied to transformer; 2, 4,
6 = test oscillograms of current supplied to transformer.

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Table 2. Transformers Tested from 1996 to Feb. 2002.

18

No.

Works name

Model

Date

Test station

Result

Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd

SF8-50000/110

1996.8

China National
Transformer Quality
Supervision Testing
Center (CTQC)

Passed

Hengyang Transformer Works

SFZ8-31500/110

1996.7

(CTQC)

Passed

Yunnan Transformer Works

SF3-QY-31500/110

1997.2

(CTQC)

Passed

Nantong Transformer Works

SFSZ8-31500/110

1997.10

(CTQC)

Passed

Jinan Transformer Works

SFZ8-31500/110

1997.12

(CTQC)

Passed

Xinjiang Special Transformer Electrical Co., Ltd

SFZ8-31500/110

1998.2

(CTQC)

Passed

Hubei Transformer Works

SFZ8-40000/110

1998.5

(CTQC)

Passed

Jiangshu Hua Peng Transformer Works

SFZ8-31500/110

1998.7

(CTQC)

Passed

ChangzhouTransformer Works

SFZ8-40000/110

1998.8

(CTQC)

Passed

10

Qingdao Transformer Works

SFZ9-31500/110

1998.9

(CTQC)

Passed

11

Shanghai Transformer Works

SFZ7-31500/110

1998.9

(CTQC)

Passed

12

Wuxi Electric Power Transformer Works

SFZ9-40000/110

1998.10

(CTQC)

Passed

13

Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ7-26000/132

1998.10

(CTQC)

Passed

14

Lianyungang Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ8-31500/110

1999.1

(CTQC)

Passed

15

Zhejiang Third Transformer Group Co., Ltd

SFSZ8-31500/110

1999.1

(CTQC)

Passed

16

Changzhou TransformerWorks

SSZ10-50000/110

1999.3

(CTQC)

Passed

17

Nanjing power Transformer Works

SFZ9-31500/110

1999.4

(CTQC)

Passed

18

Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ7-31500/132

1999.5

(CTQC)

Passed

19

Ningbo Transformer Works

SFZ9-40000/110

1999.6

(CTQC)

Passed

20

Zhejiang Power Transformer Works

SFZ8-31500/110

1999.6

(CTQC)

Passed

21

Jiangxi Transformer Works

SZ9-40000/110

1999.6

(CTQC)

Passed

22

Shandong Jinmanke Electric Applance Co., Ltd

DCZ9-10500/110

1999.8

(CTQC)

Passed

23

Chengdu Shuangxing Electric Applance Co., Ltd

SFZ9-40000/110

1999.8

(CTQC)

Passed

24

Guangzhou Power Equipment Works

SFZ9-40000/110

1999.9

(CTQC)

Passed

25

Yunnan Transformer Works

SFZ-QY-25000/110

1999.11

(CTQC)

Passed

26

Changsha Transformer Works

SFZ9-31500/110

1999.12

(CTQC)

Passed

27

Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ10-40000/110

1999.12

(CTQC)

Passed

28

Nangtong Transformer Works

SFZ9-M-40000/110

1999.12

(CTQC)

Passed

29

Shichuan Shuneng Electric Applance Co., Ltd

SFSZ9-31500/110

1999.12

(CTQC)

Passed

30

Anshan Electric Power Equipment Works

SFZ9-31500/66

1999.12

(CTQC)

Passed

31

Guiyang Transformer Works

SFZ9-40000/110

2000.3

(CTQC)

Passed

32

Fuzhou Transformer Works

SFZ8-31500/110

2000.3

(CTQC)

Passed

33

Panyu Mingzhu Electric Applance Co., Ltd

SZ8-40000/110

2000.4

(CTQC)

Passed

34

Xinjiang Sprcial Transformer Electrical Co., Ltd

SZ10-M-50000/110

2000.4

(CTQC)

Passed

35

Taiyuan Transformer Works

SFZ9-40000/110

2000.5

(CTQC)

Passed

36

Hefei Transformer Works

SFZ9-40000/110

2000.6

(CTQC)

Passed

37

Beijing Transformer Works

SFZ9-50000/110

2000.6

(CTQC)

Passed

38

Henan Nanyang Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ9-25000/110

2000.7

(CTQC)

Passed

39

Shandong Xiandai-dachi Transformer Works

SFZ9-31500/110

2000.7

(CTQC)

Passed

IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine

Table 2. (continued) Transformers Tested from 1996 to Feb. 2002.

