A Comparison of IEC 76 and ANSI C57.

12 on Transformers
John K. John Subhas Sarkar,
Member, IEEE Senior Member, IEEE
Supervisor, Electrical Engineering Manager, Engineering
Virginia Transformer Corp. Virginia Transformer Corp

Abstract: There is a growing need to look out into new Standards/ Ratures IEC
markets outside of USA, which requires proper
understanding of the international standards. In the field of 1.2.1. For water cooled Not exceeding 25" C at Shall not exceed 30"
transformers, which are vital links in power delivery, the inlet C and the average
major international standard is IEC 76. Service conditions temp. of cooling
speciJed in both water shall not
In this paper, a brief comparison of major parameters
standards are exceed 25OC for any
like service conditions, categories, impedance, temperature comparable 24 hour period.
rises, tolerance, dielectric insulation levels, test Minimum water
requirements etc of transformers in IEC 76 and temp. shall not be
lower than 1°C
IEEE/ANSI C57, have been brought out. An attempt is unless the cooling
made in this paper to have a quick understanding of water includes anti-
important technical parameters of transformers per IEC 76, freeze suitable for -
in comparison with IEEE/ANSI C 57. Clause numbers in 20°C operation.
both specifications are mentioned against the parameters
for easy reference for the readers. Because of the volume 1.2.2. For air cooled air Not above 40' C not Not exceeding 40" C
temp. below -25 C and the average
of the standards and details included in individual sections, temperature of
it is difficult to cover a detailed comparison in a technical Further limitations per cooling air for any
paper. Only major parameters which are commonly IEC 76-2 for oil- 24 h period shall not
encountered in inquiry, order, manufacturing, and of immersed transformers exceed 30°C.
testing of power transformers are covered in this paper. and IEC 726 for dry
type transformers Top liquid
In order to bring out direct comparison, the rest of the temperature of
entire paper is presented in tabular form. Wherever transformer (when
necessary, separate details have been provided for dry- operating) shall not
type and oil-filled transformers. be lower than 20°C.

The min. ambient

Index Terms: IEC, ANSUIEEE, Dry-type temperature shall not
transformers, Liquid-filled transformers. be lower than-30°C
for dry type units

1.3. Supply Voltage Approx. sinusoidal and Approx. sinusoidal

Standards/ Features IEC
symmetrical and symmetrical
I. Usual Service IEC 76-1 C57.12.01- DIY 1.4. Load Current 5% Total harmonic 5% Harmonic factor
Conditions Clause 1.2.I Type Transformers.
content, I%even
(Including those
harmonic content.
with cast and resin
encapsulated) Clause
4.1

C57.12.00- Liquid-
I 1.5. Step-down
3peration
Transformers shall
be for step down
>peration, unless
filled Transformers. stherwise specified

1.1. Altitude A height above sea The altitude shall not 2. Unusual Servicc Conditions
level not exceeding
IOOOm (3300 ft)
exceed 3300 ft (1000

1.2. Temperature of Ambient Air and Cooling Medium

I
IEC 76-1
Clause 1.2.2 1
I
C57.12.01- Clause
4.2

C57.12.00- Clause
4.3

2.1. Unusual Loading IEC 76-2, Clause 4.4 C57.96 for dry type
C57.91 and 92 for
oil type

204
0-7803-5526-1/99/$10.0001999 IEEE
2.2. Unusual Altitude If exceeds l000M Altitude correction
factor for dielectric
3300ft) Limit of temp- strength table 1 of KVA Clause 4.1 of Clause 5.4 of C57.12.00, C57.12.01
rise per clause 4.3 of C57.12.01 IEC 76-1
IEC 76-2 C57.12.00
Several rated KVA
Highest KVA is
External insulation at the rated KVA Base KVA is referred as the KVA
high altitude per IEC of a transformer
76-3 and 76-3-1 for oil
transformer and IEC Impedance and load losses at base
Impedance and rating
726 for dry type. load losses at
top rating
2.3. Operation above Should deliver rated Deliver rated output
rated voltage current at an applied at 5% above rated IEC 76-1 C57.12.00- Clause 5.4
voltage equal to 105% secondary voltage Clause 4.1 c57-12.01
Both standards same of rated voltage or volts/Hz without
exceeding
temperature rise.

