International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 831

ISSN 2229-5518

“Comparative Analysis of Point on Wave Switching

Technique & Prefluxing Technique to Mitigate In-
rush Current in Three Phase Power Transformer”
Mr.Pradeep J.Kotak1 Prof.Alka Thakur2

Abstract— Transformers are key component for electrical energy transfer in power system. Stability and security of the transformer protec-
tion are important to system operation. At the time of transformer energization, a high current will be drawn by the transformer. The men-
tioned current is called transient inrush current and it may rise to ten times the nominal full load current of transformer during operation. En-
ergization transients can produce mechanical stress to the transformer, cause protection system malfunction and it often affects the power
system quality and may disrupt the operation of sensitive electrical loads such as computers and medical equipment connected to the sys-
tem. Reduction and the way to control of energization transient currents have become important concerns to the power industry for engi-
neers. One of the methods to reduce inrush current is use of point on wave switching at the time transformer is initially connected to supply.
It is called controlled switching or point-on-wave switching. In the point on wave switching, the energization of three phases is controlled ac-
cording to the residual flux which remains in the transformer. Conventionally, controlled switching or point on wave switching was the meth-
od being used to counter this problem, but this method required the knowledge of residual fluxes of transformer before energization which is
quite tedious to get. So a technique has been proposed to mitigate inrush current in three phase transformer, by a process called pre-
fluxing. After setting the initial fluxes of transformer it is energized by conventional controlled switching. A system of power transformer of
specified rating is simulated in MATLAB simulink and results were obtained. This Paper describes the modeling of inrush current of 3-
phase, 300 MVA, 11/400 KV, 50 Hz transformer, and mitigation of inrush current with both techniques using point on wave switching and
prefluxing. The simulation is done in MATLAB.

Index Terms— Filter, Harmonics, Inrush current, MATLAB, Point-on-wave switching, prefluxing.

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1 INTRODUCTION

T RANSFORMER is a static device which transforms electri-

cal energy from one circuit to another without any direct
electrical connection and with the help of mutual induc-
damaged transformer is very high. The number of transient
situations is believed to increase in a distributed power gener-
ation regime. A wind farm will be extensively exposed both to
tion between to windings. It transforms power from one cir- switching and lightning over-stresses. The understanding and
cuit to another without changing its frequency but may be in prediction of these situations can result in better protection
different voltage level. A transformer is a static electrical de- schemes and integration of power transformers in the net-
vice that transfers energy by inductive coupling between its work. Hazardous operations like inrush currents, overvoltage,
winding circuits. A varying current in the primary winding internal resonances, and lightning impulse stresses manifest as
creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and electromagnetic transients and are usually difficult to accu-
thus a varying magnetic flux in the secondary winding. This rately predict. Also, outages of transformers can interrupt the
varying magnetic flux induces a varying electromotive force power supply for considerable durations. Inrush currents are
(emf) or voltage in the secondary winding. Transformer plays instantaneous currents flowing in the transformer primary
vital role in the reliable operation of power system. Reliability circuit when it is energized. They are normally of short dura-
means continuity of supply. The demand for a reliable supply tion, usually of the order of several seconds[1].
of energy has increased considerably requiring nearly a no- Even though they cannot be eliminated, it can be pos-
fault operation of power systems. A transformer is a rather sible to limit and reduce them to a harmless state. High inrush
large and expensive unit therefore, in a competitive and fairly currents can result in voltage dips and tripping of differential
low margin market, utilities tend to postpone as much as pos- current relays both leading to a power quality reduction. Some
sible the replacement of aged units. This inconveniently re- providers have installed synchronized breakers to migrate
duces the network reliability. high inrush currents, but this practice generally results in
A transformer breakdown could have consequences on the higher overvoltage and increases the risk of resonances[2]. The
trend of increased short circuit capacity and reduced losses in
———————————————— power systems intensifies the inrush current problem and
• Mr.Pradeep kotak is currently pursuing masters degree program in electric makes the proper setting of relays more difficult.
power system inRGPV University Bhopal M.P. India, PH-07387987970.
E-mail: [email protected] 2 PROBLEM STATEMENTS
• Prof.Alka Thakur is currently working as Associate Professor in SSSIST
Sehore M.P. India, PH-09907684674. E-mail: [email protected]
In recent years, various protection systems for trans-
formers, based on the differential relaying, were developed.
Various techniques based on complex circuit or microcomput-
ers are proposed to distinguish inrush current However, the
rest of the power system and in addition the repair time of
transformer still must bear with large electromagnetic stress
transformers is long. The costs associated with repairing a
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 832
ISSN 2229-5518
impact caused due to the inrush current Due to these inrush of controlled switching. Researchers are still working on this
current or the distortion in the current the harmonic contain of phenomenon and trying to extend it for three phase trans-
the system continuously goes on increasing and therefore the formers with higher ratings[7].
system stability decreses, also in power transformer the inrush
current is major problem, so it is very necessary to reduce 4 AIM OF THE PAPER
these inrush current. For to reduce these inrush current there To minimize the peak of inrush current in three phase
are various techniques which we will discuss in this paper. two winding transformer and obtained it to the steady state
One of the most recent & important technique on which we value, also to remove the transient component of flux in the
are focusing in this paper is the Prefluxing technique. This core, there are several methods. In this paper, two different
strategy of prefluxing is used to mitigate inrush current of a strategies of mitigation of inrush current in power transformer
three phase two winding transformer[7].In the model like Point on Wave technique and Prefluxing technique are
used,”prefluxing” phenomena is used to mitigate inrush cur- modeled & compared. In Point on Wave, circuit breaker is
rent of three-phase two winding power transformer. Means it closed according to flux polarity in core. In prefluxing, first set
presented an inrush current reduction strategy which sets the flux using prefluxing device and then close circuit breaker
residual flux of a three-phase transformer to a large magni- according to that flux polarity.
tude and specific polarity in a method known as prefluxing
and then energizes the transformer at a specified system volt- 5 METHODOLOGIES
age angle based on the flux polarity. This strategy has ad- In recent years, various protection systems for transformers,
vantages over some of the presently suggested reduction based on the differential relaying, were developed. Various tech-
strategies, including removing the need for residual flux niques based on complex circuit or microcomputers are proposed to
measurements during transformer de-energization. distinguish inrush current and fault current. However, the trans-
former still must bear with large electromagnetic stress impact
3 LITERATURE REVIEW caused due to the inrush current. The main factors affecting the
The inrush phenomenon was known to people from magnetizing inrush current are POW voltage at the instant of ener-
years when the transient behaviour of R-L circuits was stud- gization, magnitude and polarity of remanent flux, total resistance of
ied. The studies related to magnetic materials, B-H curves, the primary winding, power source inductance, air-core inductance

