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Testing Lab

The Transformer Testing Laboratory (Testing Lab) was built at Monash University Clayton in 2006. The facility features a test transformer equipped with the dedicated control system and two monitoring systems – an in-house built multi-channel data acquisition system and a commercial Dynamic Ratings Monitoring Control and Communication (DRMCC) unit.

Test transformer nameplate data:

• Year of Manufacture: 2006
• Manufacturer: Wilson Transformer Company
• Rated Power, kVA: 468/936
• Rated Voltage, kV: 22/4.5/0.4
• Cooling Types: ONAN, ONAF, OFAN, OFAF
• Number of Phases: 3
• Frequency, Hz: 50
• Mass Total (including Oil), kg: 6850
• Mass of Oil, kg: 2650
• Oil Preservation System: Conservator with Rubber Bag.

Features of the test transformer:

• Clamping pressure of phase windings in transformer (for research purposes)
• Five glass observation windows on lid and side walls of transformer
• Accessible paper sample holders installed inside transformer
• 3-phase variac for loading the transformer
• External heater for establishing temperature and moisture equilibriums in transformer
• Moisturising system for increasing moisture content of transformer insulation
• Valves for connecting commercial on-line dryout systems to transformer
• Flanges for connecting other cooling systems for testing, validation and improvement
• Valves, ports and flanges for inserting additional devices, monitors and samples into transformer
• Valves and ports for sampling oil from various points in transformer
• Valves and ports for injecting oil samples containing known concentrations of dissolved gases of interest into transformer
• A stand-alone tank of 3.6 m3 volume for storing oil temporary removed from transformer
• Overhead crane of 8 ton capacity.

On-line monitoring systems and devices:

• Data Acquisition System A – an in-house built multi-channel system
• Data Acquisition System B – a DRMCC unit from Dynamic Ratings
• Fibre-optic probes for winding temperature monitoring: 16
• Thermocouples: inside core – 7, at top and bottom end rings – 6, in top and bottom oil – 7
• RTD temperature probes – 8
• Winding Temperature Indicator (WTI) – 1
• Moisture in oil transmitters – 5
• Ultrasound oil flow meter – 1
• Oil pressure sensors – 2 (before and after pump)
• Voltage and current monitors.