Operate 10% above KVA Input power at Output power at rated secondary
rated secondary rated primary voltage
voltage or volts/Hz voltage
at no load without C57.12.00, C57.12.01
exceeding Over IEC 76-1 Clause 4.1.6
temperature rise. excitation Clause 4.4 5% at full load

5% at full load 10% at no load

transformers
I
3 1 KVA Clause 1.2.1.1 of Clause 12.1 C57.12.90; 12.91 5. Impedance hi IEC rjprtal itnpedurrce valrrcs are specified based on
Basis IEC 76-5 ,SI 4.' ru/ing
I
1 phase 3 phase Table1 of IEC 76-5 A) Dry type
Table 4.C57.12.51 1981
CAT 1
Rated KVA -
YO HV BIL LV VOLTAGE
CAT 2 501-5000 KV

CAT 3 Above 40000 1668-10000 5001-30000 Up to 630 4.0

63 1-1250 5.0
CAT 4 Above 10000 Above 30000
1251-3 150 5.75 5.75
(Liquid type)

3.2. Voltage
Basis
There is no
categorized basis
I Clause 5.10 C57.12.00 6301-12500 By discussion between user
in IEC Liquid type and manufacturer
Class 1 power transformer 69 kV

i
and below
12501-25000
Class 2 power transformer 115 kV
through 765 KV 2500 1-200000

ANSI ha3 categorized the figures bused on HV BIL, LV voltage and

whether i t is with or without LTC.

B.) Liquid Filled Table 10, C57.12.10

Without LTC With LTC

HV BIL LV LV 2400 and above LV 2400 and

480V above

60-1 10 5.75 5.5 * -__

205
I 150 I 6.75 I 6.5 I 7.0 6.2.1.1.
Winding
Temp. class
of
Max. temp
rise of
Temp. of.
Insulation
Average
winding
200 7.25 7.0 7.5 Temp. Rise by insulation winding System temp. rise
Resistance in
"C
250 7.75 7.5 8.0

1 350 I -- I 8.0 I 8.5

A(105) I 60 I I
8.5 I 9.0
E( 120)

I 550 I -- I 9.0 I 9.5

B(130)

650 -- 9.5 10.0

F(155) I 100 I 185 I 115

H( 185) 125 200 130

750 -_ 10.0 10.5
C(220) 150 220 150
* For transformers > 5000 KVA self cooled, these shall be same as those
for 150 BIL.
I 6.2.1.2. Core Shall not reach a value Less than values that would
and Parts that will damage core impair the functional
and other parts. capability.
6. 'Jemoerature Rise
6.2.2. Liquid IEC 76-2 clause 4.2 Clause 5.1 1, C57.12.00
6.1. Identification Symbol m
65
6.1.1. DryType IEC 726, Clause 9.1 c57. 12.01 6.2.2.1, Natural or forced non-
Clause 5.1 Average directed oil (80 max. Hottest-spot temp.
Winding circulation: 65 rise.)
Ventilated self-cooled AN AA Temp. Rise in
"C. Forced and directed
AF oil circulation: 70
Ventilated forced-air- cooled AFA

6.2.2.2. Top 60 65 ANSI Specijies oil temp.

Ventilated self -cooled/forced- ANAF AAIFA Oil Rise "C rise same as that of winding.
air-cooled
6.2.2.3. Core Shall not reach a value Shall not attain excessive
Non-ventilated self -cooled ANAN ANV and Parts that will damage temp. rises at maximum
adjacent parts or rated load.
undue aging of oil.
Sealed self-cooled GNAN GA

Sealed forced-cooled GNAF ANSI has

no specific
7.'Tolerances
symbol for
sealed I Table 1 of IEC 76-1
I
Clause 9.0, C57.12.00
C57.12.01
forced-
cooled type
7.1. Voltage Lower of a) 20.5% 5 0.5%
6.1.2. Liquid Immersed IEC IEC 76-2 Clause 3. C57.12.00 ratio Both STD of declared ratio.
has symbolsfor other cooling Four-letter code as Clause 5.1 are the same.
media also; refer to 76-2, described in this b) 5 1/10 of the
Clause 3 clause. Examples actual percentage
impedance on the
Self Cooled ONAN OA principal tapping.

