VOL 11 ISSUE 4 OCTOBER 2024

COLUMNS: TECHNICAL ARTICLES:

Misleading labels Magnetic shunt
topologies
Breakdown voltage
statistics Safekeeping HV
Volt-time curves of transformers III
transformer insulation III Impact of transformer
shortage on green
ambitions
INTERVIEWS:
Michel Augonnet
Lorenzo Prieto
Vinamra Agarwal
Jörn Clasen

Forging ahead the

ISSN 1849-7268 (Digital)

innovation path with Hitachi

Energy
Interview with Lorenzo Prieto
▪ The railway network of tomorrow ▪ On-site service ▪ Sustainability for transformers ▪
▪ Investment in sustainable solutions ▪ Noise reduction and vibration control ▪ IN 25 ▪
 CONTENTS

INTERVIEW Michel Augonnet

President of CIGRE
Michel Augonnet talks in the interview about the key
challenges facing CIGRE, expanding CIGRE outside of
Europe, sustainability-related activities, and gender
equality in CIGRE.

14
INTERVIEW Lorenzo Prieto
Head of Technology at Hitachi Energy Transformers Business
This interview with Lorenzo Prieto, Head of Technology at
Hitachi Energy Transformers with 33 years of experience,
brings his insights into how the company has been keeping
its pioneering spirit over the years. He also shares his
thoughts on the key factors critical for maintaining the
company’s technology leadership.
28
INTERVIEW Vinamra Agarwal
Jt. Managing Director at Technical Associates Ltd
In this interview, Vinamra Agarwal shares how his family-
run business, Technical Associates Limited, is growing

Wherever You
during the global shift to electric energy. Discover the
company’s major milestones, including its evolution from a
small manufacturer to a critical player in the transformer
industry, ambitious expansion plans, and growing impact
50 on the worldwide transformer market.

Power, There’s a INTERVIEW Jörn Clasen

Managing Director of Krempel
In this interview with Jörn Clasen, the Managing Director
of Krempel, find out more about Krempel and its global
standing in the insulation materials industry. He also speaks
about the long-standing relationships Krempel has with
its customers, the company‘s acquisition of EIC Insulation
Company in Mexico, and Krempel‘s future plans for for
74 growth and sustainability.
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applications, HyVolt is introducing a line of natural and synthetic esters to complement our

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CONTENTS

MISLEADING LABELS
COLUMN 24 Tony McGrail
In this column, we will discuss the risks of using single-value in-
dices to evaluate diverse systems, from infrastructure to educa-
tion. Through real-world examples of a collapsing bridge, a tragic
school incident, and misjudged transformer health, we will see
how oversimplification can mask critical details and lead to se-
24 vere consequences.

BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE STATISTICS - PART I

COLUMN 40 Vitaly Gurin, Marius Grisaru
In this article, explore the fascinating evolution of transformer
insulation fluids, from the early use of mineral oil to modern
synthetic and natural esters. The article addresses the chal-
lenges of optimizing transformer insulation, including the need
for statistical methods to assess breakdown voltage and its

40 variability.

VOLT-TIME CURVES OF TRANSFORMER

COLUMN 64 INSULATION - PART III
Vitaly Gurin
The article on the volt-time curve of oil-filled power transformer
insulation offers a comprehensive review of a century’s worth of ex-
perimental research and accrued knowledge in the intricate area of
transformer insulation sizing. It presents a detailed analysis of past
64 experiments and the conclusions drawn concerning the volt-time
curve, providing valuable insights into this specialized field.

THE RAILWAY NETWORK OF TOMORROW

18 Himanshu SHAH,Ilario SCIAN, Paolo CASTANGIA
Hitachi Energy’s collaboration with Indian Railways is trans-
forming the nation’s rail infrastructure with advanced trans-
former solutions tailored for the new 2x27 kV system. These
cutting-edge innovations enable higher train speeds, greater
efficiency, and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, paving
18 the way for a sustainable future in rail transport.

THE RISING APPEAL OF ON-SITE SERVICE SOLUTIONS

34 Fernando MELO
Explore how on-site repair services are revolutionizing
transformer maintenance and Siemens Energy‘s cutting-edge
solutions for maximizing reliability, reducing downtime, and
supporting environmental goals. Find out how a successful
case study from a remote location in Brazil demonstrates the
34 benefits of on-site repairs in improving power generation and
overall system resilience.

SHELL’S INVESTMENT IN BETTER SUSTAINABLE

58 SOLUTIONS
In this article, find out more about Shell‘s investment in better
sustainable solutions. With the growth of the transformer mar-
ket in the past years, the available volume of waste transformer
oil will be insufficient to be the feedstock for a high share of
circular products. Due to this, it’s more imp ortant to offer high
58 quality products that meet the needs of the more intense use of
transformers.

6 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024

CONTENTS

NOISE REDUCTION AND VIBRATION CONTROL

80 Marta REINAS
Find out how cork-based compressed layer damping can trans-
form transformer noise levels and be used for vibration manage-
ment. This article examines the technical intricacies of damping
design and the environmental benefits of cork composites. Dis-
cover how Amorim Cork Composites‘ solutions optimize perfor-
80 mance in demanding applications.

POWER TRANSFORMER MAGNETIC SHUNT

84 TOPOLOGIES: A BRIEF REVIEW
Salvador MAGDALENO-ADAME
Magnetic shunts are utilized to avoid high power losses and hot
spots in power transformers by redirecting the stray magnetic
field. This article presents a review of diverse magnetic shunt
topologies employed in power transformers. The practical

84
utilization of magnetic shunts is demonstrated for tanks,
T-beams, and clamps.

PUSHING SUSTAINABILITY FOR TRANSFORMERS

94 Christina IOSIFIDOU
In this article by Siemens Energy‘s Head of Sustainability Grid
Technologies Christina Iosifidou, find out about sustainabili-
ty and how it relates to transformers. There is a global need
to decarbonize electricity, but transitioning to a green future
requires more than sustainable energy sources. The energy

94 infrastructure itself needs to become more environmentally

friendly.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR SAFEKEEPING OF HIGH

100 VOLTAGE TRANSFORMERS
K. K. MURTY, J. J. L. KAPIL, S. K. CHATURVEDI, Santosh DUBEY
The HV/EHV-level transformers are the most expensive
equipment in any substation / switchyard of transmission /
generating utilities or industries. The premature failure of the
power transformer causes a colossal loss. This article provides

100 guidance and best practices for handling transformers from the
moment they arrive at the site ad throughout the life cycle.

IMPACT OF TRANSFORMER SHORTAGE ON GREEN

108 AMBITIONS
Eyman IKHLAQ
Europe’s ambitious decarbonization goals and its significant
investments in electricity grid infrastructure are being
impacted by an acute shortage of distribution transformers.
This article delves into the steps being taken to upgrade the

108 grid for renewable energy while highlighting the challenges

posed by supply chain disruptions and regulatory hurdles.

INDUSTRY NAVIGATOR 2025 CONFERENCE

112 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR T&D
The Industry Navigator 2025 conference, taking place in Dubai
from 9-11 April, promises to be an unparalleled event for profes-
sionals in the transformer and switchgear industry. This prestig-
ious gathering, part of the broader Industry Navigator initiative,
will bring together high-profile decision-makers, influencers, and
112 innovators from around the world, all converging to address the
key challenges and future trends within the industry.

