By 2030, the EU aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to the 1990s level. One way to help to reduce emissions is by limiting energy losses associated with the transmission and distribution of electricity. By improving the efficiency of power transformers, reactors and cabling used in electricity grids, significant energy savings can be made – for instance, it is estimated that half of Denmark’s total electricity consumption could be saved simply through more efficient grid power transformer designs.

To help implement these improvements, the European Ecodesign Directive requires power transformer and reactor manufacturers to prove that their products comply with efficiency regulations, aimed at reducing grid losses. However, obtaining precise and reliable loss measurements is still, today, a challenging task.

Firstly, there is a need for metrologists to develop innovative methods for measuring very small power differences across any artifact being tested. This is critical to ensure the effective monitoring of losses and efficiency. Moreover, there are challenges involved with obtaining high accuracy measurements of power, so that measurement uncertainties do not outweigh the relatively small losses associated with the artifacts in question.

The difficulty of obtaining these measurements can be compounded by the high voltage or high current ratings of grid components. Furthermore, measurements may need to be carried out on-site due to issues with transporting the sizable grid components. Site measurements raise other issues, including maintaining non-invasive connections, i.e. with minimal disruption to a grid installation.

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Projects

Loss Measurements on Power Transformers and Reactors

Short Name: TrafoLoss, Project Number: 17NRM01

Metrology for inductive charging of electric vehicles

Short Name: MICEV, Project Number: 16ENG08

Metrology for smart energy management in electric railway systems

Short Name: MyRailS, Project Number: 16ENG04

Loss Measurements on Power Transformers and Reactors

Short Name: TrafoLoss, Project Number: 17NRM01

 

Journal Papers

Reliable Power Transformer Efficiency Tests

Hoogenboom, D., Houtzager, E., Rietveld, G. and Ye, G.

Document type: Proceeding

Project title: 17NRM01: TrafoLoss: Loss Measurements on Power Transformers and Reactors

Name of Call / Funding Programme: EMPIR 2017: Pre-Co-Normative

Estimating Uncertainty in Loss Measurement of Power Transformers

Sauzay, M., Rietveld, G., Jönsson, B., Bergman, A., Bergman, A., Walmsley, J. and Sund, J-B.

Document type: Proceeding

Project title: 17NRM01: TrafoLoss: Loss Measurements on Power Transformers and Reactors

Name of Call / Funding Programme: EMPIR 2017: Pre-Co-Normative

Measuring Losses of an Air-Core Shunt Reactor with an Advanced Loss Measuring System

Havunen, J., Suomalainen, E-P., Tornberg, J., Hällström, J., Lehtonen, T. and Merviö, A.

Document type: Proceeding

Project title: 17NRM01: TrafoLoss: Loss Measurements on Power Transformers and Reactors

Name of Call / Funding Programme: EMPIR 2017: Pre-Co-Normative

Comparison of Reference Setups for Calibrating Power Transformer Loss Measurement Systems

Rietveld, G., Mohns, E., Houtzager, E., Badura, H. and Hoogenboom, D.

Document type: Article

Project title: 17NRM01: TrafoLoss: Loss Measurements on Power Transformers and Reactors

Name of Call / Funding Programme: EMPIR 2017: Pre-Co-Normative

Meeting ecodesign efficiency requirements: ensuring accuracy in power transformer loss tests via TLM system calibrations

Rietveld, G., Houtzager, E., Acanski, M. and Hoogenboom, D.

Document type: Proceeding

Project title: 14IND08: ElPow: Metrology for the electrical power industry

Name of Call / Funding Programme: EMPIR 2014: Industry