FUNCTIONS OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

1. “From an User perspective: To formally and fairly communicate exactly what the

Contractor has to deliver.” [1]

2. “From a Contractor perspective: To be able to accurately offer services and

products which provide a satisfactory solution (technical and commercial) to

user; while remaining a long-term profitable business.” [1]

3. “For both User and Contractor: To avoid relationship mishaps associated with

costly variation work.” [1]

4. Enable the manufacturer’s design engineers to understand the characteristics of

the user’s system and how the transformers are operated in service.

5. Create an opportunity for manufacturers to apply improved design and

manufacturing methods beneficial to users. Also an opportunity to use advanced

materials and accessories.

6. Many users are of the opinion that they are procuring the lowest cost

transformers by ordering based on the lowest evaluated cost bid. Effective

specifications will help procure transformers with the lowest life cycle cost.

7. Technical specifications provide the user a future record of design

parameters to which a particular transformer was purchased. This information

is essential for users when a specific transformer has to be moved to a

different location with different system needs or when a mature system’s

contingency plans change. New requirements evolve over time. Past

specifications may not have considered modern criteria such as:

(i) GIC (Geometrically Induced Currents) requirements.

(ii) Free buckling requirements on inner coils.

(iii) Advanced on-line monitoring devices.

(iv) Vacuum type on-load tap changers.

(v) SFRA requirements.

(vi) Apparent charge (pC).

(vii) Impact of secondary generation, especially on transformers with dual

secondaries.