Method and device for analysing the state, condition and power quality of transformers in power grids

A data processing system for analysing a state of a power transformer, comprising:

• at least one sensor arranged relative to said power transformer, wherein said at least one sensor is capable of retrieving acoustic-vibrations generated by the power transformer;
• a processing unit configured to:
• retrieve at least one vibroacoustic signal from said at least one sensor,
• perform a time-frequency decomposition of said at least one vibroacoustic signal from a time domain to a frequency domain using fast Fourier transformation,
• identify one or more vibroacoustic harmonic frequencies provided by the fast Fourier transformation of said at least one vibroacoustic signal,
• calculate an amplitude value and a phase angle related to said one or more vibroacoustic harmonic frequencies,
• calculate one or more load harmonic frequencies from said one or more vibroacoustic harmonic frequencies,
• analyse said amplitude value and said phase angle related to said one or more load harmonic frequencies and calculating a total harmonic distortion (THD) of load information,
• provide, based on the THD of the load information at least one of:
• a thermal model capable of providing temperature information related to a state of a top-oil temperature in the power transformer, a state of a hotspot temperature in the power transformer, or both, or
• a magnetic model capable of providing core saturation information related to a state of a core saturation in the power transformer,
• retrieve an electromagnetic signal emitted from said power transformer using at least one electromagnetic field (EMF) sensor,
• retrieve a temperature generated by the power transformer using at least one temperature sensor, and
• provide at least one analysed information from said amplitude value and said phase angle related to said one or more vibroacoustic harmonic frequencies, said thermal model or said magnetic model, said electromagnetic signal, and said temperature, where the at least one analysed information is related to a state of the power transformer;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing the at least one analysed information.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for analysing a state of power transformers in power grids that are executable by a processor of a device to cause the device to:

• retrieve at least one vibroacoustic signal from at least one sensor arranged relative to a power transformer;
• perform a time-frequency decomposition of said at least one vibroacoustic signal from a time domain to a frequency domain using fast Fourier transformation;
• identify one or more vibroacoustic harmonic frequencies provided by the fast Fourier transformation of said at least one vibroacoustic signal;
• calculate an amplitude value and a phase angle related to said one or more vibroacoustic harmonic frequencies;
• calculate one or more load harmonic frequencies from said one or more vibroacoustic harmonic frequencies;
• analyse said amplitude value and said phase angle related to said one or more load harmonic frequencies and calculating a total harmonic distortion (THD) of load information;
• provide, based on the THD of the load information at least one of:
• a thermal model capable of providing temperature information related to a state of a top-oil temperature in the power transformer, a state of a hotspot temperature in the power transformer, or both, or
• a magnetic model capable of providing core saturation information related to a state of a core saturation in the power transformer;
• retrieve an electromagnetic signal emitted from said power transformer using at least one electromagnetic field (EMF) sensor, and retrieve a temperature generated by the power transformer using at least one temperature sensor measurement;
• and
• provide at least one analysed information from said amplitude value and said phase angle related to said one or more vibroacoustic harmonic frequencies, said thermal model or said magnetic model, said electromagnetic signal, and said temperature, where the at least one analysed information is related to a state of the power transformer.