High-Efficiency Vibration Isolation for a Three-Phase Power Transformer by a Quasi-Zero-Stiffness Isolator

The vibrations generated by a three-phase power transformer reduce the comfort of residents and the service life of surrounding equipment. To resolve this tough issue, a quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) isolator for the transformer is proposed. This paper is devoted to developing a QZS isolator in a simple way for engineering practices. The vertical springs are used to support the heavy weight of the transformer, while the oblique springs are employed to fulfill negative stiffness to neutralize the positive stiffness of the vertical spring. Hence, a combination of the vertical and oblique spring can yield high static but low dynamic stiffness, and the vibration isolation efficiency can be improved substantially. The dynamic analysis for the QZS vibration isolation system is conducted by the harmonic balance method, and the vibration isolation performance is estimated. Finally, the prototype of the QZS isolator is manufactured, and then the vibration isolation performance is tested comparing with the linear isolator under real power loading conditions. The experimental results show that the QZS isolator prominently outperforms the existing linear isolator. This is the first time to devise a QZS isolator for three-phase power transformers with heavy payloads in engineering practices.