Wednesday 23 May 2012

Power Transformer Reliability is a Major Concern of Transformer Manufacturers

Around the globe different sectors share a growing concern over the reliability of the power transformer in operation. It would be a mistake to imagine that only power generation authorities or companies have any kind of need for power transformers . This is understood by all transformer manufacturers . Within power systems anywhere transformers form a substantial part of the asset costs. So it is critical that the power transformer in use is reliable too.
Transformer manufacturers prefer to use national standards like ANSI, NEMA and others which address many of the elements influencing operating environment of the transformer and provide recommendations or standard values wherever applicable. Weather conditions, location, electrical loading, operating methods, system parameters and application are various elements of the operating environment that need to be documented thoroughly while designing any power transformer .
The design engineer must get all the needed information within the specifications and any clarification, if needed, must be obtained from the user or use parameters detailed in the national industry standards. Failure to do so could result in decreased service life and premature failure. It should be kept in mind that heat and moisture related contamination are the two greatest enemies of a power transformer's operation.
Quality control measures used by transformer manufacturers will influence the finished product as distinguished from the prototype created during design. The transformer manufacturers understand the importance of ensuring that the manufacturing process does not deviate from the design in terms of materials used, processes, handling, machines and personnel. The manner of shipment and installation will also determine the longevity of the power transformer . This is because any mishandling during shipment and installation can lead to failure of the product at an early stage.
One way of ensuring the reliability of a power transformer is to have scheduled or regular maintenance, not just repair maintenance. With energy needs spiraling the world over it is essential that the key components of power distribution networks — transformers — are equal to the challenge of assuring uninterrupted power supply.

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