8 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024

Sustainable Development 9-11 April 2025
Strategies for T&D Dubai, UAE
Industry Navigator
2025 Conference

Shaping the future of the industry Powered by:

 EDITORIAL MESSAGE

CONTACT US TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE

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Dear readers,
EXECUTIVE EDITORS

T
[email protected]
Tel: +55 11 4961 0350 Michel Duval, PhD, Hydro Quebec, Canada his edition of Transformers Magazine Other articles highlight magnetic shunt topol-
Jean Sanchez, PhD, EDF, France is a testament to the dynamic evolution ogies and how Europe’s decarbonisation efforts
Michael Krüger, PhD, OMICRON electronics, Austria of the energy and transformer sectors, are reshaping the landscape of distribution
Canada:
Barry Mirzaei Jin Sim, Jin Sim & Associates, Inc., USA highlighting innovation, resilience, and for- transformers amid supply chain challenges.
[email protected] Juliano Montanha, SIEMENS, Brazil
ward-thinking leadership. From advancements
Tel: +1 647 309 1258 Craig Adams, TRAFOIX, Australia As we prepare for the Industry Navigator 2025
Arne Petersen, Consulting engineer, Australia in technology to the critical role transformers
play in the energy transition, our interviewees conference in Dubai on 9-11 April 2025, this
Zhao Yongzhi, Shandong Electrical Engineering & Equip-

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Tel: +91 99 750 975 34 ing our industry.
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EDITORS usually regard hotels as mere stopovers, the
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[email protected] Dr. Shuhong Wang, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China Interviews in this issue offer a perspective on portunities for sponsors and delegates alike. The
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INTERVIEW

Via its members, CIGRE needs to act so that the grids do not become the
weak link of the clean energy transition

An insight into CIGRE

with its president,
Michel Augonnet
Mr Augonnet, as President sector integration and their relation in How do you plan to expand
of CIGRE, what are the power systems expertise including cy- CIGRE outside of Europe?
bersecurity.
key challenges that
CIGRE is facing today? Europe is still very present in CIGRE
Compared to two years ago,
What challenges are you and represents 47% of its members. Af-
how has your perspective ter the setback following Covid-19, es-
anticipating in the coming
on challenges changed? pecially in Asia, CIGRE is growing again
years?
Have you noticed any new in these regions.
Modern, smart and expanded grids are challenges appearing, or
essential for the success of energy transi- have any challenges turned CIGRE had a very successful Sympo-
tions. Via its members, CIGRE needs to out not to be as great as you sium in Cairns (Austalia) with more
act so that the grids do not become the than 1300 delegates which is a record
were expecting?
weak link of the clean energy transition. for an odd year Symposium. In 2024,
As we are progressing, we can measure CIGRE held two out of three Steering
Actions are required today to secure the in real life and large scale the challenges Committees in India and China in or-
grids for the future, such as: of the transition with the increase of the der to have and give more visibility to
inverter-based sources of energy. The CIGRE in these key countries. These
• Facilitating and developing the ex- lack of natural inertia of these sources meetings and associated events were a
change of engineering and electricity poses a real threat to the network stabil- real success.
market knowledge and information on ity in case of faults and difficult recov-
power systems, ery, large scale incidents such as the one Both India and China submitted the
• Adding value to knowledge and in- in Australia teach us the way forward largest numbers of papers for the ses-
formation exchanges by synthesizing and the schemes to be implemented to sion. This was made possible by the
state-of-the-art and global best prac- reduce their negative impact. CIGRE suppression of quotas for papers, and it
tices, helps to disseminate this experience. is a real encouragement for everyone to
• Contributing to the promotion of so- participate.
cial sustainable development, In your last interview with
• Developing guidelines and informa- Transformers Magazine, we Is the increasing inflow of
tion to aid the emergence of new tech- members into the working
nologies and techniques, mentioned that there is an
increasing number of CIGRE groups something which is
CIGRE is actively promot- • Fostering growth and development
opportunities for the future workforce members from all parts of in favour of CIGRE?
ing Women in Energy and needed for the energy transition. the world, and you spoke
We have increased the number of mem-
today, there are 29 WIE part CIGRE will provide greater visibility to
about organizing events
bers per study committee and working
outside of Paris, and the
of National Committees the following topics: digitalization, stor-
need for certain areas to be
groups in order to include NGN and
age, grids and flexibility, sustainability WiE members as well as distribution,
and climate, solar PV and wind, hydro- better represented. What this will diversify participation and en-
gen, consumers and electrical vehicles, has come out of this? courage new members.

14 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 15

INTERVIEW

By removing the limits on the number of papers a country could present

at the Paris Session, the total number of papers has increased from 797
in 2022 to 1185 in 2024

Two years ago, you said By removing the limits on the number of National Committees. The number
that there weren’t many of papers a country could present at the of female members is still low (12, 8%)
Paris Session, the total number of papers but they represent 4 out of 16 (25%) of
challenges in engaging
has increased from 797 in 2022 to 1185 the Study Committee chairs and for the
experts in working groups. in 2024, with the quality being even bet- coming elections there is one candidate
Does the situation remain ter. The largest number of contributions for Future President and one for Chair
the same? Have you is on transformers, DC systems and pro- of the Technical Committee which is a
managed to keep the people tection and automation. great change.
managing these groups?
Which areas are attracting What is the situation in CIGRE Are there any sustainability-
people the most? regarding gender equality related activities ongoing in
and the participation of CIGRE? What advancements
The number of participants in work- women in working groups? have been made in the past
ing groups is increasing. This shows Are you satisfied? How has two years? Is the industry’s
their commitment as well as the sup- this changed in the past two turn towards sustainability
port of their employers to CIGRE at a years? happening at the expected
time when our industry is extremely pace?
under pressure by the growth in in- CIGRE is actively promoting Women in
vestments. Energy and today, there are 29 WIE part There are working groups focused on
sustainability, typically on the replace-
ment of SF6 and its substitutes and on
the improving of efficiency in power
systems and products.

What should we do to
attract more young people
to the industry? Once
they’re here, how to make
them stay? What are the
best ways in which they
could advance the industry
and enhance power grids?
At the National Committee level, we
have an active campaign in universities
and engineering schools. We should also
launch initiatives at a high school lev-
el in order to promote the relevance of
our industry’s contribution to the energy
transition and more globally to climate
change.

And finally, is there anything

else that you would like to add?
CIGRE has fully recovered from the
Covid years and is stronger opera-
tionally with enhanced digitized tools,
stronger financially thanks to increased
member participation and looking for- Power Transformers and
ward to the largest Paris Session with
more than 4000 participants. All this re-
Shunt Reactors Manufacturer
flects the growth of our industrial sector.
www.faramax.com [email protected]
16 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024
TECHNOLOGY Advertorial Himanshu SHAH, Ilario SCIAN, Paolo CASTANGIA

Hitachi Energy’s We are witnessing a growing governmental encouragement of train

usage as a means of reducing global CO2 emissions through the

Scott & V-Connected

promotion of sustainable daily practices

transformers:
Co-creating the way for
the railway network
of tomorrow

18 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 19

TECHNOLOGY

India’s railway network is the lifeline of the nation, transporting billions

of passengers and countless tons of freight annually

T
he railway industry is facing train services. This inefficiency, coupled duced by Indian Railways.
significant challenges due to the with rail lines congestion caused by an
increasing popularity of trains increased number of passengers, re-
for both commuting and freight quires substantial investments to mod- Powering Indian Railway
transport, as this represents an environ- ernize or expand the existing infrastruc- Modernization
mentally sustainable and convenient ture. India’s railway network is the lifeline of the
solution. From one perspective, we are nation, transporting billions of passengers
witnessing a growing governmental en- In its mission to support its customers in and countless tons of freight annually. As
couragement of train usage as a means of achieving their sustainability goals and the country continues to grow and devel-
reducing global CO2 emissions through meeting their needs, Hitachi Energy has op, the demands placed on this critical
the promotion of sustainable daily prac- designed an ideal solution to upgrade its infrastructure have intensified. Longer,
tices. However, this has placed increased transformers and contribute to creating faster, and more frequent trains are essen-
pressure on rail operators, who are re- a stronger and more sustainable railway tial to meet the aspirations of a burgeon-
quired to electrify more lines with more network. ing economy. However, India’s railway
sustainable solutions than the traditional network, while extensive, faces significant
high-emission diesel engines. In the pioneering spirit that Hitachi challenges in meeting the growing de-
Energy has in its DNA, innovations mands of a rapidly developing nation.
However, real challenges are being are often found through collaboration,
raised in many existing rail electrical which is why through a project devel- The traditional single-phase 27.5 kV
infrastructures of developing countries, oped together with Indian Railways, power supply system, while adequate
which still use old system configurations the Scott-connected and V-connected for earlier needs, is now a hold-up for
and old technology equipment that are Transformers have been designed and further development, as increasing train
outdated and unable to support the ris- developed to fulfil the specific require- speeds and higher traffic density neces-
ing demand for more frequent and faster ments of the new 2x27 kV system intro- sitate substantial consequent increases Scott-connected Transformer 100 MVA 220 kV