No

Works name

Model

Date

Test station

Result

40

Saanxi Hanzhong Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ9-31500/110

2001.1

(CTQC)

Passed

41

Shenyan Zhonghui Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ9-30000/66

2001.1

(CTQC)

Passed

42

Luohe Hongda Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ9-40000/110

2001.1

(CTQC)

Passed

43

Liuzhou Jiali Transformer Works

SFZ-20000/110

2001.4

(CTQC)

Passed

44

Shandong Electric Equipment Works

SZ-50000/110

2001.5

(CTQC)

Passed

45

Saanxi Tongchuan Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ9-31500/110

2001.7

(CTQC)

Passed

46

Shandong Luneng Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ9-31500/110

2001.7

(CTQC)

Passed

47

Guangzhou Guanggao Transformer Co., Ltd

SZ10-M-40000/110

2001.7

(CTQC)

Passed

48

Changsha Shunte Transformer Works

S8-QY-20000/110

2001.9

(CTQC)

Passed

49

Baoding Tianwei Transformer Co., Ltd

SF-PQY-25000/110

2001.11

(CTQC)

Passed

50

Dalian Transformer Works

SZ10-31500/110

2001.11

(CTQC)

Passed

51

Yinchuan Transformer Co., Ltd

SFQY-31500/110

2002.1

(CTQC)

Passed

52

Wuhan Transformer Co., Ltd

SFZ10-31500/110

2002.1

(CTQC)

Passed

53

Shenyang Transformer Co., Ltd

SF9-120000/220

2002.2

(CTQC)

Passed

pany indicates that there is no fault in the system due to the new
products from 40 factories (the same series type produced after
special short-circuit test). This suggests that transformer manufacturing and testing in China has improved and become more reliable
than previously and that HST contributes significantly to the Chinese transformer industry.

Future Development
In the next two to three years, we will fully solve the problem of
110-kV power transformers withstanding short circuits. This means
that all types of transformers (no-load and on-load tap change,
double- or triple-winding transformers) from each factory can pass
the short-circuit test.
We have successfully tested a 220-kV, 120-MVA power transformer. We will pay more attention to 220-kV class power transformers and test a few 220-kV, 120-MVA to 180-MVA power transformers in the near future.
The rate of qualification of distribution transformers has improved (Table 2), indicating further improvements in the manufacture and assembly of the active part of the transformers.
Although HST has reached a high industrial level and tested
many power transformers, the equipment for testing higher voltage
classes is still not up to date. Currently, we are not capable of testing 330- to 500-kV class power transformers. In the future, we will
expand HST by adding one generator with a short-circuit power
capacity of 6500 MVA and two IT with the same specifications,
combining the generator with the network. Thus, the test voltage
can potentially reach the 500-kV level and we will be capable of
testing a variety of transformers and further developing transformer
short-circuit tests in China.

January/February 2004 Vol. 20, No. 1

References
[1] Y.-Y. He, H.-W. Je, D.-B. Zhu, and J.-X. Yang, The rapid development of the transformer industry in China, IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, vol.14 , No.4, pp.23-27, 1998.
[2] Y.-Y. He, 500kV power transformer and its partial discharge, ICEM,
1998.
[3] Y.-Y. He, Feasibility study of Transformers High Power Test Station, Transformer, 12, 1985.
[4] Y.-L. Jing, H. Yiyan, T.-L. Zhang, J.P. Martin (EDF) Shenyang high
power test station present and future, ICAAA, 1993.
[5] Y.-Y. He, HUSHITAI high power test laboratory, Transformer, 5,6,
1995.
[6] Y.-Y. He, M.-S. Wang, W.-G. Tian, J.-S. Du, Test capability of high
power test lab. For distribution, middle, large transformer in the world,
Transformer, 4, 2000.
[7] Y.-Y. He, Present state and improving measures of power transformer
short-circuit withstanding capability in China and IEC standard, Electrical Equipment, vol. 2, 2001.

He Yiyan was born in Wuhan Hubei, China on Jan. 13, 1931. He

received his B.S. degree from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Wuhan University and joined the Xiangtan Electrical
Machinery Works in 1952. He joined the Shenyang Transformer
Works and Institute in 1956 for H.V. Technology, High Power Test
Lab for R&D. He is a deputy director and a professor of engineering.
Wang Maosong was born in Shenyang, Liaoning, China on Nov.
23, 1968. He received his B.S. degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Shenyang Polytechnic University in1991.
He joined the Shenyang Transformer Research Institute for highpower testing and research. He is a director and senior engineer of
the High-Power Test Lab.

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