The features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
It should be noted that in the detailed description that follows, identical components have the same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the present invention. It should also be noted that in order to clearly and concisely disclose the present invention, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features of the invention may be shown in somwhat schematic form.
Referring now to
The transformer 10 is a distribution transformer and has a kVA rating in a range of from about 112.5 kVA to about 15,000 kVA. The voltage of the high voltage coil is in a range of from about 600 V to about 35 kV and the voltage of the low voltage coil is in a range of from about 120 V to about 15 kV.
Although the transformer 10 is shown and described as being a three phase distribution transformer, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to three phase transformers or distribution transformers. The present invention may utilized in single phase transformers and transformers other than distribution transformers.
Initially, a first insulating layer 34 (shown in
A first conductor layer 38 is formed over the first insulating layer 34. The glass fiber tape holding the first insulating layer 34 together may be removed as the first conductor layer 38 is being formed, or the glass fiber tape may be left in place. The first conductor layer 38 comprises a first group of disc windings 42 and a second group of disc windings 43 that are not directly connected together. In the first group of disc windings 42, the disc windings 42 are all connected together in a serial arrangement, and in the second group of disc windings 43, the disc windings 43 are all connected together in a serial arrangement. The first group of disc windings 42 is formed with a conductor 44 and the second group of disc windings 43 is formed with a conductor 45. Both the first group of disc windings 42 and the second group of disc windings 45 begin at the center of the coil 30.
Each conductor 44, 45 is composed of a metal such as copper or aluminum. Each conductor 44, 45 may be in the form of a wire and may have a rectangular cross-section. Alternately, each conductor 44, 45 may be in the form of a foil, wherein the conductor 44, 45 is thin and rectangular, with a width as wide as the disc winding it forms. In the embodiments shown and described with regard to
In forming the disc windings 42, 43, the conductors 44, 45 can be continuously wound (as shown in
After the first conductor layer 38 has been formed, a second insulating layer 48 comprised of a sheet or web of the screen material 36 is formed over the first conductor layer 38. Next, a layer 50 of cooling ducts 52 is disposed over the second insulating layer 48, as will be described more fully below. A third insulating layer 54 comprised of a sheet or web of the screen material 36 is then formed over the layer of cooling ducts 52. In lieu of forming a layer of cooling ducts 52, additional insulating layers comprised of the screen material 36 or other insulating material may be disposed over the second insulating layer 48. Still another option is to form a second conductor layer 56 directly over the second insulating layer 48.
The second conductor layer 56 is formed from a conductor 60, which is electrically connected to the conductors 44, 45 of the first conductor layer 38, or is an integral part of the conductor 44, or is an integral part of the conductor 45, or is partially an integral part of the conductor 44 and partially an integral part of the conductor 45. The conductors 44, 45 may be passed through the second insulating layer 48, the layer of cooling ducts 52 and the third insulating layer 54 to reach the second conductor layer 56. The second conductor layer 56 comprises a plurality of disc windings 58 and is formed over the third insulating layer 54 (if the layer of cooling ducts 52 is formed), or over the additional insulating layers, or directly over the second insulating layer 48. The number of disc windings 58 in the second conductor layer 56 is the same as the total number of disc windings 42, 43 in the first conductor layer 38. The disc windings 58 in the second conductor layer 56 are all connected together in a serial arrangement. If the conductor 60 is an integral part of the conductor 44, the disc windings 58 are formed beginning at a first end 30a of the coil 30 and continuing to a second end 30b of the coil 30, where the conductor 60 is electrically connected to the conductor 45. If the conductor 60 is an integral part of the conductor 45, the disc windings 58 are formed beginning at a second end 30b of the coil 30 and continuing to the first end 30a of the coil 30, where the conductor 60 is electrically connected to the conductor 44. If the conductor 60 is partially an integral part of the conductor 44 and partially an integral part of the conductor 45, the disc windings 58 may be formed beginning at both the first and second ends 30a, 30b of the coil 30 and continuing to the axial center of the coil 30, where the two parts of the conductor 60 are electrically connected together. Once again, an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the conductor 60. The insulating layer may be comprised of a polyimide film, such as is sold under the trademark Nomex®; a polyamide film, such as is sold under the trademark Kapton®, or a polyester film, such as is sold under the trademark Mylar®. Also, the conductor 60 can be continuously wound (as shown in
After the second conductor layer 56 has been formed, a fourth insulating layer 62 comprised of a sheet or web of the screen material 36 is formed over the second conductor layer 56. The coil 30 is then ready to be impregnated with an insulating resin 64, which is described in more detail below.
