Voltage-regulation-transformer

Abstract

 The invention is related to a voltage-regulation-transformer (10), comprising a transformer core (40) and a first group (12, 72) of three hollow cylindrical coils (14, 16, 18), wherein the transformer core (40) comprises three parallel limbs (54, 56, 58) extending along three parallel limb axis (34, 36, 38), wherein the transformer core (40) comprises a first (42) and a second (46) parallel yoke section connecting the respective first and the respective second ends of the limbs (54, 56, 58) and wherein each coil (14, 16, 18) of the first group (12, 72) is arranged around a respective limb (54, 56, 58). The transformer core (40) comprises three further limbs (60, 62, 64) that's respective first ends are connected with the second yoke section (46) and that's respective second ends are connected with a third yoke section (50), which is arranged in parallel to the first (42) and second (46) yoke section and a second group (20, 78) of three hollow cylindrical coils (22, 24, 26) is foreseen, wherein each coil of the second group is arranged around one of the respective further limbs (60, 62, 64).

Description

[0001] The invention is related to a voltage-regulation-transformer, comprising a transformer core and a first group of three hollow cylindrical coils, wherein the transformer core comprises three parallel limbs extending along three parallel limb axis, wherein the transformer core comprises a first and a second parallel yoke section connecting the respective first and the respective second ends of the limbs and wherein each coil of the first group is arranged around a respective limb.

[0002] It is known that in an electric distribution network the voltage level has to be kept within a certain tolerance band around the respective rated voltage. Dependent on the network topology and the flow of active respectively reactive power the admitted tolerance band of voltage is subject to be left.

[0003] In order to keep the voltage level in distribution networks within a desired range around the nominal voltage of the respective part of the distribution network - for example a nominal voltage level of 10kV - it is known to provide tap changers for the distribution transformers of the distribution network.

[0004] Tap changers have the ability to adapt the voltage ratio of a transformer, for example with a rated voltage of 36kV on the primary side and 6kV on the secondary side and with a rated power of 1 MVA, within a certain range, so that the voltage on the output side of the transformer is within a desired range around the nominal voltage.

[0005] It is also known that especially for long transmission lines, for example with a length of 10km or more, a continuous voltage drop or even a voltage rise along the transmission line might occur dependent on the actual load or generation conditions. In this case it might not be possible to provide a voltage level along the whole length of the transmission line which is within an admitted tolerance level around the nominal voltage for each location. So at one end of the transmission line the voltage level might be below the admitted tolerance band even on the other end the voltage level is at the upper edge of the admitted tolerance band.

[0006] In order to handle also those cases Line Voltage Regulation (LVR) devices with a feeder and booster transformer are known. The booster transformer is electrically in series with a transmission line that's voltage level is subject to be for example too low at its one end. The booster transformer is adding a controlled voltage to the voltage at the one end of the transmission line so that the output voltage of the booster transformer is within the acceptable tolerance band. The booster transformer is supplied by a feeder transformer by means of an intermediate circuit, wherein the feeder transformer itself is supplied by the transmission line, that's voltage level is not within the admitted tolerance band.

[0007] So on one hand the voltage level at the end of the transmission line will drop once again by the additional load of the feeder transformer, but on the other hand this effect will be more than compensated by the additional voltage of the booster transformer. Booster- and feeder- transformer are typically designed as two fully separated transformers with the same power rating.

[0008] Disadvantageously in this state of the art is that in conventional line voltage regulation systems a significant part of the footprint is used for the feeder and booster transformer so that those systems have a rather large size.

[0009] It is objective of the invention to provide a compact transformer solution for Line Voltage Regulation (LVR) devices with a reduced size. This problem is solved by a voltage-regulation-transformer of the aforementioned kind.

[0010] This is characterized in that the transformer core comprises three further limbs that's respective first ends are connected with the second yoke section and that's respective second ends are connected with a third yoke section, which is arranged in parallel to the first and second yoke section and in that a second group of three hollow cylindrical coils is foreseen, wherein each coil of the second group is arranged around one of the respective further limbs.

[0011] The basic idea of the invention is to arrange the two groups of coils of the two transformers for a line voltage regulation device - the booster and the feeder transformer - on the same transformer core with a common used center yoke, in this case the second yoke area. The first group of coils corresponds to the coils of a feeder transformer and the second group of coils corresponds to the coils of a booster transformer.

[0012] Due to the coupling of both transformers respectively groups of coils by means of the intermediate circuit, the current flow through the respective involved windings of first and second group of coils is equal. Hence also the magnetic flux within the yokes of the transformer core caused by the current flow through the first and the second groups of windings is in principal equal at least concerning the absolute value of the respective magnetic flux vectors.

