Comparison of Light Sensors for Arc Detection inside Power Transformer Tanks

Basic Investigations

authored by: Moritz Kuhnke, Reza Sargazi, Peter Werle
Abstract: Transformer explosions and fires are the most dangerous consequences of transformer faults. Besides the financial loss, consequences are often environmental pollution, fires and personal injury or even death. Especially for substations in densely populated areas, this is a very high risk. As protection each transformer is equipped with a Buchholzrelay (BHR), which identifies such failures, thus a circuit breaker (CB) can trip the transformer. The time between the internal breakdown and the disconnection of the transformer is approximately 4-5 cycles, which are almost equally split between the response times of the BHR and the CB. However, in some cases the tripping of the transformer is not fast enough in order to prevent a tank rupture and the catastrophic collateral damages described above. Therefore faster arc detection systems are under investigation like the use of photo sensitive semiconductors inside the transformer tank to detect the light emission from an arc and to trigger the circuit breaker. Currently, there are many unanswered questions about the reliability, sensitivity, operating temperatures and lifespan of these new optic systems. In this paper the characteristics of different light sensitive semiconductors, such as light dependent resistors, and photodiodes are compared in regard to their possible application inside power transformers. Moreover, performance of certain measuring circuits with the different semiconductors are presented and compared at different distances to an arc with temperature variation. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the different semiconductor types, and the benefits and limits of arc sensing with light sensors are discussed.
Organisation(s): Institute of Electric Power Systems
Type: Conference contribution
Pages: 138-144
No. of pages: 7
Publication date: 12.2021
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1109/CATCON52335.2021.9670521 (Access: Closed)