Analysis of Structural Behavior of Transformer's Winding Under Inrush Current Conditions

The objective of this paper is to investigate the behavior of electromagnetic forces during the occurrence of faults inside transformers as result of transients in the electrical systems. The methodology is based on the modeling of a single-phase 50-MVA transformer subjected to inrush currents through finite-element method. In this perspective, the values of inrush currents, obtained by the alternative transient program software, are used to estimate the magnetic field density dispersion in the transformer, and to find the values of forces in axial and radial directions. These forces components are distributed along the energized windings for observing the loads behavior in high-voltage windings. This paper will thus present investigations of electromagnetic forces, structural deformation, stresses, and safety factor on transformer's winding when subjected to inrush current.