TIFAC-CORE

B TIFAC –CORE
CENTRE OF RELEVANCE AND EXCELLENCE

R ON
POWER TRANSFORMER DIAGNOSTICS

O NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY HAMIRPUR

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PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

 MISSION REACH

Mission REACH is an offshoot of the Technology Vision 2020, initiated by Technology Information Forecasting
and Assessment Council (TIFAC) to make India a developed nation by the year 2020. The programme will create a
constellation of world class Centers of Relevance & Excellence (COREs) in diverse disciplines across the country
by the up gradation of science and technical institutions, mandated to produce technical manpower of international
standard in the area of targeted excellence and tailor made to the needs of industry. It is the befitting combination
of the three most powerful pillars of economic growth - the industry, academic institutions and the government that
provides the mission much needed strength and success. NIT Hamirpur is one such centre in the area of Power
Transformer Diagnostics established in September 2005. The activities of this centre are supported by TIFAC, an
autonomous entity under DST- Government of INDIA and from the Industry side by Himachal Pradesh State
Electricity Board (HPSEB).

ABOUT NIT HAMIRPUR

National Institute of Technology Hamirpur is one of the thirty NITs of the country, established in 1986 as Regional
Engineering College, as a joint and cooperative enterprise of the Govt. of India and Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.
The goals of the institute as embodied in the logo are truly remarkable in their scope of vision. The institute
provides Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctorate Education in Engineering, Sciences & Humanities; fostering
the spirit of national integration among the students, a close interaction with industry and a strong emphasis on
research, both basic and applied. It has been given the status of institute of national importance.
The campus is situated at Anu in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh and is 4 Kms from main bus stand of
Hamirpur on Hamirpur – Toni Devi road. The city of Hamirpur is well connected with the rest of the country by
road. The nearest broad gauge rail head is at Una (Himachal Pradesh) which is 80 Kms from Hamirpur. The
campus has a picturesque surrounding facing snow clad Dhauladhar mountain ranges. Lush green pine trees
surround it. The campus is well laid with roads, electric installations, water supply, underground drainage, etc. The
place has healthy climate with moderate temperature ranging from 1oC to 38oC with an altitude of 900 meters.
NIT, Hamirpur is running 4-years Bachelor Courses (B.Tech.) in five branches of engineering namely; Civil,
Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering and 5-years
degree course in Architecture. NIT Hamirpur has following departments:

 Mathematics  Civil Engineering

 Physics  Electrical Engineering
 Chemistry  Electronics & Communication Engineering
 Humanities & Social Sciences  Computer Science Engineering
 Mechanical Engineering  Architecture

Besides this NIT, Hamirpur offers PG and PhD programs in diverse areas in all the departments.

PG PROGRAM IN TIFAC-CORE

PG programme on “Condition Monitoring, Control and Protection of Electrical Apparatus” (first of its
kind in the country) was launched in June, 2009 and 13 students have been registered for this programme.
 SURVAY LITERATURE

Transformer failure statistics reported in literature indicate that most failures have occurred before reaching their
expected designed life. Transformer failures related to transformer health conditions, such as dielectric problems
are reported as high as 75 percent. A Health Index is a means of combining information related to the physical
condition of a transformer such as inspection results, test results or condition related risk factors, to provide a
comparable measure of condition for individual transformers in terms of proximity to end of life or probability
of failure.
A survey done by a CIGRE working group on failures in large power transformers found that about 41 % of
failures were due to on-load tap changers (O.L.T.C) and about 19 % were due to the windings. The failure origins
were 53 % mechanical and 31% dielectric. On transformers without on-load tap changers, 26.6 % of failures were
due to the windings, 6.4 % were due to the magnetic circuit, 33.3 % were due to terminals, 17.4 % were due to the
tank and dielectric fluid, 11 % were due to other accessories, and 4.6 % were due to the tap changer. Another
report indicates that the average number of failures over a four-year period (1975 to 1979) was 2.6 failures per year
per 100 transformers. The cost and time to repair and replace a power transformer is very high. The following are
the few pictures which show the explosion of power transformer.

FAILURE OF POWER TRANSFORMERS

 TIFAC-CORE IN POWER TRANSFORMER
DIAGNOSTICS

Centre of Relevance & Excellence (CORE) in “Power Transformer Diagnostics” came into existence since 1st
September, 2004. Since then this centre is making every effort to make its presence felt among leading Electric
Power Utilities. It has been seeking valuable suggestions through regular interaction with industry to make a mark
in the on-line and off-line monitoring of electrical power apparatus in general and power transformer in particular
by creating monitoring and testing facilities of International Standards at TIFAC-CORE.

