METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF FIELD UPGRADEABLE TRANSFORMERS
Methods and systems of field upgradeable transformers are provided. Voltage transformation, intelligence, communications, and control are integrated in a flexible and cost effective manner. A field upgradeable transformer may comprise a transformer module and a cold plate. The transformer module provides voltage transformation. The transformer module is enclosed in a housing containing coolant with dielectric properties, such as mineral oil. The cold plate may be mounted to the housing and thermally coupled to the coolant. Interfaces to the primary side and/or secondary side of transformer module may be configured to be disposed on the surface of the housing. A field upgradable transformer may comprise various electronic modules that are configured to be mounted to the cold plate. An electronic module may be thermally coupled to the coolant, and may be configured to be coupled to the transformer module. An electronic module may monitor the voltage level of the primary side and/or the secondary side of the field upgradeable transformer, the current level through the field upgradeable transformer, the power factor, and/or the coolant temperature; create an outage alert; communicate with a control center; provide electromechanical tap changing; regulate line voltages, power factor, and/or harmonics; and/or mitigate voltage sags.
1 . A system for voltage transformation, comprising:
a transformer module, the transformer module comprising a transformer core, a first set of windings, and a second set of windings;
a housing enclosing the transformer module; and
a cold plate, the cold plate configured to be thermally coupled to the interior of the housing.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cold plate is mounted to a surface of the housing.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a set of conduits, wherein one end of each conduit coupled to cold plate and the other end coupled to the housing.
4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a set of interfaces, the set of interfaces disposed on the surface of the housing.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a subset of the set of interfaces are coupled to the first set of windings.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first set of windings have a set of taps and an interface of the subset of interfaces is coupled to a tap of the set of taps.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the tap of the set of taps is coupled to ground.
8 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a voltage sensor coupled to the transformer module, wherein an interface of the set of interfaces is coupled to the voltage sensor.
9 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a current sensor coupled to the transformer module, wherein an interface of the set of interfaces is coupled to the current sensor.
10 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein an interface of the set of interfaces is coupled to the temperature sensor and the temperature sensor measures an ambient temperature of the transformer module.
11 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein an interface of the set of interfaces is coupled to the temperature sensor, the housing contains coolant, and the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the coolant.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic module comprising a second housing, the electronic module configured to be mounted to the cold plate.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the electronic module comprises a voltage sensor configured to be coupled to the transformer module, a current sensor configured to be coupled to the transformer module, and a temperature sensor configured to be coupled to the transformer module.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the electronic module further comprises a processing module and a communication module, the electronic module and the communication module are coupled to the voltage sensor, the current sensor, and the temperature sensor.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the electronic module comprises a converter configured to be coupled to the transformer module, the converter comprises a set of switches, and the processing module is configured to regulate the set of switches.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first set of windings have a set of taps and the converter is across the set of taps.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein a tap of the set of taps is coupled to ground.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the electronic module comprises a fail-normal switch coupled across the converter and to the ground.
19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing module is configured to determine an apparent power and a real power of the transformer module.
20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing module is configured to determine a loading level of the transformer module.