Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of Solar Panel on the Transformer Performance: A Case Study

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Electrical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Transformer is the most important part of any transmission system, so it is necessary to have the transformer in proper working order for uninterrupted power supply in the various locations in around the substations. Renewable energy replaces the conventional energy sources at the fast rate in various parts of the world. Due to high penetration of renewable energy, the installed transformers have observational impact on their insulation, leading to degradation of transformer life. This paper presents a case study of Gujarat solar power plant to find the impact of photovoltaic (PV) penetration on transformer performance in the time span of 1 year. A PV plant has various impacts on performance parameters of transformers. The working of on-load tap changer is also affected by the presence of PV. The main cause behind the altered performance of transformer in the presence of solar panel is its associated inverters that are used to supply linear loads. A higher temperature rise will occur in the windings and cores of the transformer due to voltage and current harmonics, resulting in extra losses. This paper presents the cumulative effect of solar plant on the transformer working during a period of 1 year and finds both negative and positive impact on transformer parameters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdelsamad Sherif F, Morsi Walid G, Sidhu Tarlochan S (2015) Probabilistic impact of transportation electrification on the loss-of-life of distribution transformers in the presence of rooftop solar photovoltaic. IEEE Trans Sustai Energy 6(4):1565–1573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Awadallah MA, Venkatesh B, Singh BN (2015) Impact of solar panels on power quality of distribution networks and transformers. Can J Electr Comput Eng 38(1):45–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Awadallah Mohamed A, Tianqi Xu, Venkatesh Bala, Singh Birendra N (2016) On the effects of solar panels on distribution transformers. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 31(3):1176–1185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayompe LM, Duffy A, McCormack SJ, Conlon M (2011) Measured performance of a 1.72 kW rooftop grid connected photovoltaic system in Ireland. Energy Convers Manag 52(2):816–825

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behi B, Arefi A, Pezeshki H, Shahnia F (2017) Distribution transformer lifetime analysis in the presence of demand response and rooftop PV integration. In: World Renewable Energy Congress XVI. World Renewable Energy Congress

  • Carrasco JM, Garcia Franquelo L, Bialasiewicz JT, Galván E, PortilloGuisado RC, Martin Prats MA, León JI, Moreno-Alfonso N (2006) Power-electronic systems for the grid integration of renewable energy sources: a survey. IEEE Trans Ind Electr 53(4):1002–1016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dang XL, Petit M, Codani P (2015) Transformer operating conditions under introduction of PV and EVs in an Eco-district. In: 2015 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, pp 1–5. IEEE

  • Driesen J, Belmans R (2006) Distributed generation: challenges and possible solutions. In: Power Engineering Society General Meeting, 2006. IEEE, p 8

  • El Batawy SA, Morsi WG (2017) On the impact of high penetration of rooftop solar photovoltaics on the aging of distribution transformers. Can J Electr Comput Eng 40(2):93–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Freitas Sara, Santos Teresa, Brito Miguel C (2018) Impact of large scale PV deployment in the sizing of urban distribution transformers. Renew Energy 119:767–776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goel M (2016) Solar rooftop in India: policies, challenges and outlook. Green Energy Environ 1(2):129–137

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Kersting WH (2017) Distribution system modeling and analysis, 4th edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Krpal O, Mráz P, Širůček M (2012) Influence of renewable energy on power transformer insulating system. In: Annals of DAAAM for 2012 and Proceedings of the 23rd International DAAAM Symposium. Vídeň: DAAAM International, pp 569–574

  • Kumar K, Kumbhar GB (2017) The effect of solar power injection on aging of a distribution transformer. In: 2017 6th International Conference on Computer Applications In Electrical Engineering-Recent Advances (CERA), pp 242–246. IEEE

  • Lau CY, Gan CK, Salam Z, Sulaima MF (2016) Impact of solar photovoltaic system on transformer tap changer in low voltage distribution networks. Energy Procedia 103:58–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin D, Saha T, Krause O, Cui Y, McPhail D, MacArthur T, Condon D (2015) Effect of Rooftop-PV on power transformer insulation and on-load tap changer operation. In: Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2015 IEEE PES Asia-Pacific, pp 1–6. IEEE

  • Masoum AS, Moses PS, Mohammad MAS, Abu-Siada A (2012) Impact of rooftop PV generation on distribution transformer and voltage profile of residential and commercial networks. In: 2012 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT), pp 1–7. IEEE

  • Murali G, Manivannan A (2013) Analysis of power quality problems in solar power distribution system. Int J Eng Res Appl 3(2):799–805

    Google Scholar 

  • National solar radiation data base, India. Retrieved from https://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/1961-1990/ Accessed 8 Sept 2019

  • ONGC Company (2017) Annual report. Retrieved from https://www.ongcindia.com/wps/wcm/connect/en/investors/annual-reports/annual-report-2017-18

  • Petinrin JO, Shaaban M (2019) Multiperiod coordination of local voltage controllers and energy storage for voltage regulation in distribution feeder-connected renewable energy sources. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Electr Eng 43(3):531–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pezeshki Houman, Wolfs Peter J, Ledwich Gerard (2014) Impact of high PV penetration on distribution transformer insulation life. IEEE Trans Power Deliv 29(3):1212–1220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santo JPAE, Godina R, Rodrigues EMG, Pouresmaeil E, Catalão JPS (2017) Ev charging effect on a distribution transformer supplying a factory with local PV generation. In: PowerTech, 2017 IEEE Manchester, pp 1–5. IEEE

  • Testa A, De Caro A, Scimone T (2013) Sizing of step-up transformers for PV plants through a Probabilistic Approach. http://www.wseas.org

  • Tomasović A, Lasić M, Filipović-Grčić B (2009) Measurement and calculation of harmonics in distribution power system with connected small co-generation facility Etan. In: International Conference on Renewable Energies and Power Quality (ICREPQ’09), Valencia (Spain) 15th to 17th April, 2009

  • Tonkoski R, Turcotte D, El-Fouly THM (2012) Impact of high PV penetration on voltage profiles in residential neighborhoods. IEEE Trans Sustain Energy 3(3):518–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uçar B, Bağrıyanık M, Kömürgöz G (2017) Influence of PV penetration on distribution transformer aging. J Clean Energy Technol 5(2):131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varma RK, Rahman SA, Vanderheide T, Dang MD (2016) Harmonic impact of a 20-MW PV solar farm on a utility distribution network. IEEE Power Energy Technol Syst J 3(3):89–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson PR, Ross JN, Brown AD (2003) Predicting total harmonic distortion (THD) in ADSL transformers using behavioural modeling. In: Proceedings of the 2003 International Workshop on Behavioral Modeling and Simulation, 2003. BMAS 2003, pp 51–57. IEEE

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the ONGC campus authority for providing valuable data for the case study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MITS, Gwalior, India

    A. Kumari

  2. IITISM Dhanbad, Dhanbad, India

    J. Patra & N. Pal

  3. BIT Sindri, Dhanbad, India

    N. Kumar

Authors
  1. A. Kumari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Patra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Pal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Kumari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumari, A., Patra, J., Pal, N. et al. Impact of Solar Panel on the Transformer Performance: A Case Study. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Electr Eng 44, 1197–1206 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40998-019-00300-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40998-019-00300-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation