The Impact of Geomagnetically Induced Current on Single-Phase Saturable Transformer

Abstract

Changing of magnetic fields can cause electrical currents, known as geomagnetic ally induced currents that caused by solar storm. This current can affect power system especially power transformer as it can generate quasi direct current through the neutral of the transformer. Previous studies have shown that the risk is not just limited to high and midlatitude locations, but extends to power grids at lower geographic latitude as well. This paper presents the simulation of GICs using a single-phase saturable transformer under steady state and operation with GIC in MATLAB SIMULINK. The simulation results illustrate that when transformers are under influence of GIC, magnitude off lux and magnetizing current are increase with in time and distort the core of hysteresis curve. It indicates that GICs generated by solar storms can saturate the transformer, cause other effects such as transformer heating and creating large amount of harmonics. The findings have proven that GIC is a threat to the power transformer and can damage power system network.