Oil-immersed transformer and oil level detection device thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses an oil level detection device applicable to an oil-immersed transformer, comprising an oil storage device for storing insulating oil. The oil level detection device includes a detachable oil tank and an optical oil level gauge. The detachable oil tank includes a lower tank and an upper tank, the lower tank being mounted on the oil storage device, and the upper tank being located above and spatially communicating with the lower tank. The oil storage device includes a first oil chamber, and the lower tank includes a second oil chamber spatially communicating with the first oil chamber, allowing insulating oil to flow between the first and second oil chambers. The optical oil level gauge is mounted on the upper tank and has a light-emitting surface located within the interior space of the upper tank to project sensing light onto the insulating oil in the second oil chamber to detect changes in oil level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a transformer for power transmission and distribution systems, and more particularly to an oil-immersed transformer and its oil level detection device. Prior Technology

[0002] Oil-immersed transformers are common power equipment used to reduce high voltage to low voltage or increase low voltage to high voltage. Their stable operation directly affects the reliability of the power grid. The main characteristic of oil-immersed transformers is that the core and windings are immersed in insulating oil. This improves the transformer's insulation performance, preventing electrical faults and fires. Furthermore, the insulating oil effectively dissipates heat, keeping the transformer at a relatively stable temperature, thereby improving its operating efficiency and lifespan.

[0003] Generally, as the transformer load increases, the oil temperature rises, and the oil level increases with the volume expansion; conversely, as the transformer load decreases, the oil temperature decreases, and the oil level decreases with the volume contraction. Therefore, changes in the oil level can reflect the health status of the transformer. If the oil level is too high or too low, it indicates that there may be an abnormality inside the transformer, which may lead to transformer failure or even an accident. For example, when the oil level is too high, the pressure inside the tank will increase, potentially causing oil overflow; when the oil level is too low, the transformer's insulation performance will decrease, potentially causing insulation breakdown.

[0004] Therefore, transformer oil storage devices are equipped with oil level gauges to reflect the true oil level in the transformer. However, in power systems, most transformers still have oil level gauges, such as pointer-type oil level gauges, that require on-site reading of the oil level. If an abnormal oil level occurs in an operating transformer, it often cannot be detected immediately, leading to damage or even its escalation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an oil-immersed transformer and its oil level detection device to address the shortcomings of the prior art. Compared with the prior art, it has obvious advantages in terms of applicability to transformers and monitoring of abnormal oil level conditions.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, one technical solution adopted by this invention is to provide an oil level detection device suitable for an oil-immersed transformer, which includes an oil storage device for storing insulating oil. The oil level detection device of this invention includes a detachable oil tank and an optical oil level gauge. The detachable oil tank includes a lower tank and an upper tank. The lower tank is mounted on the oil storage device, and the upper tank is located above and spatially connected to the lower tank. The oil storage device includes a first oil chamber, and the lower tank includes a second oil chamber spatially connected to the first oil chamber, allowing the insulating oil to flow between the first and second oil chambers. The optical oil level gauge is mounted on the upper tank and has a light-emitting surface located within the internal space of the upper tank to project sensing light onto the insulating oil in the second oil chamber to detect changes in oil level.

[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems, another technical solution adopted by the present invention is to provide an oil-immersed transformer, which includes an oil storage device and an oil level detection device. The oil storage device stores insulating oil and includes a first oil chamber. The oil level detection device includes a removable oil tank and an optical oil level gauge. The removable oil tank includes a lower tank and an upper tank. The lower tank is mounted on the oil storage device, and the upper tank is located above and spatially communicates with the lower tank. The lower tank includes a second oil chamber spatially communicating with the first oil chamber, allowing the insulating oil to flow between the first and second oil chambers. The optical oil level gauge is mounted on the upper tank and has a light-emitting surface located within the internal space of the upper tank to project sensing light onto the insulating oil in the second oil chamber to detect changes in oil level.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oil storage device includes a first lateral opening communicating with the first oil chamber and a first docking portion disposed around the first lateral opening, the lower housing includes a second lateral opening communicating with the second oil chamber and a second docking portion disposed around the second lateral opening, and the first docking portion and the second docking portion dock together to form a sealing connection.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, both the first mating portion and the second mating portion are configured as flange structures.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the lower housing includes a top opening and a third mating portion disposed around the top opening, the upper housing includes a bottom opening and a fourth mating portion disposed around the bottom opening, and the third mating portion and the fourth mating portion are mated to form a sealing engagement.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the lower housing includes a main body and an extension, the extension direction of the main body being perpendicular to the extension direction of the extension; wherein the main body is provided with the second oil chamber, the second lateral opening and the second docking portion, and the extension is provided with the top opening and the third docking portion.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, both the third docking portion and the fourth docking portion are configured as flange structures.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, the upper housing includes a top cover relative to the bottom opening, and the optical oil level gauge is mounted on the top cover.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper housing includes an oil injection valve disposed on the top cover, and the lower housing includes an oil drain valve disposed on the main body.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the oil level detection device further includes a support frame, and the main body of the lower housing is fixed to the support frame.

