International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2014)

Transformer Inrush Current and Related Challenges

Saurabh Shrivastava1, Ashfaque Khan2, Amita Mahor3
Abstract—Energizing of large power transformers is Factors contributing to the magnitude and duration of
considered a critical event in the operation of an electric inrush current are Magnitude of residual flux in transformer
power system. When a transformer is energized by the grid or core, Nonlinear magnetizing characteristic of transformer
utility, it takes very high value current known as inrush core, Magnitude of source voltage at the switching instant
current, the typical value of this current could be ten times.
and Impedance and short circuit power of the source
This inrush causes many problems like mechanical stress on
transformer & harmonics injection to generator windings, including VAR abortion capacity.
and system protection malfunction. This transient The key adverse effects include-
phenomenon needs detail analysis for system protection. A. Mechanical and electrical stresses in windings
Keywords—Transformer inrush current, transformer The amplitude of inrush current can be equal to that of
transients, inrush current model of transformer. the short circuit current and may last longer depending on
system configuration. This can seriously damage the
I. INTRODUCTION windings through excessive mechanical stresses [5].
The energizing of large power transformers is B. Harmonic resonant over voltages
considered a critical event in the operation of an electric Transformer inrush currents are rich in harmonics and in
power system. When a transformer is energized by the grid the event of resonance, a sustained Harmonic resonant over
or utility, it takes very high value current known as inrush voltages may exist and if these over voltages last for a long
current, the typical value of this current could be ten times. period of time, they may eventually damage the equipment.
This inrush causes many problems like mechanical stress
on transformer & harmonics injection to generator C. Mall operation of protective relays
windings, and system protection malfunction. With the
D. Voltage dips:
development of smart grid, distributed generation from
independent power producers is growing rapidly & to Due to high magnitude and asymmetrical nature of
energize the system in a situation like black start has long inrush current a voltage dip is observed by the system. The
been considered as challenging. The main reason for this magnitude, duration and unbalance of voltages in the
criticality is the unpredictable system transients post respective phases are function of system impedance,
energization. In the subsequent sections we will attempt to source, transformer capacities etc.[6]
focus on phenomenon, reasons, effects and mitigation plans
of this aspect and to ensure both steady state and transient III. MITIGATION PLAN
stability aspects of system. As the phenomenon of transients is dynamic in nature
and largely depends on system configuration. Therefore, it
II. REASONS & EFFECT is not possible to set any rule of thumb to access the precise
When the transformer is charged, a transient current behaviour of transients or suitability of system. The only
known as magnetizing inrush current (of magnitude as high reliable way is through system simulation (Electromagnetic
as 10times of rated current) flows in to the system. This is modelling) in available electrical software. Still it is
due to the nonlinear relationship of flux and magnetizing experienced that a unit is capable to charge a transformer of
current as transformer core is in saturation mode. It is not equal or moderately higher capacity without losing the
only the high magnitude of inrush current but its system stability. Though there are ways to mitigate the
composition (rich in DC component and harmonics) and transient but they are more system specific than a
duration are also the cause of concern which severely generalized solution. Some of the mitigation methods are –
affects the stability of the system.

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2014)
A. Pre Insertion Resister Capacitor banks in the high voltage network which are
One of the solutions to mitigate the risk related to used to help control voltage under normal conditions
transformer inrush currents is reducing the magnitude of generally cannot be used in black start conditions for two
these currents. Traditionally it is done by using preinsertion reasons:
resistors in the circuit breakers. The voltage drop across the  They are generally sized for normal short circuit levels.
pre-insertion resistor produce by the inrush current will Under black start conditions the short circuit levels are
decrease the voltage on the transformer windings, which in significantly lower and thus switching the capacitor bank
turns decreases the magnetic over flux in the core. As a might cause excessive voltage change at the bus where it
result, the magnitude of the transient magnetizing currents is switched.
will be reduced as well.[5],[6]  The excessive capacitance may result in generator
self‐ excitation. Under self-excitation conditions, the
B. Low Impedance Charging
high voltage bus could theoretically rise in range of 2 to
If system configuration permits then charge the main 4 p.u.
transformer through auxiliary transformer. As small
Even allowing for the action of arresters, this level of
transformer has not only relatively low magnitude inrush
overvoltage would be sufficient to damage equipment.
current but duration is also small which will be
The amount of reactive margin that needs to be
considerably lower than charging the main transformer first
maintained is dependent on the composition of the load,
Steps for fig – Charge the Ta and T1 (via Ta) on G1
including both steady state power factor and dynamic
Once inrush is decayed close the breaker of T1 towards G1
behavior. The minimum loading of a generator is unit
dependent and is typically 30 to 60% of the generator full
load rating.

