Varying the energisation condition to mitigate sympathetic inrush current

Abstract

Transformers are generally easy to access and can contribute significantly to entire power system. When a transformer is turned on for the first time, it produces a magnetising inrush current which acts as a starting current. Energisation of transformer has a substantial impact on inrush current and transformer that are connected in parallel. Sympathetic inrush current is a phenomenon that appears when a transformer is switched-on in network whereas the other transformers that was earlier energised. Besides, when sympathetic inrush phenomena occur, the peak and period fluctuate significantly. In this paper, the transformers will be energised in three different ways and each condition will be explored in depth. The operation time of the transformer’s energisation whether it is energised simultaneously or at different times are tested and analysed in terms of their characteristics. It is performed using power system computer aided design (PSCAD) software, starting with a develop model of the energisation and then generate the outcomes. The results of the simulation demonstrate that energising the transformer in different ways can give different effect on the sympathetic inrush current, as well as the variables that affect it and methods for reducing it.