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saturation, etc. enabled scientists to understand the concept in between the energizing winding and the core, geometry of the trans-
a better way. former core, and the maximum flux carrying capability of the core
In November 2009 Asghar F.F.A.done the mitigation material. From past years, many techniques have used to mitigate
of inrush current of power transformer by point on wave inrush current for example, point on wave switching, pre-insertion of
switching method. At the time of transformer energization, a resistance in primary of transformer, injection of voltage in tertiary
high current will be drawn by the transformer. The mentioned winding etc.The main most popular method to mitigate inrush cur-
current is called transient inrush current and it may rise to ten rent in transformer is point- on-wave switching. This paper describe
times the nominal full load current of transformer during op- that how to mitigate inrush current by point- on-wave switching &
eration. Energization transients can produce mechanical stress also describes a new method to mitigate inrush current which called
to the transformer, causes protection system malfunction and Prefluxing.
it often affect the power system quality and may disrupt the :
operation of sensitive electrical loads such as computers and 5.1.1 Point on Wave Switching Technique
medical equipment connected to the system. Reduction and This strategy closes all three phases together at an opti-
the way to control of energization transients currents have mum point for the residual flux pattern. It does not require inde-
become important concerns to the power industry for engi- pendent pole breaker control, but requires knowledge of the re-
neers. One of the methods to reduce inrush current is use of sidual flux in all three phases and the residual flux magnitudes in
point on wave switching at the time transformer is initially two phases are high and follow the most traditional residual flux
connected to supply. This paper discusses the simulations and pattern. These closings are chosen as part of an inrush current
the experimental results on a three-phase transformer for re- reduction strategy for the three phase transformer that enables
duction of inrush currents. An electronic three-phase switch- the use of the three pole CBs.
ing controller has been designed and some thyristors were
used for switching power to the transformers. 5.1.2 Prefluxing Technique
In January 2012 Douglas I. Taylor, Joseph D. Law, This paper presented an inrush current reduction strate-
Brian K. Johnson, and Normann Fischer proposed prefluxing gy which sets the residual flux of a three-phase transformer to a
technique to mitigate inrush in single phase transformer. The large magnitude and specific polarity in a method known as pre-
idea was slightly different, instead of injecting power frequen- fluxing and then energizes the transformer at a specified system
cy voltage to tertiary winding, a dc voltage, i.e. a dc flux is voltage angle based on the flux polarity. This strategy has ad-
injected in the phase of a transformer just before the instant of vantages over some of the presently suggested reduction strate-
energization. In other words, it was a novel technique to set gies, including removing the need for residual flux measurements
the transformer residual flux. The flux was set near saturation during transformer de-energization[7].
region, so it makes the process independent of the flux the The prefluxing device that sets the flux of the transformer
core was carrying after the transformer was switched off be- is simple in form and flexible to apply to any range of transformer
fore. Once the flux is set, the rest of the process is same as that
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 833
ISSN 2229-5518
sizes. In addition, the device can operate at low-voltage levels, transformer without using any mitigation technique, second mod-
such as the substation ac or dc supply, regardless of the voltage el by using POW technique & third model by using Prefluxing
rating of the transformer. The results of energizing a prefluxed technique.
transformer were presented, including accounting for breaker
deviation; all with inrush current levels below the transformers 6.1 Inrush Current Modeling of Three Phase Two Winding
rating, proving the effectiveness of the reduction procedure. These Transformer
greatly reduced inrush currents mean reduced stress and degrada- Inrush current in three phase is studied in MATLAB
tion of the transformer windings and reduced system effects, such simulink. Here three phase power transformer having a rating of
as harmonic over voltages or sympathetic inrush in neighboring 300 MVA, 11 kV/400 kV, 50 Hz, connected to a supply source as
transformers. Many techniques had been suggested to obtain re- shown in figure 6.1. A three phase 11 kV source connected with
sidual flux on the basis of the instant of transformer was previous- the transformer. The three phase transformer which is used for
ly turned off. But it is slightly tedious process. To make a user free simulation has Y-Y connection of winding. The core magnetiza-
from knowledge of residual flux the paper proposes a new tech- tion resistance of three phase transformer is 154 ohm and core
nique to set the initial fluxes of transformer as per the desired val- magnetization inductance is 8.4 mH. The core is used with specify
ues. This is called as prefluxing. initial fluxes and saturated core[5][6]. Some amount of flux pro-
The innovation behind the prefluxing inrush current re- vide in each phases to get the value of inrush current. When the
duction strategy lies in the prefluxing device itself. The prefluxing transformer energized, the flux of all three phases will increase
device capacitor is charged to a user-specified voltage and then and reached till the maximum value of flux and after that maxi-
discharged into the transformer when closing the device switch. It mum value, the flux will become saturated and draw more cur-
rent from source, which may be 5 to 10 time greater than rated
is necessary for the prefluxing device to set the residual flux of a
current. The main reason of saturation of flux is residual flux. Re-
transformer as high as possible to minimize the inrush current, but
sidual flux is nothing but it is some amount of flux which remains
also to do so efficiently. The prefluxing reduction strategy is a two
in the transformer core at the time of de-energization of trans-
part process. First, the transformer residual flux is set as close as
former. Residual flux is depending on the rating of transformer
possible to its maximum achievable residual flux when the trans-
and de-energization instant. It will have different value for differ-
former is de-energized. The second part of the process controls the
ent rating transformer. The inrush current modeling of trans-

