Are there transformer monitoring systems for distribution transformers? I could find lots of products for bigger transformers but almost none for transformers used in lower level distribution.
Not many, yet cheap could’ve made by micro controller.Refer my papers .....
yes today, there are systems that can effectively control the electrical parameters of distribution transformers, especially pole transformers. the microcontrollers associated with the data transmission system may be able to transfer the information relating to the operation of a transformer to a mobile of the operators, on a platform and scada
Transformer monitoring systems primarily were designed for big units. You ask for some kind of monitoring system for small units. You can try with your SCADA system in control room or with some station computer. Those system collect few data interesting for transformer maintenance, like U, I, P, Q, S, temperature for oil and winding. With those data, you can start to monitories smaller units. Also, if in company exist some Lightning Location System (LLS) you can use those data for tracing the possible overvoltages caused by lightning strikes.
Distribution transformers have a relatively low capital value so it is difficult to justify the cost of monitoring. However, as Igor Ivankovic mentioned, a microprocessor based system could be worth considering. I recommend you determine which aspects of operation have the highest impact on distribution transformer life and design a simple monitoring system using e.g. Arduino or Raspberry PI. Add a LoRaWAN module and you can set up a networked solution for less than $100/transformer.
In principle, most transformer monitoring system developed for large power transformers can be also used on smaller (medium power or even distribution) transformers. Nowadays, the cost of the cheapest (off-the-shelf) ones is in the order of magnitudes of 1000s $, so that their application to distribution transformer is generally not a cost-efficient option
As mentioned by Igor Ivankovic distribution units value is much lower and thus the interest to invest in them and price of monitoring might exceed the price of transformer. Developing new technologies (5G, cloud, cheap sensors) is opening up new oportunities to collect data from transformer such as Siemens Sensformer which is coming free of charge, I'm not sure from which power but partly it is covering also distribution transformers (also depending on how you define distribution transformers). I'm sure in future such deviced will be available also on smaller units as the price decreases further.
https://new.siemens.com/global/en/products/energy/high-voltage/transformers/sensformer.html