When the disc windings 42, 43 are formed between the first and second insulating layers 34, 48, as described above, the disc windings 42, 43 are held between the buttons of the screen material 36 that forms the first and second insulating layers 34, 48 so as to form insulation gaps between the disc windings 42, 43 and the grids of the screen material 36 disposed on opposing sides of the disc windings 42, 43. Such insulation gaps are also formed on the opposing sides of the disc windings 58 and the cooling ducts 52 in the coil 30, as well as on opposing sides of disc windings and cooling ducts in other coils to be described below. Such insulation gaps are filled by the insulating resin 64 during the encapsulation of the coils with the insulating resin 64.
Referring now to
The first group of disc windings 72 begins at a first end 66a of the coil 66, while the second group of disc windings 74 begins at a second end 66b of the coil 66. In forming the disc windings 72, the first conductor 76 can be continuously wound (as shown) or may be provided with drop-downs, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the first conductor 76. Similarly, in forming the disc windings 74, the second conductor 78 can be continuously wound (as shown) or may be provided with drop-downs, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the second conductor 78. The insulating layers in the disc windings 72, 74 may be comprised of a polyimide film, such as is sold under the trademark Nomex®; a polyamide film, such as is sold under the trademark Kapton®, or a polyester film, such as is sold under the trademark Mylar®.
After the first conductor layer 68 has been formed, a second insulating layer 82 comprised of a sheet or web of the screen material 36 is formed over the first conductor layer 68. Next, a first layer 84 of the cooling ducts 52 is disposed over the second insulating layer 82, as will be described more fully below. A third insulating layer 86 comprised of a sheet or web of the screen material 36 is then formed over the first layer 84 of the cooling ducts 52. In lieu of forming the first layer 84 of the cooling ducts 52, additional insulating layers comprised of the screen material 36 or other insulating material may be disposed over the second insulating layer 82.
A second conductor layer 88 is formed over the third insulating layer 86 (if the first layer 84 of the cooling ducts 52 is formed), or over the additional insulating layers, or directly over the second insulating layer 82. Similar to the first conductor layer 68, the second conductor layer 88 comprises a first group of disc windings 90 and a second group of disc windings 92 that are not directly connected together. Instead of having three disc windings per group, however, the second conductor layer 88 has four disc windings per group, i.e., four disc windings 90 and four disc windings 92. In the first group of disc windings 90, the disc windings 90 are all connected together in a serial arrangement, and in the second group of disc windings 92, the disc windings 92 are all connected in a serial arrangement. The first group of disc windings 90 is formed from a first conductor 94, which is electrically connected to, or is an integral part of, the first conductor 76 of the first conductor layer 68. Similarly, the second group of disc windings 92 is formed from a second conductor 96, which is electrically connected to, or is an integral part of, the second conductor 78 of the first conductor layer 68. The first and second conductors 76, 78 may be passed through the second insulating layer 83, the first layer 84 of the cooling ducts 52 and the third insulating layer 86 to reach the second conductor layer 88. Both the first and second groups of disc windings 90, 92 begin in a middle portion of the coil 66 and proceed axially outward, respectively. In forming the disc windings 90, the first conductor 94 can be continuously wound (as shown) or may be provided with drop-downs, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the first conductor 94. Similarly, in forming the disc windings 92, the second conductor 96 can be continuously wound (as shown) or may be provided with drop-downs, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the second conductor 96. The insulating layers in the disc windings 90, 92 may be comprised of a polyimide film, such as is sold under the trademark Nomex®; a polyamide film, such as is sold under the trademark Kapton®, or a polyester film, such as is sold under the trademark Mylar®.