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CB to energize the transformer at either an angle of 210 for posi- former using simulink blocks is shown below. Three phase power
tive residual flux, or 330 for negative residual flux [17]. These an- transformer having a rating of 300 MVA, 11 kV/400 kV, 50 Hz,
gles are chosen as part of an inrush current reduction strategy for connected to a supply source as shown in figure. A three phase 11
three-phase transformers that enable the use of a three-pole CB. kV source connected with the transformer. The core magnetiza-
tion resistance of three phase transformer is 154 ohm and core
magnetization inductance is 8.4 mH the core is used with specifies
initial fluxes and saturated core.

Fig. 5.1.2: Prefluxing Device

The prefluxing device is shown in Fig. 5.1.2 it consists of
a capacitor, a diode, a fuse, and a switch. A charging circuit (not
shown) establishes the initial voltage across the capacitor. The
device is used when the transformer is isolated from the power
system and connects across one of the transformer windings (the
primary winding in the figure). Ideally, the highest voltage wind-
ing is used because of the reduced magnetizing current on this
winding. Since the prefluxing device is only applied when the
transformer is isolated and can operate at very low voltages, rela-
tively inexpensive isolator switches can be used to connect the Fig. 6.1: Inrush Current Modelling In MATLAB Simulink
device to the transformer. The prefluxing device is sized to operate
around the transformers magnetizing current levels, so the capaci-
tor, diode, and fuse can be sized for a fraction of the transformer 6.2 Simulink Model for mitigation of inrush current in
rated current. three phase transformer Using POW method

