Patent Description:
Electromagnetic induction devices such as power transformers may be provided with On-Load Tap Changers (OLTC) for enabling stepped voltage regulation of the electromagnetic device as a means for voltage compensation when the electromagnetic induction device is On-Load, i.e. connected to a transmission or distribution network. The OLTC:s changes the turn ratio between the windings in a transformer and are used for controlling the output voltage of a transformer by providing the possibility to switch in or switch out additional turns in a transformer winding. This is essential for the stabilization of network voltage under variable load conditions.

An OLTC comprises a set of fixed contacts which are connectable to a number of taps of a regulating winding of a transformer, where the taps are located at different positions in the regulating winding. By switching in or out the different taps, the effective number of turns of the transformer can be increased or decreased, thus regulating the output voltage of the transformer.

Tap changers are either on-load, i.e. operating while the transformer is energized, or offload. A tap changer generally comprises a number of switches for tap changing and a number of resistors or other impedances to prevent short-circuiting. The tap changer is typically filled with an insulating liquid, such as oil, which besides insulation offers cooling of the device.

In IEC/IEEE <NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM> an integrated tap-changer is described in <NUM>. The diverter switch of the OLTC is for example provided with vacuum interrupters. The integrated tap-changer is mainly used for smaller MVA ratings and voltage classes.

According to its abstract <CIT> relates to a switching arrangement, in particular a polarity switching means, for a control transformer which comprises a first winding for a phase of an AC power supply system, which phase is to be controlled, comprises-a first connection terminal which can be connected to the winding;-a second connection terminal which can be connected to a discharge line;-a vacuum interrupter;-an isolator;-a resistor which is connected in series with the vacuum interrupter and the isolator; wherein-the first connection terminal is connected to the second connection terminal by means of the series circuit.

An OLTC may be connected to a winding of a transformer in a transformer tank. The OLTC requires quite much space and is also expensive. This has an influence on the size and cost of the transformer.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate at least the problems discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to reduce the size of an OLTC.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the size and footprint of electromagnetic induction devices such as power transformers.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the cost of an OLTC.

The present invention relates to an On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC) for connection to a regulating winding of a transformer, the regulating winding enclosed in a transformer tank, wherein the transformer tank comprises insulating liquid, the OLTC comprising:
a diverter switch comprising:
a main contact, and a resistor contact, wherein the main contact and the resistor contact are configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid and that they are configured to be isolated from the insulating liquid. A compact OLTC will be possible to obtain and this may also reduce the size of a transformer tank when the OLTC is arranged in a transformer tank. Further, the cost may be reduced with the OLTC of the present invention. The main contact is enclosed in a main contact enclosure and the resistor contact is enclosed in a resistor contact enclosure.

The main contact enclosure and the resistor contact enclosure will limit any soot or gas formed during operation.

The main contact enclosure and the resistor contact enclosure may be configured to be in direct contact with the insulating liquid.

The main contact enclosure may be under vacuum, may comprise insulating liquid or may comprise inert gas in the main contact enclosure. The vacuum reduces the risk for arcing. The insulating liquid is electrically insulating and also has a cooling effect. The insulating inert gas has the advantages that it may reduce the risk for arcing.

Further, the resistor contact enclosure may be under vacuum, may comprise insulating liquid or may comprise inert gas in the resistor contact enclosure. This is advantageous in the same manner as above for main contact enclosures.

The OLTC may further comprise a pre-selector contact configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid and configured to be physically separated from the insulating liquid.

The pre-selector contact may be enclosed in a pre-selector contact enclosure. Further, the pre-selector contact enclosure may be under vacuum, may comprise insulating liquid or may comprise insulating gas in the pre-selector contact enclosure.

The resistor contact enclosure may be configured to be in direct contact with the insulating liquid.

When referring to the contact enclosure it relates to the main contact enclosure, resistor contact enclosure and pre-selector enclosure. The insulating liquid of the contact enclosure may be mineral oil or ester. Mineral oil and ester have good properties for insulating and have good properties to withstand arcing from contacts.

The inert gas of the contact enclosure may be SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride). SF6 is a good electrical insulator and suppresses arc.

Alternatively the inert gas of the contact enclosure may be a gas mixture comprising fluoroketone (C5-PFK), carbon dioxide (CO<NUM>) and oxygen (O<NUM>).

