Multi-Objective Electromagnetic Design Optimization of a Power Transformer Using 3D Finite Element Analysis, Response Surface Methodology, and the Third Generation Non-Sorting Genetic Algorithm

Concepcion Hernandez, Jorge Lara, Marco A. Arjona () and Enrique Melgoza-Vazquez
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Concepcion Hernandez: La Laguna Institute of Technology, National Technological Institute of Mexico, Torreon 27000, Coahuila, Mexico
Jorge Lara: La Laguna Institute of Technology, National Technological Institute of Mexico, Torreon 27000, Coahuila, Mexico
Marco A. Arjona: La Laguna Institute of Technology, National Technological Institute of Mexico, Torreon 27000, Coahuila, Mexico
Enrique Melgoza-Vazquez: Morelia Institute of Technology, National Technological Institute of Mexico, Morelia 58117, Michoacan, Mexico

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: This paper presents a multi-objective design optimization of a power transformer to find the optimal geometry of its core and the low- and high-voltage windings, representing the minimum power losses and the minimum core and copper weights. The optimal design is important because it allows manufacturers to build more efficient and economical transformers. The approach employs a manufacturer’s design methodology, which is based on the usage of the laws of physics and leads to an analytical transformer model with the advantage of requiring a low amount of computing time. Afterward, the multi-objective design optimization is defined along with its constraints, and they are solved using the Non-Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA-III), which finds a set of optimal solutions. Once an optimal solution is selected from the Pareto front, it is necessary to fine-tune it with the 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA). To avoid the large computing times needed to carry out the 3D Finite Element (FE) model simulations used in multi-objective design optimization, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) polynomial models are developed using 3D FE model transformer simulations. Finally, a second multi-objective design optimization is carried out using the developed RSM empirical models that represent the cost functions and is solved using the NSGA-III. The numerical results of the optimal core and windings geometries demonstrate the validity of the proposed design methodology based on the NSGA-III. The used global optimizer has the feature of solving optimization problems with many cost functions, but it has not been applied to the design of transformers. The results obtained in this paper demonstrate better performance and accuracy with respect to the commonly used NSGA-II.

Keywords: power transformer; finite element analysis; genetic algorithms; optimization; surface response methodology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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