[0001] The invention relates to a high-voltage-transformer comprising at least one transformer-core
wound from an amorphous band-like material around at least one inner hollow, wherein
two opposed laminated front sides are formed by the edges of the wound band-like material,
wherein at least two opposed limb areas and an upper and lower yoke area are formed
and wherein at least one hollow-cylindrical transformer coil is arranged around a
limb area of the at least one transformer-core.
[0002] It is known, that high-voltage-transformers for power transmission are rated for
voltage levels of for example 10kV, 60kV 110kV or above, whereas the rated power amounts
for example 1MVA, 10MVA or even 100MVA. Transformer-cores for such transformers are
typically based on stacked metal sheets. Due to a permanent magnetic re-orientation
during operation of such transformer-core magnetic losses are produced, which cause
also a heating effect on the transformer-core. A standard transformer-core of stacked
metal sheets might be operated up to a temperature of several 100°C, whereas in this
case the temperature resistance of the belonging coils of for example 180°C - 200°C
is the limiting temperature factor for the whole transformer.
[0003] It is also known, that a transformer-core made from an amorphous material provides
reduced core-losses in comparison to a standard transformer-core. Amorphous material
is available typically as refractory band-like material, which is extremely sensitive
against any mechanical stress. Thus an amorphous transformer-core has to be wound
from such a band-like material, whereas the width of such band might amount for example
30cm and whereas several thousand layers have to be wound. Also a wound amorphous
transformer-core is sensitive to any mechanical stress produced for example also by
mechanical collisions. But also wearing the weight of the transformer as such has
considered being mechanical stress.
[0004] Due to the high fragility of an amorphous transformer-core and due to the limitation
of the available width of the band-like amorphous material the maximum rated power
of a transformer with amorphous transformer-core is limited to roughly 5 - 10MVA considering
actual frame conditions. Transformer-cores of an amorphous material have to be cooled
during operation, since the effect of reduced core losses is gained only in a temperature
range of lower than 100°C - 140° for example, otherwise the core losses will increase
disadvantageously. Thus the maximum rated power of an amorphous high-voltage transformer
is also limited by the cooling system respectively by the cooling equipment of such
a transformer. Due to its arrangement in an oil filled vessel an amorphous oil transformer
already has a rather effective oil-based cooling system so that in most cases no additional
cooling effort is required. On the other side amorphous dry transformers are subject
to a limitation of the maximum rated power of for example 2 - 4MVA without enforced
cooling system.
[0005] Based on this state of the art it is the objective of the invention to provide a
dry high-voltage-transformer with a transformer-core wound from an amorphous band-like
material with improved cooling characteristic.
[0006] This problem is solved by a high-voltage transformer of the aforementioned kind.
This is characterized in that cooling means are connected with at least a section
of at least one of the laminated front sides.
[0007] The basic idea of the invention consists in connecting cooling means such as a cooling
element or a heat exchanger to the amorphous transformer-core on one or both of the
laminated front sides. On the one hand, cooling means are suitable for the heat transportation
from the area of contact with the amorphous transformer-core, so that a cooling effect
for the amorphous transformer-core is gained. On the other side, the arrangement on
one or both of the laminated front sides enables a significant higher cooling effect
respectively heat transportation within the amorphous transformer-core itself.
[0008] The heat conductivity within the transformer-core wound from an amorphous band-like
material is not the same in all geometrical directions. Moreover heat conductivity
is highest within the same layer of amorphous band material whereas the heat conductivity
perpendicular thereto through adjacent layers is significant lower. Due to the mechanical
sensitiveness of the amorphous band-like material, adjacent layers are not pressed
together with such a pressure force than the stacked metal sheets of a conventional
transformer-core, so that the heat transmission inbetween adjacent layers might be
reduced by the existence of possible infinitesimal small gaps. Furthermore the number
of wound layers of an amorphous transformer-core is significant higher - for example
5000 - than the number of stacked metal sheets of a conventional comparable transformer-core
- which comprises for example only a few 100 layers. Thus the number of heat passages
through all layers is significant higher for a transformer-core wound from an amorphous
band-like material than for a conventional stacked transformer-core of comparable
size.