Alternatively the inert gas of the contact enclosure may be a gas mixture comprising fluoroketone (C5-PFK), Nitrogen (N<NUM>) and oxygen (O<NUM>).

The diverter switch may further comprise one or more vacuum interrupters.

The OLTC may be used in power transformers from <NUM> megavoltampere (MVA) and above.

The OLTC may be an OLTC with high step voltage <NUM> kV-<NUM> kV.

The present invention further relates to a transformer comprising an OLTC as disclosed herein. A more compact and a cheaper transformer arrangement can be achieved with the present invention.

The transformer may be a High Voltage transformer, also known as power transformers. By high voltage is meant a voltage above <NUM> kilovolt (kV).

Further, the transformer may comprise a regulating winding arranged in a transformer tank with insulating liquid, wherein the main contact and the resistor contact are arranged directly in the insulating liquid in the main tank. Further, a pre-selector contact may be arranged directly in the insulating liquid in the transformer tank.

The main contact and the resistor contact may be arranged on an insulating carrier arrangement which is fixed in the transformer tank. Further, a pre-selector contact may be arranged on an insulating carrier arrangement which is fixed in the transformer tank.

An OLTC is used in transformers for varying turn ratios to be selected in steps. The OLTC is connected to a number of locations, so called taps, at the primary or the secondary winding.

OLTC may adjust the turn ratio during operation. Further, OLTC is a tap changer which is used in applications where a supply interruption during a tap change is unacceptable.

An OLTC includes a tap selector which allows for stepped voltage regulation of the output. The tap selector is also called fine selector.

When referring to electrical switch elements in this application, it refers to main contact, resistor contact or pre-selector contact.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example of a common OLTC <NUM> of prior art which is connected to a regulating winding <NUM> having a set of different taps <NUM>. The OLTC of <FIG> comprises a switching device <NUM> and a fine selector <NUM>. The fine selector <NUM> comprises contacts <NUM> to <NUM> which are connected to the taps <NUM> where each contact is arranged to be connected to one of the taps <NUM> of the regulating winding <NUM>. The fine selector <NUM> is framed with dashed lines to schematically show the fine selector. The switching device <NUM> comprises electrical switch elements. The switching device <NUM> is in <FIG> is framed with a dashed square to schematically show the switching device <NUM>.

The regulating winding <NUM> has a set of taps <NUM>, which are shown to be connected to the contacts <NUM>-<NUM> of the tap changer <NUM>. One end of the regulating winding <NUM> is provided with an external contact <NUM> and the other end is connected to the OLTC <NUM> via connectors <NUM> and <NUM>. Depending on which tap <NUM> is currently connected to a contact <NUM>-<NUM> the electrical path between the external contact <NUM> and an external contact <NUM> of the OLTC via connection <NUM>, or between <NUM> and <NUM> via connection <NUM> will include a different number of the regulating winding turns. The regulating winding <NUM> is often not seen as part of the tap changer <NUM>.

When it is required to change from one tap to another, main contacts, resistor contacts and vacuum interrupters are to be closed and opened, respectively in a certain sequence. This allows the contacts <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> to switch over to <NUM> or <NUM>. The switching device <NUM> makes it possible for e.g. <NUM> to be switched to e.g. <NUM> in the fine selector <NUM>.

The electrical switch elements in the switching device or in the OLTC_arc during operation. Today used OLTC electrical switch elements in the form of contacts break in liquid or gas. The arcing takes place in the same medium as is used as the insulating medium and causes a degradation of the medium. Soot, particles or gas may be formed which will pollute the medium. The switching device and its electrical switch elements are arranged in a compartment separate from the transformer tank in order to avoid pollution of the surrounding insulating liquid of the transformer tank. The compartment is liquid tight and electrically insulating.

