An experimental analysis of DC excitation of transformers by geomagnetically induced currents

DC excitation of transformers due to geomagnetically induced currents was studied by model experiments. First, differences in the DC excitation phenomenon due to the iron core structure were studied using three typical small-scale models. The results verified that single-phase three-legged cores were most susceptible and three-phase three-legged cores least susceptible to such excitation effects. Secondly, the local heating due to DC excitation was quantitatively assessed using large-scale core form and shell form models with the most susceptible single-phase three-legged cores. The results demonstrated that the maximum temperature rise was approximately 110°C due to the GIC (200 A/3 phases)