[0009] Thus the connection of cooling means to one or both of the laminated front sides
of the transformer-core wound from an amorphous band-like material provides a significant
increased cooling effect on the amorphous transformer-core and enables the construction
of dry transformers with amorphous transformer-core with increased rated power above
2 - 4MVA. Also bigger transformer-cores can be cooled therewith in a way that the
critical material temperature of for example 100°C - 140°C is not exceeded within
the inner transformer-core during its operation.
[0010] In a variant of the invention the cooling means comprise at least one cooling element
with a flat side, which is mounted adjacently face to face on a front side of the
transformer-core. The heat transfer inbetween transformer-core and cooling element
is advantageously improved if both components have a common boundary surface. The
cooling means might comprise several components and be based on several kinds of cooling
principals. It is for example possible to use an air based cooling system where a
cooling element is surrounded in part by environmental air, which moves up when heated,
so that a natural air flow is given. Airflow can be improved by a blower or fan or
such for example, so that the efficiency of such a cooling system is improved in an
advantageous way. But also cooling systems with heat exchanger respectively evaporator
and condenser and closed cooling circuit are within the scope of the invention. The
closed cooling circuit might be filled in an advantageous way with a cooling liquid,
so that the efficiency of the cooling system is once more increased.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention at least one laminated front
side of the transformer-core is rib shaped at least in part and the cooling means
comprise at least one cooling element with a flat side and corresponding notches therein,
which is mounted adjacently face to face and toothed on a belonging section of a front
side of the transformer-core. The common boundary surface of cooling means respectively
cooling element and amorphous transformer-core is enlarged therewith, so that the
heat transfer between both components is once more increased. A rib shape on the laminated
front sides of the transformer-cores might become realized by a belonging variation
of the width of the band-like amorphous material. It is for example an option to alternate
packages of layers of the band-like material with the same width in their position
for example packages of 250 layers each. In this case ribs are formed on both laminated
face sides of the transformer-core as well in the limb- as in the yoke-areas. Typically
a hollow-cylindrical coil is arranged around each limb area, so that nearly no space
for a cooling element is available around the limb areas. Nevertheless the notches
inbetween the ribs in the limb-areas can be used as cooling channels for example.
Thus it is possible to arrange a pipe with a cooling liquid therein through the limb
areas, which has to be seen as cooling means. But it is also possible to alternate
the width of the amorphous band-like material winding-wise, so that ribs are only
formed in the yoke areas, which provide sufficient space to connect cooling elements
therewith.
[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention at least one stripe of a solid
heat-conducting material is wound inbetween adjacent layers of the band-like material
and thermally connected to at least one of the cooling elements. Such stripe respectively
bar provides an improved heat transfer from the inner transformer-core to one or both
of the laminated front sides of the amorphous transformer-core, where the cooling
means are foreseen. Thus a more homogenous temperature distribution within the amorphous
transformer-core is gained, which improves once more its magnetic behaviour concerning
reduced losses.
[0013] According to a further embodiment of the invention at least one cooling element comprises
cooling ribs averted from the belonging laminated front side of the transformer-core.
Thus the outer surface of the cooling element is once more enlarged, providing an
improved cooling effect for heat exchange with the surrounding air for example.
[0014] According to a further embodiment of the invention the cooling means are connected
with the at least one section of the laminated front sides by a glued bond at least
in part. Preferably the glue is applied in a liquid form, so that all cavities which
might be present inbetween the adjacent components to be glued together are filled
with glue. Preferably the glue has good heat conducting characteristics, which might
be enhanced for example by adding some Bornitrid. Thus the heat transfer inbetween
transformer-core and cooling means is improved.
[0015] By the same reason also the connection of the cooling means with the at least one
section of the laminated front sides comprises a heat conducting substance such as
Bornitrid, for example 1% of weight, especially if it is applied in the liquid state.
[0016] According to a further embodiment of the invention the cooling means are connected
with the laminated sides of the yoke areas. The yoke areas provide the best accessibility
and space for the attachment of for example a cooling element. Optional cooling ribs
of the cooling element are preferably perpendicular orientated, so that the ribs might
become cooled by a natural air-flow. But also the limb areas are suitable for mounting
cooling channels therein, for example within a free space inbetween limb and a transformer
coil.
