A novel life management model consists of chemical aging model and electrical-thermal aging model for power transformers using a new activation energy calculation method

Power transformers aging is investigated by a chemical aging model and an electrical-thermal aging model. In the chemical aging model, oil and cellulose chemical status are considered, but transformer load is not considered, while in the electrical-thermal model, only the effects of load and hotspot temperature are considered. The primary purpose of this paper is to combine both aging models to achieve a transformer life management model that considers the effect of all chemical parameters and the transformer load current simultaneously. Combining one chemical and one electrical-thermal aging model to reach a life management model for the transformer means that the remaining life of the transformer is first estimated using the chemical aging model by the provided equations for pre-exponential factor and activation energy in this paper. For this estimation, after conducting scientific studies, including experimental studies and computation on measurement results, an empirical mathematical equation will be presented to calculate the activation energy. Then using the presented equation, the remaining life will be estimated more accurately. Then, in the next step, this estimated life will be used in the electrical-thermal aging model and finally, a hotspot temperature will be calculated for the transformer. Finally, using the proposed hotspot temperature value and presented equations in this paper, a load current will be determined, which is recommended that the transformer load should not exceed that value. Finally, the proposed equation for activation energy calculation and the presented life management model validation will be verified using some transformers measurement results.

Graphical abstract