The Assessment of a Magnetizing-Current Inrush of a Power Transformer

Abstract

The study aims to propose an analytical tool for determining the parameters of the power transformer magnetizing inrush current caused by geomagnetically induced currents flowing through high-voltage windings with a grounded neutral under the impact of geomagnetic disturbances on the power grid. The analytical equations for the instantaneous magnetizing current under geomagnetic disturbances were obtain by mathematical model of magnetizing branch for a shell-type power transformer. A model base on a magnetization characteristics piecewise-linear approximation for the electrical steel. The magnetizing inrush current amplitude and duration it was found depends on the intensity of geomagnetic disturbances and in cope-link with the dynamics of the power transformer core saturation transient process were determined the changes in the magnetizing inrush current amplitude and duration under geomagnetic disturbances. The magnetizing inrush current amplitude it was found may reach the level of short-circuit current periodic component at the point of power transformer grid connection. The results were verify by comparing the design and experimental values of the magnetizing inrush current amplitude. The advantages of proposed mathematical model shown with justifying the analogy between core saturation under connecting of power transformer to a grid and under geomagnetically induced currents exposed. The piecewise-linear approximation of power transformer magnetization characteristic, allow to obtain the amplitude value of magnetizing inrush current caused by geomagnetically induced currents with an accuracy of 6% and can be used with power grid steady state and transient simulation under geomagnetic disturbances.