To implement this 2x27 kV system, Indian Railways relied on Hitachi

Energy’s expertise in specialized traction power transformers

in power delivery. The first challenge is way lines. By doubling the voltage, the role in building a greener and cleaner
to raise the power rating of single-phase 2x27 kV system can deliver significantly rail network.
transformers while maintaining the 27.5 higher power levels to trains, enabling
kV voltage level, which is impractical increased speeds and capacities without The benefits of these transformers ex-
as it would cause a higher voltage im- the drawbacks of increasing current in a tend beyond the railway sector. Faster
balance, leading to significant voltage single-phase system. and more reliable freight transporta-
drops. Secondly, power delivery at this tion will boost the economy, while im-
voltage level will result in higher pow- To implement this 2x27 kV system, In- proved passenger services will enhance
er losses, reduced efficiency, and infra- dian Railways relied on Hitachi Energy’s the overall quality of life for millions of
structure limitations. expertise in specialized traction power Indians.
transformers and together developed
Thus, the limitations of the existing sys- the Scott-connected and V-connected
tem posed clear challenges to the rail- Specialty Transformers. Hitachi Energy’s Scott-
way network’s ability to meet the rising connected and V-connected
expectations of passengers and freight The improved power quality and effi- Specialty Transformers
operators. To address the growing chal- ciency offered by the development of
lenges and unlock the full potential of these new transformers will lead to low- Hitachi Energy’s Scott-connected and
India’s railway network, a paradigm shift er energy losses and reduced environ- V-connected Specialty Transformers
was required. mental impact. In fact, the adoption of have been specifically designed to meet
Hitachi Energy’s Scott-Connected and the unique requirements of the 2x27 kV
Recognizing the limitations of the exist- V-Connected Transformers can lead to a system.
ing single-phase 27.5 kV system, Indian 30% reduction in CO2 emissions associ-
Railways has made the decision to adopt ated with transformers. As India strives These speciality transformers (Scott & V
the innovative approach of directly sup- to achieve its sustainability goals, Hita- Connected) meet higher power require-
V-connected Transformer 60 MVA 132 kV plying power to two separate 27 kV rail- chi Energy’s technology plays a crucial ments (for increased speed) along with

20 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 21

TECHNOLOGY

Transformer testing?
One-time connection

Hitachi Energy’s Scott-connected and V-connected Specialty

Transformers have been specifically designed to meet the unique
requirements of the 2x27 kV system

benefits such as better voltage regulation voltages allows for increased spacing more sustainable future together, deliver-
and reduced voltage imbalances in the between railway substations that supply ing them real value and measurable posi-
network compared to conventional sin- power to the train lines. This optimiza- tive impact.
gle-phase traction power transformers tion of electrical rail infrastructure re-
with similar power capacity. Additional- duces maintenance costs and improves An impact that extends beyond the devel-
ly, these transformers also facilitate larg- the overall system reliability. opment and delivery of technology assets
er spacing between traction sub-stations to the communities where we live and
(known as TSS) and significantly reduce operate as an industry leader, committed
communication interference. Driving pioneering impact to being a responsible and caring corpo-
in sustainability and social rate citizen. We foster sustainable growth
Testing at the Central Power Research progress of global communities by partnering
Institute (CPRI) in Bengaluru, a leading with local institutions and governments
Indian accredited testing laboratory, con- By addressing the critical challenges to bring reliable energy access and infra-
firmed the transformer’s ability to with- faced by the railway sector, Hitachi En- structure, fostering economic develop-
stand short-circuit faults, a critical safety ergy’s Scott-connected and V-connect- ment and improving quality of life.
requirement for railway applications. ed transformers are driving a new era of
rail transportation in India. With a focus
By enabling higher power delivery, these on efficiency, reliability, and sustainabil- Authors Transformer diagnostics in
technologies will facilitate increased ity, these benefits make Hitachi Ener-
train speeds, reduced journey times, and gy’s Scott-Connected and V-Connected Himanshu Shah, Application Engi- a single instrument.
enhanced passenger capacity. Further- transformers the preferred solution across neering Manager, HUB APMEA, Trans-
more, their ability to operate at higher the globe to meet higher power require- formers Business at Hitachi Energy Megger’s multifunction TAU3 streamlines transformer testing with
ments for rail traction applications. a one-time connection for all tests, reducing reliance on multiple
Ilario Scian, Global Product Manager,
Hitachi Energy’s solu-
instruments and maximising productivity. TAU3 helps you to increase
The improved power efficiency will con- Industrial and Specialty Transformers,
productivity and make fast, accurate maintenance decisions.
tribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions Transformers Business at Hitachi Energy
tions are not just about associated with transformers, supporting
technology; they are the global net-zero goals. Paolo Castangia, Global segment lead- ■ Maximise safety and efficiency with an intuitive interface
er for Railways, Transformers Business ■ Save time with one-click comprehensive testing
about empowering Hitachi Energy’s solutions are not just at Hitachi Energy ■ Optimise transformer performance through efficiency insights
progress and a testa- about technology; they are about em-
powering progress and a testament to the
■ Streamline workflows with seamless data integration

ment to the power of power of co-creation and partnership. Discover more about
Scan the QR-code
co-creation and part- At Hitachi Energy, our purpose is to be
Hitachi Energy’s
Scott and V-connected for more information
nership an advocate for our customers to shape a Transformers or visit megger.com

22 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024

COLUMN Tony McGRAIL

Misleading labels

tended outcomes. The discussion emphasizes the need We have three examples of evaluating
ABSTRACT
Simplifying complex data into single-value indices can
for more comprehensive assessments to avoid critical
available data to assess “fitness for
oversights.
often do more harm than good. This article examines purpose” with evaluations which had
three case studies—a bridge deemed “structurally de- KEYWORDS: unintended consequences
ficient,” a school rated “inadequate,” and transformers
misclassified by health indices—showing how these data simplification, evaluation, misinterpretation, complex
reductions can lead to flawed conclusions and unin- systems, asset health, risk management

24 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 25

COLUMN

Asset health indices have similar issues, ing”, “good”, “requires improvement” and
“inadequate”. As one teacher noted: “If
The index is a mod-
whether a grade or a score or whatever: re- a teacher summed up your child in one el, and all models are
ducing large amounts of data to a single val-
word, how would you feel?” After one
inspection, one school was downgraded
wrong, but how wrong
ue removes a huge amount of information from its regular grade of “outstanding” to does it have to be be-
“inadequate”. The Headteacher, who had
herself been a pupil at the school, took fore it becomes unac-

