CA1150787A - Vaporization cooled transformer having a high voltage rating - Google Patents

Vaporization cooled transformer having a high voltage rating

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Publication number
CA1150787A
CA1150787A CA000356510A CA356510A CA1150787A CA 1150787 A CA1150787 A CA 1150787A CA 000356510 A CA000356510 A CA 000356510A CA 356510 A CA356510 A CA 356510A CA 1150787 A CA1150787 A CA 1150787A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
coolant
transformer
tank
heat exchanger
vapor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000356510A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Linden W. Pierce
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to CA000356510A priority Critical patent/CA1150787A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1150787A publication Critical patent/CA1150787A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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  • Transformer Cooling (AREA)

Abstract

VAPORIZATION COOLED TRANSFORMER
HAVING A HIGH VOLTAGE RATING
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A vaporization cooled transformer utilizes the vaporized coolant at a constant predetermined pressure for upgrading the dielectric strength of the coolant.
An auxiliary heater is employed for vaporizing the coolant at low temperature ambient conditions. The constant predetermined pressure is maintained at higher ambient conditions by controlling the cooling capacity of a plurality of heat exchangers.

Description

- 1 - 5D-5657 `

VAPORIZATION COOLED TRANSFORMER
'HAVING'~'HI'GH:VOLTA'GE'RATING

Canadian patent application SN 313,355 filed ~.October 13, 1978, discloses a vaporization cooled transformer design for transformers rated at 3750 kVA :
and having a basic insulation level t~IL) of 95 KV. The coolant employed within the described vaporization cooled transformer comprises a chlorinated fluorocarbon having a dielectric strength in its liquid state approximately equivalent to transformer mineral oil, When the transformer is operated at rated loading, the vaporized coolant exhibits a sufficiently high pressure to prevent dielectric breakdown from occurring within the winding ~ and between the winding and the transformer wall. When `~ the~transformer is operated under conditions of low ~ ~ ambient temperatures,:the pressure exhibited by the : : ~15 ~vaporized coolant is not sufficient to provide the : necessary dielectric strength. In order to prevent breakdown from occurring at low ambient conditions, a : :large amount of soIid insulation must be employed around the winding and the spacing between the internal 20. electrical conductors must be large enough to ensure that : breakdown does not occur.
When basic~insulation levels higher than 95 kV
are desired the added insulation material required to -co.mpensate for the decreased dielectric strength occurring at low coolant pressures makes the overall transformer , . -., .:: :: . .

~:~5(~787 transformer size economically infeasible. The larger transformer tank needed to provide the necessary separation distances between the windings and the tank wall, requires a larger quantity of liquid coolant within the tank. The design of a vaporization cooled transformer for operating at higher ratings than 3750 kVA requires a large he`at exchanger to cool the coolant in order to prevent the transformer core and windings from becoming overheated at the higher operating temperatures. Since the cooling facility of the heat exchanger depends upon the surface area exposed to the ambient air, a larger number of condenser tubes and auxiliary cooling fans must be employed.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a vaporization cooled transformer having increased voltage ratings without requiring a substantial increase in the overall size of the transformer tank and the heat exchanger.
A vaporization cooled transformer provides cooling and heating acility to the transformer to operate the condensable coolant at a predetermined pressure over a wide range of ambient temperatures. The predetermined pressure provides a dielectric strength to the coolant equivalent to transformer mineral oil. One embodiment provides a microprocessor in combination with a series of heat exchangers and an auxiliary heater to control the rates of heating and cooling. The micro-processor is programmed to control the number of heat exchangers required and the operating cycle of the auxiliary heater to adjust the coolant vapor pressure under varying climatic conditions.
FIGURE 1 is a side sectional view of the vaporization cooled transformer according to the invention .
FIGURE 2 is a front view of the transformer of FIGURE 1.
, , FIGURE 3 is a graphic representation of the coolant vapor pressure of a vaporization cooled transformer as a function of transformer loading for contours of ambient air temperatures.
EIGURE 4 is a graphic representation of the dielectric strength'of the coolant vapor as a function of coolant vapor pres'sure.
FIGU~E 5 is a graphic representation of the vapor pressure of the liquid coolant as a function of coolant temperature.
FIGURE 6 is a graphic representa~ion of the relation between the vapor pressure and time for the vaporization cooled transformer of the invention.
FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram showing the interconnection between thè elements of FIGURES 1 and
2 implemented by means of a microprocessor.
FIGURE 1 shows a vaporization cooled transformer 10 similar in operation to that described within the aforementioned Canadian patent application and containing a transformer tank 11 in combination with a heat exchanger 12 for cooling and electrically insulating winding 13'and core 14 within the tank. High voltage bushing 15 situated at the top o the tank and low voltage bushing 16 on the side of the tank wall provide eIectrical connection with the winding by means of cables 17. The tank contains a ~uantity of'coolant 18 which is a chIorinated fluorocarbon such as trichIorotrif~uoroethane which when heated vaporizes and enters intake manifold 19 in the direction indicated by Arrow A. m e vaporized coolant then enters a plurality of cooLiny tubes 20 wherein the coolant condenses and returns through the exit manifold 2I and return pipe 22 back to the transformer tank. A quantity of molecular sieve material 23'is located within the'intake manifold for removing any moisture releàsed by the'cellulosic ., ^