To meet the major objectives set under Mission REACH program of Govt. of India consistent & continuous efforts
are being made to excel in the targeted area through proactive support from its industrial partners including
HPSEB. No organization can survive unless there is Vision and this Vision has to be achieved in a missionary
manner, it require setting up of objectives and plan to achieve the same.

VISION

To create a duly accredited State of the Art "Power Transformer

Condition Monitoring and Diagnostic Centre" to cater to the
needs of Industry and Academia.
OBJECTIVES

 To develop expert manpower to cater to the needs of Industry and Academia in the targeted area, though
suitable academic activities (Elective courses and PG programme on Condition Monitoring of Power
Apparatus)
 To meet the training/retraining needs of manpower engaged in Power utilities all over the country in the
area of power transformer diagnostics
 To create experimental facilities and infrastructure to carry out quality research through sponsored R & D
projects
 To establish linkage with pioneer organizations working in the focused area

RESEARCH AREAS

 Transformer Monitoring at site

 Aging of solid insulation and improvements
 Detection, location& deformation and intensity of winding deformation due to short-circuit.
 Performance evaluation of transformer feeding steel industry.
 Partial discharge measurement at site.
 MAJOR FACILITIES
Power Transformer: M 4100 Insulation
Provided by our industrial Analyzer:
partner HPSEB as part of Measures capacitance, power
agreement to develop TIFAC- factor and watt losses in the
CORE and is used for solid/liquid insulation of
demonstration to students and power transformer. Also
trainees. leakage reactance, turns ratio,
excitation current etc of in
service power transformers
and power generator analysis.
M 5200 Sweep Frequency HPLC :
Response Analyzer: Measures the furans in the
Utilized to detect the insulating oil
mechanical failure or
movement of windings and
core.

Interfacial Tension 500 MHz Digital Storage

Analyzer : Oscilloscope:
Measures the Interfacial Utilized to observe the wave
Tension of insulation oil. shape of an electrical signal
and used in High Voltage lab
to demonstrate lighting
Impulse test.
Domino Moisture in oil FTIR:
Analyzer:- Measure the oxidation
Measures the water /moisture inhibitors in the insulating oil
contents in the insulating oil.

Portable Dissolved Gas CKFT:

Analyzer: Measure the water contents in
Measures the dissolved gases the insulating oil
in the insulating oil.

ADTR-2K, Automatic Electronic Balance:

Capacitance and Tan Delta Measures weight of the small
Test Set: sample of insulating oil and
Measures the dielectric paper
constant tan delta and
resistivity of insulation oil

Breakdown Voltage Oil Test Instrument for Density

Set: Measurement:
Measures the BDV of the Measures the density of
insulating oil. insulating oil.

Combined TGA,DTA, DSC: UV/VIS Spectrophotometer:

Measures the thermal changes Measures the dissolved decay
in oil, oxidation induction and contents of insulating liquids.
identification of paper
insulation

Simulation Software’s: SOFTRA:

Simulation of electric/electronic circuits using MAT LAB 7 is designed by Soft bit Technologies Pvt. Ltd.Iit can design
(Simulink), LAB VIEW along with hardware (NI ELVIS) & transformer in the range:Distribution Transformer: 25KVA to
Electric/Electronic Circuits. 2000 KVAPower Transformer: 25 KVA to 10 MVA
 FUTURE PLANS

 To pursue the process of tie ups within and outside the country proactively.
 To introduce Electives in the area of “Power Transformer Diagnostics” at UG and PG level.
 V-SAT Link connectivity for developing quality linkages/ties with reputed world class
organizations in the targeted area.
 The following equipments are under the procurement process in TIFAC-CORE

S.N EQUIPMENTS PLANNED TO BE PROCURED SHORTLY

1. Automatic Flash Point Apparatus
2. Automatic Total Sulphur Analyzer Apparatus
3. Automatic Total Acidity Titrator
4. Portable Acoustic Emission System For On-Line PD Measurement In Oil Filled Power Transformers
5. Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera
6. Portable Single Channel Data Collector Cum Vibration Analyzer
7. Transformer Winding Resistance and TAP Changer Test Set
8. Portable Digital Partial Discharge Detection System And Analysis Software For Field Testing Of Power
Transformers
9. Automatic insulation diagnostics analyzer

CONTACTS

Prof .I.K. Bhat

Prof. R. N. Sharma
Director
Co-ordinator, TIFAC-CORE
National Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical Engineering
Hamirpur (H.P.)-177005
National Institute of Technology
E-mail: director@nith.ac.in
Hamirpur (H.P.)-177005
Phone: 01972- 304526(O)
01972- 304527(R)
E-mail: rnaresh@nith.ac.in