Low Frequency Neutral Point Currents 2

Influence of low frequency currents on power transformers and the transmission grid

Transformer neutral point currents with frequencies close to 0 Hz, i. e. quasi DC, are caused e. g. by earth magnetic field changes (geomagnetically induced currents, GIC) or by DC systems. These low frequency currents (LFC) are undesirable in the high-voltage transmission grids. These currents can cause transformer and power grid outages. The aims of this research projects are:

• Investigation of low frequency current bias on power transformers
• Mitigation techniques of low frequency currents in the power grid
• Low frequency current calculation in the power grid
• Measurement of low frequency currents in the power grid

Figure 1: Project organization and fields of research

Power Transformers
The low frequency currents in the high-voltage grid cause problems, especially in transformers. The currents cause increased transformer noise, distortion of the voltage and heating of the transformer. This also negatively affects the stability and the power grid. In order to investigate the effects of the low frequency currents in more detail and to improve the understanding of the physical background, experiments with transformers are being carried out in the IEAN laboratory as part of the Nf-Sternpunkt 2 project. For this purpose, two distribution grid transformers, such as those found in rural areas, were modified. The modification allows the transformers to be connected in any vector group on the low voltage side and makes the high voltage neutral point accessible from the outside.

Figure 2: Laboratory at IEAN with modified power transformers

Power Grid Calculations
The developed simulation tool (Figure 3) calculates the GIC’s in the power grid with an electric field and the power grid configuration. The electric field can either be calculated from magnetic field measurement or can be entered directly. For the electric field calculation from magnetic field measurements, the plane-wave method with a 1D earth conductivity model is used.

Figure 3: LFC Simulation-Tool

The simulation tool is used to study the effect of different switching conditions, ground conductivities and magnetic field directions on the current distribution in the grid. The calculated currents in the transmission lines and power transformers can are plotted in a geographically map and as time series.

Transformer Neutral Point Current Measurement System
The transformer neutral point current measurement system is a stand-alone system (Figure 5), which can be accessed from remote. As current sensor a zero-flux closed loop current transducer is used. The neutral point current is sampled with 1 Hz and filtered with an active low-pass filter with a cut-off frequency of 0.5 Hz. The data is recorded with single board computer. With the current electronic configuration( Figure 4) transformer neutral point current with an amplitude up to 25 A and both polarities can be measured. In addition, three further voltage measurement channels are available, which are also recorded with a sampling rate of 1 Hz.

In the substation, the transformer neutral point switch is bypassed with a mobile earthing equipment. The cable is than feed through the current transducer, as depicted in Figure 6.

Links
Low Frequency Current Simulation Tool
Time Lap Video IEAN-Transformer Modification
Transformer Sound with and without superimposed DC
Siemens Energy DC Detection App

Publication
2022
Sergey, E. Z., Albert, D., Moroz, Y. I., Renner, H.
Further Improvements in Topological Transformer Model Covering Core Saturation
In IEEE Access, vol. 10, pp. 64018-64027, 2022, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3183279

Albert, D. Domenig., L, Schachinger, P., Roppert, K., Renner, H.
Comparing two topology transformer hysteresis models derived from DC hysteresis measurements
17. Symposium on Electromagnetic Phenomena in Nonlinear Circuits (EPNC) 2022, Hamburg, Deutschland

D. Albert, P. Schachinger, A. Pirker, C. Engelen, F. Belavić, G. Leber, H. Renner
Power Transformer Hysteresis Measurement
17. Symposium Energieinnovation EnInnov 2022, Graz

P. Schachinger, D. Albert, R. Bailey
Geomagnetically Induced Currents and Space Weather Prediction in Austria Space Weather Prediction GIC Simulation and Measurement GIC Simulation Electric field calculation
Poster at Space Weather Workshop 2022

S. E. Zirka, D. Albert, Y. I. Moroz, H. Renner
Further Improvements in Topological Transformer Model Covering Core Saturation
in IEEE Access, vol. 10, pp. 64018-64027, 2022, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3183279

Schachinger, P., Albert, D., & Renner, H.
Low Frequency Currents Source Identification. in IEEE. (Hrsg.)
2022 20th International Conference on Harmonics & Quality of Power (ICHQP): Power Quality in the Energy Transition

Albert, D., Schachinger, P., & Bailey, R. L.
Geomagnetically Induced Currents and Space Weather Prediction in Austria.
Postersitzung präsentiert bei Space Weather Workshop 2022, Graz, Österreich.