[0016] In general, the oil level detection device provided by this invention can be detachably installed on the oil storage device of an oil-immersed transformer, making it applicable to both new and old types of transformers. Furthermore, by utilizing the following features: "the detachable oil tank includes a lower tank and an upper tank, the lower tank is installed on the oil storage device, and the upper tank is located above and spatially connected to the lower tank"; "the oil storage device includes a first oil chamber, and the lower tank includes a second oil chamber spatially connected to the first oil chamber, allowing the insulating oil to circulate between the first and second oil chambers"; and "the optical oil level gauge has a light-emitting surface located within the internal space of the upper tank to project sensing light onto the insulating oil in the second oil chamber to detect changes in oil level," the device can remotely monitor changes in the insulating oil level in real time, accurately grasp the oil level status in the transformer, and immediately issue a warning when the oil level is abnormal, thereby preventing transformer damage.

[0017] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, the drawings provided are for reference and illustration only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0018] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of one of the oil level detection devices of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 is another perspective view of the oil level detection device of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of one of the operating states of the oil level detection device of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another usage state of the oil level detection device of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the oil-immersed transformer of the present invention. Implementation

[0023] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the "oil-immersed transformer and its oil level detection device" disclosed in this invention. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of this invention from the content disclosed in this specification. This invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified and changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of this invention. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings of this invention are for simple illustrative purposes only and are not depictions of actual dimensions, as stated in advance. The following embodiments will further describe the relevant technical content of this invention in detail, but the disclosed content is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention. In addition, the term "or" used herein should be interpreted to include, depending on the actual situation, any combination of any one or more of the associated listed items.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, the terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The operations or instruments involved in the various embodiments are, unless otherwise specified, conventional operations or instruments in the art. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, the element may be directly connected to or coupled to the other element, or there may be intermediate elements present.

[0025] The concept of this invention is to install a non-contact digital oil level gauge onto the oil tank of an oil-immersed transformer through modular design. This not only applies to both new and old transformers, but also enables remote monitoring, allowing for immediate detection of abnormal oil levels inside the transformer and timely reporting and response.

[0026] [First Embodiment]

[0027] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4. Figures 1 and 2 show the structure of the oil level detection device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 3 and 4 show the usage state of the oil level detection device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the above figures, the oil level detection device 1 of the present invention adopts a modular and replaceable design, which mainly includes a detachable oil tank 11 and an optical oil level gauge 12. The detachable oil tank 11 can be detachably installed on the oil storage device 2 (such as an oil tank) of the oil-immersed transformer, wherein a portion of the insulating oil 3 in the oil storage device 2 will flow into the detachable oil tank 11. The optical oil level gauge 12 is installed on the detachable oil tank 11 and is configured to detect the oil level of the insulating oil 3 by means of light projection.

[0028] It is worth mentioning that the optical oil level gauge 12 can periodically collect data on the oil level of the insulating oil 3, such as collecting real-time oil level data at the moment of transformer operation every 10 minutes or 1 hour; and the optical oil level gauge 12 can store the collected data in a database or transmit it to the monitoring center. Therefore, the changes in the oil level of the insulating oil 3 can be monitored remotely in real time, so as to accurately grasp the oil level status inside the oil-immersed transformer and issue an immediate warning when the oil level status is abnormal, thereby preventing transformer damage.

[0029] In this invention, the detachable oil tank 11 includes a lower tank 111 and an upper tank 112. The lower tank 111 is attached to one side of the oil storage device 2 in the form of a communicating vessel, and the upper tank 112 is located above the lower tank 111 and spatially communicates with it. Specifically, the oil storage device 2 includes a first oil chamber C1, and the lower tank 111 includes a second oil chamber C2 spatially communicating with the first oil chamber C1, so that the insulating oil 3 can flow between the first oil chamber C1 and the second oil chamber C2. In addition, an optical oil level gauge 12 is installed on the upper tank 112, and the light-emitting surface 121 of the optical oil level gauge 12 is located in the internal space of the upper tank 112 to project sensing light into the insulating oil 3 in the second oil chamber C2 to detect changes in the oil level.