[0017] According to a further embodiment of the invention at least one area of the laminated
front side is slanted and cooling means are connected thereto. A slanted area provides
on one hand an enlarged contact area inbetween transformer-core and cooling means
for an improved heat transfer, on the other side the cross section of a limb might
become shaped in a polygonal respectively round-like manner, so that the cross section
of the limb is adapted to the cross section of the inner opening of a hollow cylindrical
transformer-coil arranged around the limb. A slanted area is realized by a belonging
variation of the width of the band-like amorphous material.
[0018] According to a further embodiment of the invention the transformer-core wound from
an amorphous band-like material comprises two inner hollows and three limb areas.
Such a transformer-core is suitable for arranging three coils thereon, so that a three-phase
transformer is build.
[0019] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the dependent
claims.
[0020] The invention will now be further explained by means of an exemplary embodiment and
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1
- shows a high-voltage-transformer,
- Figure 2
- shows a second transformer-core wound from amorphous band-like material,
- Figure 3
- shows a cross-section of third transformer-core with cooling means,
- Figure 4
- shows a cross-section of fourth transformer-core with cooling means,
- Figure 5
- shows a cross-section of fifth transformer-core with cooling means and
- Figure 6
- shows a cross-section of sixth transformer-core with cooling means.
Fig. 1 shows a high-voltage-transformer 10 from a side view. Three hollow-cylindrical
transformer-coils 18, 20, 22 are arranged around belonging limbs of a transformer-core
12 wound from an amorphous band-like material. The transformer-core 12 comprises two
hollows 14, 16 inbetween the limbs. On a laminated front side in the upper yoke area
a cooling element 24 is foreseen, which comprises ribs with perpendicular orientation.
The cooling element 24 is glued on the belonging laminated front side of the transformer-core
12. This improves on the one hand the heat transfer inbetween both components 12 <->
24 and on the other side the mechanical stability of the wound transformer-core 12
is improved therewith.
Fig. 2 shows a second transformer-core wound from amorphous band-like material in
a view on one of its laminated front sides. Around two inner hollows 44, 46 an amorphous
band-like material is wound layer-wise 32, so that three limb areas 34, 36, 38 and
an upper 40 and lower 42 yoke area are formed. In total three loops of the band-like
amorphous material are foreseen: one inner loop each around each hollow 44, 46 and
a third outer loop around both inner loops. Each loop might comprise a few thousand
layers.
Fig. 3 shows a cross-section 50 of a third transformer-core through an inner hollow
60 and adjacent yokes 64 of the transformer-core. The center axis of the hollow 60
is indicated with reference number 62. In this case the cooling means are cooling
elements 54, 58 with cooling ribs 56, which are attached on both laminated face sides
of the transformer-core in the upper and lower 64 yoke area. In this figure only a
few winding layers 52 of amorphous band-like material are indicated, whereas in a
real amorphous transformer-core some thousand of those layers are foreseen.
Fig. 4 shows a cross-section 70 of a fourth transformer-core through an inner hollow
and adjacent yokes of the transformer-core. In this example the cross section of the
yoke-areas comprise ribs and notches 76 whereas the belonging side of cooling elements
72 connected therewith comprise corresponding ribs and notches. Thus a toothed 78
connection of the laminated front sides of the transformer-core with belonging cooling
elements 72 is built. The heat transfer is increased therewith. For an additionally
increased cooling effect the cooling elements 72 comprise cooling ribs 74.
Fig. 5 shows a cross-section 80 of a fifth transformer comparable to Fig. 3. In addition
the fifth transformer-core comprises a stripe respectively bar 84 from a solid heat-conducting
material, which is wound inbetween adjacent layers of amorphous band-like material
and which is thermally connected to cooling elements 82 which are mounted on both
laminated face sides of the transformer-core. A suitable heat-material is for example
steel.
Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of sixth transformer-core with cooling means respectively
cooling elements 94, 96. The cross section of the upper 98 lower limb comprises slanted
areas 92. Cooling elements 94 are attached also to the slanted areas.
