Experimental validation of the coupled fluid flow, heat transfer and electromagnetic numerical model of the medium-power dry-type electrical transformer

This paper presents experimental validation of a numerical model of coupled processes within a three-phase medium-power dry-type electrical transformer. The analysis carried out employed a multi-disciplinary approach involving heat, fluid flow and electromagnetics. The thermal and fluid flow analysis was coupled with an electromagnetic model in order to examine the specific power losses within the coils and the core. The thermal boundary conditions, i.e. the local and temperature-dependent heat fluxes, were computed by considering a numerical model of the surrounding internal and external air. Moreover, separate numerical and analytical models were considered in order to obtain the anisotropic thermal conductivities for different types of coils and also for laminated cores. To validate the numerical model, experimental transformer temperature tests in the short-circuit, open-circuit, and under nominal parameters according to the current European Standards for dry-type transformers were performed. During the tests, temperatures were measured at selected points on elements of the transformer using thermocouples and thermometers, while on the external tank walls an infrared thermography was employed. The obtained numerical results showed that the prediction of the temperature distribution within the analyzed transformers and their surroundings was very accurate. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.