Multiphysics simulation study demonstrates improved accuracy in calculating radiative cooling for transformers, highlighting a reliable framework for zero-energy cooling design.
Key Points
To establish an accurate electromagnetic-thermal-fluid-radiation coupled calculation method for determining the radiative cooling heat dissipation capacity of oil-natural-air-natural (ONAN) transformers.
Developed a finite element analysis model integrating two-way electromagnetic-thermal coupling and non-uniform loss distribution.
Built a 250 W ONAN transformer test platform (tank dimensions 30 cm × 20 cm × 30 cm) mimicking a 10 kVA–10 kV/220 V unit to validate the calculation method against conventional approaches.
Simulated the radiative cooling heat dissipation characteristics of an 800 kVA–10 kV/3 kV three-phase ONAN transformer with 8557.3 W of total losses.
The proposed method achieved maximum calculation errors of −4.0% for temperature rise and −4.8% for radiative cooling heat dissipation effect.
Improved calculation accuracy over existing constant-heat-source methods by 16.2% for temperature rise and 25.3% for radiative cooling heat dissipation.