MEASUREMENT OF TRANSFORMER NO LOAD LOSSES BASIC INFORMATION

Measuring no-load losses of a transformer when subjected to a sinusoidal voltage waveform can be achieved simply by using a wattmeter and a voltmeter; refer to Figure 1. Transformers may be subjected to a distorted sine-wave voltage.

In order to achieve the required measuring accuracy, the instrumentation used should accurately respond to the power frequency harmonics encountered in these measurements. Also, measured values need to be corrected to account for the effect of the voltage harmonics on the magnetic flux in the core and hence on both the hysteresis and eddy current loss components of iron losses.

The hysteresis loss component is a function of the maximum flux density in the core, practically independent of the waveform of the flux. The maximum flux density corresponds to the average value of the voltage (not the rms value), and, therefore, if the test voltage is adjusted to be the same as the average value of the desired sine wave of the voltage the hysteresis loss component will be equal to the desired sine wave value.

The average-voltage voltmeter method as illustrated in Figure 1 utilizes an averagevoltage responding voltmeter based on a full-wave rectification. These instruments are generally scaled to give the same indication as a rms voltmeter on a sine-wave voltage.

The figure shows the necessary equipment and connections when no instrument transformers are needed. As indicated in Figure 1, the voltmeters should be connected across the winding, the ammeter nearest to the supply, and wattmeter between the two; with its voltage coil on the winding side of the current coil.

The average-voltage responding voltmeter should be used to set the voltage.

NOTE

‘F’ is a frequency meter

‘A’ is an ammeter

‘W’ is a wattmeter

‘V’ is a true rms voltmeter

‘AV’ is an average-responding, rmscalibrated voltmeter

The eddy-current loss component of the core loss varies approximately with the square of the rms value of the core flux. When the test voltage is held at rated voltage with the average-voltage voltmeter, the actual rms value of the test voltage is generally not equal to the rated value.

The eddy-current loss in this case will be related to the correct eddy-current loss at rated voltage by a factor k given in Equation 8.2, Clause 8 of the IEEE Std. C57.12.90-1993 and C57.12.91-1979 Standard. This is only correct for a reasonably distorted voltage wave.