[0013] In case that the groups of coils are arranged in that way, that the magnetic flux caused by the first and second group of coils is opposed each to each other, the magnetic flux in the second yoke area respectively in the common used center yoke is reduced, in the ideal case to zero.

[0014] Thus it becomes possible to reduce the cross section of the center yoke without exceeding an acceptable level of magnetic flux density there through compared to the sum of the respective yoke cross sections of separate feeder and booster transformers. The size of the transformer and the required amount of core material is reduced therewith in an advantageous way.

[0015] A further effect of the reduced magnetic flux in the common center yoke are reduced no-load losses. Additionally a reduction of the sound- respectively vibration level of the voltage-regulation-transformer according to the invention is gained. Also the effort for cabling between the different groups of coils is reduced when arranging them on the same transformer core.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the invention the cross section of the yoke(s) in the second yoke section is (a) equal or (b) less compared with the cross section of the yoke(s) in the first or third yoke section. Variant (a) implies a reduction of the cross section of the center yoke by 50% compared to the sum of respective yoke cross sections of a single feeder and a single booster transformer wherein additional advantages concerning reduced losses and sound emission are gained. Variant (b) implies a further reduction of the cross section of the center yoke wherein the effect of the additional advantages might be reduced therewith.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention the further limbs extend along the three parallel limb axes where also the first three limbs are extending along. Thus the geometry of the core sections for first and second group of coils is equal. Additionally the footprint required for the voltage-regulation-transformer is reduced in an advantageous way since both transformer core sections are stacked on top of each other.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the voltage-regulation-transformer the three parallel limb axes are arranged within the same plane. So a space-saving flat design of the voltage-regulation-transformer is gained. Of course also other designs such as triangular are possible.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention each coil of a group of three hollow cylindrical coils comprises a primary and a secondary single-phase winding which are electrically connected in respective vector-groups to a three-phase primary and secondary winding. A vector group might be triangular (D) or star-like (Y) for example. In a preferred embodiment of the invention all single-phase windings have terminals for their electrical connection and are not brought together directly in the voltage-regulation-transformer (Group IIIiii0). Moreover they are indirectly brought together by the neutral point treatment of the respective network they are connected with.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the invention the vector-groups of the first and second group of coils are identical.

[0021] Thus a preferred combination is:

Group 1: IIIiii0

Group 2: IIIiii0

[0022] This embodiment enables in an easy way to arrange the coils in that way, that the flux through the common center yoke caused by the first group of coils is opposed to the flux caused by the second group of coils if the voltage-regulation-transformer is used as feeder- booster- transformer combination. In order to gain an opposed magnetic flux direction respective couples of coils of first and second group for the same electric phase should be arranged along the same limb axis.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the invention the first and the second group of coils are rated for at least approximately the same power. This is also of advantage for the use as feeder- booster- transformer combination, since in this case both groups of coils are loaded with the same power due to the coupling in an intermediate circuit.

[0024] According to another variant of the invention the secondary winding of the first group of coils is electrically connected with the primary winding of the second group of coils in an intermediate circuit and the secondary winding of the second group of coils is foreseen to be connected in series with an electrical component to be supplied. This is a suitable kind of connection of the first and second group of coils to a feeder-booster- transformer combination as it is required for a Line Voltage Regulation (LVR) device.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the invention the secondary winding of the first group of coils is provided with taps, so that the current flow through the intermediate circuit is influenceable by selecting a respective tap. In order to regulate the voltage added by the secondary winding of the second group of coils the current flow through the intermediate circuit has to be influenced. If for example the secondary winding of the first group of coils is foreseen over its whole electrical length in equidistant sections with taps - for example 10 in total - the current through the intermediate circuit can be influenced from zero (lowest tap) to maximum (highest tap).

[0026] According to another embodiment of the invention first and second groups of coils are electrically connected in that way, that the magnetic flux through the yokes of the second yoke section caused by the first group of coils is opposed to the magnetic flux through the yokes of the second yoke section caused by the second group of coils if used as feeder- and booster transformer combination. Thus the cross section of the common used center yoke in the second yoke section can be reduced in an advantageous way.