When the transformer is in use, arcing will occur when tapping connections are changed. There may be some arcing from the electrical switch elements. Arcing from the electrical switch elements pollutes the insulating liquid which they may come in contact with. It is very important to keep the insulating liquid of the transformer tank clean and therefore, the switching device is enclosed in a separate compartment. Such a compartment needs to insulate electrically and also isolate the compartment so that no insulating liquid is leaking out from the compartment as used in regular OLTC solution of prior art. We refer to <FIG> which discloses a transformer <NUM>. An OLTC <NUM> of prior art is arranged in a transformer tank <NUM>. The OLTC includes a switching device <NUM> and a fine selector <NUM>. The switching device <NUM> and the fine selector <NUM> are schematically disclosed as dashed squares. The drawing is a cross section from above. Schematically one regulating winding <NUM> is disclosed in the figure but without any detailed disclosure. Further, an electromagnetically core <NUM> is schematically illustrated in the figure. However, one to three regulating windings and electromagnetically cores may be used in a transformer. The compartment <NUM> of the switching device <NUM> may have walls <NUM> of for example steel. The compartment <NUM> includes the walls <NUM>, a wall or barrier <NUM> of an insulating and liquid tight material, sealings <NUM>, and a part of the transformer tank wall <NUM> will be part of the compartment. A wall or barrier <NUM> of an electrically insulating and liquid tight material is needed between the switching device <NUM> and the fine selector <NUM>. Further, the compartment walls may comprise the insulating and liquid tight material. The material used for the insulating part of the compartment is expensive and the compartment also requires sealing material <NUM> which is expensive. The insulating material has an epsilon value which is not good for the electrical fields and will require a large size of the OLTC. Sealing elements <NUM> are also used in order to avoid any leakage. Further, it is an extensive work to mount the sealing elements <NUM>. The parts of the compartment <NUM> to be in contact with the sealing elements <NUM> need to have a clean and smooth surface against the sealing elements. Further, dirty insulating liquid which may be oil <NUM> will be contained in the electrical switch compartment <NUM> while the transformer tank <NUM> will comprise clean insulating liquid <NUM> or transformer oil. The dielectric properties of the dirty and the clean insulating liquid are different and this difference may dimension the OLTC up. The dirty or polluted insulating liquid will have reduced and impaired dielectric properties. This requests a larger distance between the diverter switch and the transformer tank wall.

The inventor has now found a way to reduce the size of an OLTC.

<FIG> shows an OLTC <NUM> according to the present invention arranged in a transformer tank <NUM>. Schematically one regulating winding <NUM> is disclosed in the figure without showing any connection to other parts. Further, an electromagnetically core <NUM> is schematically illustrated in the figure. One to three regulating windings and electromagnetically cores may be used in a transformer. The drawing shows a cross section from above. The drawing is schematic.

The present invention provides an On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC) <NUM> for connection to a regulating winding <NUM> of a transformer <NUM>, the regulating winding <NUM> enclosed in a transformer tank <NUM>, wherein the transformer tank comprises insulating liquid <NUM>, the OLTC comprising:
a switching device <NUM> comprising:
a main contact <NUM>, and a resistor contact <NUM>, wherein the main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> are configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid <NUM> and that they are configured to be physically separated from the insulating liquid <NUM>.

The OLTC <NUM> is illustrated with a dashed square in which the switching device <NUM> and the fine selector <NUM> are included. In the figure also the fine selector <NUM> is disclosed in the square of the OLTC <NUM>.

By the expression "arranged directly in the insulating liquid" as used herein is meant that the main contact and the resistor contact are not provided in a separate compartment in the transformer tank which comprises another fluid, typically dirty oil or dirty insulating liquid as mentioned herein. In other words, the main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> are configured to be provided directly in the transformer tank <NUM>, i.e. a main tank, comprising the regulating winding <NUM> and the insulating liquid <NUM>. This also applies for a possible pre-selector contact <NUM>.

<FIG> also discloses some electrical switch elements provided in the schematic illustration of a switching device <NUM>. The switching device may comprise a main contact <NUM>, resistor contact <NUM> for example. Some further elements <NUM> may also be provided in the switching device <NUM>. Such elements may be a vacuum interrupter or a resistor unit for example. The OLTC may comprise a pre-selector contact <NUM>. The pre-selector contact <NUM> is comprised in the OLTC.

The electrical switch elements, i. e the main contact <NUM>, the resistor contact <NUM> and the pre-selector contact <NUM>, are thus configured to be in contact with the insulating liquid <NUM>. The electrical switch elements are configured to not pollute the insulating liquid <NUM>. Further, the electrical switch elements are configured to be physically separated or isolated from the insulating liquid <NUM>. By the expression "the electrical switch elements are configured to be physically separated from the insulating liquid" is meant that the contacts are separated or isolated from the insulating liquid, for example in a separate enclosure. An OLTC compartment or compartment for the switching device will then not be needed. The OLTC may be considered to be an OLTC without a separate compartment.

In <FIG> an example of a switching device <NUM> is disclosed. The switching device <NUM> is a diverter switch <NUM> and is only an example of a diverter switch which may be used in the present invention. <FIG> will be further described below, but in the following reference is also made to <FIG>.

