Hydrodynamic study of the oil flow in a protective relay coupled to a power transformer: CFD simulation and experimental validation

Abstract

The present study aimed at performing a hydrodynamic analysis of the safety device's behavior in a gas relay, using computational fluid dynamics techniques and experimental data validation obtained in a protective relay pilot unit (PRP) using different safety flaps geometries for fault detection within high-power transformers. The proposed methodology was carried out in four stages: (i) development of computational meshes from the three-dimensional geometry of the protective relay and safety flaps; (ii) specification of the physical properties of fluids, boundary conditions, and fluid dynamic models; (iii) obtaining speed profiles, flap angle, oil flow and system pressure difference; and (iv) comparison of simulated and experimental data. The devices installed in the relay showed satisfactory performance for failures caused by the oil volumetric expansion. It was observed that from the flap 10° tilt, the orifice ceases to be the preferred path oil, reducing detection sensitivity of the flow. Using the CFD (computational fluid dynamics) computational tool, it was possible to understand the flow behavior within the relay, allowing to detect quickly and efficiently cases of failure with oil expansion.