A Study on the Impact of 2k±1 Harmonic Components on the Lifetime of Oil-Immersed Transformers
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Abstract
This paper investigates the impact of 2k±1 harmonic components on the lifetime reduction of oil-immersed power transformers, aiming to prevent insulation degradation caused by excessive hot-spot temperatures. In the first stage, the top-oil and winding hot-spot temperatures were experimentally measured. The obtained results showed good agreement with the proposed mathematical model. In the second stage, transformer load cycles under overloading conditions were simulated, with the fundamental current ranging from 110% to 150% of the rated current. Ambient temperature data from Kanchanaburi Province, recorded by Meteorological Department Station No. 450201, were employed in the simulation. The results indicate that at 150% overloading, both the top-oil and hot-spot temperatures exceeded the permissible limits, leading to a reduction in transformer lifetime to only 0.72 years. These findings highlight the significant influence of harmonic distortion on transformer thermal aging and provide useful insights for preventing insulation failure and improving long-term power system reliability and planning.
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