IV. INRUSH CURRENT EVALUATION THROUGH ATP

Inrush current analysis performed for 15/6.6 kV, YY
winding transformer, testing data of open circuit and short
circuit used to model the transformer in ATP. External
inductance used to model the saturation characteristics of
the transformer.
In model show blow the transformer is charged through
grid and the value of inrush current is being analysed for
different angle of supply voltage. Transformer discharging
Figure 1: Typical Circuit diagram of power station [7] case is also analysed and effect of transient due to residual
flux is being analysed.
C. Soft Charging
As the transformer charging current also depends on the
Another way to energize the generator step up pole discrepancy, circuit breaker is connected in the
autotransformer by connecting it prior to starting the incomer of the transformer and effect of pole discrepancy
generator. Then the transformer would be energized on inrush current is included in the results.
together with the generator under excitation control. This
would avoid any inrush effects. Unfortunately this
procedure cannot be followed on transformers which are
not unit transformers.
D. Load Composition
It is recommended to load the generator to its minimum
possible load prior to proceeding with energization of other
system components. Load consists of active & reactive
components and there are limitations on capacity of the
connected generators to supply or absorb reactive power.
Ideally the nature of load should not be highly capacitive Figure 2: ATP model of transformer
like capacitor banks or long transmission line etc.

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 12, December 2014)
1100 V. CONCLUSION
[A]
It is accepted beyond doubts that transformer
900
energization is a transient phenomenon which not only
affects the system stability but to the system components as
700
well. No rule of thumb can be assumed. Based on the
details of the event it is a crucial call which largely relies
500
on the experience of the engineer and his knowledge of the
system.
300

REFERENCES
100
[1] IEC 60071-2, Insulation co-ordination – Part 2: Application Guide.
(Third Edition, 1996)
-100
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 [s] 0.25 [2] H. K. Hoidalen, ATPDraw for Windows version 5.5, 2010.
(f ile tr.inrush.pl4; x-v ar t) c:X0030A-TR_15A
[3] J. A. Martinez and F. C. Aranda, "Tower Modeling for Lightning
Analysis of Overhead Transmission Line," ( Proceedings of 2005
Figure 3: Transformer Charging Inrush
IEEE Power Engineering Society General Meeting, Vol. 2, June 12-
16, 2005, p.p.1212- 1217).
7.0
[4] IEEE Standard for Insulation Coordination—Definitions, Principles,
[A] and Rules, ( IEEE Std. 1313.1-1996).
3.8 [5] L.Prikler, G.Banfai, G.Ban and P.Becker, Reducing the Magnetizing
Inrush current by means of Controlled Energization and de-
Energization of Large Power Transformer, International Conference
0.6 on Power System Transients, IPST 2003.
[6] W. Xu, S.G. Abdulsalam, S.Chen, and X. Liu, A Sequential Phase
Energization Method for transformer inrush current reduction, Part
-2.6
II: Theoretical Analysis and Design Guide, IEEE Trans. on Power
Delivery, Vol. 20, pp. 950-957, April 2005.
-5.8 [7] Salman Kahrobaee, Marcelo C. Algrain, Sohrab Asgarpoor,
―
Investigation and Mitigation of Transformer Inrush Current during
Black Start of an Independent Power Producer Plant‖ Electric Power
-9.0 Division, Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria, USA
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 [ms] 35
(f ile tr.inrush.pl4; x-v ar t) c:X0030A-TR_15A

Figure 4: Transformer De-energizing Inrush

Value of inrush current at various phase angle of supply

voltage has been analysed and maximum value obtained in
indicated in figure3 and 4, from above figures it can be
concluded that for modelled 4MVA transformer the
maximum value of inrush current is 1100Amps, which is
seven times the nominal current value.

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