6 MODELING IN MATLAB SIMULINK This strategy studied in MATLAB simulink environ-

We have to consider one model for inrush current in ment. Three phase power transformer having a rating of 300
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 834
ISSN 2229-5518
MVA, 11 kV/400 kV, 50 Hz, connected to a supply source as In this analysis we have studied nature of inrush cur-
shown in figure 6.2. A three phase 11 kV source connected rent, the performance of three phase transformer during ener-
with the transformer. The core magnetization resistance of gization.Also we have seen the two different methods of miti-
three phase transformer is 154 ohm and core magnetization gation of inrush current in three phase two winding trans-
inductance is 8.4 mH the core is used with specifies initial former. One is point on wave switching and other is preflux-
fluxes and saturated core[5][6]. ing technique. The simulation results for these methods are
shown below.
7.1 Simulation result for inrush current in three phase
transformer
In three phase transformer, asymmetrical fluxes in
core caused generation of inrush current. The asymmetrical
flux in core is due to the core saturation. The simulation result
for current in each phase is shown in figure below

Fig.6.2: Mitigation of Inrush Current Using Point on Wave

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6.3 Simulink Model for mitigation of inrush current in
three phase transformer Using Prefluxing method

Three phase power transformer having a rating of 300

MVA, 11 KV/400 KV, 50 Hz, connected to a supply source as
shown in figure 6.3. A three phase 11 kV source connected
with the transformer. The core magnetization resistance of
three phase transformer is 154 ohm and core magnetization
inductance is 8.4mH the core is used with specifies initial flux-
es and saturated core[5][6].

Fig. 7.1: Inrush Current in Phase A, B and C respectively

7.2 Simulation result For Mitigation of Inrush Current in

Three Phase Transformer Using Point on Wave Method
In the previous analysis the inrush current in three phase
transformer have been studied which is first objective of this paper.
Now second objective of this paper is that to mitigate inrush current
in three phase transformer. This is achieved by two different meth-
Fig.6.3: Mitigation of Inrush Current Using Prefluxing ods i.e. Point on Wave and Prefluxing. The simulation result for
mitigated current in each pase is shown below.
7 SIMULATION RESULT
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 835
ISSN 2229-5518

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Fig. 7.3: Mitigated Inrush Current in Phase A, B and C respectively
Fig. 7.2: Mitigated Inrush Current in Phase A, B and C respec-
by Prefluxing technique
tively by POW technique

8 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN VALUES

7.3 Simulation result For Mitigation of Inrush Current in OF INRUSH CURRENT IN POINT ON WAVE
Three Phase Transformer Using Prefluxing Teacnique METHOD AND PREFLUXING METHOD
The prefluxing reduction strategy is a two part process. Phase A Phase B Phase C
First the transformer’s residual flux is set as close as possible to its
maximum achievable residual flux with either a positive or negative Inrush Current 20476 A 9238.56 A 9180.38 A
polarity when the transformer is de-energized. The second part of Mitigated Inrush Current 10341 A 3710 A 4065 A
the process controls the CB to energize the transformer. The simula- By Using POW Technique
tion result for mitigated current in each pase is shown below. Mitigated Inrush Current
By Using Prefluxing Tech- 157.50 A 141.86 A 35.25 A
nique

Table No.8.1: Comparison between Values of Inrush Current (Ampere)

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 5, Issue 11, November-2014 836
ISSN 2229-5518
In the above table the value of inrush current in Phase A of three
phase two winding power transformer having rating of 300 MVA,
11KV/400KV is 20476 Ampere. By using mitigation technique we
have to reduce it. So firstly we have used POW technique due to
which inrush current reduces to 10341 Ampere, after that we have
used Prefluxing technique which reduces the value of inrush cur-
rent to value 157.50 Ampere which is very low as compared to ini-
tial inrush current.
Similarly for Phase B and Phase C this Prefluxing tech-
nique reduces the initial value of inrush current to very low value
i.e. 141.86Ampere and 35.25 Ampere respectively.

9 CONCLUSION

Simulink results show that Point on Wave reduced the

inrush current in three phase transformer. Also simulation results
show that Prefluxing device mitigate inrush current in three phase
transformer quickly. After comparing the POW technique and Pre-
fluxing technique, it is found that the values of inrush current in
transformer are mitigated, but Prefluxing technique mitigate inrush
current to lowest value and hence it is a best technique to mitigate
inrush current in three phase power transformer

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