Transformer Oil to be Tested and New Technologies to Make It More Efficient

Various activities have been taken place in the transformer oil industry with testing of oil performance in transformers along with testing of robots for inspection. Technology has been advanced and new ways to utilize transformers have been found. Manufacturers have been testing transformers before launching and releasing details related to those tests.

Tebian Electric Apparatus (TBEA), the Chinese transformer manufacturer unveiled the details regarding a new transformer that works on natural transformer oils. Han Tao, the Manager of International Business at TBEA, stated that the firm successfully designed and carried out tests of a new transformer that utilizes natural ester fluid. These ester oils have been derived from vegetable oils and offer a number of benefits such as coolants along with biodegradability.

The 63000KVA/110KV transformer has not made commercially available, however, it is a major step toward developing greener energy transmission. These tests outline that there will be transformers operating on natural oils in the future. According to the research firm Allied Market Research, the transformer oil market is expected to reach $3.4 billion by 2020 at a CAGR of 6.3% and will maintain significant growth rate by 2025.

The interior of the transformer contain space which is filled with oil. This oil needs to be drained if person enters the space to carry out annual inspection. However, it may be fatal as that metal chamber may be filled with toxic residues from burnt insulation materials. For this procedure, oil needs to be drained and then restored. This could take a week and there is a risk of spillage. This procedure can be eliminated and risks can be reduced with the help of technology.

Jamie Stapleton, the digital leader at ABB’s Power Grids Division in the U.K., highlighted that this procedure would become redundant as there will be implementation of inspection services that use technology “unique to ABB”. Stapleton added that the TXplore robot, which is a remotely operated vehicle can be put down into an oil-filled transformer. It can be swum into the chamber and conduct a full inspection of the interior. This offers another advantage of safe inspection along with performing the entire operation in the reduced timescale.

According to Stapleton, it would take only one or two days at most. This machine had been developed by the company. Five of them are in operation currently with each weighing nearly five kilograms. It can be lowered and lifted in the transformer by an individual. This is operated with the help of PC with commands. Then it takes images and videos of the transformer’s interior. These images and videos are sent back to PC for analysis. Another striking feature of this robot is that it does not introduce bubbles into the oil during inspection. This may lead to reduction in electrical performance of transformer. Stapleton outlined that comprehensive development had been carried out with oil testing before and after the inspections. This had been done to ensure the robot does not generate any bubbles

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