[0030] In this embodiment, the oil storage device 2 includes a first lateral opening V1 communicating with the first oil chamber C1 and a first mating portion D1 disposed around the first lateral opening V1. The lower housing 111 includes a second lateral opening V2 communicating with the second oil chamber C2 and a second mating portion D2 disposed around the second lateral opening V2, and the first mating portion D1 and the second mating portion D2 are mated to form a sealing connection. Both the first mating portion D1 and the second mating portion D2 are configured as flange structures, and a sealing element (such as a sealing gasket) may be disposed between the first mating portion D1 and the second mating portion D2, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] As a component of the detachable fuel tank 11, the lower tank body 111 includes a top opening V3 and a third mating portion D3 arranged around the top opening V3, and the upper tank body 112 includes a bottom opening V4 and a fourth mating portion D4 arranged around the bottom opening V4, wherein the third mating portion D3 and the fourth mating portion D4 are mated to form a sealing joint. Both the third mating portion D3 and the fourth mating portion D4 are flange structures, and a sealing element (such as a sealing gasket) may be provided between the third mating portion D3 and the fourth mating portion D4, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0032] Furthermore, the lower housing 111 is roughly L-shaped, comprising a main body 1111 and an extension 1112, with the extension direction of the main body 1111 perpendicular to the extension direction of the extension 1112. The main body 1111 includes a second oil chamber C2, a second lateral opening V2, and a second mating portion D2, while the extension 1112 includes a top opening V3 and a third mating portion D3. Additionally, the upper housing 112 includes a top cover 1121 opposite to the bottom opening V4, and an optical oil level gauge 12 is mounted on the top cover 1121 so that the position of the light-emitting surface 121 corresponds to the second oil chamber C2. The main body 1111 and extension 1112 of both the upper and lower housings 112 are substantially cylindrical. To achieve high-precision oil level detection, the sum of the height of the upper housing 112 and the height of the extension 1112 of the lower housing 111 can match the projection distance of the sensing light of the optical oil level gauge 12, and the internal width of the extension 1112 of the upper housing 112 and the lower housing 111 can match the projection range of the sensing light of the optical oil level gauge 12.

[0033] In practical applications, the oil level detection device 1 of the present invention may further include a support frame 13, and the main body 1111 of the lower housing 111 may be fixed to the support frame 13. In addition, the lower housing 111 may include an oil drain valve 1113 disposed on the main body 1111, and the upper housing 112 may include an oil injection valve 1122 and an air vent valve 1123 disposed on the top cover 1121.

[0034] [Second Embodiment]

[0035] Referring to Figure 5 and in conjunction with Figures 1 to 4, a second embodiment of the present invention provides an oil-immersed transformer Z, which includes a transformer body 4, an oil storage device 2, and an oil level detection device 1. The oil storage device 2 stores insulating oil 3. The oil storage device 2 is positioned above the transformer body 4 and connected to the transformer body 4 via a pipe, thereby regulating the oil volume and ensuring that the transformer body 4 is always filled with oil. The oil level detection device 1 includes a removable oil tank 11 and an optical oil level gauge 12. The removable oil tank 11 can be detachably installed onto the oil storage device 2 (such as an oil reservoir) of the oil-immersed transformer, wherein a portion of the insulating oil 3 in the oil storage device 2 flows into the removable oil tank 11. The optical oil level gauge 12 is installed on the removable oil tank 11 and is configured to detect the oil level of the insulating oil 3 by means of light projection.

[0036] In this embodiment, the detachable oil tank 11 includes a lower tank 111 and an upper tank 112. The lower tank 111 is attached to one side of the oil storage device 2 in the form of a communicating vessel, and the upper tank 112 is located above the lower tank 111 and spatially communicates with it. Specifically, the oil storage device 2 includes a first oil chamber C1, and the lower tank 111 includes a second oil chamber C2 that spatially communicates with the first oil chamber C1, so that the insulating oil 3 can flow between the first oil chamber C1 and the second oil chamber C2. In addition, an optical oil level gauge 12 is installed on the upper tank 112, and the light-emitting surface 121 of the optical oil level gauge 12 is located in the internal space of the upper tank 112 to project sensing light into the insulating oil 3 in the second oil chamber C2 to detect changes in the oil level.

[0037] It is worth mentioning that an air bag (unlabeled) can be provided inside the oil storage device 2 to isolate the insulating oil 3 from the atmosphere. The present invention installs the optical oil level gauge 12 onto the oil storage device 2 through modular design. Even if the air bag expands in volume, it will not block the light projection path of the optical oil level gauge 12, thus ensuring the normal operation of the optical oil level gauge 12.

[0038] The relevant technical details mentioned in the first embodiment remain valid in this embodiment, and will not be repeated here to avoid repetition. Similarly, the relevant technical details mentioned in this embodiment can also be applied to the first embodiment.

