Distribution transformer
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Single-phase distribution transformer in Canada A distribution transformer or service transformer is a
transformer In electrical engineering, a transformer is a passive component that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another circuit, or multiple Electrical network, circuits. A varying current in any coil of the transformer produces ...
that provides a final
voltage Voltage, also known as (electrical) potential difference, electric pressure, or electric tension, is the difference in electric potential between two points. In a Electrostatics, static electric field, it corresponds to the Work (electrical), ...
reduction in the
electric power distribution Electric power distribution is the final stage in the Power delivery, delivery of electricity. Electricity is carried from the Electric power transmission, transmission system to individual consumers. Distribution Electrical substation, substatio ...
system, stepping down the voltage used in the distribution lines to the level used by the customer. The invention of a practical, efficient transformer made
AC power In an electric circuit, instantaneous power is the time rate of flow of energy past a given point of the circuit. In alternating current circuits, energy storage elements such as inductors and capacitors may result in periodic reversals of the d ...
distribution feasible; a system using distribution transformers was demonstrated as early as 1882. If mounted on a
utility pole A utility pole, commonly referred to as a transmission pole, telephone pole, telecommunication pole, power pole, hydro pole, telegraph pole, or telegraph post, is a column or post used to support overhead power lines and various other public util ...
, they are called pole-mount transformers. When placed either at ground level or underground, distribution transformers are mounted on concrete pads and locked in steel cases, thus known as distribution tap pad-mounted transformers. Distribution transformers typically have ratings less than 200 kVA, although some national standards allow units up to 5000 kVA to be described as distribution transformers. Since distribution transformers are energized 24 hours a day (even when they don't carry any load), reducing iron losses is vital in their design. They usually don't operate at full load, so they are designed to have maximum efficiency at lower loads. To have better efficiency,
voltage regulation In electrical engineering, particularly power engineering, voltage regulation is a measure of change in the voltage magnitude between the sending and receiving end of a component, such as a transmission line, transmission or distribution line. Vol ...
in these transformers is kept to a minimum. Hence, they are designed to have small
leakage reactance Leakage inductance derives from the electrical property of an imperfectly coupled transformer whereby each Electromagnetic coil, winding behaves as a self-inductance in series and parallel circuits, series with the winding's respective Electrical r ...
.


Types

Distribution transformers are classified into different categories based on factors such as: * Mounting location – pole, pad, underground vault * Type of insulation – liquid-immersed or dry-type * Number of phases – single-phase or three-phase * Voltage class * Basic impulse insulation level (BIL).


Use

Distribution transformers are normally located at a
service drop In electric power distribution, a service drop is an overhead electrical line running from a utility pole, to a customer's building or other premises. It is the point where electric utilities provide power to their customers.Carson Dunlop "Elec ...
, where wires run from a utility pole or underground power lines to a customer's premises. They are often used for the power supply of facilities outside settlements, such as isolated houses, farmyards, or
pumping station Pumping stations, also called pumphouses, are public utility buildings containing pumps and equipment for pumping fluids from one place to another. They are critical in a variety of infrastructure systems, such as water supply, Land reclamation, ...
s at
voltage Voltage, also known as (electrical) potential difference, electric pressure, or electric tension, is the difference in electric potential between two points. In a Electrostatics, static electric field, it corresponds to the Work (electrical), ...
s below 30 kV. Another application is the power supply of the overhead wire of
railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
s electrified with AC. In this case, single-phase distribution transformers are used. The number of customers fed by a single distribution transformer varies depending on the number of customers in an area. Several homes may be fed from a single transformer in urban areas; depending on the mains voltage, rural distribution may require one transformer per customer. A large commercial or industrial complex will have multiple distribution transformers. In urban areas and neighborhoods where primary distribution lines run underground,
padmount transformer A padmount or pad-mounted transformer is a ground-mounted electric power distribution transformer in a locked steel cabinet mounted on a concrete pad. Since all energized connection points are securely enclosed in a grounded metal housing, a pad ...
s, and locked metal enclosures are mounted on a concrete pad. Many large buildings have electric service provided at primary distribution voltage. These buildings have customer-owned transformers in the basement for step-down purposes. Distribution transformers are also found in
wind farm A wind farm, also called a wind park or wind power plant, is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small number of turbines to several hundred wind turbines covering an exten ...
power collection networks, where they step up power from each wind turbine to connect to a substation that may be several miles (kilometers) distant.