- ' ~

7~37 insulation materials in the winding during transformer operation. The cooling tubes also contain a plurality of ~ins 24 to increase the effective cooling area of the tubes when used in combination with one or more fans 25 connected together by means of shroud 26. An auxiliary heater 27 is employed in combination with a layer of gas filled foam insulation material 28 on the inner surface of the tank to heat the coolant and keep the coolant at a sufficiently high`temperature in cold weather operation. The`insulating foam can also be arranged on the outside`of the tank but is-situated internal to the tank in this embbdiment for the purpose of displacing some o tlle expensive coolant as a cost savings feature.
FIGURE 2 is a front view of the transformer 10 depicted in FIGURE 1 wherein like reference numbers are used to designate corresponding eIements such as tank 11 and bushing lS. Three heat exchangers 12a, 12b, and 12c are arranged along the wall o~ the tank and each hèat exchanger contains a pair of ~ans 25a, 25b, and 25c. The`he`at exchàngers are connected to the tank by means of intake manifolds l9a, 19b and l9c located at thè top of the heat exchangers and return pipes` 22a, 22b, and 22c which connect witn- exit manifolds 21a, 21b, and 21c located at the bottom of the heat exchangers.
The requirement of morè than one heat exchanger and more than one fan within each heat exchanger will be discussed in detail beIo~.
The operation of a vaporization cooled transformer with a single large heat exchanger revealed that the` vapor pressure of the coolant above the liquid in the transformer tank was a sensitive function of the transformer loading as well as the ambient air temperature in the` vicinity of the heat exchanger. The vapor pressure of the coolant for purposes of this disclosure means the pressùre`exerted by the vaporized coolant in equilibrium with'the liquid coolant at a given temperature. The'equilibrium pressure will also be referred to as-the "saturation pressure" since a change in the temperature of the liquid coolant immediately causes a corresponding increase in the vapor pressure exerted by the vaporized coolant.
FIGURE 3, which'shows the coolant vapor pressure as a function of loading'and ambient temperature, indicates that the vapor pressure of the coolant increases with'transformer loading due'to the heat generated within the transformer core and the winding and that the limit in the pressure is governed by the ambient temperature conditions for a given heat exchanger design. It can be seen from comparing the steady state vapor pressllre with the trans~ormer operating at 100 per cent loading in an ambient temperat,ure'o~ 10C to that in an ambient 50C that the vapor pressure is nearly doubled at the higher ambient temperature.
The operating design point for 30C ambient operating conditions indicated at C results in a coolant vapor pressure of approximately 27 pounds per square inch absolute (PSIA). Since the coolant vapor pressure for a ~aporiæation cooled transformer varies from less than 5 PSIA at startup to approximately 27 PSIA at 100 per cent loading the effect of the low- and high-coolant vapor pres'sure'upon the dielectric properties of the vaporized coolant were in~,estigated in oxder to determine whéther more insulation should be applied to the winding to protect the winding ~rom arc-over at low ambient ~emperatures during startup when the transformer rating is increased.