Schachinger, P., Albert, D., Renner, H., & Achleitner, G.
(Angenommen/Im Druck). Einfluss von Spannungsänderungen und anderen Quellen auf niederfrequente Sternpunktströme.
Beitrag in 17. Symposium Energieinnovation : Future of Energy - Innovationen für eine klimaneutrale Zukunft, Virtuell, Österreich.

Albert, D., Schachinger, P., Pirker, A., Engelen, C., Belavic, F., Leber, G., & Renner, H.
(Angenommen/Im Druck). Power Transformer Hysteresis Measurement.
EnInnov2022 - 17. Symposium Energieinnovation Verlag der Technischen Universität Graz.

2021
Albert, D.; Maletic, D.; Renner, H.
Measurement Based Transformer Modelling Approach
ETG Congress 2021, pp.1-6.

Albert, D.; Schachinger, P.; Bailey, R. L.; Renner, H.; Achleitner, G.
Analysis of Long-Term GIC Measurements in Transformers in Austria
In: Space Weather , 20, e2021SW002912. 2021

Schachinger, P.; Albert, D.; Bailey, R. L.; Achleitner, G.; Renner, H.
Geomagnetically Induced Current Measurement in the Austrian Transmission Grid
In: Conrad Observatory Journal: COBS Journal. Wien, Vol. 6. p. 6 - 6 1 p.,2021

Bailey, R. L., Leonhardt, R., Möstl, C., Schachinger, P. & Albert, D.,
Historical Analysis of Geomagnetic Storm Scales in Austria
In: Conrad Observatory Journal: COBS Journal. Wien, Vol. 6. p. 5 - 5 1 p.,2021

Schachinger, P.; Albert, D.; Renner, H.
Geomagnetically induced currents: A measurement based inverse determination of earth impedances
In: 56th International Universities Power (UPEC), Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, 2021, Conference Paper
 

2020
Albert, D.; Achleitner G.
Sternpunktsgleichströme im Hoch- und Höchstspannungsnetz - aktueller Stand der Forschung
In: Sternpunktbehandlung in Netzen bis 110 kV (D-A-CH), Online-Veranstaltung, 22.09.2020, Präsentation

Albert, D.; Schachinger, P.; Renner, H.; Hamberger, P.; Klammer, F.; Achleitner, G.
Field experience of small quasi DC bias on power transformers A first classification of low-frequency current pattern and identification of sources
In: Cigre 2020 Session, 2020, Accepted Conference Paper

Prohammer, M. Rueschitz, D. Albert and H. Renner
"Transformer Saturation Methods and Transformer Response to Low Frequency Currents," PESS 2020
IEEE Power and Energy Student Summit, 2020, pp. 1-6.

Schachinger, P.; Albert, D.; Renner, H; Bailey, R. L.; Achleitner, G.; Leber, G.
Niederfrequente Sternpunktströme im Ubertragungsnetz - Ein Überblick über aktuelle und zukünftige Forschung in Oesterreich
In 16. Symposium Energieinnovation (EnInnov), Graz, Austria, 2020, Conference Paper & Presentation
 

2019
Bailey, R. L.; Möstl, C.; Amerstorfer, U. V.; Amerstorfer, T.; Weiss, A. J.; Hinterreiter, J.; Reiss, M. A.; Albert, D.
PREDSTORM and SOLARWIND2GIC: Forecasting of Space Weather Effects and GIC with Python
Machine Learning in Heliophysics, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2019, Conference Poster

Albert, D.; Halbedl, T.; Renner, H. Bailey R. L.; Achleitner, G.
Geomagnetically induced currents and space weather - A review of current and future research in Austria
In: 54th International Universities Power (UPEC), Bucharest, Romania, 2019, Conference Paper

Halbedl, T.
Low Frequency Neutral Point Currents on Transformer in the Austrian power Transmission Network
PhD Thesis, Graz, Austria, 2019