The main contact <NUM> may be enclosed in a main contact enclosure, the resistor contact <NUM> may be enclosed in a resistor contact enclosure. When the main contact and the resistor contact are enclosed in a main contact enclosure and a resistor contact enclosure the arcing is limited by the enclosure and will not pollute the insulating liquid of the transformer tank.

Further, it is also referred to <FIG> schematically shows an enclosure <NUM> for any of a main contact, a resistor contact or a pre-selector contact <NUM> (the same reference number for all of them). The contact <NUM> switches between two contact elements <NUM>, <NUM>. The contact elements <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to contact elements <NUM>, <NUM> outside the enclosure <NUM> via leads <NUM>, <NUM>. The main contact <NUM> may be enclosed in a main contact enclosure <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> may be enclosed in a resistor contact enclosure <NUM>. Further, a pre-selector contact <NUM> may be enclosed in a pre-selector contact enclosure <NUM>. There is a further contact element <NUM> in connection with the main contact, resistor contact or the pre-selector contact <NUM>, which contact element <NUM> is connected to a contact element <NUM> situated outside the contact enclosure <NUM>.

The main contact enclosure <NUM> may be under vacuum, may comprise insulating liquid or may comprise inert gas.

In the same manner the resistor contact enclosure <NUM> may use vacuum, may comprise insulating liquid or may comprise inert gas.

In the same manner the pre-selector contact enclosure <NUM> may use vacuum, may comprise insulating liquid or may comprise inert gas.

To be under vacuum is meant a pressure below <NUM> mbar.

The contacts may be a single breaker or a double breaker.

The contact enclosures may be made of an electrically insulating material. The enclosure may be made of ceramics or plastic material for example.

With the new solution an OLTC compartment or a switching device compartment is not needed. By this the OLTC will be smaller in size, i.e. have a smaller footprint and thereby also a smaller transformer may be obtained. This is a large save for the user of transformers.

The today used OLTC:s having a compartment is isolated from the insulating liquid by compartment material of a metal, an insulating material and a sealing material. The insulating material may be a plate between the OLTC chamber and the transformer tank, or the whole enclosure wall of the compartment of the OLTC may be made of the insulating material. The material may be for example plastic, fibre reinforced plastic or ceramics.

A comparison will be illustrated with the solution according to the present invention compared to the technique when the switching device is enclosed in a separate compartment.

<FIG> shows an OLTC <NUM> arranged in a transformer tank <NUM>. The OLTC <NUM> in this example is arranged at one end of the transformer tank <NUM>. The fine selector <NUM> is arranged next to the switching device <NUM> to be in contact with the taps of the winding of the regulating winding while the switching device <NUM> is arranged in a separate compartment <NUM>. In the switching device <NUM> are the main contact and the resistor contact arranged but this is not shown in <FIG>. In the separate compartment <NUM> the electrical switch elements will arc during operation and the oil in the separate switch element compartment will get polluted and dirty. The dielectric properties of the clean transformer oil <NUM> and the dielectric properties of the the dirty oil <NUM> of the compartment will differ. This will have an influence on the electrical field of the OLTC and a distance between the OLTC and the transformer wall <NUM> is needed for avoiding flash over due to different electrical potentials. The wall/barrier <NUM> between the switching device <NUM> and the fine selector <NUM> is made of an electrical insulating material and further functions as a liquid barrier to hinder any dirty oil to leak out from the switching device compartment <NUM> to the transformer tank <NUM>. The material of the wall/barrier <NUM> has a different epsilon value than the oil, which affects the electrical field. During the lifetime of the OLTC arcing electrical switch elements may be needed to be exchanged due to the wear and breaking down of the material. When service and repairing of the OLTC is needed the switching device compartment <NUM> need to be emptied. It is desired to not empty the transformer tank <NUM> at this moment. Emptying a transformer tank is very extensive work and time consuming. When the switching device compartment <NUM> is emptied, the transformer oil <NUM> of the transformer tank <NUM> will apply a high pressure on the switching device compartment <NUM> and on the wall/barrier <NUM>. Therefore the wall/barrier <NUM> will need to have a quite large thickness to withstand the pressure. Thus, the wall/barrier <NUM> with the different epsilon value versus the surrounding will have a negative impact on the electric fields in the transformer tank <NUM>. Thus, the wall/barrier <NUM> in the OLTC in <FIG> will be quite large. This also has an effect on the transformer tank size.

