Cracking Analysis of a Brass Clamp Mounted on the Main Transformer in the Power Grid System

Jiahui Chen (), Jie Feng, Fangqiang Wang, Qian Peng, Guitian Lan, Lihua Zhao and Longwen Wu
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Jiahui Chen: State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Research Institute, Chengdu 610000, China
Jie Feng: State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Research Institute, Chengdu 610000, China
Fangqiang Wang: State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Research Institute, Chengdu 610000, China
Qian Peng: State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Research Institute, Chengdu 610000, China
Guitian Lan: College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, China
Lihua Zhao: College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, China
Longwen Wu: College of Electrical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Cracking of conductive brass accessories in substations causes overheating or an open circuit, seriously affecting the safe and stable operation of the power grid system. A deep understanding of failure mechanisms could provide more safety, as well as lower down costs and save time for the power grid system, which have been seldomly involved in the literature. This paper presents a cracking analysis of a brass clamp in service for seven years that is mounted on the main transformer. The fracture morphology, chemical composition, and metallographic structure of the brass clamp were systematically analyzed, and the stress conditions were obtained by finite element simulation. The clamp exhibits transgranular brittle fracture with high oxygen content in the fracture, containing a crack propagation along the Pb particle connecting pathways, and the stress concentration was confirmed at the crack position. It is concluded that the failure was a result of the stress corrosion cracking and excessive content of Pb. Suggestions were proposed to avoid malfunction of the main transformer caused by the clamp crack.

Keywords: brass clamp; stress corrosion cracking; fracture; failure (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
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