After the second conductor layer 88 has been formed, a fourth insulating layer 100 comprised of a sheet or web of the screen material 36 is formed over the second conductor layer 88. Next, a second layer 102 of cooling ducts 52 may be disposed over the fourth insulating layer 100, as will be described more fully below. A fifth insulating layer 104 comprised of a sheet or web of the screen material 36 is then formed over the second layer 102 of cooling ducts 52. In lieu of forming the second layer 102 of cooling ducts 52, additional insulating layers comprised of the screen material 36 or other insulating material may be disposed over the fourth insulating layer 100.
A third conductor layer 106 is formed over the fifth insulating layer 104 (if the second layer 102 of cooling ducts 52 is formed), or over the additional insulating layers, or directly over the fourth insulating layer 100. The third conductor layer 106 comprises a single group of disc windings 108, all of which are connected together in a serial arrangement. The number of disc windings 108 in the third conductor layer 106 is the same as the total number of the disc windings 90, 92 in the second conductor layer 88. The third conductor layer 106 is formed from a conductor 110, which is electrically connected to the first and second conductors 94, 96 of the second conductor layer 88, or is an integral part of the first conductor 94, or an integral part of the second conductor 96, or is partially an integral part of the first conductor 94 and partially an integral part of the second conductor 96. The first conductor 94 and the second conductor 96 may be passed through the fourth insulating layer, the second layer of cooling ducts 52 and the fifth insulating layer (if they are provided) to reach the third conductor layer 106. If the conductor 110 is an integral part of the first conductor 94, the disc windings 108 are formed beginning at the first end 66a of the coil 66 and continuing to the second end 66b of the coil 66, where the conductor 110 is electrically connected to the second conductor 96. If the conductor 110 is an integral part of the second conductor 94, the disc windings 108 are formed beginning at the second end 66b of the coil 66 and continuing to the first end 66a of the coil 66, where the conductor 110 is electrically connected to the first conductor 94. If the conductor 110 is partially an integral part of the first conductor 94 and partially an integral part of the second conductor 96, the disc windings 108 may be formed beginning at both the first and second ends 66a, 66b of the coil 66 and continuing to the axial center of the coil 66 where the two parts of the conductor 110 are electrically connected together. In forming the disc windings 108, the conductor 110 can be continuously wound (as shown) or may be provided with drop-downs, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the conductor 110. The insulating layer may be comprised of a polyimide film, such as is sold under the trademark Nomex®; a polyamide film, such as is sold under the trademark Kapton®), or a polyester film, such as is sold under the trademark Mylar®.
After the third conductor layer 106 has been formed, a sixth insulating layer 114 comprised of a sheet or web of the screen material 36 is formed over the third conductor layer 106. The coil 66 is then ready to be impregnated with the insulating resin 64, as will be described in more detail below.
Referring now to
In forming the disc windings 140, the first conductor 144 may be provided with drop-downs 144a (as shown), or may be continuously wound, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the first conductor 144. Similarly, in forming the disc windings 142 the second conductor 146 may be provided with drop-downs 146a (as shown) or, may be continuously wound, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the second conductor 146. The insulating layers in the disc windings 140, 142 may be comprised of a polyimide film, such as is sold under the trademark Nomex®; a polyamide film, such as is sold under the trademark Kapton®, or a polyester film, such as is sold under the trademark Mylar®.
After the first conductor layer 132 has been formed, the second insulating layer is formed over the first conductor layer 132. Next, a first layer 152 of cooling ducts 52 is disposed over the second insulating layer 122. The third insulating layer is then formed over the first layer 152 of the cooling ducts 52. In lieu of forming the first layer 152 of cooling ducts 52, additional insulating layers comprised of the screen material 36 or other insulating material may be disposed over the second insulating layer.
