Evaluation of the Technical Condition of the Active Part of the High Power Transformer Based on Measurements and Analysis of Vibroacoustic Signals

This article presents the results of research connected with the development and industrial use of vibroacoustic methods for the evaluation of the technical condition of the active part of transformers. The article presents the results of the analysis of vibrations generated by the high power transformer in which a defect was found on the basis of tests of oil carried out using the chromatography tests. In order to confirm the damage of the active part of this transformer, vibroacoustic measurements were performed in three states of its operation. The measurement using the classical vibroacoustic method included the registration of vibrations at the idle speed and during the load operation of the transformer. The original diagnostic method, so-called the modified vibroacoustic method, was also used during the measurement. The analysis of signals recorded using the classical vibroacoustic method was carried out in the frequency domain by indicating the amplitude of even harmonic vibrations. However, the analysis of signals measured during the commissioning of the transformer was conducted in the time-frequency domain using the short-time Fourier transform (STFT), continuous wavelet transform (CWT), and discrete wavelet transform (DWT). On the basis of the analysis of the results obtained it was stated that the increased level of vibrations of this transformer is a consequence of the loss of rigidity of the mechanical structure of its core.