EEIM Seminar Keynote speech

Technology advances and

future trends
of the transformer industry

Professor Dennis J Allan

Callan’s Great Coil at Maynooth College, Dublin from 1837
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First transformer developed by Zipernowski, Deri and Blathy for GANZ in 1885
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Three-phase core-type transformer

5-leg core-type generator transformer: 716 MVA at 525 kV
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Three-phase shell-type transformer

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2000 MVA
1000
MVA
1150kV
100 1000kV
MVA

10
100kV
MVA
25kV
1
10kV
MVA
150kVA
100 1kV
kVA
1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

Rate of development of transformers

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Superconducting
transformer with a
niobium-tin winding
for operation at 2ºK
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Conceptual view of a high

temperature superconducting
transformer cooled using
liquid nitrogen from Waukesha
Electric Systems
Active parts of a 234 MVA HVDC converter transformer rated at 400 kV AC
and 215 kV DC (DC-lead side)
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1500 MVA bank of 800 kV transformers at Guri Dam

2000 MVA, 400 kV quadrature booster at Stocksbridge
An underwater transformer for installation at the base
of an oil-drilling platform in the North Sea
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DRYING CELLULOSE INSULATION

We pay great attention to removing the water

using vapour phase drying techniques,

But sometimes we ignore the dimensional

changes of the cellulose when water is removed.

If 10% of water is removed from cellulose some

dimensions can reduce in size by 10% .
Rate of aging

Increase of aging rate with water content of paper

Local hotspot where paper wrapped CTC
is shielded from cooling oil by spacer
Local hotspot where paper on CTC has burned away
and enamel detached
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The Drycol refrigerated breather

Molecular sieve oil
driers on a 400kV
transformer
400kV transformer
protected by rubber bag
and silica gel breather
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Pressure
In bar Percussion effect
5

3
Tank rupture
2 strength

0 0 10 20 30 40 50
Time in ms
Effect of rate of rise of tank pressure
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Mitigating actions to reduce risk of fire:

• Immerse transformer in inert atmosphere

• Rapid evacuation of oil from Transformer
• Replace oil by higher fire-point fluid
• Replace oil by gas – air or SF6
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Another transformer fire
8 000 kVA, 34.5 kV cast resin transformer with OLTC
110kV, 40MVA Cast Resin Transformer (PRC)
The Dryformer from ABB
132kV, 90MVA Power transformer using natural ester
Gas-insulated large power transformer in
Tokyo
 Coil Insulation Arrangement
Upper Press
Ring

HV
Winding
Core

(Disk)
Leg

LV
Winding
(Cylindrical
)

Lower Press Example

Example63MVA
63MVAClass
ClassGIT
GIT
Ring
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Future directions in transformer technology

• Adopt eco-designs and eco-manufacture

• Improve dimensional control of insulation
• Develop more effective monitoring systems
3 000 MVA, 1050 kV transformer bank