Sealings <NUM> are also needed for the separate compartment <NUM> of the switching device <NUM>. It is very important that the polluted and dirty oil will not leak out into the transformer oil. The sealing elements <NUM> are quite expensive. In addition, the components closest to the sealing elements <NUM> need to be smooth and without sharp edges against the sealing elements and it is time demanding to make clean and smooth surfaces for the sealing elements and assembling of the sealings.

Such problems are solved with the present invention.

It is now referred to <FIG>. In <FIG> is an OLTC <NUM> according to the present invention shown wherein the electrical switch elements, such as the main contact <NUM>, resistor contact <NUM> and possibly a pre-selector contact <NUM>, are configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid. There is no separate compartment for the switching device <NUM>. Next to the switching device is the fine selector <NUM> arranged. There is direct contact between main contact <NUM>, the resistor contact <NUM>, the pre-selector contact <NUM> and the insulating liquid <NUM>. No wall/barrier is needed and no compartment for the switching device is needed. However, there is an insulation carrier arrangement <NUM> carrying the electrical switch elements of the OLTC, but this carrying arrangement <NUM> is less material demanding compared to the prior art wall/barriers. The material volume may be about <NUM>% compared to the prior art solution comprising a wall/barrier in <FIG>. This further leads to reduction of the need of electrical shielding of the OLTC due to the influence on electric field will be reduced and it is possible to arrange the OLTC <NUM> closer to the transformer tank wall <NUM>. In addition the insulating carrier arrangement <NUM> which carry the electrical switch elements may then be shorter, i.e. not extending in the breadth of the transformer tank as much as the OLTC is extending in the prior art transformer tank as shown in <FIG>. This is in comparison between the wall/barrier in prior art and the insulating carrier which may be used in the present invention. This is because the electrical switch elements may be placed closer to each other compared to the prior art construction shown in <FIG>. Further, no sealing elements are needed. The sealing material is expensive and will require extensive work to adapt the parts of the compartment which need to have a clean and smooth surface against which the sealing material will be arranged.

The clean insulating liquid of the transformer tank will have better dielectric properties than the polluted insulating liquid of the switching device. Therefore, the distance needed between the electrical switch elements in the prior art technique wherein the electrical switch elements will pollute the insulating liquid in the switch device compartment will need a larger distance between them compared to the present invention.

The OLTC may be arranged on insulating carrier arrangement <NUM> for carrying the electrical switch elements. Such an insulating carrier arrangement <NUM> may also carry other parts in the OLTC. In the solution according to the present invention, when the electrical switch elements are configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid, the insulating carrier arrangement will not need as much material as used in prior art OLTC:s. The insulating carrier arrangement <NUM> will weigh less, such as about <NUM>% of the weight of an insulating carrier or wall/barrier used in an OLTC comprising a compartment. In prior art solutions, the insulating carrier is usually a part of the insulating barrier. The reduction of the insulating material in the insulating carrier arrangement is an advantage obtained by the present solution of the invention. The material is expensive and also influences the electrical fields around the OLTC which in turn increases the need of a larger distance to the transformer tank walls.

The OLTC of the present invention has many advantages when the electrical switch elements are arranged directly in the insulating liquid. As can be seen the transformer tank in <FIG> is less wide and it is shorter than the transformer tank in <FIG>, which is schematically disclosed. This is due to the effects given by the electrical switch elements arranged directly in the insulating liquid without a separate switching device compartment. For example, when the electrical switch elements are provided in a separate switching device compartment, the electrical switch elements will need to be located with more space between them compared to when the insulating carrier <NUM> is used according to the present invention.

The main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> are configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid <NUM> of a transformer tank <NUM>. Further, the main contact enclosure and the resistor contact enclosure may be configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid. This means that the main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> are arranged directly in the insulating liquid <NUM> in the transformer tank <NUM>. Further, the OLTC may comprise a pre-selector contact <NUM>. The pre-selector contact may also be arranged directly in the insulating liquid <NUM> in the transformer tank <NUM>. Further, the pre-selector contact enclosure may be configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid in the transformer tank.