FIGURE 4 shows the dielectric strength in kilovolts as measured between a 1/4" diameter rounded electrode and a flat plate with a 3" separation distance between the electrode and Lhe plate, tes'ted for impulse and 60 Hertz breakdown conditions in an atmosphere of saturated coolant vapor. The` impulse'~oltage dielectric strength D is approxi~ateIy 200 kV when the coolant vapor pressure exceeds 20 PSIA. The 60 Hertz dielectric strength E for the same coolant vapor pressure is approximately 160 kilovolts. Since the dielectric strength in kilovolts for the vaporized coolant at 20 PSIA is approximately equivalent to the dielectric lQ strength for transformer mineral oil it was then first realized that maintaining the coolant vapor pressure above 20 PSIA would result in a vaporization cooled transformer having the same eIectrical properties as a mineral oil cooled transformer at equivalen-t ratings.
Since the dieIectric constant of trichlorotri~luoroethane as a liquid is approximateIy equal to the dielectric constant of standard transformer mineral oil~ it wa5 expected that the dieIectric strength properties would only be equivalent while the coolant remained in its liquid phàse. The dielectric strength of the liquid coolant at 21.5C for both impulse and 60 Hz voltages preincluded in FIGURE 4 for comparison purposes. A
serious dielectric problem was anticipated when the coolant vaporized` during its ~apor transport cycle and the winding has to reIy in part upon the dielectric properties o~ the coolant vapor. It was heretofore anticipated that t~e`dielectric strength o~ the vaporized coolant would ~e no greater than air. FIGURE 4 shows, however, that maintaining the'coolant vapor pressure at 30- or in exces's of 20 PSI~ results in a dielectric strength approx`imately equivalent to that of the liquid coolant at 21.5C.
The vapor pressure o~ trichlorotrifluoroethane coolant as-a function of temperature is shown at F in 35 FIGURE 5. In order to maintain a vapor pressure equal to or greater than 20 PSIA the temperature of the ,: ', . ~

7~37 coolant must be maintained in excess of approximately 57C. Since temperatures less than 50C, for example, would result in a coolant vapor pressure having reduced dielectric strength, and temperatures greater than 100C would result in coolant vapor pressures in excess of the strength properties of the heat exchanger assembly, some means must be employed for keeping the coolant temperature within the 50 to 100C range. As shown earlier in FIGURE 3, a design point of 25 PSIA could be employed and the pressure could vary from 20 to 30 PSIA in an ambient temperature range of 30 to 40C.
The vaporization-cooled transformer described in the aforementioned Canadian patent application utilizes a large heat exchanger for the purpose of insuring that the vapor pressure of the coolant remained within reasonable values over wide ranges of ambient temperature. The heat exchangers of the instant invention depicted in FIGURES l and 2 are substantially smaller than the aforementioned heat exchanger in total surface area exposed and are operated sequentially in a controlled manner for closely regulating the coolant temperature. Auxiliary heater 27 connected to the side of the transformer tank 2~ by means of feed throughs 29 and electrically connected with a voltage source by means of electrical conductors ; ~ 30 and a switch, is used to heat the liquid coolant within the tank up to 50C before the transformer is energized. This assures that the vapor pressure of the vaporized coolant above the liquid, which can be determined for example by pressure or temperature sensor 9, is in excess of 20 PSIA and that the dielectric strength of the vaporized coolant is sufficient for protecting the internal components of the transformer. When the transformer becomes fully energized the heater is shut off and at least one of : ~ . ;