Connections

Both pole-mounted and pad-mounted transformers convert the overhead or underground distribution lines' high ''primary'' voltage to the lower ''secondary'' or utilization voltage inside the building. The primary distribution wires use the
three-phase Three-phase electric power (abbreviated 3ϕ) is a common type of alternating current (AC) used in electricity generation, Electric power transmission, transmission, and Electric power distribution, distribution. It is a type of polyphase system ...
system. Main distribution lines always have three "hot" wires plus an optional neutral. In the North American system, where single-phase transformers connect to only one phase wire, smaller lateral lines branching off on side roads may include only one or two hot phase wires. When only one phase wire exists, a neutral will always be provided as a return path. Primaries provide power at the standard distribution voltages used in the area; these range from as low as 2.3 kV to about 35 kV depending on local distribution practice and standards, often 11 kV (50 Hz systems) and 13.8 kV (60 Hz systems) are used, but many other voltages are standard. For example, in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, the most common voltage is 12.47 kV, with a line-to-ground voltage of 7.2 kV. It has a 7.2 kV phase-to-neutral voltage, exactly 30 times the 240 V on the split-phase secondary side.


Primary

The high-voltage primary windings are brought out to bushings on the top of the case. *Single-phase transformers, generally used in the North American system, are attached to the overhead distribution wires with two different types of connections: **Wye – A ''wye'' or phase-to-neutral transformer is used on a wye distribution circuit. A single-phase wye transformer usually has only one bushing on top, connected to one of the three primary phases. The other end of the primary winding is connected to the transformer case, which is connected to the neutral wire of the wye system and is also grounded. A wye distribution system is not preferred because the transformers present unbalanced loads on the line that cause currents in the neutral wire and then the ground. However, with a delta distribution system, the unbalanced loads can cause variations in the voltages on the 3-phase wires. **Delta – A ''delta'' or phase-to-phase transformer is used on a delta distribution circuit. A single-phase delta transformer has two bushings connected to two of the three primary wires, so the primary winding sees the phase-to-phase voltage; this avoids returning primary current through a neutral that must be solidly grounded to keep its voltage near earth's potential. Since the neutral is also provided to customers, this is a significant safety advantage in a dry area like California, where soil conductivity is low. The main disadvantage is higher cost, e.g., needing at least two insulated "hot" phase wires even on a branch circuit. Another minor disadvantage is that if only one of the primary phases is disconnected upstream, the downstream side will remain live as the transformers try to return current. It could be a hazard to line workers. *Three-phase transformers, used for residential service in the European system, have three primary windings attached to all three primary phase wires. The windings are almost always connected in a ''wye'' configuration, with the ends connected and grounded. The transformer is always connected to the primary distribution lines through protective
fuses Munitions, Fuse or FUSE may refer to: Devices * Fuse (electrical), a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current ** Fuse (automotive), a class of fuses for vehicles * Fuse (hydraulic), a device used in hydraulic systems ...
and disconnect
switch In electrical engineering, a switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit, interrupting the electric current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The most common type o ...
es. For pole-mounted transformers, this is usually a fused cutout. An electrical fault melts the fuse, and the device drops open to give a visual indication of trouble.
Lineworker A lineworker (also called a lineman or powerline worker) constructs and maintains the electric power transmission, electric transmission and electricity distribution, distribution facilities that deliver electrical energy to industrial, commerci ...
s can also manually open it while the line is energized using insulated
hot stick In the electric power distribution industry, a hot stick is an insulated pole, usually made of fiberglass. When engaged for live-line working it is used by electric utility workers to protect them from electric shock on energized high-voltag ...
s. In some cases, completely self-protected transformers are used, which have a circuit breaker built in, so a fused cutout isn't needed.


Secondary

The low-voltage secondary windings are attached to three or four terminals on the transformer's side. *In North American residences and small businesses, the secondary is often the split-phase 120/240-volt system. The 240 V secondary winding is center-tapped, and the center neutral wire is grounded, making the two end conductors "hot" compared to the center tap. These three wires run down the service drop to the building's electric meter and service panel. Connecting a load between the hot wire and the neutral gives 120 volts, which is used for lighting circuits. Connecting both hot wires gives 240 volts for heavy loads such as air conditioners, ovens, dryers, and electric vehicle charging stations. *In Europe and other countries using its system, the secondary is often the three-phase 400Y/230 system. There are three 230 V secondary windings, each receiving power from a primary winding attached to one of the primary phases. One end of each secondary winding is connected to a neutral wire, which is grounded. The other end of the three secondary windings and the neutral are brought down the service drop to the service panel. 230 V loads are connected between any of the three-phase wires and the neutral. Because the phases are 120 degrees from each other, the voltage between any two phases is sqrt(3) * 230V = 400V, compared to the 2 * 120V = 240V in the North American split phase system. While three-phase power is almost unheard of in individual North American residences, it is common in Europe for heavy loads such as kitchen stoves, air conditioners, and electric vehicle chargers.