[0021] List of reference signs
- 10
- High-voltage-transformer
- 12
- first transformer-core wound from amorphous band-like material
- 14
- first inner hollow of first transformer-core
- 16
- second inner hollow of first transformer-core
- 18
- first hollow-cylindrical transformer coil
- 20
- second hollow-cylindrical transformer coil
- 22
- third hollow-cylindrical transformer coil
- 24
- first cooling element
- 30
- second transformer-core wound from amorphous band-like material
- 32
- winding layers of amorphous band-like material
- 34
- first limb area
- 36
- second limb area
- 38
- third limb area
- 40
- upper yoke area
- 42
- lower yoke area
- 44
- first inner hollow of second transformer-core
- 46
- second inner hollow of second transformer-core
- 50
- cross-section of third transformer-core with cooling means
- 52
- winding layers of amorphous band-like material
- 54
- first cooling element of third transformer-core
- 56
- cooling ribs averted from front side of third transformer-core
- 58
- second cooling element of third transformer-core
- 60
- inner hollow of third transformer-core
- 62
- virtual center axis
- 64
- cross section of lower yoke area of third transformer-core
- 70
- cross-section of fourth transformer-core with cooling means
- 72
- cooling element of fourth transformer-core
- 74
- cooling ribs averted from front side of fourth transformer-core
- 76
- notch of cooling element of fourth transformer-core
- 78
- toothed area
- 80
- cross-section of fifth transformer-core with cooling means
- 82
- cooling element of fifth transformer-core
- 84
- stripe of solid heat-conducting material
- 90
- cross-section of sixth transformer-core with cooling means
- 92
- slanted area of laminated front side
- 94
- cooling element mounted on slanted area of laminated front side
- 96
- cooling element mounted on non slanted area of laminated front side
- 98
- cross section of upper yoke area of sixth transformer-core
1. High-voltage-transformer (10) comprising
• at least one transformer-core (12, 30) wound from an amorphous band-like material
(32, 52) around at least one inner hollow (14, 16, 44, 46), wherein two opposed laminated
front sides are formed by the edges of the wound band-like material (32, 52) and wherein
at least two opposed limb areas (34, 36, 38) and an upper (40, 98) and lower (42,
64) yoke area are formed,
• at least one hollow-cylindrical transformer coil (18, 20, 22) arranged around a
limb area (34, 36, 38) of the at least one transformer-core (12, 30),
characterized in that,
cooling means (54, 58, 72, 94, 96) are connected with at least a section of at least
one of the laminated front sides.
2. High-voltage-transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling means (54, 58, 72, 94, 96) comprise at least one cooling element (54,
58) with a flat side, which is mounted adjacently face to face on a front side of
the transformer-core (12, 30).
3. High-voltage-transformer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one laminated front side of the transformer-core (12, 30) is at least in
part rib shaped and in that the cooling means (54, 58, 72, 94, 96) comprise at least one cooling element (72)
with a flat side and corresponding notches (76) therein, which is mounted adjacently
face to face and toothed (78) on a belonging section of a front side of the transformer-core
(12, 30).
4. High-voltage-transformer according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one stripe of a solid heat-conducting material (84) is wound inbetween adjacent
layers of the band-like material (32, 52) and thermally connected to one of the cooling
elements (54, 58, 72, 94, 96).
5. High-voltage-transformer according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the at least one cooling element (54, 58, 72, 94, 96) comprises cooling ribs (56,
74) averted from the belonging laminated front side of the transformer-core (12, 30).
6. High-voltage-transformer according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the cooling means (54, 58, 72, 94, 96) are connected with the at least one section
of the laminated front sides by a glued bond at least in part.
7. High-voltage-transformer according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the connection of the cooling means (54, 58, 72, 94, 96) with the at least one section
of the laminated front sides comprises a heat conducting substance.
8. High-voltage-transformer according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the cooling means (54, 58, 72, 94, 96) are connected with the laminated sides of
the yoke areas (40, 42, 64, 98).
9. High-voltage-transformer according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one area of the laminated front side is slanted (92) and cooling means (54,
58, 72, 94, 96) are connected thereto.
10. High-voltage-transformer according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the transformer-core (12, 30) wound from an amorphous band-like material (32, 52)
comprises two inner hollows (14, 16, 44, 46) and three limb areas (34, 36, 38).