The main contact, the resistor contact and possibly the pre-selector contact may be arranged on a carrier arrangement of insulating material. A schematic insulating carrier arrangement <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The carrier arrangement <NUM> includes two rods <NUM>, <NUM> of insulating material. The two rods are connected to each other by a transverse fixation device <NUM> and a transverse flange <NUM> for connecting the rods <NUM>, <NUM> to each other. Plates <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged in the insulating carrier arrangement <NUM>. The main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> are arranged on the carrier arrangement <NUM> by attaching them to the arrangement for example on a plate <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the arrangement <NUM> which is located between the rods <NUM>, <NUM>. The main contact <NUM>, the resistor contact <NUM> and the pre-selector contact <NUM> may for example be screwed or glued to a plate <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The plate may be made of an insulating material. The plate material can be the same material as the insulating carrier material or the plate material may be another material. Examples of plate material is a polymeric material, fibre reinforced polymer material or ceramic. The main contact <NUM>, the resistor contact <NUM> and the pre-selector contact <NUM> may be attached to a plate <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the carrier arrangement <NUM>. The carrier arrangement <NUM> is arranged and fixed in the transformer tank by the fixation device <NUM> and the flange <NUM>. In the lower end of the carrier arrangement <NUM> the fixation device <NUM> is arranged. The fixation device <NUM> is connected to the insulation rods <NUM>, <NUM> and is fixed to the bottom part of the transformer tank. In the upper part of the carrier arrangement <NUM> is a flange <NUM> connected to the rods <NUM>, <NUM> and fixed to the top part of the transformer tank. In this way the main contact <NUM>, the resistor contact <NUM> and possibly a pre-selector contact <NUM> may be arranged in the transformer tank and are in direct contact with the insulation liquid. <FIG> shows one OLTC for a transformer with three phases. The main contact <NUM>, the resistor contact <NUM> and the pre-selector contact <NUM> have the same reference number in all plates <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in the Figure.

The main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> are arranged on an insulating carrier arrangement <NUM>. Further, the pre-selector contact <NUM> may be arranged on the insulating carrier arrangement <NUM>. The main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> are attached to the carrier arrangement <NUM>, and possibly the pre-selector contact <NUM> is attached to the carrier arrangement <NUM>. The contacts may be attached to plates as disclosed above. The carrier arrangement <NUM> is fixed in the transformer tank via the fixation device <NUM> and a flange <NUM>. The carrier arrangement <NUM> may be fixed to the transformer walls for example, such as the bottom wall and the top wall.

The pre-selector contact <NUM> may be arranged in the same location as the main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM>. However, electrically the pre-selector contact is not included in the diverter switch.

Dirty liquid has inferior insulation properties compared to clean insulating liquid. The difference in dielectric and insulation properties between dirty and clean insulating liquid is quite large and dimensions the OLTC up.

The new kind of electrical switch elements will have a longer life and will not be needed to be exchanged as often as the prior used electrical switch elements. Thus, with the solution obtained in the present invention an OLTC requiring no or reduced maintenance is obtained.

Pre-selector contacts are used in OLTC to enable connection or disconnecting turns of the transformer winding. Pre-selector contacts may also be used to connect a whole part of a winding. In the contacts of the pre-selector, arcing may also occur when the contacts are moved.

Preselector contacts are used in OLTC:s which are used in plus/minus transformers and in coarse/fine transformers. The OLTC of the present invention may be connected to a regulating winding of a plus/minus transformer or a coarse/fine transformer.

The OLTC may comprise a pre-selector contact <NUM> configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid <NUM> wherein the pre-selector contact <NUM> is configured to be physically separated from the insulating liquid <NUM> of the transformer. The pre-selector contact may be configured to be isolated from the insulating liquid <NUM>.

The pre-selector contact <NUM> may be enclosed in a pre-selector contact enclosure <NUM>.

The pre-selector contact enclosure may be under vacuum, may comprise insulating liquid or may comprise insulating gas in the pre-selector contact enclosure.

The insulating liquid of the contact enclosure for any of main contact, resistor contact or pre-selector contact may be mineral oil or ester.

The inert gas of the contact enclosure may be SF6. SF6 is advantageous when it relates to reduce arcing and it has good electrical insulating effect.

The switching device may be a diverter switch or a selector switch. A diverter switch has been illustrated in <FIG>. A diverter switch may be configured in many different ways. However, the diverter switch according to the present invention comprise electrical switch elements as disclosed herein and those are configured in the way as disclosed herein. The selector switch also comprises electrical switch elements as disclosed herein, such as main contacts, resistor contacts and possibly pre-selector contacts.

