Development of a smart transformer to control the power exchange of a microgrid

A smart transformer enables to control the power exchange between a microgrid and the utility network by controlling the voltage at the microgrid side within certain limits. The distributed generation units in the microgrid are equipped with a voltage-based droop control strategy. This controller reacts on the voltage change, making the smart transformer an element that controls power exchange without the need for communication to other elements in the microgrid. To build a smart transformer, several concepts are possible. In a smart transformer with continuous turns ratio, hereafter referred to as continuous smart transformer, the transformer's microgrid-side voltage can be controlled without voltage steps and the accuracy of the voltage control can be very high. The voltage control of a smart transformer with discrete turns ratio, hereafter referred to as discrete smart transformer, is less accurate, as the output voltage is regulated between several discrete values. In this paper, the development of a continuous and discrete smart transformer will be elaborated. Their validity will be proven by implementing these smart transformers in an experimental test setup. Also, some concepts to improve the control accuracy will be proposed

Investigating inter-turn fault in transformer using TTR and FRA

Transformers are one of the significant elements in the power system network. The Transformer function is to step up and down the voltages. When the transformer operating in high load, it exposes to failures. There are various transformer failures which could have a serious effect on the transformer efficiency. For example, winding deformation, tap changer damage, and short turns (inter-turn fault). The transformer inter-turns fault reduces the number of turns in the winding. To detect inter-turn fault, the transformer turn ratio test is the basic method used. On the other hand, frequency response analysis has been recognized to monitor the mechanical condition of the transformer winding. The frequency response analysis method can be conducted in four measurement connection. They are end to end open circuit test, end to end short circuit test, capacitive inter-winding, and inductive inter-winding. The inductive inter-winding low-frequency region is determined by the transformer turn ratio. This statement was mentioned in CIGRE A2.26. However, there are not approved studies on this issue. This study investigates the transformer inter-turn fault using transformer turn ratio test and frequency response analysis. In addition, this study performs various of statistical indicators on the FRA results. The statistical indicators are used to detect the variation between the normal and inter-turn fault responses. Also, this study proposes statistical indicators limits. After that compare the FRA and TTR results and check if the turn ratio results can be obtained using FRA inductive inter-winding test. Findings that FRA inductive inter-winding test can detect inter-turn fault. This can be determined by the absolute sum logarithmic error (ASLE), mean square error (MSE), and standard deviation (SD). Also, there are indicator limits has been proposed for ALSE and SD. This study finding helps to use the frequency response analysis method to replace the conventional turn ratio test

Burden resistor selection in current transformers for low power applications

In order to sense AC current with electric isolation in high frequency switching power converters the most simple and low cost solution is to consider a current transformer with a burden resistor. But burden resistor selection is not a simple task because involves a lot of considerations that affect the output voltage and its signal-to-noise ratio and the bandwidth of the measure. In this paper, considering the basic equations of the transformer and applying the Laplace Transformation is obtained a simple model of the current transformer interesting to select burden resistor and even to design the current transformer in case of high frequency applicationsPostprint (published version

Apparatus for measuring current flow Patent

Electric current measuring apparatus design including saturable core transformer and energy storage device to avoid magnetizing current errors from transformer output windin

Transformer based front-end for a low power 2.4 GHz transceiver

A low power transceiver architecture for the 2.4 GHz ISM band using a 1.0 V supply is presented. It employs a transformer to convert the 100 Ω antenna impedance to almost 1 kΩ and so facilitates a low power transmitter and receiver. The simulated post-layout output power of the differential class-E power amplifier is 2.0 dBm with a drain efficiency of 28.4%. The direct-conversion receiver achieves a very low power consumption of 420 μW and a noise figure of 15.0 dB.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-08447Junta de Andalucía TIC-0281