Grid voltage harmonics effect on Distribution Transformer operation

Distribution transformer operation is sensitive to the distortion of the supply voltage waveform. According to Strategies for development and diffusion of Energy Efficient Distribution Transformers (SEEDT), reactive power and harmonic losses add a further 5 TWh/year to the losses of European Union (EU-27) distribution transformers. In the present paper a systematic experimental procedure is developed in order to evaluate the effect of voltage harmonics on distribution transformer operation. Also, a theoretical analysis based on the hysteresis design tool of Matlab and a finite element code integrating the hysteresis phenomena is carried out.