[0027] The problem of the invention is also solved by a voltage-regulation-transformer, comprising a transformer core and a first hollow cylindrical coil,

• wherein the transformer core comprises two parallel limbs extending along two parallel limb axis,
• wherein the transformer core comprises a first and a second parallel yoke section connecting the respective first and the respective second ends of the limbs,
• wherein the first hollow cylindrical coil is arranged around a respective limb,
• the transformer core comprises two further limbs that's respective first ends are connected with the second yoke section and that's respective second ends are connected with a third yoke section, which is arranged in parallel to the first and second yoke section,
• a second hollow cylindrical coil is foreseen which is arranged around one of the respective further limbs,
• each coil comprises a primary and a secondary single-phase winding,
• the secondary winding of the first coil is electrically connected with the primary winding of the second coil in an intermediate circuit,
• the secondary winding of the second coil is foreseen to be connected in series with an electrical component to be supplied and
• the cross section of the yoke(s) in the second yoke section is equal or less compared with the cross section of the yoke(s) in the first or third yoke section.

[0028] The advantages of this single phase arrangement correspond to the advantages of the respective embodiments of the three-phase arrangement as disclosed above.

[0029] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0030] 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 an exemplary voltage-regulation-transformer,

Figure 2

shows an exemplary transformer core and

Figure 3

shows a voltage-regulation-transformer with intermediate circuit.

[0031] Figure 1 shows an exemplary voltage-regulation-transformer 10 in a three-dimensional view. A first group 12 of hollow cylindrical coils 14, 16, 18 is arranged on three parallel limbs of a transformer core, which are extending along three parallel limb axes 34, 36, 38. Each of the coils 14, 16, 18 comprises a single-phase primary and secondary winding. The primary windings are electrically arranged in a star (Y) connection and the secondary windings are also arranged in a star (Y) connection which can't be seen in this drawing. On both axial ends of the limbs respectively coils 14, 16, 18 a first yoke 28 respectively a second yoke 30 is foreseen.

[0032] Also extending along the three limb axis 34, 36, 38 and above the second yoke 30 further limbs of the transformer core are foreseen. On those further limbs a second group 20 of hollow cylindrical coils 22, 24, 26 is arranged. The further limbs are connected at their upper end with a third yoke 32 which is in parallel to the first 28 and second 30 yoke. The cross section of all three yokes 28, 30, 32 is equal. Each of the coils 22, 24, 26 comprises a single-phase primary and a single-phase secondary winding.

[0033] Figure 2 shows an exemplary transformer core 40 from a side view. The transformer core 40 comprises three couples of limbs (54, 60; 56, 62; 58, 64) which are extending one above each other along three respective limb axes. At the respective axial ends of the limbs 54, 60; 56, 62; 58, 64 respective yoke sections 42, 46, 50 are indicated which are extending perpendicular to the axial extension of the limbs 54, 60; 56, 62; 58, 64. Each yoke section 42, 46, 50 is represented by a respective yoke 44, 48, 52 but can of course comprise more than one yoke, for example in case of a triangular transformer core. The transformer core consists in this example mainly of insulated stacked metal sheets. All yokes 44, 48, 52 and limbs 54, 60; 56, 62; 58, 64 have the same cross section in this example.

[0034] Figure 3 shows a voltage-regulation-transformer with intermediate circuit in an electrical sketch 70. The sketch is drawn in a single phase view, but it has to be remarked, that all components are three-phase. The sketch shows the principal circuit of a Line Voltage Regulation (LVR) device. At its input side an input voltage 86, for example at the end of a transmission line that's voltage has to be controlled, is provided. At the output side of the LVR device a controlled voltage 88 is provided which differs from the input voltage 86 by a booster voltage 90.

[0035] The booster voltage 90 is added by means of a secondary winding 82 of a second group of coils 78, which is used as a booster transformer. An intermediate circuit 84 is foreseen to drive a current through the primary winding 80 of the second group of coils 78 respectively the booster transformer. The current within the intermediate circuit 84 is driven by the primary 74 and secondary 76 winding of a first group of coils 72, which is used as a feeder transformer. The primary winding 74 is connected with the input of the LVR device. Dependent on the current through the intermediate circuit 84, which is for example controllable by a selection of respective taps of the secondary winding 76 of the feeder transformer, a voltage 90 is added to the input voltage 86 and provided as voltage 88 at the output of the LVR device. An LVR device might be foreseen to add +/- 10% of the rated voltage of a transmission line.

