FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON BUSHINGS (FAQ)

Design and Engineering:

1. What is the requirement of short time current rating of the bushing?

Erection, Commissioning and Service issues:

1. Do we have to take specific care in transportation of transformer

bushing?
2. What are the checks to be carried out on receipt of bushings at site
or transformer factory?
3. If low oil level is observed, can the bushing be topped with oil at
site?
4. What are the precautions to be taken while measuring tan delta and
capacitance at site?
5. What are the precautions to be taken during installation of the
bushing into the transformer?

Design and Engineering:

1. What is the requirement of short time current rating of the

bushing?
As per standard short time current rating should be 25 times rated
current of the bushing. However, with lower short time current
rating, the size of current carrying parts of the bushings will be lower
as compared to higher STC level of say 40 kA for 3 sec. This will not
be suitable to cater mechanical load of terminal connector and
connected jumper. Therefore it is recommended to have standard
short time current rating of 25 kA for up to 66 kV, 40 kA 1 or 3 sec
for 132 kV and above. In some cases it may be 50 kA 1 sec also.
Erection and Commissioning:

1. Do we have to take specific care in transportation of

transformer bushing?
Bushings are transported in inclined position. There are possibilities
of nitrogen cushion in the expansion chamber migrating into the
condenser core. This can lead to failure of the condenser core due to
high PD. Hence, minimum settling time should be given as per
manufacturers recommendation.
2. What are the checks to be carried out on receipt of bushings
at site or transformer factory?
a. Check for any leakages from the sealing joints.
b. Check for any leakage from test tap pin (soldered ).
c. Check for oil level inside the bushing
d. Check for any missing accessories like terminals, shields etc.
e. Check for any hairline cracks on the porcelain surface
3. If low oil level is observed, can the bushing be topped with
oil at site?
It is not recommended to top up the bushing with oil at site. The oil
is filled inside the bushing under controlled conditions of
temperature and vacuum at factory. Bushing manufacturer should be
contacted for further advice.
4. What are the precautions to be taken while measuring tan
delta and capacitance at site?
a. Ensure the bushing surface is cleaned thoroughly, specific
attention to the test tap area and porcelain surface.
b. Measurements to be carried out in UST mode.
c. Ensure there is no HV interference, which can affect the
measurements.
d. Do not carry out measurements under rainy conditions, high
humidity (> 60% RH)
e. Do not carry out measurements with bushings placed in
packing box or in horizontal position.

Factory test results can vary from the site measurements as they
do no resemble the factory test conditions. The site measurements
carried out before commissioning should be taken as the reference
for comparison during future measurements.
5. What are the precautions to be taken during installation of
the bushing into the transformer?
a. Ensure the bottom electrode / stress shield is not damaged or
any paint peel off. This will affect the stress distribution in the oil
end side and can lead to catastrophic failure.
b. Ensure the detachable bottom electrode (in case of 245 kV & 420
kV) are fixed with their necessary hardwares.
c. The oil end insulator should not hit the transformer turret while
lowering the bushing. There can be mechanical damage or
hairline crack on the oil end insulator leading to failure.
d. The top terminal is provided with a gasket sealing to the bushing
socket. It is important to ensure proper compression of the top
terminal gasket to avoid any entry of rain water /moisture into
the centre tube of the bushing.
e. Bushing is placed on turret with fresh gasket and both are
tightened with torque wrench as per value specified by OEM.
f. Copper lead or rod of bushing must be joined with winding lead
with due care as per drawing. Any looseness in this joint will lead
to hot spot.