ENERGY EFFICIENT BUSHING FOR A TRANSFORMER

Abstract

A bushing for a transformer is provided, the bushing comprising an elongate enclosure body to accommodate a conductor extending along a longitudinal axis, the conductor having a first terminal end a second terminal end, the ends extending from opposite sides of the enclosure body; and a mounting flange fitted to the enclosure body to enable the bushing to be mounted to an enclosure of the transformer. The enclosure body comprises two electrically insulating layers partially surrounding the conductor, a first layer of the insulating layers being substantially provided by a first polymeric material and a second layer of the insulating layers being substantially provided by a second polymeric material, the layers being arranged about the conductor in such a manner that the bushing is substantially cavity-free. In an embodiment, the first layer defines an inner core, with the second layer providing an outer cover which at least partially covers the inner core.

Claims

1. A bushing for a transformer, the bushing comprising: an elongate enclosure body to accommodate a conductor extending along a longitudinal axis, the conductor having a first terminal end a second terminal end, the ends extending from opposite sides of the enclosure body; a mounting flange fitted to the enclosure body to enable the bushing to be mounted to an enclosure of the transformer; the enclosure body comprising two electrically insulating layers partially surrounding the conductor, a first layer of the insulating layers being substantially provided by a first polymeric material, which is co-axially enclosed by high relative permeability screens in order to achieve energy efficiency, and a second layer of the insulating layers being substantially provided by a second polymeric material, the layers being arranged about the conductor in such a manner that the bushing is substantially cavity-free.

2. The bushing of claim 1, wherein the first layer including energy efficiency screens defines an inner core, with the second layer providing an outer cover which at least partially covers the inner core. Energy efficiency screens are high relative permeability materials, such as nanocrystalline grain structure ferromagnetic metal coatings, Permalloy or Mumetal. The materials have low magnetic anisotropy and low magnetostriction. It has a low coercivity so that it saturates at low magnetic fields.

3. The bushing of claim 2, wherein the inner core includes a condenser screen arrangement, in the form of fine layers of metallic screens included or inserted in the inner core to perform two functions being voltage control by capacitance grading as well as magnetic decoupling.

4-11. (canceled)

12. The bushing of claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises a solid, rod-like conductor or tube alternative of design dimensions and material to minimise resistive losses.

13. The bushing of claim 1, wherein the first terminal end of the conductor is connected or connectable to an electrically active component of the transformer and the second terminal end of the conductor is connected or connectable to an electrically active external component. The conductor is magnetically isolated from the transformer tank using energy efficiency screens.

14. (canceled)

15. The bushing of claim 1, wherein the bushing includes a condition monitoring sensor, the condition monitoring sensor being arranged to monitor one or more predefined condition parameters associated with the bushing and to communicate values of one or more monitored parameters to a receiving module remote from the bushing. By taking various measurements externally on the surface of the bushing and not connected to the inner parts of the bushing as in Bengtsson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,012 additionally measurements are on a single phase and not all three phases simultaneously, as described in Bengtsson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,012.

16-17. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0080] The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

[0081] In the drawings:

[0082] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bushing for a transformer, according to the invention; and

[0083] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the bushing shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0084] The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognise that many changes can be made to the embodiment described, while still attaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognise that modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not a limitation thereof.

[0085] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bushing 10 for a transformer is shown, the bushing 10 comprising an elongate enclosure body 12 to accommodate a conductor 14 extending along a longitudinal axis. The conductor 14 has a first terminal end 16 a second terminal end 18, the ends 16, 18 extending from opposite sides of the enclosure body 12. In some embodiments, the conductor 14 comprises a tube; preferably, however, the conductor 14 comprises a solid, rod-like conductor. The conductor 14 may be manufactured from any suitable conductive material, e.g. aluminium or copper.

[0086] A mounting flange 20 is fitted to the enclosure body 12 to enable the bushing 10 to be mounted to an enclosure of the transformer.

[0087] The enclosure body 12 comprises two electrically insulating layers 22, 24 partially surrounding the conductor 14. The first layer 22 of the insulating layers is substantially provided by a first polymeric material and the second layer 24 of the insulating layers being substantially provided by a second polymeric material. The layers 22, 24 are arranged about the conductor 14 in such a manner that the bushing is substantially cavity-free (and substantially devoid of oil and paper).

[0088] The first layer 22 typically defines an inner core 26, with the second layer 24 providing an outer cover 28 which at least partially covers the inner core 26. The two electrically insulating layers 22, 24 may be attached directly to the conductor 14, thereby providing a substantially cavity-free bushing. In some embodiments, the first layer 22 may be moulded directly onto the conductor 14, with the second layer 24 being moulded directly onto the first layer 22.

[0089] The first layer 22 may be substantially provided by epoxy and the second layer 24 may be substantially provided by a hydrophobic material. The hydrophobic material may be a polymer. The polymer may be an elastic polymer. In one embodiment, the first layer 22 is substantially provided by epoxy resin and the second layer 24 is substantially provided by silicone rubber. The second layer 24 may thus be provided by a substantially shock resistant material.

[0090] The coefficient of thermal expansion of the conductor 14 and the first layer 22 may be selected so as to be closely aligned, thereby to reduce the possibility or extent of delamination due to mechanical stress caused by a temperature gradient between the conductor 14 and the first layer 22, in use. The society for materials engineers and scientists (ASM) lists typical values of linear and volumetric expansion (10.sup.−6 m/m.Math.K.sup.−1) for various materials at 20° C. and 101.325 kPa as follows: Water 69 and 207; Aluminium 23.1 and 69; Copper 17 and 51; PVC 52 and 156; Polypropylene 150 and 450.

