Experimental detection of transformer excitation asymmetry through the analysis of the magnetizing current harmonic content

Abstract

The presence of a low DC voltage in a power grid produces an excitation asymmetry for the distribution transformers, resulting in unwanted half-cycle saturation that may impair transformer safety, reliability and efficiency, especially in increasing the reactive power, stray losses and iron losses. This paper highlights a diagnostic method based on the phase value of the particular even harmonics of a transformer excitation current as the basic marker of an excitation asymmetry. In order to achieve a straightforward insight into the nature of even harmonics behaviour, a novel method of decomposition an excitation current waveform into its unhysteretic (pure magnetization) and hysteretic components has been included in the harmonic analysis.