A
this very personally and very poorly: she ceptably wrong?
s humans, we like to categorize deficient” by the Federal Government committed suicide, with a subsequent in-
things, put them in “virtual” due to significant corrosion in bear- quest stating her action was a direct result
boxes to help us understand ings. Since 1993, the bridge has been of the evaluation process [5]. The school
the world around us [1]. It inspected annually by the Minnesota review system is now being reviewed what data goes in, what analyses are
could be as simple as “cars from manu- Department of Transport, and several itself – an aim is to remove the simple performed, and how the results are then
facturer X are unreliable” or “people from problems have been identified. In 2007, categorizations (the one/two-word as- used to drive actions: both short-term
Liverpool have a strong sense of hu- this bridge was one of 75,000 in the USA sessments) as they do not even nearly de- tactical and long-term strategic. Com-
mour”, and so on. It can be a useful trait with a “structurally deficient” classifica- scribe the hugely complex and intricate pressing a lot of data down into a single
to do this, as it helps us make sense of a tion and was scheduled to be replaced systems which comprise a school and its value and then putting it in a box marked
complex world by applying labels. But it in 2020. On August 1st, 2007, the bridge operation: a large amount of data boiled “adequate” means we have removed a lot
can also be misleading as we tend to as- collapsed, killing 13 people and injur- down to a one- or two-word summary. of information in the data: we have to de-
sume that everything in a box is the same ing scores more. A large investigation cide if that is justifiable and acceptable.
as everything else in the same box, and followed, with many questioning how Asset health indices have similar issues,
everything in the box is quite different to a bridge rated as “structurally deficient” whether a grade or a score or whatever: In an analysis of >900 transmission
anything outside the box, and this is not could be left in service with such a high reducing large amounts of data to a single transformers, each unit was assessed
always the case [2]. volume of traffic on it: how bad were the value removes a huge amount of informa- based on available data, design/manu-
deficiencies and what failure modes were tion. OK, there isn’t the same likelihood of facturer information, and operational
Here, we have three examples of evalu- involved over what time scales. There is someone committing suicide as a result of history and placed in one of 4 health
ating available data to assess “fitness for a lot to “unpack” from the phrase “struc- the evaluation, but there is a similarity in index categories: from code 1 being ex-
purpose” with evaluations which had un- turally deficient”. the data “compression”. To get value from pected to fail within 5 years, to code 4 be- References [6] https://skepdic.com/toothfairy-
intended consequences. an index, we need to ensure that the index ing “No known fault or design defect”. 30 [1] “Introduction to Human Behavior- science.html
In the UK, the Government body for is meaningful: avoiding what Dr. Harriet units which were replaced before failure al Biology”, Prof. R. Sapolski, Stanford,
A highway bridge on Interstate 35 in standards in education and schools is Hall of the US Air Force called “Tooth or as a consequence of failure were eval- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN- [7] Jarman P. et al, “Transformer Asset
Minneapolis, MN, built in 1967, crossed called Ofsted and evaluates schools on a Fairy Science” where numbers are add- uated to assess the accuracy of the health nIGh9g6fA Management: how well are we doing and
the Mississippi River, carrying upwards regular basis through on-site inspections ed, subtracted, multiplied and so on, and index process; of the 30 units, 20 were where do we need to do better?”, 82nd In-
of 140,000 vehicles daily [3]. In 1990, [4]. The outcome reduces the school to a number drops out at the end which is in the category assessed before failure, 5 [2] https://recoverynet.ca/2013/11/18/ ternational Conference of Doble Clients,
the bridge was classified as “structurally a one- or two-word grade: “outstand- supposed to relate to an asset condition differed by one category, and 5 differed the-perils-of-categorical-thinking/ Boston, USA, 2015
[6]. An index is an estimate and thus has a by more than one category. The actual
range or precision, and it should also have index was better than expected in 7 cases [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I- [8] Box, G. E. P. (1976), “Science and Sta-
some basic qualities: and worse than expected in 3 cases. This 35W_Mississippi_River_bridge tistics” (PDF), Journal of the American
demonstrates the caution we need to use Statistical Association
• Monotonic in urgency – a worse index when looking at transformer health in- [4] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/arti-
always requires more urgent interven- dices as they may seem to be extremely cles/c4gv0ydj62no [9] Cox, D. R. (1995), “Comment on
tion, and we have a timescale for action precise, but even for world-renowned “Model uncertainty, data mining and sta-
• Calibrated – the same index value for specialists such as those at National Grid [5] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/educa- tistical inference”, Journal of the Royal Sta-
different assets has the same urgency UK, there is always something new to tion-67639942 tistical Society
• Precision – we need to know what the learn, and processes can be improved [7].
range is on our estimate of condition,
and what that means for the urgency Whether we are talking about bridges,
• Auditable – when we plan an interven- schools or transformers, an index is a Author
tion, we need to know which data is convenient shorthand for communicat-
driving that intervention and why ing urgency, but it is not the whole pic- Dr. Tony McGrail is the Doble Engineering Solutions
• Justifiable – we don’t do things because ture of asset health. If you think about Director for Asset Management and Monitoring Tech-
the index has a particular value, the it, an asset which looks perfectly healthy nology. He has several years of experience as a utility sub-
index has a particular value because, based on an index is really one where station technical specialist in the UK, focusing on power
based on our data and analyses, it re- we have not categorically identified any
flects our need to do something significant deterioration, but it may be transformer tests and assessments, and as a T&D substa-
that we just haven’t looked hard enough! tion asset manager in the USA, focusing on system reli-
One way to think about the worth of an The index is a model, and all models are ability and performance. Tony is a Fellow of the IET and a
index is to consider whether it would be wrong [8], but how wrong does it have Member of IEEE, CIGRE, IAM and ASTM. He has a degree in Physics with a
useful if you only have one asset? What to be before it becomes unacceptably
does it do for you? We need to know wrong [9]? subsequent PhD in Applications of AI to Insulation Assessment.

26 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 27

INTERVIEW

My extensive international experience in various engineering and

management roles has enriched my business perspective and prepared
me to lead the global technology development of Hitachi Energy’s
transformer business

Forging ahead the

innovation path with
Lorenzo Prieto
Head of Technology at Hitachi Energy Transformers Business

I
t has been a few weeks since the clo- knowledge and technology in line with engineering and management positions
sure of the 2024 CIGRE Session. the pioneering leadership of the compa- have enriched my business perspective,
During those days in Paris, you could ny with more than 250 years combined deepening my understanding of how
feel the energy of an industry that heritage in transformers. the energy sector is evolving.
provided the path to electrify the
world further to transition to Net Zero. Inspired by this memorable participa- We are living in unprecedented times.
People everywhere, at an event full of tion, we aimed to explore how Hitachi Demand for transformers has increased
interaction, with companies presenting Energy has been keeping its pioneering
their offerings, different in-booth activ- spirit over the years, being at the leading
ities, workshops, poster and plenary ses- edge of the technology when it comes to Lorenzo Prieto is an Industrial En-
sions with industry experts eagerly inter- transformers. To help us gain insight into
gineer with over 30 years of exper-
changing ideas, knowledge, and passion Hitachi Energy’s innovation and technol-
to accelerate the progress. ogy priorities and vision, we interviewed
tise in the electrical and mechanical
Lorenzo Prieto, Head of Technology design of large power transformers.
The 2024 Paris Session concluded from the Business Unit Transformers at Graduated from the University of Se-
with record-breaking achievements, Hitachi Energy. ville in Spain, Lorenzo has cultivated
including attendance from over 4,500 a rich and dynamic career shaped by
delegates and more than 11,000 par- diverse international experiences.
Lorenzo, you have been in
ticipants from more than 95 countries. His deep technical knowledge and
This year’s event also had a record the transformer domain for
more than 30 years – tell us strategic vision have positioned him
number of contributions, with 1,185
at the forefront of innovation in the
papers presented. about your experience and
energy sector.
how you think the industry
Hitachi Energy also had a record num- has evolved over the past Lorenzo serves as the Global Tech-
ber of papers and contributions, in- few years. nology Manager for the Transform-
cluding more than 70 scientific papers, ers Business at Hitachi Energy, lead-
sixteen of those focused on the latest As you said, I’m an Industrial Engineer
ing technological advancements in
transformers technologies and inno- with 33 years of experience in the elec-
vations that show a clear commitment trical and mechanical design of large transformers solutions. His leader-
to collaboration and cocreation. Most power transformers. In my current role ship and forward-thinking approach
importantly, Hitachi Energy’s presence at Hitachi Energy, I lead the technolo- are key to driving Hitachi Energy’s
at the event was just the tip of the ice- gy development of our transformers transformers pioneering initiatives
berg, representing a large and diverse business globally, but my extensive in- on a global scale.
team of experts who are advancing the ternational experience across different

28 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 29

INTERVIEW

We co-create and develop new solutions through partnerships and Alongside the initiatives we carry out internally to increase our knowl-
collaborations with several universities and research centers around the edge, we are also constantly listening to the needs of the market and our
world customers

worldwide, driven by the energy tran- opment and growth of our employees are extensive product portfolio, where safety are a good example of how our experts er resources and innovative approaches (GFRP) into reclaimed glass fibers and
sition and the growing need for electri- top priorities. Just to give you an idea of and quality are paramount, and after are not just exploiting our experience but that are truly out of the box. We recently pyrolysis oil.
fication, among other factors. Hitachi the magnitude of this global initiative, we many years of experience in the market, are always trying to look beyond to ex- launched a contest for start-ups that ad-
Energy, as a leading original equipment currently have 250 courses permanently we are able to support our customers in plore new boundaries and to look further dressed entrepreneurs from around the Recycling is not our core business, so we
manufacturer (OEM) responded to available. In 2023, we provided 55 train- their diverse needs and work with them into the future seeking new opportunities world who were looking for innovative are happy to collaborate with third parties
customers’ and market demands for in- ing sessions – face-to-face, online, and to co-create the solutions they need. This for collaboration. ideas to drive sustainable solutions into that are more experienced than us in spe-
creased capacity through the various community sharing sessions with around is our core business, and the many papers the transformers industry. We received cific fields. In this case, they will help us on
investments that the company has an- 990 people trained from 26 countries. presented during CIGRE 2024, covering To pursue this philosophy, we must submissions from around 30 countries, our journey to reduce the waste to land-
nounced to expand operations of exist- So far, since we started this initiative, we topics like transformers sustainability, be aware of our field of expertise and and the winner was a startup dedicated fills, facilitating recycling and supporting
ing facilities and the construction of new have issued around 2,200 certifications to diagnostics, and renewable applications, where we can complement it with oth- to recycling glass fiber-reinforced plastics circularity while being energy efficient.
factories around the world. And I believe our employees.
this is proof of our pioneering vision and
strategy because what we are trying to do Alongside the initiatives we carry out
is to take advantage of all the good things internally to increase our knowledge, we
we already have in our company while are also constantly listening to the needs
recognizing and complementing what we of the market and our customers. Togeth-
are lacking or what we need to strengthen er with them, we co-create and develop
- for me this is what it means to be a tech- new solutions, or even through partner-
nology leader, to be aware of who you are ships and collaborations with several uni-
and what your capabilities are, to maxi- versities and research centers around the
mize them and to be proactive in seeking world. Some examples are the partner-
new ideas. ship we have with the University of Se-
ville in Spain, with North Carolina State
I firmly believe that at Hitachi Energy, University in the US, or the Uppsala Uni-
when we think about what makes us a versity in Sweden, where Hitachi Energy
leader, we need to consider our portfo- has established a close collaboration in
lio of cutting-edge solutions and, equal- research in several fields, such as materi-
ly importantly, the people behind those al science, process simulations, and high
technologies. They are the real heroes voltage physics. Examples of research
who keep our pioneering spirit and Hi- collaborations include Hitachi Energy
tachi Energy’s long transformer heritage employees conducting research as PhD
alive. students in the novel field of architectural
materials. In process simulations, Hitachi
Energy and researchers are collaborat-
It is certainly true that
ing on methods to optimize processes,
authentic leaders are those or in a recent and innovative collabora-
who constantly strive to tion, we are testing the use of AR/XR to
excel while having clear design specific products in the transformer
strengths. Which do you components field.
believe are Hitachi Energy’s?
You said that to keep the
At Hitachi Energy, we have some tru-
ly brilliant, knowledgeable, and diverse pioneering leadership alive,
people who are full of passion, and they’re you have to look beyond and
the ones who are shaping our corporate capture what you need, not
culture every day where knowledge shar- only in the present but in the
ing is crucial. For us, all the knowledge future.
of a person or team must be maximized,
which is why we have several initiatives in It might seem an easy answer, but “our
place to make this knowledge exchange people” is our real strength - and I firmly
happen. A concrete example is our Trafo believe in this statement. In our trans-
School initiative that acts as an enabler to former business, we have a deep under-
educate and certify our employees on var- standing of the design, features, and ca-
ious technical subjects. For us, the devel- pabilities of our transformers. We have an

