Investigation of Partial Discharge Due to Particle Movement in Power Transformer Using Computational Fluid Dynamics and Monte Carlo Technique

Abstract

The paper deals with the movement of metallic particle contaminants in transformer oil and partial discharges due to its presence inside the power transformer. Transformer oil has several particle contaminations, which float and travel along with oil in the gap between transformer discs and inner pressboard cylinder. Activity of partial discharge (PD) is analyzed using Monte Carlo technique and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Probability of PD is calculated using Monte Carlo simulation, and particle movement is traced using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Using the above methods, point of contact between particle and transformer disc under different conditions is determined. Electric stress on the particle due to disc voltage is calculated theoretically. In the present simulation, impact of field multiplication factor is considered for initiation of PD. From the results, it is observed that particle movement and partial discharge are influenced by field multiplication factor, oil velocity, type of material and starting point of the particle.