Self-cooled/ forced air-cooled ONAN/ONAF ONFA 7.2. Impedance Both oil and dry type Drv tvDe Oil filled

Self-cooled/ forced air- cooled/ ONAN/ONAF/OFAF OA/FA/FO

forced liquid- cooled A I

1
2 kinding t 7.5% when the 2 7.5% .5% if IZ%
impedance is z 10%
6.2. Temperature- Rise Limits
I I 2 10% when the
6.2.l.m Table IV IEC 726 Table 4a, C57.12.01, impedance is < 10%
1989

206
 3 Wdg. k 10% for one 2 10% 10% 9.2 DesigdType tests 76-1, clause 10.1.2 C57.12.00 Table 16
or more specified pair
CS7.12.01 Table 7
2 15% for second
specified pair Resistance, Impedance and load loss measurement are design testsf o r
500 KVA or smaller, per ANSI,
Auto i 10% on principal
Transformer tapping. 9.3 Special tests 76-1, clause 10.1.3 C57.12.00 Table 16

5 15% on any other C57.12.01 Table 7

tapping.
I

7.3. Losses IEC All units No. of units in one order

is more slack
than ANSI. I
Orher

I
1 1
l
2 or more I I

I
1 1 each
unit
avg phase displacement
symbols
C57.12.01

Table 9,C57.12.00
1 1. Rating plates Clause 7, IEC 76-1
tolerance for total information Table 5, CS7 12 01
loss is not exceeded
12. Accessories IEC 76 doesn’t Table 11, C57.12.10
contain a list of
standard accessories.
Total losses I +lo% +6% I +6% I
I
0
ICONCLUSION
I ~~ ~

7.4. No load +30% ANSI is silent on this

current
This comparative study concludes that there is not
much difference in the electrical characteristics in the two
8. Dielectric insulation level. specifications. There are minor differences in the
I I
temperature rise characteristics, tolerances and testing
8.1, Lightning IEC 76-3 Tables C57.12.00 Table 3,4 specifications. There are major differences in the
impulse and Power 2,3,4 and S and 5 accessories. Since IEC 76 doesn’t cover much about the
Frequency Test Level accessories, comparison of accessories is not covered in
this paper. ANSI does give elaborate list of accessories
and many mechanical details are well covered in it. It can
be seen that ANSI is more user oriented whereas IEC
8.2. Switching surge 76-3 Table 5 C57.12.00 Table 5 leaves many details to mutual agreements between
test levels manufacturer and user.
The authors plan to work on a more detailed
ANSI staris at 115 KV and ?vpically higher ihan IEC. IEC starts at 300 comparative study of the standards in future as they could
KV. not include all the details in this paper.
8.3. External 76-3-1 CS7.12.00 Table 11
clearances in air.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors thank the management of Virginia
Transformer Corp. for giving the permission to publish this
Both standards are similar
I paper, which is worked from their original paper prepared
as an in-house training document.
9. Tests
I
BIOGRAPHIES
9.1 Routine Tests 76-1, clause 10.1.1 C57.12.00Table 16 John K. John obtained his BS degree in Electrical
Engineering with Honors from Kerala University, India
C57.12.01 Table 7 in 1974. He has more than 23 years experience in
Resistance, impedance and load loss measurement are not routine tests transformer design and manufacturing. He is working with
f o r SOOKVA or smaller per ANSI. Virginia Transformer Corp. in Roanoke, Virginia since
1993 and is presently holding the position of Supervisor
Lightning Impulse test is routine f o r class 2 power transformer per ANSI

207
of electrical engineering. He is a member IEEE and a
Chartered Engineer in India.
Subhas Sarkar obtained his BSEE degree from
Regional Engineering College, Durgapur, India in 1966
and M. TECH degree from Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur in 1968. He has nearly thirty years of
experience, mostly in the area of transformer design and
manufacturing. He had a brief stint in teaching. He has
208
authored two books on electronic devices and circuits, and
has published nearly twenty papers.
He is working with Virginia Transformer Corp. since
1992 and is presently holding the position of Engineering
Manager. He is senior member IEEE since 1993. He is a
registered Professional Engineer in the state of Virginia.