POWER TRANSFORMER
INRUSH AND CONTROLLED
SWITCHING
INTRODUCTION
Random power transformer energization
can lead to large flux asymmetries and as
a consequence to core saturation. The
saturation of a core can drive currents of
high amplitude and harmonics, known as
inrush currents, which can result to
undesirable effects including equipment
damages and loss of life.
The protection engineers when dealing
with those currents prefer to de-
sensitizing or even blocking the
protection schemes. Those tactics are of
high risk as it is shown from statistics that
failures during energization are quite
common occurrences.
THEORETICAL APPROACH
Typical hysteresis curve
In an AC Transformer voltage and current
waveforms vary in cycles, means when
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the direction of current flow for one half
cycle is in one direction and for other half
life the direction reverses. So the
direction magnitude of Field applied to
the core of the Transformer also alters for
every half cycle. Consider the core is
magnetized by the magnetic field (H)
called magnetizing force. The magnetic
flux density (B) of the core of
Transformer will increase and saturates
at the knee point and then starts
decreasing as magnetizing force (H)
decreases. An instant (D in fig.) will arise
where the magnetizing force (H) will
become zero i.e, no magnetic field force is
applied to the material (This arise due to
the current wave during passing from one
half cycle to other half cycle it touches
zero point) but still magnetic flux density
is not zero in the material but have some
value. This is called Magnetic Retentivity.
The value of H at zero B is called
Corrective Force( C in fig.). Coercive Force
required making the magnetic flux (B)
zero by applying the magnetic field in
opposite direction. When the flux applied
in the opposite direction to the material in
opposite direction in another cycle the
same phenomenon takes place. This
complete loop is called hysteresis loop.
Hysteresis loop is significant because the
area under the hysteresis loop gives the
total Hysteresis Loss of the Magnetic
Material.
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The transformer normal core flux is given
by the Faraday low of induction:
| |= | |.
Integrating the applied voltage we can
calculate the flux at the specific instance.
From the above equation it is obvious that
the flux waveform is sinusoidal with π/2
phase shift compared to voltage in such a
way that when voltage is in its maximum
the flux is zero.
When a transformer is de-energized a
permanent magnetization of the core
remains due to hysteresis of the magnetic
material. This permanent magnetization
is called “residual flux” and it is mainly
influenced by the core materials and
geometry, winding or other external
connected capacities as also circuit
breaker chopping characteristics.
During transformer re-energization the
instantaneous magnitude of the core flux
at the instant of energization is the vector
summation between residual flux and
applied sinusoidal flux. Depending of the
instances of energization and de-
energization the peak transient core flux
can reach values more than two times the
rated peak flux which can generate
transient currents of high amplitude and
rich of harmonics superimposed on a dc
offset.
CONTROLLED SWITCHING
A common practice of reducing the
inrush currents of power transformers is
by introducing power resistors in series
or specially designed energizing circuits.
Those solutions are often too expensive
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and depending on the voltage level hard
to utilize.
A modern approach is to reduce or even
eliminate the transient energizing
currents by selecting the instant and
sequence of opening or closing the
feeding circuit breaker. This method of
transient elimination is also applicable for
power capacitors and transmission lines.
CASE A, IGNORING THE REMANENCE
FLUX
In cases where the inrush current
phenomenon is not severe or the
switching element is a three pole
simultaneous interrupting device, we can
improve the network transient response
by selecting the closing time instant to be
when the voltage amplitude has its
maxima value. When the voltage passes
through the maximum, the induced flux is
zero. One of the requirements of this
technique is the measurement of the
circuit breaker closing time in order to
calculate the close command timing.
Here to mention that, most of the circuit
breakers out in the market, interrupts the
power networks at zero current passing
time, so someone can insist that there
would be no residual flux at the core at
the next energization. This is not actually
the case, as the breakers are chopping the
current waveforms at values other than
exactly zero.
CASE B , TAKING IN ACCOUNT THE
REMANENCE FLUX
In the cases that severe inrush transient
phenomena occurs the residual flux must
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be supervised and measured by
integrating the applied voltage at the
moment of opening in order to calculate
the closing time so that the victorious
summation of the sinusoidal and residual
flux is equal to zero. This is actually the
case when the breaker is opened by a
protection. In the case of maintenance or
scheduled opening no monitoring is
needed if we reassured the opening at
zero current crossing time.
Typical inrush current wave form taking in
This solution is best applied when account the residual flux
individual pole opening is available (i.e.
three single phase breakers), so that the
pole closing is happened after a time REFERENCES
delay (120o) in order to avoid
· Moraw, G., et al, “Point-ON-Wave
asymmetries in the core flux. Controlled switching of High Voltage
Circuit-Breakers,” CIGRE paper 13-02, pp.
Depending on the needed result the above 1-6, 28 August-3 September 1988.
concepts can be utilized via existed · Brunke, J.H., “Elimination of Transient
numerical protection and control relays Inrush Currents When Energizing
Unloaded Power Transformers” ETH
or by using dedicated market solutions.
Zurich 1998
· Holmgren, R., Jenkins, R.S., Riubrugent, J.,
“Transformer Inrush Current,” CIGRE
paper 12-03, CIGRE Paris, pp. 1-13, 1998
· John H. Brunke, Klaus J. Frohlich,
“Elimination of transformer currents by
controlled switching Part I – Theoretical
Considerations”

Typical inrush current wave form without

taking in account the residual flux

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