30 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 31

INTERVIEW

The know-how of the talent we have in the company is shared and cir- In Hitachi Energy, we are adopting the use of AI and digitalization
culated among the teams around the world and in our research centers, to drive the industry in safety, quality, and overall customer
but this must also be transferred to future generations satisfaction

This has been an incredible learning ex- The transformer industry, and the ener- facturing techniques with our factories For instance, artificial intelligence plays To mention some examples, in design We are developing these projects while
perience for us. We saw how new gen- gy sector in general, have a responsibili- around the world, making possible our a key role in our transformers’ digitali- time, we are optimizing the electrical de- also training our engineers in the usage
erations and new business models can ty to attract new generations. To achieve goal of helping our clients wherever zation strategy. We are embedding the sign to reduce losses and prevent failures. of AI, publishing articles and patents in
complement what we do with innovative this, we need to increase the visibility they are and whatever their needs are. use of AI throughout the process value During manufacturing, we increase safe- this area, and leveraging partnerships
ideas. of our actions and, more importantly, chain with projects that directly impact ty in our factories and assist inspection with universities and third parties. Over-
demonstrate how we are making a posi- Digitalization must be considered and the design, manufacture, operation, and with AI. Through our monitoring tools, all, in Hitachi Energy, we are adopting
tive impact on society. Electricity will be exploited as a huge opportunity for im- maintenance of transformers and con- we are rolling out algorithms to predict the use of AI and digitalization to drive
You mentioned the new
backbone of the entire energy system, provement in efficiency in our process- sequently their safety, quality, reliability, end-of-life and detect failures in different the industry in safety, quality, and overall
generations. I would powering not only our homes but also es, platforms, and data management. and performance. components. customer satisfaction.
like to add that many industries, automobiles, transportation,
studies show they have and data centers. These data centers are
a particular inclination the brains of our increasingly connect-
toward more sustainable ed world and will drive developments in
choices and mindsets than artificial intelligence that will become
more prevalent in our lives and in the
the generations that have business environment.
preceded them. What is the
role of the new generations
What are the key factors
in Hitachi Energy’s
that you believe will be
strategy?
critical to maintaining the
This is a fundamental aspect to consid- company’s technology
er because, as I said, our people are our leadership? What cannot be
strength. The know-how of the talent overlooked?
we have in the company is shared and
circulated among the teams around the In recent years, there has been tremen-
world and in our research centers, but dous development and advancement
this must also be transferred to future from the standpoint of digitalization.
generations. We have made a transition from the
phase where we were trying to under-
Hitachi Energy is a growing company, stand the potential of digitalization to
and with the various investments in the point where we are now already ex-
our transformer factories, we need new ploiting this enormous potential and all
people and talents to meet the challenge the possibilities it has opened up ahead
of creating the solutions needed for the of us.
sustainable grid of the future. That’s
why we have many partnerships with We now consider digital transforma-
universities – we believe it’s important tion an enabler at Hitachi Energy and
to establish contact with young talents more specifically in transformers man-
early on in their education. They are the ufacturing. Through our technology
generations who will make the strategic platform TrafoStar, we are now capable
decisions in the next century, who will of making the most of our engineering
lead companies like Hitachi Energy and and R&D excellence centers around the
define which will be the leading solu- world. Wherever the source of new in-
tions and drivers to meet the evolving novations and know-how, we are able to
market needs. share information, designs, and manu-

In recent years, there has been tremendous

development and advancement from the
standpoint of digitalization
32 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 33
REPAIR/REFURBISHMENT Advertorial

The rising appeal of When a power transformer fails,

the main operational challenge is

on-site service solutions:

the resulting downtime, which can
cause significant bottlenecks in
electricity supply
A game-changer for
maximizing reliability and
uptime

also showcasing environmental benefits. These services

ABSTRACT
support the resilience and adaptability of the electrical in-
Transformers are vital to the electrical grid but can face is- frastructure, aligning with broader goals of environmental
sues due to aging or overloading, leading to costly outages. stewardship and economic prudence.
On-site repair services, such as those offered by Siemens
Energy, provide maintenance to extend transformer life KEYWORDS:
and reduce downtime. A case study from a remote loca-
tion in Brazil demonstrates the success of on-site repairs reliability, uptime maintenante, sustainsability, efficiency,
in improving power generation capacity and reliability while operatlion disrupiton

34 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 35

REPAIR/REFURBISHMENT

The on-site repair solution emerges as the The global challenge is now intensified by al disruption, avoiding the high costs and Siemens Energy stands out in the field of
the current scenario where the production hazards of transportation, and addressing
optimal choice for minimizing operational capacity for power transformers is at its the challenges of remote locations, urgent on-site transformer services that address
disruption brink, limiting the ability to quickly replace
or augment existing units to meet growing
response times, environmental concerns,
and regulatory compliance, all of which
the full spectrum of transformer mainte-
demand or to replace failing units prompt- are paramount. nance needs
ly. This scenario puts pressure on utilities
Empowering reliability: The outages and customer dissatisfaction. to extend the life of existing transformers • Minimized downtime: On-site repairs
vital role and maintenance of Additionally, as critical components of through meticulous maintenance while si- can often be completed more quickly • Logistical challenges: For transform- On-site service features
power transformers the electrical grid, power transformers multaneously addressing the challenges of than factory repairs since transporta- ers installed in remote or difficult-to-ac- By offering a holistic suite of solutions
command multi-million-dollar invest- doing so in an environmentally sustainable tion time is eliminated. This is crucial cess locations, the logistical challenges tailored to ensure optimal performance
Power transformers serve as critical nodes ment costs, reflecting their strategic and cost-effective manner. In this way, the for facilities where downtime directly and costs of transportation might make and longevity of energy assets, Siemens
within electrical systems, enabling the ef- importance and technological sophis- repair of power transformers presents as impacts production and revenue. on-site repair the only feasible option. Energy stands out in the field of on-site
ficient transmission and distribution of tication. Consequently, there is a strong a reliable option for mitigating these chal- • Minimized transportation expenses • Immediate response: On-site repair transformer services. Their comprehen-
electricity by converting voltage levels to emphasis on extending their operation- lenges. Repairs can be executed either in a and risks: On-site repairs significantly teams can often respond quickly to sive service packages deliver a robust
suit different stages of the electrical grid. al lifespan as much as possible through dedicated factory setting or directly on-site, reduce transportation expenses and en- emergencies, minimizing the impact on-site service experience that addresses
By stepping up voltage for long-distance rigorous maintenance schedules and depending on the specific requirements and sure the safe handling of large or heavy of transformer failure on operations the full spectrum of transformer mainte-
transmission to minimize energy loss and careful monitoring to maximize the re- conditions. Siemens Energy, with its com- transformers, eliminating the potential and safety. nance needs.
stepping it down for safe local distribution turn on this substantial investment and prehensive expertise, is equipped to carry for further damage during transit. • Environmental considerations: Re-
and use, they enhance energy efficiency, ensure grid reliability. out these complex repair tasks in both en- • Operational constraints: In some moving a transformer, especially one The key to Siemens Energy’s exception-
ensure the safety of electrical appliances, vironments, ensuring that transformers can industries, such as continuous man- containing oil, can pose environmental al service capabilities is its team of highly
and facilitate the integration of diverse When a power transformer fails, the continue to operate efficiently and reliably. ufacturing processes or critical in- risks; additionally, heavy transporta- qualified and well-trained personnel. The
power sources. Their role underpins the main operational challenge is the result- frastructure (e.g., hospitals, data tion contributes significantly to CO2 difference made by these skilled staff mem-
reliability, scalability, and economic via- ing downtime, which can cause signif- Vast distances or poor transportation con- centers), the transformer may be too emissions. bers cannot be overstated. Each technician
bility of electrical systems, making them icant bottlenecks in electricity supply. nections sometimes make it necessary to critical to take offline for extended • Regulatory and compliance issues: and engineer brings in-depth knowledge
indispensable for maintaining continu- This downtime not only affects consumer perform repairs on-site. Siemens Energy periods. Furthermore, the loss of In some cases, transporting the trans- and unparalleled experience, ensuring that
ous and adaptable power supply across satisfaction but also imposes economic has developed a mobile repair solution for redundancy (if applicable) will be former could involve regulatory com- every service, from routine maintenance to
various sectors of modern society. That strains on industries that rely on a con- this purpose. The container-sized mod- minimized. On-site repair allows for plexities due to the materials or com- complex repairs, is carried out with the ut-
is why it is so important to keep this asset stant power supply. ule provides all the necessary equipment quicker turnaround. ponents involved. most precision and expertise.
running smoothly. for analyzing a transformer’s condition,
Extending the life of existing transform- improving performance, and conducting
Power transformers are very reliable ers through repairs significantly reduces electrical tests.
assets. Depending on the type of trans- the demand for resources and benefits
former, their average failure rates are the environment by minimizing resource
When is on-site repair your
between 0.5% and 1% per year [1]. How- extraction and waste. This approach also
ever, these rates can spike due to aging promotes innovation in repair tech- best option?
infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, niques and sustainability practices with- The on-site repair solution emerges as the
or overloading, leading to unplanned in the power industry. optimal choice for minimizing operation-

