K-Factor Analysis to Increase the Actual Capacity of Electrical Distribution Transformers

Currently, the different forms of use of electricity involves the massive use of electronic equipment, which are connected to distribution transformers, the same ones that have been operating for a few years under different operating conditions for which they have been designed. Electronic equipment constitutes nonlinear loads that are impedances that vary with the applied voltage and that when connected to the network introduce non-sine current waves known as harmonic currents, which cause several problems such as: the increase in losses in the conductive elements and the increase in temperature in the processing equipment. The K factor lets us know how much a transformer can have to power nonlinear loads. IEEE Std C57.110™-2018 will be considered on the ground that it makes recommendations regarding losses in transformers when their load has harmonic content. In this research, the authors simulate the behavior of a real system using Power Factory software to know the values of current THDs that are compared to those obtained with a power quality device. For case studies, it is obtained that the K factor for TRAFO2 transformer is 1505 and the K factor for TRAFO1 transformer is 1283; although the load of TRAFO1 is higher than the load of TRAFO2.