List of reference signs

[0036] 

10

exemplary voltage-regulation-transformer

12

first group of hollow cylindrical coils

14

first coil of first group

16

second coil of first group

18

third coil of first group

20

second group of hollow cylindrical coils

22

first coil of second group

24

second coil of second group

26

third coil of second group

28

first yoke of first yoke section

30

first yoke of second yoke section

32

first yoke of third yoke section

34

first limb axis

36

second limb axis

38

third limb axis

40

exemplary transformer core

42

first yoke section

44

first yoke of first yoke section

46

second yoke section

48

first yoke of second yoke section

50

third yoke section

52

first yoke of third yoke section

54

first limb

56

second limb

58

third limb

60

first further limb

62

second further limb

64

third further limb

70

voltage-regulation-transformer with intermediate circuit

72

windings of first group of coils

74

primary winding of first group of coils

76

secondary winding of first group of coils

78

windings of second group of coils

80

primary winding of second group of coils

82

secondary winding of second group of coils

84

intermediate circuit

86

input voltage

88

output voltage

90

booster voltage

Claims

1. Voltage-regulation-transformer (10), comprising a transformer core (40) and a first group (12, 72) of three hollow cylindrical coils (14, 16, 18),

• wherein the transformer core (40) comprises three parallel limbs (54, 56, 58) extending along three parallel limb axis (34, 36, 38),

• wherein the transformer core (40) comprises a first (42) and a second (46) parallel yoke section connecting the respective first and the respective second ends of the limbs (54, 56, 58),

• wherein each coil (14, 16, 18) of the first group (12, 72) is arranged around a respective limb (54, 56, 58),

characterized in that

• the transformer core (40) comprises three further limbs (60, 62, 64) that's respective first ends are connected with the second yoke section (46) and that's respective second ends are connected with a third yoke section (50), which is arranged in parallel to the first (42) and second (46) yoke section,

• a second group (20, 78) of three hollow cylindrical coils (22, 24, 26) is foreseen, wherein each coil of the second group is arranged around one of the respective further limbs (60, 62, 64).

2. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the yoke(s) (30, 48) in the second yoke section (46) is equal or less compared with the cross section of the yoke(s) (28, 44, 32, 52) in the first (42) or third (50) yoke section.

3. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the further limbs (60, 62, 64) extend along the three parallel limb axis (34, 36, 38).

4. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the three parallel limb axis (34, 36, 38) are arranged within the same plane.

5. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that each coil (14, 16, 18, 22, 24, 26) of a group (12, 20, 72, 78) of three hollow cylindrical coils comprises a primary and a secondary single-phase winding which are electrically connected in respective vector-groups to a three-phase primary (74, 80) and secondary (76, 82) winding.

6. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to claim 5, characterized in that the vector-groups of the first (12, 72) and second (20, 78) group of coils are identical.

7. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to claim 5 to 6, characterized in that the first (12, 72) and second (20, 78) group of coils are rated for at least approximately the same power.

8. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to claim 5 to 7, characterized in that

• the secondary winding (76) of the first group (12, 72) of coils is electrically connected with the primary winding (80) of the second group (20, 78) of coils in an intermediate circuit (84),

• the secondary winding (82) of the second group (20, 78) of coils is foreseen to be connected in series with an electrical component to be supplied.

9. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to claim 8, characterized in that the secondary winding (76) of the first group (12, 72) of coils is provided with taps, so that the current flow through the intermediate circuit (84) is influenceable by selecting a respective tap.

10. Voltage-regulation-transformer according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the first (12, 72) and second (20, 78) groups of coils are electrically connected in that way, that the magnetic flux through the yokes (30, 48) of the second yoke section (46) caused by the first group (12, 72) of coils is opposed to the magnetic flux through the yokes (30, 48) of the second yoke section (46) caused by the second group (20, 78) of coils.

11. Voltage-regulation-transformer (10), comprising a transformer core (40) and a first hollow cylindrical coil (14, 16, 18),

• wherein the transformer core (40) comprises two parallel limbs (54, 56, 58) extending along two parallel limb axis (34, 36, 38),

• wherein the transformer core (40) comprises a first (42) and a second (46) parallel yoke section connecting the respective first and the respective second ends of the limbs (54, 56, 58),

• wherein the first hollow cylindrical coil (14, 16, 18) is arranged around a respective limb (54, 56, 58),

characterized in that

• the transformer core (40) comprises two further limbs (60, 62, 64) that's respective first ends are connected with the second yoke section (46) and that's respective second ends are connected with a third yoke section (50), which is arranged in parallel to the first (42) and second (46) yoke section,

• a second hollow cylindrical coil (22, 24, 26) is foreseen which is arranged around one of the respective further limbs (60, 62, 64),

• each coil (14, 16, 18, 22, 24, 26) comprises a primary and a secondary single-phase winding,

• the secondary winding (76) of the first coil (14, 16, 18) is electrically connected with the primary winding (80) of the second coil (22, 24, 26) in an intermediate circuit (84),

• the secondary winding (82) of the second coil (22, 24, 26) is foreseen to be connected in series with an electrical component to be supplied,

• the cross section of the yoke(s) (30, 48) in the second yoke section (46) is equal or less compared with the cross section of the yoke(s) (28, 44, 32, 52) in the first (42) or third (50) yoke section.

Drawing