The second conductor layer 134 is formed over the third insulating layer (if the first layer 152 of cooling ducts 52 is formed), or over the additional insulating layers, or directly over the second insulating layer. Similar to the first conductor layer 132, the second conductor layer comprises a first group of disc windings 154 and a second group of disc windings 156 that are not directly connected together. Instead of having three disc windings per group, however, the second conductor layer 134 has four disc windings per group, i.e., four disc windings 154 and four disc windings 156. In the first group of disc windings 154, the disc windings 154 are all connected together in a serial arrangement, and in the second group of disc windings 156, the disc windings 156 are all connected in a serial arrangement. The first group of disc windings 154 is formed from a first conductor 160, which is electrically connected to, or is an integral part of, the first conductor 144 of the first conductor layer 132. Similarly, the second group of disc windings 156 is formed from a second conductor 162, which is electrically connected to, or is an integral part of, the second conductor 146 of the first conductor layer 132. The first and second conductors 160, 162 may be passed through the second insulating layer, the first layer 152 of the cooling ducts 52 and the third insulating layer to reach the second conductor layer 134. In forming the disc windings 154, the first conductor 160 may be provided with drop-downs 160a (as shown), or can be continuously wound, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the first conductor 160. Similarly, in forming the disc windings 156, the second conductor 162 may be provided with drop-downs 162a (as shown), or can be continuously wound, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the second conductor 162. The insulating layers in the disc windings 154, 156 may be comprised of a polyimide film, such as is sold under the trademark Nomex®; a polyamide film, such as is sold under the trademark Kapton®, or a polyester film, such as is sold under the trademark Mylar®.
After the second conductor layer 134 has been formed, the fourth insulating layer is formed over the second conductor layer 134. Next, a second layer 168 of cooling ducts 52 may be disposed over the fourth insulating layer. The fifth insulating layer is then formed over the second layer 168 of cooling ducts 52. In lieu of forming the second layer 168 of cooling ducts 52, additional insulating layers comprised of the screen material 36 or other insulating material may be disposed over the fourth insulating layer.
The third conductor layer 136 is formed over the fifth insulating layer (if the second layer 168 of cooling ducts 52 is formed), or over the additional insulating layers, or directly over the fourth insulating layer. The third conductor layer 136 comprises a single group of disc windings 170, all of which are connected together in a serial arrangement. The number of disc windings 170 in the third conductor layer 136 is the same as the total number of the disc windings 154, 156 in the second conductor layer 134. The third conductor layer 136 is formed from a conductor 172, which is electrically connected to the first and second conductors 160, 162 of the second conductor layer 134, or is an integral part of the first conductor 160, or is an integral part of the second conductor 162, or is partially an integral part of the first conductor 160 and partially an integral part of the second conductor 162. The first conductor 160 and the second conductor 162 may be passed through the fourth insulating layer, the second layer 168 of cooling ducts 52 and the fifth insulating layer (if they are provided) to reach the third conductor layer 136. In forming the disc windings 170, the conductor 172 may be provided with drop-downs 172a (as shown), or can be continuously wound, and an insulating layer is disposed between each layer or turn of the conductor 172. The insulating layer may be comprised of a polyimide film, such as is sold under the trademark Nomex®; a polyamide film, such as is sold under the trademark Kapton®, or a polyester film, such as is sold under the trademark Mylar®.
After the third conductor layer 136 has been formed, the sixth insulating layer is formed over the third conductor layer 136.
The sections 118 are serially disposed along a longitudinal axis of the coil 116 and are electrically connected together by a conductor 178 having a first end secured to the second conductor 146 of a lower one of the sections 118 and a second end secured to the first conductor 144 of an upper one of the sections 118. The sections 118 are connected together during the formation of the first conductor layers 132 of the sections 118. Once the sections 118 are completed, the sections 118 and the rest of the coil 116 are impregnated with the insulating resin 64.
Other coils may be provided with different numbers of sections 118. For example,
Referring now to
In both the coil 180 and the coil 186, the sections 118 are connected together during the formation of the first conductor layers 132 of the sections 118.
