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http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/4-essential-features-of-transformer-on-load-tap-changer-oltc
1. Selector Switches
These switches select the physical tap position on the transformer winding and, because of
their construction, cannot and must not make or break the load current.
2. Reactors
The load current must never be interrupted during a tap change.
Therefore, during each tap change, there is an interval where two voltage taps are spanned. Reactors (inductors)
are used in the circuit to increase the impedance of the selector circuit and limit the amount of current circulating
due to this voltage difference. Under normal load conditions, equal load current flows in both halves of the reactor
windings and the fluxes balance out giving no resultant flux in the core.
With no flux, there is no inductance and, therefore, no voltagedrop due to inductance. There will be however, a
very small voltage drop due to resistance.
During the tap change, the selector switches are selected to different taps (see Figure 2) and a circulating current
will flow in the reactor circuit. This circulating current will create a flux and the resulting inductive reactance will
limit the flow of circulating current.
3. Vacuum Switch
This device performs the duty of a circuit breaker that makes and breaks current during the tap
changing sequence.
4. Bypass Switch
This switch operates during the tap changing sequence but, at no time, does it make or break load current ,
though it does make before break each connection.
An example of the tap changing sequence is detailed in Figure 2 (diagrams 1 through 10). Table 1 describes the
sequence of operations for the tap changer of Figure 2 to change from tap 1 to tap 2. Changing to any other tap
position is done similarly with the selector switch always moving sequentially (i.e., it is impossible to go from tap 1
to tap 3 directly, the order must be tap 1, tap 2, then tap 3).
The operating mechanism for the on-load tap changer is motor driven. Manual operation is used in the event of
motor failure.
The sequence of operation is mechanically linked, orinterlocked, to ensure that all contacts always operate in
their correct order. Any failure of the operating mechanism can result in severe damage to the transformers and
tap changers.
Table 1 - Description of Tap Changing Sequence for Figure 1
No.
Present position tap changer selected to tap 1, bypass switch in, A + B, home position.
Vacuum switch opens, removing load current from upper circuit arm freeing one half of selector switch for
move.
Vacuum switch closes both selector switches onload, circulating current is limited by reactors.
Bypass switch selects upper arm circuit arm. No arcing occurs as vacuum switch is closed and in
parallel.
Vacuum switch opens, removing load current from lower circuit arm, freeing lower selector switch for
move.
10
With vacuum switch closed and selector switch on a single tap, the bypass switch can now return to its
home position. Both reactor circuits stay normally in parallel. The tap change is now complete.
The previous example describes one type of on-load tap changer. There are several other types inuse however,
which may differ significantly from the type described.
Differences are usually in how the selection of taps is made and the degree of mechanization. However, most
importantly, all on-load tap changers allow voltage changes to take place without interrupting the power
circuit.
Reference: Science and Reactor Fundamentals Electrical CNSC Technical Training Group