Detection of Saturation Level in the Magnetic Core of a Welding Transformer by Artificial Neural Network Detector

S. Rama Subbanna*, Suryakalavarthi, M**
* Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, St. Martins Engineering College, JNTU Hyderabad.
** Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.
Periodicity:July - September'2013
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jee.7.1.2429

Abstract

This paper aims to develop an Artificial Neural Network based controller to detect the saturation level in the magnetic core of a welding transformer. The magnetization level detector is a substantial component of a Middle-Frequency Direct Current (MFDC) Resistance Spot Welding System (RSWS). The basic circuit of a resistance spot welding system consists of an input rectifier, an inverter, a welding transformer, and a full-wave rectifier which is mounted on the output of the welding transformer. The presence of unbalanced resistances of the transformer secondary windings and the difference in characteristics of output rectifier diodes can cause the transformers magnetic core to become saturated. This produces spikes in the primary current and finally leads to the over-current protection switch-off of the entire system. To prevent the occurrence of such a phenomena, the welding system control must detect that the magnetic core is approaching saturation. In this paper,an Artificial Neural Network is designed whose only input is the primary current of the welding transformer. The proposed ANN is based on the dynamic model of the Resistance Spot Welding System. Before the ANN can be applied, its structure must be defined and an appropriate learning method must be adopted for its training. The ANN implemented in this paper is a three layered ANN and is trained using the resilient back-propagation algorithm. The ANN is trained so as to recognize the waveform of the current spikes in the primary current caused by the magnetic core saturation, which is then used for magnetization level detection.

Keywords

Transformers, Hysteresis, Welding, Neural Network Applications, Controllers.

How to Cite this Article?

Subbanna, S. R.,and Suryakalavarthi, M. (2013). Detection Of Saturation Level In The Magnetic Core Of A Welding Transformer By Artificial Neural Network Detector. i-manager’s Journal on Electrical Engineering, 7(1), 36-40. https://doi.org/10.26634/jee.7.1.2429

References

[1]. K. Deželak, J. Pihler, G. Štumberger, B. Klopcicand D. Dolinar, (2010). “Artificial Neural Network Applied for Detection of Magnetization Level in the Magnetic Core of a Welding Transformer,” IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 634–637, February.
[2]. B. M. Brown, (1987) “A comparison of AC and DC resistance welding of automotive steels,” Welding J., Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 18-23, Jan.
[3]. W. Li, E. Feng, D. Cerjanec, and G. A. Grzazinski, (2004). “A comparison of AC and DC resistance welding of automotive steels,” in Sheet Metal Welding Conf. XI, Sterling Heights, MI, May.
[4]. Miyachi Electronic Company, Chiba-ken, Japan, (2000). “Method and apparatus for controlling resistance welding,” U.S. Patent 6 011 235, Jan.
[5]. J. A. Sabate, V. Vlatkovic, R. B. Ridley, F. C. Lee, and B. H. Cho, (1990). “Design considerations for high-voltage high-power full bridge zero voltage-switching PWM converter,” in IEEE Appl. Power Electron Conf.,1990, pp. 275-284.
[6]. W. Li, D. Cerjanec, and G. A. Grzadzinski, (2005). “A comparative study of single AC and multiphase DC resistance spot welding,” ASME Trans. J. Manuf. Sci. Eng., Vol. 127, No. 3,pp. 583-889.
[7]. A.Canova, G. Gruosso, and B. Vusini, (2007). “Electromagnetic modelling of resistance spot welding system,” in ISEF 2007, XIII Int. Symp. Electromagnetic Fields in Mechatronics, Czech Republic.
[8]. B. Klopcic, G. Štumberger, and D. Dolinar, (2007). “Iron core saturation of a welding transformer in a medium frequency resistance spot welding system caused by the asymmetric output rectifier characteristics,” in Conf. Rec. IAS 2007 Annu. Meeting, New Orleans, LA, Sep. 2007, pp. 2319–2326.
[9]. K. Deželak, B. Klopcic, G. Štumberger and D. Dolinar, (2008). “Detecting saturation level in the iron core of a welding transformer in a resistance spot-welding system,” J. Magn. Magn. Mater. Vol. 320, No. 20, pp. 878–883, Oct.
[10]. K. Deželak, G. Štumberger, B. Klopcic, D. Dolinar, and J. Pihler, (2008). “Iron core saturation detector supplemented by an artificial neural network,” Prz. Elektrotech., Vol. 84, No. 12, pp. 157–159.
[11]. B. Klopcic, D. Dolinar, and G. Štumberger, (2008). “Advanced control of a resistance spot welding system,” IEEE Trans. Power Electron., Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 144–152, Jan.
[12]. D. J. Ramboz, (1996). “Machinable Rogowski coil, design, and calibration,” IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., Vol. 45, No. 2, Apr.
[13]. J. Pihler, B.Grcar, and D. Dolinar, “Improved operation of power transformer protection using artificial neural network,” IEEE Trans. PowerDel., Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 1128–1136.
[14]. M. El-Banna, D. Filev, and R. B. Chinnam, “Online qualitative nugget classification by using a linear vector quantization neural network for resistance spot welding,” Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol., Vol. 36, No. 2–4, pp. 237–248.
[15]. F. de Leon and A. Semlyen, (1994). “Complete transformer model for electromagnetic transients,” IEEE Trans. Power Del., Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 231–239, Jan.
If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Single Article

North Americas,UK,
Middle East,Europe
India Rest of world
USD EUR INR USD-ROW
Pdf 35 35 200 20
Online 35 35 200 15
Pdf & Online 35 35 400 25

Options for accessing this content:
  • If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
    Library Recommendation Form
  • If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
  • New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.