By Corne Dames

"As the only actively moving mechanism in a transformer, load tap changers are an extremely important element in the reliability of transformers which must operate continuously to ensure a constant voltage output."

Load tap changers (LTCs) are an extremely important element in the reliability of any transformer in the utility network and in many industrial applications. This part of the transformer is the only actively moving mechanism, which must operate continuously to ensure a constant voltage output.

LTCs have been reported to be accountable for approximately 22% of failures in transformers. Their dominant failure modes are found to be contact wear, weak springs and breakage of components in the driving mechanism.

This article will look at the different types of condition monitoring methods of LTCs and their practical application in the field as well as the accuracy in fault identification and ease of use for the types of monitoring.

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This article was originally published in the December 2019 issue of the Critical Failure: Modes & Prevention magazine.

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