36 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 37

REPAIR/REFURBISHMENT

On-site repair solutions, such as those ing electrical wiring and connections to pact associated with the production and A client from a remote location in Brazil en-
replacing worn gaskets and upgrading disposal of electrical equipment.
offered by Siemens Energy, provide signif- cooling system components, also you can hanced their hydroelectric plant’s efficien-
icant environmental benefits focusing on also opt for accessory updates and surface
protection for optimal efficiency.
For instance, when service is required in
Singapore, mobilizing personnel locally, cy by refurbishing and uprating five step-up
conserving resources and repair say from Jakarta to Singapore and back, transformers from 112 MVA to 134.4 MVA
- Electrical tests: With the mobile test results in approximately 0.2 tons of CO2
unit, we can test single-phase and three- [2] emissions per person. In contrast,
- Condition Assessment: Our com- through additives; stationary drying with phase transformers for all performance international mobilization from Frank-
prehensive diagnostic modules assess the DRY; long-term regeneration and drying and voltage classes. furt to Singapore and back generates sig- specialized air-conditioned tent for hu- Elevating power transformer
transformer condition, providing transpar- with CLEAN. nificantly higher emissions, around 2.8 midity control. repair services for longevity
ent and objective evaluations for informed tons of CO2 [2] per person. Therefore,
Environmental benefits of and efficiency
decision-making. With three levels of as- - Active part repair: Active part repair is a Siemens Energy, with its extensive glob- Old insulating oil was disposed of, and
sessment, including inspection, diagnos- specialized service targeting the restoration on-site repair al presence, is strategically positioned to the transformer’s active parts were re- In summary, Siemens Energy’s on-site
tics, and high voltage testing, DIAG offers of the most crucial components within a On-site repair solutions, such as those of- minimize environmental impacts. The moved, inspected, and reassembled with power transformer repair solutions
a thorough analysis of transformer health, transformer. Siemens Energy’s expert tech- fered by Siemens Energy, provide signifi- company can leverage its widespread lo- new components. An innovative vapor provide a strategic response to the chal-
identifying risks and prioritizing mainte- nicians address issues such as damaged cant environmental benefits by conserving cal expertise, reducing the necessity for phase in the tank process dried the active lenges of transformer failures, offering
nance actions. Our experienced service windings, core lamination problems, in- resources through the use of fewer new long-distance travel. Additionally, the use parts, followed by comprehensive testing rapid support, minimizing disruptions,
professionals provide detailed test reports sulation deterioration, and any other com- materials and components. This approach of advanced virtual tools for operations to ensure reliability. This strategic refur- and avoiding high transportation costs
with recommended actions. ponent failures that can compromise the also leads to a substantial reduction in and troubleshooting further lessens the bishment increased the transformers’ and risks. By prioritizing environmen-
transformer’s functionality and efficiency. waste; by repairing what already exists, the carbon footprint. Investing in the training power and longevity, improved system tal sustainability and utilizing advanced
- Oil treatment: Transformer oils di- cycle of discarding old transformers and and development of local teams across reliability, and provided sustainable diagnostics and innovative techniques,
rectly interact with the paper insulation of - Active part drying: The on-site meth- manufacturing new ones is interrupted. its global locations is important. This not maintenance for the electrical infra- Siemens Energy ensures the longevity,
the windings which in turn limits the life- ods, such as hot oil spray and vapor phase The carbon footprint of on-site repairs is only reduces travel-related emissions but structure. efficiency, and resilience of power trans-
time of a transformer if the paper condi- in the tank, ensure thorough moisture generally much smaller compared to the also improves the speed and efficiency of formers. The demonstrated benefits of
tion gets poor due to the impact of the oil elimination using heat applications, while full life cycle of manufacturing, transport- on-site transformer services. The project achieved continuous power on-site repair, showcased through a
condition. Siemens Energy offers a wide DRY provides an ongoing, in-service ing, and installing new transformers, as the generation with minimal downtime, compelling case study, underscore the
range of services for analyzing, cleaning, drying solution, leveraging adsorbent logistics involved have a significant envi- offered cost savings by upgrading exist- transformative impact of these services
Revitalizing hydroelectric
and regenerating the transformer oil: gas materials to sustain optimal moisture lev- ronmental impact through emissions. Ad- ing units instead of full replacements and in enhancing energy grid adaptability
chromatography and physiochemical els, with minimal disruption. ditionally, by extending the operational life power generation: A case minimizing environmental impact. while upholding environmental and eco-
analysis; F2AL determination; filtration; of a transformer, on-site repair solutions study in transformer uprating With modernized components and con- nomic prudence. Take action now to en-
filling in a vacuum; regeneration with REG - External parts refurbishment: From reduce the need for frequent replacements, and refurbishment trol systems, operational efficiency and sure the longevity and efficiency of your
and degasification; inhibition/passivation modernizing control panels and renew- thereby reducing the environmental im- resilience to future grid demands were power transformers by contacting Sie-
A client from a remote location in Bra- significantly enhanced, lowering the mens Energy for comprehensive on-site
zil enhanced their hydroelectric plant’s risk of failures and extending the repair and refurbishment services.
efficiency by refurbishing and uprating lifespan of the transformers. The pro­
five step-up transformers from 112 MVA ject has thus enhanced the operational
References
to 134.4 MVA. The complex project in- flexibility of the electrical grid, better
volved redesigning HV and LV windings, equipping it to adapt to fluctuating pow- [1] CIGRE WG A2.37, “Transformer Reli-
adapting connections, reformulating the er demands and the changing landscape ability Survey,” Brochure 642, Paris, 2015.
insulation system, and resizing the cool- of power generation, marked by the in-
ing system. A new oil preservation system tegration of renewable energy and evolv- [2] All CO2 values have been calculated
and modern control panel were also in- ing consumer behaviors. with www.carbonfootprint.com
stalled. The execution was done in stages
under controlled conditions, including a

Author
Take action now to
Fernando Melo is a seasoned professional with over 20
ensure the longevity years of experience managing large, multidisciplinary
and efficiency of your projects within challenging, multicultural environments.
Currently serving as the Global Product Manager at
power transformers by Siemens Energy, he specializes in Service Lifecycle
contacting Siemens Management and power transformer design. Fernando
Energy for compre- holds a master’s degree in Innovation and Project
Management and a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. He is also
hensive on-site repair certified in Lean Six Sigma. Known for his strategic thinking and leadership,
and refurbishment he is dedicated to driving innovation and delivering exceptional value to
customers.
services
38 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 39
COLUMN Vitaly GURIN, Marius GRISARU

