Presented by Drew Welton, Intellirent

In this session, we will take a deep dive into transformer failure and bridge the gap between transformer protective relay systems and maintenance testing to form a more holistic approach to the subject. Often times, there is a disconnect between those responsible for protective relaying and maintenance testing, and by looking at a more complete picture, we can possibly extend the transformer’s life expectancy, and avoid catastrophic failure. We will define types of failures, location of failures within the transformer, and examine the difference between electrical, mechanical, and insulation failures. We will show examples and look at various case studies that include interactions between protective relays, and electrical test results. We will also examine diagnostic testing techniques for on-load tap changers and bushings, which make up a large portion of system failures. For 2024, we will update a number of IEEE test recommendations.