In
In the coils 30, 66, 116, 180, 186 described above, the greatest number of conductor layers disclosed is three and the greatest number of layers of cooling ducts 52 disclosed is two. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention is not limited to three conductor layers and two layers of cooling ducts 52. A greater number of conductor layers, such as four, five, or six may be provided, and a greater number of layers of cooling ducts 52, such as three, four, or five may be provided.
Referring now to
Each cooling duct 52 is comprised of a fiber reinforced plastic in which fibers, such as fiberglass fibers, are impregnated with a thermoset resin, such as a polyester resin, a vinyl ester resin, or an epoxy resin. It has been found particularly useful to produce the cooling ducts 52 using a pultrusion process, wherein the fibers are drawn through one or more baths of the thermoset resin and are then pulled through a heated die where the thermoset resin is cured. The fibers may be aligned as either unidirectional roving or a multi-directional mat. An example of a thermoset resin that may be used to form the cooling ducts 52 is E1586 Polyglas M, which is a polyester resin available from Resolite of Zelienople, Pa. It has been found useful to form each cooling duct 52 with an outer fiberglass reinforcing mat and an inner fiberglass reinforcing mat. The cooling ducts 52 are constructed to have certain material properties, which permit the cooling ducts 52 to be used in the coils 30, 66, 116, 180, 186. When tested in accordance with ASTM D-638, “Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics,” the cooling ducts 52 have an ultimate tensile strength of about 30,000 psi longitudinally, 6,500 psi transverse; an ultimate compressive strength of about 30,000 psi longitudinally, 10,000 psi transverse per ASTM D-695, “Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Plastics”, and, an ultimate flexural strength, when tested in accordance with ASTM D-790, “Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials” of about 30,000 psi longitudinally, 10,000 psi transversely. The modulus of elasticity is approximately 2.5E6 psi longitudinally per ASTM D-149, Standard Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials at Commercial Power Frequencies.” Electrically, the cooling ducts 52 have an electrical strength short time (in oil), per ASTM D-149, of about 200 V/mil (perpendicular) and 35 kV/inch (parallel). It has been found particularly useful for the cooling ducts 52 to have a thermal conductivity of at least about 4 Btu/(hr*ft2*° F./in).
The length of a cooling duct 52 is dependent upon the application of the cooling duct 52. For example, the cooling ducts 52 used in the sections 118 of the coils 116, 180, 186 may be shorter than the cooling ducts 52 used in the coils 30, 66. The lengths of the cooling ducts 52 are selected such that in each layer of cooling ducts 52 in a coil, the length of each single cooling duct 52 (such as in coils 30, 66), or the overall length of each axial series of cooling ducts 52 (such as in coils 116, 180, 186) is less than the overall axial length of the coil so that the opposing ends of the single cooling duct 52 or the axial series of cooling ducts 52 are enclosed within the insulating resin 64.
Each cooling duct 52 is provided with top and bottom plugs 208, 210, which are inserted into the open ends of the cooling ducts 52 to keep the insulating resin 64 from flowing into the cooling ducts 24 during the encapsulation of the coils 30, 66, 116, 180, 186 with the insulating resin 64. Each top plug 208 is dimensioned to frictionally fit within the top opening of a corresponding cooling duct 52. As used herein, the “top opening” of a cooling duct 52 in a coil is the open end of the cooling duct 52 that is at the top end of the coil from which coil leads (not shown) extend and which faces upward when the coil is being encapsulated in the insulating resin 64. The top plug 208 has a grip or handle 212 joined to a body 214. The body 214 is tapered inwardly (i.e., downwardly) and has ribs 216 around its periphery to ensure a positive seal with the inner surface of the cooling duct 52. The handle 212 and the inward taper of the body 214 facilitate the removal of the top plug 208 from the cooling duct 52 after the resin encapsulation and curing process. Since the top and bottom plugs 208, 210 will seal the ends of the cooling duct 52 during the resin encapsulation and curing process, an open passage or relief vent 218 is formed through the top plug 208 to prevent collapse of the cooling duct 52. The bottom plug 210 performs the same function as the top plug 208, except that a vacuum relief is not required and a handle is not needed. Bottom plug 210 has a body 220 with ribs 222 for frictional engagement with the inner walls of the cooling duct 52. An outer end of the body 220 of the bottom plug 210 is substantially flat so as to not interfere with the placement of a bottom end of the coil on a mat for the encapsulation of the coil in the insulating resin 64.
