TY - GEN

T1 - Preventing Transformer Explosions with Fast Arc Detection by Fiber Optic Sensors

AU - Sharifi, Aref

AU - Kuhnke, Moritz

AU - Werle, Peter

AU - Akbari, Asghar

N1 - Publisher Copyright: ©2024 IEEE.

PY - 2024/11/22

Y1 - 2024/11/22

N2 - The adverse effects of transformer faults are manifold, including transformer explosions and fires that can result in significant financial losses, environmental damages, and physical harm or even fatalities. Therefore, Buchholz relays (BHR) are widely employed in power transformers to detect main faults in order to prevent tank ruptures. However, in some circumstances, BHRs may not trip quickly enough to prevent the aforementioned damages once an arc occurs in the transformer tank. In this regard, this investigation aims to develop a new system for fast arc detection, before increasing the internal pressure inside the tank. Fiber optic cables are used to design a novel sensor capable of detecting visible light emitted by an arc. In this paper, initially, the sensor is introduced and its performance is explained in detail using simulation, and then it is experimentally tested in different circumstances, including mineral oils, temperature variations, reflecting housing, and arc energy. Based on the results, the sensor recognized the fault at different temperatures as well as in mineral oil, and also reflections inside the transformer improve considerably the signal received by the sensor. A quick detection of arcs can be achieved with this method and this sensor is well compatible for use inside transformers.

AB - The adverse effects of transformer faults are manifold, including transformer explosions and fires that can result in significant financial losses, environmental damages, and physical harm or even fatalities. Therefore, Buchholz relays (BHR) are widely employed in power transformers to detect main faults in order to prevent tank ruptures. However, in some circumstances, BHRs may not trip quickly enough to prevent the aforementioned damages once an arc occurs in the transformer tank. In this regard, this investigation aims to develop a new system for fast arc detection, before increasing the internal pressure inside the tank. Fiber optic cables are used to design a novel sensor capable of detecting visible light emitted by an arc. In this paper, initially, the sensor is introduced and its performance is explained in detail using simulation, and then it is experimentally tested in different circumstances, including mineral oils, temperature variations, reflecting housing, and arc energy. Based on the results, the sensor recognized the fault at different temperatures as well as in mineral oil, and also reflections inside the transformer improve considerably the signal received by the sensor. A quick detection of arcs can be achieved with this method and this sensor is well compatible for use inside transformers.

KW - arc detection

KW - fiber optic sensor

KW - photo sensitive element

KW - transformer explosion

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85217386195&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1109/CATCON60527.2024.10832012

DO - 10.1109/CATCON60527.2024.10832012

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85217386195

SN - 979-8-3315-0777-0

SP - 106

EP - 110

BT - 2024 IEEE 7th International Conference on Condition Assessment Techniques in Electrical Systems (CATCON)

A2 - Chatterjee, Biswendu

A2 - Dey, Debangshu

A2 - Dalai, Sovan

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 7th IEEE International Conference on Condition Assessment Techniques in Electrical Systems, CATCON 2024

Y2 - 22 November 2024 through 24 November 2024

ER -