The statistical scatter of

breakdown voltages of
transformer oil
– Part I

ABSTRACT calculated. The first part of the arti- uate students about transformers in In recent years, synthetic and natural (vegeta-
cle discusses the conditions under universities.
For the future statistical optimization which the test is considered valid, in ble oil) esters, due to their high flash point and
of power transformer insulation de- accordance with ASTM D877, ASTM KEYWORDS: ignition temperature, have been increasingly
sign, more than two hundred publica- D1816, GOST 6581-75, and IEC 60156
tions on transformer oil breakdown standards, as well as the condition- ASTM, breakdown voltage, conditioning used in low-voltage and high-voltage trans-
voltage (BDV) were reviewed. Data ing effect. The article is intended for effect, coefficients of variation, ester, formers
were extracted where possible, and young transformer engineers and for GOST, failure, IEC, MEGGER, power trans-
coefficients of variation (CV%) were teaching undergraduate and postgrad- former, statistical scatter, transformer oil

40 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 41

 COLUMN

The breakdown voltage of a transformer’s One of the characteristic features of the zation, statistical optimization can be ap- Transformer oil is the only part of trans-
modern development of transformer en- plied, for which some groundwork already
insulation structure is a nonuniform, sta- gineering is the transition to the optimiza- exists in practice. The breakdown voltage former insulation for which standards
tistically distributed value corresponding to tion of their design. A review of the liter-
ature on power transformer optimization
of a transformer’s insulation structure is a
nonuniform, statistically distributed value
exist that incorporate statistical methods to
the probability of failure (161 sources) shows that, so far, optimiza- corresponding to the probability of failure. some extent
tion efforts have focused primarily on the The probability of failure is a function of
parameters of the active part, excluding the the applied electrical voltage, the distance
In recent years, synthetic and natural insulation system. Since insulation cannot and shape of the electrodes where the volt- It is crucial to first collect the available the introduction of esters into practice,
1. Introduction (vegetable oil) esters, due to their high currently be determined by exact arithme- age is applied, and many other intrinsic data on transformer oil as it represents and their study is typically accompanied
The first transformers built in the 19th flash point and ignition temperature, have tic values, it is considered a nonlinear op- parameters. the most vulnerable and weakest link in by a comparison with transformer oil.
century were of the dry type and very been increasingly used in low-voltage timization problem and a challenge for the the “oil-cellulose” system. We begin this
small [1]. In 1887, Elih Thomson patent- and high-voltage transformers. Synthetic future [2]. At the same time, optimizing From a theoretical point of view, for a sta- work by estimating the scatter of the BDV Transformer oil is the only part of trans-
ed the use of mineral oil in transformers esters are produced by reacting selected the insulation would reduce the gaps in- tistical approach to designing the insula- of transformer oil. Historically, interest former insulation for which standards
to remove heat from the transformer core acids and alcohols, tailoring their prop- side the tank and thereby achieve a further tion of power transformers, it is necessary in the problem of BDV has shown two exist that incorporate statistical methods
and extend its life. Thomson also realized erties to specific applications. Natural es- reduction in the amount of steel and trans- to know the laws of distribution and coef- peaks: in the 1950s-70s and in the 21st to some extent. These are standards that
that the solid insulation and anything that ters are obtained from oilseeds (soybeans, former oil. Instead of nonlinear optimi- ficients of variation of electrical strength. century. The recent peak is attributed to define the BDV at power frequency.
came into contact with live parts of the sunflowers, rapeseed, flax, olives, poppy
transformer also had to be impregnated seeds, etc.); their properties depend on
and filled with oil. Mineral oil is derived the chemical process used to refine the
from fossil resources and is a byproduct base oil, as well as the declared and hidden
of petroleum with dielectric properties. additives. A promoting but controversial
It is processed and obtained by fractional factor contributing to the popularity of es-
distillation of crude petroleum oil. Oil is ters in modern environmental conditions
divided into four grades: aromatic, par- is their biodegradability (Fig. 1). Among
affinic, naphthenic and olefinic, where the disadvantages of esters compared to
naphthenic is best suited for insulating other liquids are their initial cost, their de-
and cooling transformers. pendence on stability, and varying prop-
erties based on the presence of additives,
NOTE: Mineral oil is flamable, and in mixing effects, and other factors.
the 1930s and 1940s, Askarel (a PCB-
based insulating fluid) was used in- A century and a half have passed since
stead in mine transformers due to its the time of Thomson, but today and in
low flammability and good dielectric the coming decades, insulation consist-
properties. Subsequently, it turned out ing of liquid and solid materials will pre-
that the combustion products of Askar- dominate in large power trans­formers,
el are very toxic, and instead, high mo- with oil and cellulose remaining the
lecular weight hydrocarbons (HMHC) main components in extra-high and
and silicon liquids began to be poured ultra-high voltage transformers, although,
into fire-resistant distribution trans- throughout the ages, attempts have been
formers that are installed indoors. made to use dry mediums such as SF6.

Figure 1. Biodegradability of various insulating fluids (Source: https://www.sciencedirect.

com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378779622010033)

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COLUMN

Table 1. The main differences between the ASTM and IEC standards acc. to MEGGER [3] Table 2. Comparison of ASTM and IEC standards acc. to Suhaimi et al.
Among the differences
in the four main, we are
primarily interested in
the varying conditions
for the scatter of mean
BDV value

2. Standard methods for

determining the BDV of
transformer oil

There are many test standards, but the

four most commonly used are the main
ones. Two of them are from the USA
(ASTM D877 and ASTM D1816, with
the latest editions in 2013 and 2014, re-
spectively), one is the Soviet GOST 6581-
75 standard (last edition in 1988), and the
international standard is the IEC 60156.
The first edition of the IEC standard was
issued in 1963, revised in 1995, and in
2018, and the third edition was released
in 2018. A new version of IEC 60156 is
expected to be published in the near fu-
ture, which promises to be revolutionary
in many aspects. In all these standards, the
BDV of oil is determined in a semi-uniform
electric field. The standards differ in test
procedures and experimental settings.
Table 1 provides a comparison between
the ASTM and IEC standards. National
standards in other countries are derived
from these main ones. In practice, ASTM
D-1816, IEC, and GOST are preferred
over ASTM D877 because the electrode
configuration in these tests is closer to re-
al-world applications, and they are more
sensitive to moisture than ASTM D877.

In many practical cases, the shorter Table

2, taken from [4]

Among the differences in the four main

standards (electrode shape, gap size, num- Figure 2. Graphical representation of coefficient of variation versus mean BDV of
ber of consecutive breakdowns, etc.), we transformer oil acc. to IEC [6]. The solid line shows the distribution of the coefficient
are primarily interested in the varying con- of variation as a function of the mean breakdown value. The dotted lines indicate the
ditions for the scatter of mean BDV value expected 2.5% to 97.5% range of values for the standard deviation (SD)-to-mean ratio as
that must be met for the test results to be a function of the mean BDV.
considered valid. In ASTM D1816, tests
must be repeated if the range of BD voltag-
es recorded exceeds 120% of the mean for a exceeds 151%, further investigation is re- with a portion of the liquid from the same
1 mm electrode gap and 92% of the mean quired to determine the cause. vessel, and after mixing, six more sam-
for a 2 mm electrode gap. In ASTM D877 ples are tested. To calculate the CV%, all
tests must be repeated if the range of BD In GOST, the limit value for the coeffi- 12 samples are taken into account. If the
voltages recorded are more than 92% of the cient of variation (CV%) is set at 20%. If CV% again exceeds 20, the quality of the
mean value. If the range of 10 BD voltages the CV% exceeds 20, the test cell is refilled oil is considered unsatisfactory.