[0039] [Beneficial Effects of the Examples]

[0040] The oil level detection device provided by this invention can be detachably installed on the oil storage device of an oil-immersed transformer, making it applicable to both new and old types of transformers. Furthermore, by utilizing the following features: "the detachable oil tank includes a lower tank and an upper tank, the lower tank being installed on the oil storage device, and the upper tank being located above and spatially communicating with the lower tank"; "the oil storage device includes a first oil chamber, and the lower tank includes a second oil chamber spatially communicating with the first oil chamber, allowing the insulating oil to circulate between the first and second oil chambers"; and "the optical oil level gauge has a light-emitting surface located within the internal space of the upper tank to project sensing light onto the insulating oil in the second oil chamber to detect changes in oil level," the device can remotely monitor changes in the insulating oil level in real time, accurately grasp the oil level status in the transformer, and immediately issue a warning when the oil level is abnormal, thereby preventing transformer damage.

[0041] The content disclosed above is only a preferred and feasible embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings are included in the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

[0042] Z: Oil-immersed transformer 1: Oil level detection device 11: Removable oil 111: Lower box 1111: Main body 1112: Extension 1113: Oil drain valve 112: Upper box 1121: Top Cap 1122: Oil injection valve 1123: Air relief valve 12: Optical oil level gauge 121: Exposed surface 13: Support frame 2: Oil storage device 3: Insulating oil C1: First oil chamber C2: Second oil chamber D1: First docking section D2: Second docking section D3: Third docking section D4: Fourth Docking Section V1: First lateral opening V2: Second lateral opening V3: Top opening V4: Bottom opening

Claims

1. An oil level detection device suitable for an oil-immersed transformer, the oil-immersed transformer including an oil storage device for storing insulating oil, wherein the oil level detection device includes: A detachable oil tank includes a lower tank and an upper tank. The lower tank is mounted on an oil storage device, and the upper tank is located above and spatially connected to the lower tank. The oil storage device includes a first oil chamber, and the lower tank includes a second oil chamber spatially connected to the first oil chamber, so that the insulating oil can flow between the first oil chamber and the second oil chamber. An optical oil level gauge is mounted on the upper tank, wherein the optical oil level gauge has a light-emitting surface located in the internal space of the upper tank to project sensing light onto the insulating oil in the second oil chamber to detect changes in the oil level.

2. The oil level detection device as described in claim 1, wherein, The oil storage device includes a first lateral opening communicating with the first oil chamber and a first docking portion disposed around the first lateral opening. The lower housing includes a second lateral opening communicating with the second oil chamber and a second docking portion disposed around the second lateral opening. The first docking portion and the second docking portion are docked to form a sealing connection.

3. The oil level detection device as described in claim 2, wherein, Both the first and second docking parts are configured as flange structures.

4. The oil level detection device as described in claim 2, wherein, The lower housing includes a top opening and a third mating portion disposed around the top opening, and the upper housing includes a bottom opening and a fourth mating portion disposed around the bottom opening, wherein the third mating portion and the fourth mating portion are mated to form a sealing joint.

5. The oil level detection device as described in claim 4, wherein, The lower housing includes a main body and an extension, the extension direction of the main body being perpendicular to the extension direction of the extension; wherein, the main body is provided with the second oil chamber, the second lateral opening and the second docking portion, and the extension is provided with the top opening and the third docking portion.

6. The oil level detection device as described in claim 4, wherein, Both the third and fourth docking parts are configured as flange structures.

7. The oil level detection device as described in claim 5, wherein, The upper housing includes a top cover relative to the bottom opening, and the optical oil level gauge is mounted on the top cover.

8. The oil level detection device as described in claim 7, wherein, The upper housing includes an oil injection valve disposed on the top cover, and the lower housing includes an oil drain valve disposed on the main body.

9. The oil level detection device as claimed in claim 5 further includes a support frame, and the main body of the lower housing is fixed to the support frame.

10. An oil-immersed transformer, comprising: An oil storage device for storing an insulating oil, wherein the oil storage device includes a first oil chamber; An oil level detection device includes: a detachable oil tank, comprising a lower tank and an upper tank, the lower tank being mounted on the oil storage device, the upper tank being located above the lower tank and communicating with it, wherein the lower tank includes a second oil chamber communicating with the first oil chamber, so that the insulating oil can flow between the first oil chamber and the second oil chamber; and an optical oil level gauge mounted on the upper tank, wherein the optical oil level gauge has a light-emitting surface located in the internal space of the upper tank, so as to project sensing light onto the insulating oil in the second oil chamber to detect changes in the oil level.

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