Short-time overloading of power transformers

The title of this master thesis project is Short-time overloading of power transformers. It will be performed in a co-operation between the school of electrical engineering at the Royal institute of Technology and ABB Corporate Research.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The power transformer is one of the most cost-intensive components in the electrical grid. Thus it is important to understand and predict the length of the lifetime of this component. The operating temperature inside the transformer has been identified as the controlling parameter of the lifetime of the component. In turn, the temperature is dependent upon transformer loading. Thus describing the dependence of the temperature on loading, by a thermal model of the transformer is essential for modeling its lifetime.

At ABB Corporate Research a thermal model for the transformer has been developed. It is in use in their condition-monitoring equipment TEC. In this project this thermal model will be evaluated using measured values of the transformer temperature during the specific case of short-time overloading. Those measured values have been obtained from optic-fiber measurement equipment, which has been shown to effectively determine the accurate temperature. There are several thermal models available in the literature. A possible development of this project is to evaluate those thermal models as well.


ABOUT ABB CORPORATE RESEARCH
ABB Corporate Reseach is located in Västerås, Sweden, for further information about the company please visit the following link;

http://www.abb.com/cawp/abbzh254/c88a9570464dc1fbc1256b570051a4bd.aspx

For further information about TEC please visit the following link;

http://www.abb.com/product/db0003db004283/c12573e700330462c1256f1d004a25b4.aspx


ABOUT EE KTH
The School of Electrical Engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology (swe. Skolan for elektro vid Kungliga Tekniska högskolan) is located in Stockholm, Sweden, for further information about the university please visit the following link;

http://www.kth.se/ees?l=en_UK


YOU ARE…
This project is suited for students involved in the programs: engineering physics, and electrical engineering.

Desired Prerequisites: self-dependent, proven ability to co-operate, communicative and the ability to solve practical problems both self-dependently and in a simple way. Prior experience in power system electronics and keen interest in modeling and calculation is considered advantageous.


INFORMATION
Start date: according to agreement.

Type: full time.

Location: Västerås (not imperative)

Selection is done continuously; so please apply as soon as possible. For further questions please contact Johanna Rosenlind at [email protected] – be sure to write Master thesis project in the subject field.