78t7 the heat exchangers becomes operatively connected with the tank by means of solenoid valve 31~for example.
The first heat exchanger 12a of FIGURE 2 could be connected to the tank by means of an electrically operated solenoid valve within intake manifold l9a for example valve 31 or by means of a pressure actuated valve designed to operate when the coolant vapor pressure exceeds the design operating pressure of ~5 PSIA as an alternative to solenoid valve 31. With the first heat exchanger 12a in operation and with the transformer at rated power, fans 25a would become actuated in the event that the ambient conditions were such that the cooling tubes alone were incapable of reducing the coolant temperature and the resulting vapor pressure increased above the 30 PSIA upper limit. Either one or both fan~ 25a could become activated depending upon the amount of cooling required. When ambient temperatures are high, the first heat exchanger is insufficient to cool the vaporized coolant and to cause the coolant vapor pressure to remain within the ~0 PSIA upper limit. A
second solenoid valve or pressure-actuated valve could become actuated connecting second heat exchanger 12b and allowing the vaporized coolant to enter by means of second intake manifold l9b and return to the tank by means of second exit manifold 21b and second return pipe 22b. Fans 25b are employed within the second manifold to provide added cooling facility as described earlier for the first manifold. Third heat exchanger 12c is provided in the event that the ambient temperature conditions are such that further cooling is required. It is to be understood that a single heat exchanger having a plurality of fans located along the extent of the cooling tubes could be employed and that the fans could be connected to a control system for automatically starting and stopping the fans depending ,.
:`~

7~3'7 . g _ upon the degree of cooling or heating required. When more than one heat exchanger is employed the heat exchangers can be operatively connected with the tank in a parallel arrangement, or the heat exchangers can be serially connected with each other depending upon the particular transformer design. The heat exchangers can also be directly connected to the tank without valves. In this case merely turning on the fans would increase the cooling within each separate heat exchanger.
Operating a 200 kVA transformer from 0 to 100 rating over an ambient temperature range of from 17 to 23C resulted in the relatively constant vapor pressure G shown in FIGURE 6. The load was increased in 33% increments over a 3 hour period and the fans (FIGURES 1 and 2) were cycled on and off to keep the pressure at the 27 to 28 PSIA design point. The number of fans to be operated in accordance with transformer load and ambient temperature can be determined and a ~0 program designed for each transformer rating. A
smaller number of fans can be employed and the operating cycle of the fans can be programmed to switch on and off as an alternative to the sequential use of a larger number of fans. For the constant vapor pressure G of FIGURE 6 a direct reading pressure gage 9 was included in the transformer tank, as shown in FIGURE 1, and the heater and fans were manually switched to maintain the pressure at a constant value as the transformer loading and ambient varied. For long term operation, a pressure control device can be employed to sense the pressure and automatically switch on the fàns and the heater as required.
Although pressure-sensing mechanisms are employed it is to be well understood that temperature-sensing mechanisms such as thermocouples; thermistors,and direct reading thermometers can also be employed to .....

'~

.

~5~37 determine the coolant vapor pressure. This can be seen by the relationship indicated between coolant vapor pressure and temperature shown earlier in FIGURE 5.
This is true as long as there remains some coolant in liquid form and the vapor exhibits a vapor pressure and does not behave as an ideal gas. When temperature-sensing devices are employed within the transformer tank or heat exchanger the fans and the heater can be operatively connected in a manner similar to that for the pressure sensing embodiment. Temperature sensors can be used for determining the ambient temperature condition and electrical meters can be connected within the transformer control circuitry to determine the transformer load. These parameters in combination with the coolant vapor temperature or pressure are sufficient to control the operating coolant vapor pressures within the transformer tank over the full operating range of the transformer over a wide range of ambient temperatures.
FIGURE 7 shows one arrangement for operatively connecting heat exchanger 12 and heat source 27 to transformer tank 11. This arrangement employs a microprocessor 8 electrically connected to a sensor 9 in the transformer tank for sensing the temperature of the liquid coolant or the vapor pressure of the vaporized coolant and, in turn, activating either the heat exchanger valve 31 or the heat source switch depending upon whether the coolant temperature and vapor pressure are too high or too low, respectively.
Alternatively as indicated by broken lines, the transformer sensor 9 can be directly connected with the heat exchanger wherein a temperature or pressure sensor 9 within the transformer tank directly actuates the heat exchanger valves or the fan controls without the microprocessor control unit 8. The heat source can also be electrically connected with a temperature or B

