Transformers are one of the most critical assets within an electricity network. Effective management of these assets – from initial specification, to online monitoring, maintenance and eventual replacement – is an increasingly complex task with costly implications.
Read MoreNetwork planning is a complex process. It involves dealing with many unknowns and uncertainties, usually with a fixed pool of money to further complicate decision making. And of all the assets to plan for, transformers are one of the most important and unpredictable.
Read MoreAs part of acceptance tests on new units, the temperature rise test is intended to demonstrate that, at full load and rated ambient temperature, the average winding temperature will not exceed the limits set by industry standards. However the temperature of the winding is not uniform and the real limiting factor is actually the hottest section of the winding commonly called winding hot spot.
Read MoreIt is shown that in case of rapid load change, the methods used by classic WTI can indicate a lower temperature by more than 10°C even if they are properly adjusted for the steady state conditions. It appears that with the dependability of modern fiber optic sensors, the long-term performance of transformer cooling can be better achieved with these more accurate monitoring devices.
Read MoreMany transformer owners – utilities and industrial alike – are looking for new ways to reduce operational costs or free up capital for use elsewhere. Often the simplest solutions to implement can also be the hardest to find.
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