Calculation and validation of iron loss in laminated core of power and distribution transformers

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a simple method to analyze the iron loss in the laminated core of power and distribution transformers. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents a practical method to calculate the no-load loss in the transformer cores. Considering the non-uniformity of the magnetic flux density in the corner areas of the Epstein frames will affect the measurement precision of the Wt-B curves then further affect the core loss calculation in FEM, a dual-Epstein frame method is used to measure the Wt-B curves with the Epstein sample stripes cutting by different angles to the rolling direction. A 2D FEM that considers the type of joints of the core and eddy current effect in the laminations is used to analyze the core loss with multi-angle Wt-B curves. Findings – The impact of lamination thickness, size of gaps and type of joint of the core are considered. Considering the no-load testing conditions, harmonics in the exciting currents are taken into account. Originality/value – Harmonic wave of magnetic flux density in the transformer core is calculated and the core loss in the joint region is calculated by the loss curve measured with dual-Epstein frame. It makes the calculation result of transformer core loss more exactly.