E-Core Transformer Numerical Modeling: Distribution of Electromagnetic Losses Depending on Mesh Parameters

This paper presents approaches to modeling physical processes occurring in a transformer. The existing modeling methods are reviewed, including methods based on circuit theory, numerical and hybrid methods. The design specifics of the power oil-filled transformer are described, taking into account which an algorithm for modeling its electromagnetic processes is presented. Numerical modeling of electromagnetic processes of a single-phase E-core transformer, performed in COMSOL Multiphysics using the finite element method (FEM), is presented as an experiment. The main objective of the experiment is to analyze the influence of the mesh parameters on the distribution of electromagnetic loss density in the domains of the active part of the transformer. The results obtained during the experiment showed that when the minimum mesh step size is reduced by 70 %, the maximum loss values increase by a factor of 1.7, and the local domains of maximum losses become more clearly distinguishable. The study emphasizes the importance of optimizing the mesh parameters to obtain the required accuracy when modeling electromagnetic processes in a transformer. The presented algorithm can be used for modeling electromagnetic processes of power oil-filled transformers, for calculating electromagnetic losses of a real object and predicting its operation under given conditions.