Verification of Barrierboard Over-pressure Withstand Capability and Transformer Operational Risk Mitigation by an Explosion Experiment

Safety in the switchyard is of high priority, oilfilled apparatuses like power transformers are of particular concern. One promising attempt to reduce the risk of transformer tank explosion due to tap-changer malfunction is to move the tap-changer into a separate compartment next to the main tank. In case of an issue or even worse of an explosion of the tap-changer, the damage is limited and will not destroy the active part of the transformer. The Weidmann Barrierboard is used for the separation between the main tank and the tap-changer compartment. The present study was carried out to prove that the Barrierboard can withstand the pressure impact of an explosion in the tapchanger compartment and protect the active part of the transformer. The study consisted of one static pressure test and two dynamic pressure tests (of which one full size explosion test). By using proprietary measurement devices, it was possible to record the pressure tests.