Transformer Winding Fault Diagnosis by Vibration Monitoring

The role of transformer in electricity network reliability and safe operation is quite crucial. Therefore, their monitoring, maintenance and management is vitally important for utility operators. Simpler, non-invasive and online condition monitoring method which is sensitive to incipient faults is in demand for transformer diagnosis. Although vibration monitoring is considered as a valuable technique in industry for rotating machines, it is least explored for static electrical equipment such as transformer. In this study, core and winding vibrations in a dry type transformer is monitored using an accelerometer to diagnose the winding electrical and mechanical faults. Winding and core vibrations for various degrees of inter-turn fault, axial movement and disc displacement under different load conditions are studied.