The formation of each layer of cooling ducts 52 in the coils 30, 66, 116, 180, 186 is similar and, thus, will be described only with regard to the layer 50 of cooling ducts 52 in the coil 30 for purposes of brevity. With reference now to
Once a coil 30, 66, 116, 180, or 186 is constructed with the requisite number of insulating layers, conductor layers and layers of cooling ducts 52, the coil 30, 66, 116, 180, or 186 is removed from the winding mandrel 32 and is encapsulated with the insulating resin 64. Since the encapsulation method is similar for each of the coils 30, 66, 116, 180, or 186, the encapsulation method will only be described with regard to the coil 66 for purposes of brevity.
Referring now to
The vacuum chamber is evacuated to remove any remaining moisture and gases in the coil 66 and to eliminate any voids between adjacent turns in the disc windings 72, 74, 90, 92, 108. The insulating resin 64, which is flowable, is poured between the inner and outer molds 232, 234 to encapsulate the coil 66, and to encase the first and second layers 84, 102 of cooling ducts 52. The insulating resin 64 settles into the lower spaces between the inner and outer molds 232, 234 and surrounds the bottom plugs 210 to a depth substantially even with the flat portions of the bottom plugs 210. The insulating resin 64 is poured between the inner and outer molds 232, 234 until the insulating resin 64 extends about 3/16 of an inch above the top edges of the cooling duct 52 upper ends. The insulating resin 64 flows over and into the screen material 36 of the first through sixth insulating layers 70, 82, 86, 100, 104, 114 such that the insulating resin 64 fills the openings in the screen material 36 and the insulation gaps between the disc windings 72, 74, 90, 92, 108 and the cooling ducts 52 and the grid of the screen material 36. After a short time interval, which allows the insulating resin 64 to impregnate the screen material 36 of the first through sixth insulating layers 70, 82, 86, 100, 104, 114, the vacuum is released and pressure is applied to the free surface of the insulating resin 64. This will force the insulating resin 64 to impregnate any remaining voids in the first through sixth insulating layers 70, 82, 86, 100, 104, 114. The coil 66 is then removed from the vacuum chamber and placed in an oven to cure the insulating resin 64 to a solid.
The curing process in the oven is conventional and well known in the art. For example, the cure cycle may comprise a (1) gel portion for about 5 hours at about 85 degrees C., (2) a ramp up portion for about 2 hours where the temperature increases from about 85 degrees C. to about 140 degrees C., (3) a cure portion for about 6 hours at about 140 degrees C., and (4) a ramp down portion for about 4 hours to about 80 degrees C. Following curing, the inner and outer molds 232, 234 are removed. The top plugs 208 may be easily removed with pliers or other gripping devices without damaging the surrounding insulating resin 64. The bottom plugs 210 may be removed by inserting a bar or rod (not shown) through the top end of each cooling duct 52 and punching out the bottom plugs 210.
The insulating resin 64 may be an epoxy resin or a polyester resin. An epoxy resin has been found particularly suitable for use as the insulating resin 64. The epoxy resin may be filled or unfilled. An example of an epoxy resin that may be used for the insulating resin 64 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,415, which is assigned to ABB Research Ltd. and is hereby incorporated by reference. Another example of an epoxy resin that may be used for the insulating resin 64 is Rutapox VE4883, which is commercially available from Bakelite AG of Iserlohn of Germany.
It is to be understood that the description of the foregoing exemplary embodiment(s) is (are) intended to be only illustrative, rather than exhaustive, of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill will be able to make certain additions, deletions, and/or modifications to the embodiment(s) of the disclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope, as defined by the appended claims.