~ 787 5D-5657 pressure sensor 9 within the transformer tank for directly causing the heat source to become energized upon sensing low coolant temperatures and coolant vapor pressures and de-energized when the coolant temperature and vapor pressure reach a predetermined amount. The microprocessor can be programmed to sense an electrical output signal of a particular maynitude which is generated by a thermocouple pressure gauge or a thermistor temperature-sensing device 9 projecting within the tank to provide output control facility to both the heat exchanger and the heat source.
It is to be well understood that the properties of the vaporizable coolant employed determine the corresponding vapor pressure and electric strength so that the operating range of coolant temperatures and coolant vapor pressures may vary when different coolants are employed. The microprocessor would have to be individually programmed for operating with a prescribed coolant. The nature and design of the heat exchangers and the heat source as well as the transformer operating characteristics would have to be carefully determined for each microprocessor program.
Although the controlled pressure arrangement of the invention is described for operation with a transformer, this is by way of example only. The controlled coolant vapor pressure arrangement of the invention finds application wherever any electrical device requiring both cooling and electrical insulation is to be employed.

~ .

Claims (7)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. Vaporization cooled transformer comprising:
a transformer tank containing a dielectric coolant consisting of a single fluid in liquid and vapor forms for cooling and insulating a core and winding assembly within said tank;
a heat exchanger communicating with said tank interior for receiving the dielectric coolant in vapor form and condensing the dielectric coolant for return to said tank in liquid form;
means monitoring the vapor pressure of the dielectric coolant within said tank; and means responsive to said monitoring means for controlling the rate of condensation of the dielectric coolant vapor within said heat exchanger in a manner to maintain the dielectric coolant vapor pressure in said tank within a predetermined range in order to insure adequate dielectric strength of the dielectric coolant vapor.
2. The vaporization cooled transformer of claim l wherein said monitoring means includes a pressure sensing device situated within said tank.
3. The vaporization cooled transformer of claim 1 or 2 which further comprises a heater for heating the dielectric coolant in its liquid form pursuant to increasing the vapor pressure thereof.
4. The vaporization cooled transformer of claim 1 or 2, wherein said responsive means includes valve means for controlling the flow of dielectric coolant vapor into said heat exchanger.
5. The vaporization cooled transformer of claim l, wherein said responsive means includes at least one controllably operated fan associated with said heat exchanger.
6. The vaporization cooled transformer of claim 2, wherein said responsive means includes at least one controllably operated fan associated with said heat exchanger.
7. The vaporization cooled transformer of claim 5 or 6 wherein said responsive means further includes valve means controlling the flow of dielectric coolant vapor into said heat exchanger.
CA000356510A 1980-07-18 1980-07-18 Vaporization cooled transformer having a high voltage rating Expired CA1150787A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000356510A CA1150787A (en) 1980-07-18 1980-07-18 Vaporization cooled transformer having a high voltage rating

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000356510A CA1150787A (en) 1980-07-18 1980-07-18 Vaporization cooled transformer having a high voltage rating

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1150787A true CA1150787A (en) 1983-07-26

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CA000356510A Expired CA1150787A (en) 1980-07-18 1980-07-18 Vaporization cooled transformer having a high voltage rating

Country Status (1)

Country Link
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