[0091] In an embodiment, the inner core 26 includes a condenser screen arrangement, typically in the form of very fine layers of metallic foil screens 30 included or inserted in the inner core 26. A condenser screen arrangement is generally only required at voltages above 88 kV, and although three screens 30 are shown in FIG. 2, the exact number, arrangement and layout of the screen 30 may vary depending on the application. The screens 30 produce a capacitive effect which dissipates the electrical energy more evenly throughout the inner core 26 and reduces the electric field stress between the energised conductor 14 and any earthed material. It does this by distributing the electric field optimally in the radial and tangential directions, so as to lengthen the lifespan of the insulation materials. If the capacitances due to the screens 30 are equal, then the voltage is distributed as shown in Diagram 3 above. A lower and uniformly distributed voltage within the dielectric materials reduces the electric stress in the bushing 10. The inner core 26 may be assembled so as to minimise electric stress in the bushing 10 and/or on a surface of the bushing 10.

[0092] The outer cover 28 of the second layer 24 may include a plurality of coaxial sheds 32 spaced apart along the length of the bushing.

[0093] The first terminal end 16 of the conductor 14 may be configured for operative connection to an electrically active component of the transformer and the second terminal end 18 of the conductor 14 may be configured for operative connection to an electrically active external component. The electrically active component of the transformer may be transformer windings and the electrically active external component may be a supply line.

[0094] The bushing 10 is preferably a high voltage bushing 10, for use in phase-to-phase voltages greater than 100 kV and in current ratings ranging from approximately 1250 A to 2700 A. In one embodiment, the bushing 10 is a 132 kV bushing. The bushing 10 may be configured for use as a generation, transmission or distribution transformer.

[0095] In some embodiments, the bushing 10 may include a condition monitoring sensor. The condition monitoring sensor may be configured to monitor one or more predefined condition parameters associated with the bushing 10 and to communicate values of one or more monitored parameters to a receiving module remote from the bushing 10. In an embodiment, the measured condition parameter is leakage current in both of the two electrically insulating layers, with the sensor taking the form of a coupling capacitor with detection ranging from 80 pF up to 10 nF. The sensor is typically placed at the flange 20 by means of a circumferential strapped band attachment or a threaded bolt-in device into a connection point that is similar to a test tap that is present on most high voltage bushings.

[0096] In an embodiment, the sensor includes a transmitter to transmit the measured condition parameter to a remote controller, typically in an online manner. Communications of measured data is network neutral or network independent. The sensor can thus use any available network such as a powerline carrier, a fibre telecommunications network or a wireless network. On-line monitoring and alarming systems allow for the uploading measured data to a server for remote analysis. This feature saves customers the costs associated with bringing in an expert and paying its staff to accompany someone at the local site to perform advanced diagnostics.

[0097] The bushing described herein provides increased safety and a significantly lower risk to consumers. Particular advantages of the bushing of the invention including the following non-exhaustive list: [0098] 1. The bushing is waterproof and paperless. [0099] 2. The design may eliminate or reduce the risk of bushing explosions and reduce the probability of burn out fires on power transformers. [0100] 3. The bushing is sustainable and environmentally friendly as it does not utilize or depend on fossil fuels, e.g. oil, which is a depleting natural resource and which fluctuates in cost. [0101] 4. The bushing is environmentally friendly and meets the requirements of international specifications, which require transformer bushings to “be of technology that provides safe operation of the transformer, maintenance free or require minimum maintenance, environmentally friendly, and as far practically possible does not add fire risk”. [0102] 5. In some embodiments, the bushing can be monitored and maintained from a remote location. [0103] 6. The remote access component optimizes maintenance of the bushing and reduces risk to employees who are hired to service bushings, as physically attending to a bushing would not be required frequently. [0104] 7. The design ensures the least possible level of partial discharges and also provides mechanical strength. [0105] 8. The design can be customised and is suitable for a wide range of transformer application. [0106] 9. Polymeric dry bushings can withstand extreme operating conditions, including temperatures ranging from −40° to 60° C., which significantly reduces maintenance and storage costs.

[0107] 10. The design can be used in many different applications, e.g. generation, transmission and distribution transformers that require increased levels of reliability and safety. [0108] 11. The bushing uses shock resistant epoxy resin that is housed in elastic polymer in order to provide cushion against shock. [0109] 12. The use of a polymer as a main component significantly prolongs the life of the bushing and reduces the probability of combustion over the lifespan of the product. [0110] 13. Unlike fibreglass composition bushings which delaminate under high electric stress, water ingress and pollution, the proposed dual polymer bushing is highly reliable. [0111] 14. Oil impregnated porcelain designed bushings are susceptible to explosion and fires which can result in injury or fatalities of personnel, which the dual polymer bushing of the invention addresses. [0112] 15. Most epoxy bushings suffer from brittle fractures as they are not shock resistant, so under seismic loading such bushings fail, whereas vibration simulations based on data sheet specifications of the epoxy type used in this invention of the 132 kV polymeric bushing eliminates this risk. [0113] 16. This gives the invention an overall operating advantage in performance, as opposed to oil insulated paper, resign impregnated paper or oil cooled resign impregnated paper which has a higher probability of combustion over time. [0114] 17. The elimination of fibreglass and porcelain increases reliability and reduces or eliminates the risk of fractures, explosions causing fires, as well as delamination. [0115] 18. The bushing can withstand a relatively high thermal load.