The switching device may be a diverter switch. An example of an electrical circuit of a diverter switch <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. A diverter switch <NUM> may have many different constructions. The diverter switch in <FIG> comprises a main contact <NUM>, a vacuum interrupter <NUM>, a resistor unit <NUM>, a vacuum interrupter <NUM> and a resistor contact <NUM> in series. Connections <NUM> and <NUM> are connected to the fine selector of the OLTC and the diverter switch is connected to an external contact <NUM>. According to the present invention the electrical switch elements are configured to be physically separated from insulating liquid of the transformer tank. By switching the main contacts <NUM> and resistor contacts <NUM> in a conventional manner, one or the other of the contacts <NUM>-<NUM> (<FIG>) will be in electrical contact with the external contact <NUM>, and thus provide an electrical path through the tap changer. The diverter switch <NUM> of <FIG> is an example only, and any suitable type of diverter switch <NUM> can be used. However, the electrical switch elements, such as the main contact <NUM> or the resistor contact <NUM> comprised in the diverter switch are configured according to the present invention. Further, the pre-selector contact included in the OLTC is also configured according to the present invention.

The OLTC may comprise a pre-selector contact configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid and are configured to be physically separated from the insulating liquid. In <FIG> is an example of an electrical circuit comprising a pre-selector contact disclosed. An electrical circuit <NUM> including a pre-selector contact <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. A main contact <NUM>, a vacuum interrupter <NUM>, a resistor unit <NUM>, a vacuum interrupter <NUM> and a resistor contact <NUM> are connected in series as disclosed in <FIG>. The diverter switch <NUM>, framed with a dashed square in <FIG>, is connected to a regulating winding <NUM> and to an external contact <NUM>. The pre-selector contact <NUM> is connected to the other side of the regulating winding <NUM>. Further, the pre-selector contact <NUM> is connected to a second regulating winding <NUM>. In <FIG> is also a fine selector shown with taps and contacts. Those are similar to the fine selector as disclosed in <FIG> and are not further described here.

The present invention further provides a transformer comprising an OLTC as disclosed herein.

The transformer <NUM> comprises a transformer tank <NUM> comprising a regulating winding <NUM>, insulating liquid <NUM> of the transformer tank <NUM>, and an OLTC <NUM> as disclosed herein.

Further, the transformer may comprise a regulating winding <NUM> arranged in a transformer tank <NUM> with insulating liquid <NUM>, wherein the main contact <NUM> and the resistor contact <NUM> are arranged directly in the insulating liquid in the main tank.

The main contact and the resistor contact may be arranged on an insulating carrier arrangement which is fixed in the transformer tank. Further, a pre-selector contact may be arranged on the insulating carrier arrangement.

The OLTC comprises a switching device comprising electrical switch elements. The electrical switch elements_comprise a main contact, a resistor contact, possibly a pre-selector contact and possibly one or more vacuum interrupters. The main contact, resistor contact, pre-selector contact and the vacuum interrupter are arranged directly in the insulating liquid and they are physically separated from the insulating liquid. The main contact, the resistor contact and the vacuum interrupter are arranged directly in the insulating liquid. Further, more than one main contact and more than one resistor contact may be comprised in the OLTC as disclosed herein.

The main contact is enclosed in a main contact enclosure and the resistor contact is enclosed in a resistor contact enclosure. The pre-selector contact is enclosed in a pre-selector contact enclosure. The electrical switch elements are physically separated from the insulating liquid. The transformer comprises an OLTC wherein the OLTC have no separate compartment. The switching device thus have no separate liquid tight and insulating compartment but the electrical switch elements are provided directly in the insulating liquid.

Claim 1:
An On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC) (<NUM>) for connection to a regulating winding (<NUM>) of a transformer (<NUM>),the regulating winding (<NUM>) enclosed in a transformer tank (<NUM>), wherein the transformer tank (<NUM>) comprises insulating liquid (<NUM>), the OLTC comprising:
a diverter switch (<NUM>) comprising:
a main contact (<NUM>), and
a resistor contact (<NUM>),
wherein the main contact (<NUM>) and the resistor contact (<NUM>) are configured to be arranged directly in the insulating liquid (<NUM>) and that they are configured to be isolated from the insulating liquid (<NUM>),
characterized in that the main contact (<NUM>) is enclosed in a main contact enclosure (<NUM>) and the resistor contact (<NUM>) is enclosed in a resistor contact enclosure (<NUM>).