Numerical computation of the emitted noise of power transformers

A recently developed calculation scheme for the numerical computation of the load‐controlled acoustic noise of power transformers is presented. This modeling scheme allows the precise and efficient computation of the coupled electromagnetic, mechanical and acoustic fields. The equations are solved using the finite element method (FEM) as well as the boundary element method (BEM), resulting in a separation of the acoustic‐magnetomechanical calculation of the winding vibrations resp. the acoustic‐mechanical computation of the tank vibrations (using FEM) and the calculation of the acoustic free‐field radiation (using BEM). The validity of the computer simulations has been verified by means of appropriate measurements. Simulated and measured values for winding and tank surface vibrations as well as the sound power level of the loaded transformer are found to be in good agreement.