Temperature rise test of Transformer is included in type test of transformer.

In this test we check

whether the temperature rising limit of transformer winding and oil as per specification or not.

Temperature Rise Test for Top Oil of

Transformer
1. First the LV winding of the transformer is short circuited.
2. Then one thermometer is placed in a pocket in transformer top cover. Other two thermometers are
placed at the inlet and outlet of the cooler bank respectively.
3. The voltage of such value is applied to the HV winding that power input is equal to no load losses
plus load losses corrected to a reference temperature of 75C.
4. The total losses are measured by three watt-meters method.
5. During the test, hourly readings of top oil temperature are taken from the thermometer already
placed in the pocket of top cover.
6. Hourly readings of the thermometers placed at inlet and outlet of the cooler bank are also noted to
calculate the mean temperature of the oil.
7. Ambient temperature is measured by means of thermometer placed around the transformer at three
or four points situated at a distance of 1 to 2 meter from and half-way up the cooling surface of the
transformer.
8. Temperature rise test for top oil of transformer should be continued until the top oil temperature has
reached an approximate steady value that means testing would be continued until the temperature
increment of the top oil becomes less than 3C in one hour. This steady value of top oil is
determined as final temperature rise of transformer insulating oil.
9. There is another method of determination of oil temperature. Here the test in allowed to be
continued until the top oil temperature rise does not vary more than 1C per hour for four
consecutive hours. The least reading is taken as final temperature rise of the oil.

During temperature rise test

for top oil of transformer we make the LV winding short circuited and apply voltage to the HV
winding. So for full load rated current flows in the transformer, the supply voltage required will much
less than rated transformer voltage. We know that core loss of a transformer depends upon voltage. So
there will not be any considerable core loss occurs in the transformer during test. But for getting actual
temperature rise of the oil in a transformer, we have to compensate the lack of core losses by
additional copper loss in the transformer. For supplying this total losses, transformer draws current
from the source much more than its rated value for transformer.

Temperature rise limits of transformer when it is oil immersed, given in the table below

Temperature rise limit Temperature rise limit

for air as for water as Condition
cooling medium cooling medium

When oil circulation is natural

55oC 60oC

Winding
When oil circulation is forced
60oC 65oC

Top Oil 50oC 55oC When transformer is sealed &

equipped with conservator tank
 When transformer is neither sealed
45oC 50oC
nor equipped with conservator tank
NB: These temperature rises limits mentioned in the above table are the temperature rise above the
temperature of cooling medium. That means these are the difference between winding or oil
temperature and temperature of cooling air or water.

Winding Temperature Rise Test on Transformer

1. After completion of temperature rise test for top oil of transformer the current is reduced to its rated
value for transformer and is maintained for one hour.
2. After one hour the supply is switch off and short circuit and supply connection to the HV side and
short circuit connection to the LV side are opened.
3. But, the fans and pumps are kept running (if any).

4. Then resistance of the windings are measured quickly.

5. But there is always a minimum 3 to 4 minutes time gap between first measurement of resistance
and the instant of switching off the transformer, which can not be avoided.
6. Then the resistances are measured at the same 3 to 4 minutes time intervals over a period of 15
minutes.
7. Graph of hot resistance versus time is plotted, from which winding resistance (R2) at the instant of
shut down can be extrapolated.
8. From this value, 2, the winding temperature at the instant of shut down can be determined by the
formula given below-

9. Where, R1 is the cold resistance of the winding at temperature t1.

For determining winding temperature rise we have to apply the above discussed indirect method. That
means hot winding resistance is measured and determined first and then from that value we have to
calculate the winding temperature rise, by applying resistance temperature relation formula. This is
because unlike oil the winding of transformer is not accessible for external temperature measurement.
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