Construction

Distribution transformers consist of a
magnetic core A magnetic core is a piece of magnetism, magnetic material with a high magnetic permeability used to confine and guide magnetic fields in electrical, electromechanical and magnetic devices such as electromagnets, transformers, electric motors, ele ...
made from
lamination Simulated flight (using image stack created by μCT scanning) through the length of a knitting needle that consists of laminated wooden layers: the layers can be differentiated by the change of direction of the wood's vessels Shattered windshi ...
s of sheet
silicon steel Silicon is a chemical element; it has symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid (sometimes considered a non-metal) and semiconductor. It is a membe ...
( transformer steel) stacked and either glued together with resin or banded together with steel straps, with the primary and secondary wire windings wrapped around them. This core construction is designed to reduce core losses and dissipation of magnetic energy as heat in the core, an economically important cause of power loss in utility grids. Two effects cause core losses: hysteresis loss in the steel and eddy currents. Silicon steel has low hysteresis loss, and the laminated construction prevents eddy currents from flowing in the core, which dissipates power in the resistance of the steel. The efficiency of typical distribution transformers is between about 98 and 99 percent. Where large numbers of transformers are made to standard designs, a wound C-shaped core is economical to manufacture. A steel strip is wrapped around a former, pressed into shape, and then cut into two C-shaped halves re-assembled on the copper windings. The primary coils are wound from enamel-coated
copper Copper is a chemical element; it has symbol Cu (from Latin ) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orang ...
or aluminum wire, and the high-current, low-voltage secondaries are wound using a thick ribbon of
aluminum Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...
or copper. The windings are insulated with resin-impregnated paper. The entire assembly is baked to cure the resin and then submerged in a powder-coated steel tank, which is then filled with transformer oil (or other insulating liquid), which is inert and non-conductive. The transformer oil cools and insulates the windings and protects them from moisture. The tank is temporarily evacuated during manufacture to remove any remaining moisture that would cause arcing and is sealed against the weather with a gasket at the top. Formerly, distribution transformers for indoor use would be filled with a
polychlorinated biphenyl Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are organochlorine compounds with the formula Carbon, C12Hydrogen, H10−''x''Chloride, Cl''x''; they were once widely used in the manufacture of carbonless copy paper, as heat transfer fluids, and as dielectri ...
(PCB) liquid. Because these chemicals persist in the environment and adversely affect on animals, they have been banned. Other fire-resistant liquids such as
silicone In Organosilicon chemistry, organosilicon and polymer chemistry, a silicone or polysiloxane is a polymer composed of repeating units of siloxane (, where R = Organyl group, organic group). They are typically colorless oils or elastomer, rubber ...
s are used where a liquid-filled transformer must be used indoors. Certain vegetable oils have been applied as transformer oil; these have the advantage of a high fire point and are completely biodegradable in the environment. Pole-mounted transformers often include accessories such as surge arresters or protective fuse links. A self-protected transformer consists of an internal fuse and surge arrester; other transformers have these components mounted separately outside the tank. Pole-mounted transformers may have lugs allowing direct mounting to a pole or may be mounted on cross-arms bolted to the pole. Aerial transformers, larger than around 75 kVA, may be mounted on a platform supported by one or more poles. A three-phase service may use three identical transformers, one per phase. Transformers designed for below-grade installation can be designed for periodic submersion in water. Distribution transformers may include an off-load tap changer, which slightly adjusts the ratio between primary and secondary voltage to bring the customer's voltage within the desired range on long or heavily loaded lines. Pad-mounted transformers have secure locked, bolted, and grounded metal enclosures to discourage unauthorized access to live internal parts. The enclosure may also include fuses, isolating switches, load-break bushings, and other accessories as described in technical standards. Pad-mounted transformers for distribution systems typically range from around 100 to 2000 kVA, although some larger units are also used.


Placement

In the United States, distribution transformers are often installed outdoors on wooden poles. In Europe, it is most common to place them in buildings. If the feeding lines are overhead, these look like towers. If all lines running to the transformer are underground, small buildings are used. In rural areas, sometimes distribution transformers are mounted on poles, and the pole is usually made of concrete or iron due to the weight of the transformer.


See also

*
Bushing (electrical) In electric power, a bushing is a hollow electrical insulator (electricity), insulator that allows an electrical conductor to pass safely through a conducting barrier such as the case of a transformer or circuit breaker without making electric ...
*
Transformer types Various types of electrical transformer are made for different purposes. Despite their design differences, the various types employ the same basic principle as discovered in 1831 by Michael Faraday, and share several key functional parts. P ...
*
Current transformer A current transformer (CT) is a type of transformer that reduces or multiplies alternating current (AC), producing a current in its secondary which is proportional to the current in its primary. Current transformers, along with voltage or poten ...
* Distribution Transformer Monitor


References


Bibliography

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Distribution transformer Electric transformers Electric power distribution