44 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 45

COLUMN

The conditioning process refers to a gradual increase in breakdown to the presence of particles in the oil and
The values in the first 40-100 breakdown
on the electrodes.
strength observed with an increase in the number of measurements tests by Koch and al. were significantly
The authors of [8] determined the BDV
with an even larger number of breakdowns lower than the values reached later
In the current IEC version, the expected taminants (moisture, particles, sludge) in creasing the number of tests in IEC 60156 (up to 8000). They used a cell containing
range of the standard deviation-to-mean the fluid. Mixing efficiency is higher when to at least 25 [6]. 250 ml of oil, equipped with a spherical
ratio as a function of the mean is provided the liquid flow between the electrodes is electrode system with a diameter of 12.5
in a chart (Fig. 2). directed upward, which makes it easier to However, as shown in [7, 8], 25 break- mm and a separation distance of 2.5 mm.
remove air bubbles. downs may not be sufficient to “burnout” The oil temperature was equal to the am-
Note that in Fig. 2, the peak of the 50% val- impurities. bient temperature. The spintermeter was
ue of CV% is slightly above 20 and is locat- programmed for oil breakdowns with a
3. Conditioning effect
ed at a voltage slightly above 40 kV then, Koch et al. (University of Stuttgart) mea- rest period of 30 seconds. As seen in Fig. 5,
with increasing voltage, the scatter begins The conditioning process refers to a grad- sured the breakdown voltage of clean and the BDV was initially much lower than the
to decrease, and at voltages above 90 kV, ual increase in breakdown strength ob- contaminated oil (with varying humidity standard value of 70 kV. It then increased
CV% is less than 7.5. served with an increase in the number of and acid levels) in a series of 400 tests [7]. to 400 breakdowns, then decreased to 50
measurements. In a number of cases, the They used a dielectric test system, Baur kV at 1000 breakdowns, before increasing
The latest version of the 2018 IEC 60156 “burnout” of impurities is noticeable al- DTA 100 E, and obtained a very high again and stabilizing around 72 kV. Please
standard recommends mixing the oil, ready during the standard BDV test, along scatter in the results (Fig. 4). The val- note that the value required by the standard
which reduces the scatter of BDV [5]. This with a corresponding increase in BDV ues in the first 40-100 breakdown tests was only reached after 2000 tests.
reduction is more noticeable when the (Fig. 3). Therefore, reducing the spread of were significantly lower than the values
BDV is lower due to the presence of con- BDV values is sometimes achieved by in- reached later. The authors attribute this Unfortunately, we didn’t find source data
Figure 3. BDV of oil of transformer 63 MVA 110 kV (Source: O.Z. Toirov, Tashkent,
in the literature from which it would be Uzbekistan)
possible to calculate the BDV scatter and
its change during the conditioning process.

Fig. 4 and 5 clearly show that impurities

in the oil are the main factor determining
the BDV value. Therefore, the study of
impurities, including the determination
of CV% and measures to combat them,
seems inevitable on the path to improving
the design of transformer insulation, and
we will consider it in a separate article.

A list of factors affecting the breakdown

strength of insulating oil and a detailed
review of publications on this topic as of
2020 is given in the works of Danikas [9,
10, 11]. The total number of references in
these reviews is 134 publications, but only
some of them contain information on the
scatter of BDV, from which the CV% can Figure 4. BDV depending on the number of breakdowns acc. to Koch et al.
be determined. These and more recent
works found on the Internet with useful
information for calculating CV% will be
discussed in the following parts of the ar-
ticle in relation to the influencing factors.

The standard BDV test

of transformer oil at
industrial frequency
quickly provides ben-
eficial information,
but it needs to be im-
proved Figure 5. BDV depending on the number of breakdowns acc. to Benamar et al.

46 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 47

 COLUMN

Conclusions to Part I Mineral Insulating Oil in IEC 60156, sulation Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5, Sep-
International Review of Electrical Engi- tember/October 1990, pp. 27-34.
1. A review of more than two hundred pub- neering (I.R.E.E.), Vol. 11, No. 6, Nov. – DOI: 10.1109/57.63080
lications showed that in practice, there is al- Dec. 2016, pp. 598-606. DOI: https://doi.
ready a certain groundwork (dozens of pub- org/10.15866/iree.v11i6.10434 [10] Michael G. Danikas et al., A Short
lications) for studying the statistical scatter Review of Some of the Factors Af-
of the BDV of modern mineral insulating [7] Maik Koch et al., The breakdown volt- fecting the Breakdown Strength of
oil, a necessary step towards optimizing the age of insulation oil under the influences Insulating Oil for Power Transform-
internal insulation of power transformers of humidity, acidity, particles and pres- ers, Engineering, Technology & Ap-
sure, International Conference APTADM, plied Science Research, Vol. 10, No.
2. It is obvious and indisputable that it is September 26 - 28, 2007, Wroclaw, Poland. 3, 2020, рр. 5742-5747. Accessed at
impossible to do without knowledge of https://www.ieh.uni-stuttgart.de/doku- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7f24/
the BDV of insulating oil when designing mente/publikationen/2007_Aptadm_ b0c68d06331b0631de1f8478d-
power transformers. Koch_Oil_Breakdown.Paper.web.pdf 773d81e996b.pdf

3. The standard BDV test of transformer [8] R. Benamar et al., Influence of the [11] Michael G. Danikas et al., Dealing
oil at industrial frequency quickly pro- number of breakdowns on the trans- with the Size Effect in Insulating Liq-
vides beneficial information, but it needs former oil properties, Conference: Inter- uids. A Volume Effect, an Area Effect
to be improved, which is beyond the national Symposium on High Voltage En- or even a Particle Effect? A Concise
scope of this article. gineering ISH, January 2009. https://www. Review, Engineering, Technology &
researchgate.net/publication/260285515 Applied Science Research, Vol. 10, No.
4. The use of BDV to assess the condition 5, 2020, pp. 6231-6236. Accessed at
of a transformer during operation also re- [9] M. G. Danikas, Breakdown of https://etasr.com/index.php/ETASR/
quires separate consideration. transformer oil, IEEE Electrical In- article/view/3742

Bibliography to Part I
[1] P. Ramachandran, Vitaly Gurin, Books Authors
of power transformer in English – Part Vitaly Gurin graduated from Kharkov Polytechnic
I, Transformers Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 1, Institute (1962) and graduate school at the Leningrad
2024, pp. 72-77. Accessed at https://hrcak. Polytechnic Institute. Candidate of technical sciences in
srce.hr/file/452402
the Soviet scientific system (1970). For 30 years he test-
ed transformers up to 1.150 kV at ZTZ, including the
[2] Eleftherios I. Amoiralis et at., The state
of the art in engineering methods for largest one of that time in Europe, and statistically an-
transformer design and optimization: a alysed the test results. For over 25 years he was the
survey, Journal of optoelectronics and ad- Executive Director of Trafoservis Joint-Stock Company in Sofia (the diag-
vanced materials, Vol. 10, No.5, May 2008, nosis, repair and modernisation in the operating conditions of transformers
pp. 1149-1158. https://www.researchgate. 20 – 750 kV). He has authored about 150 publications in Russian and
net/publication/229148923 Bulgarian, and is the main co-author of GOST 21023.
We publish reports on topics useful for a large
[3] The Megger guide to insulating oil
dielectric breakdown testing, Megger
Limited, 2003, 34 pages. Marius Grisaru holds an MSc in Electro-Analytical audience of transformer industry professionals
Chemistry from the Israel Institute of Technology. He
[4] Nur S. Suhaimi et al., A Review on has almost 30 years of intense experience in almost all
Palm Oil-Based Nanofluids as a Future transformer oil test chains, from planning, sampling,
Resource for Green Transformer Insula- and diagnosis to recommendations and treatments,
tion System, IEEE Access. DOI: 10.1109/ mainly in Israel but also in other parts of the world. He is
ACCESS.2022.3209416
responsible for establishing test strategies and procedures
[5] M. Baur et al., Stirring effect in dielec- and creating acceptance criteria for insulating liquids and materials based
tric liquids breakdown voltage deter- on current standardization and field experience. In addition, he trains and ��� ��������

mination, 2019 IEEE 20th International educates electrical staff on insulating matrix issues from a chemical point of
Conference on Dielectric Liquids (ICDL), view. He is an active member of relevant Working Groups of IEC, CIGRE,
Roma, Italy, 23-27 June 2019, pp. 1-4.
DOI: 10.1109/ICDL.2019.8796653
and a former member of ASTM. He is also the author and co-author of many
papers, CIGRE brochures, and presentations at prestigious international
Take corporate subscription and ensure access for all your colleagues!
conferences on insulation oil tests, focusing on DGA, analytical chemistry h�ps://transformers-magazine.com/books/
[6] Pius V. Chombo et al., Effects of Dis- of insulating oil, and advantageous maintenance policy for oil and new
tribution Approximations to Expanded Subscribe, advertise or contact us for further information
transformers.
Uncertainty of Breakdown Strength of
[email protected]
48 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024
INTERVIEW

We manufacture transformers starting from 10 MVA, 33 kV, up to

500 MVA, 400 kV, and most of these are liquid-immersed, oil-filled
transformers for use in transmission grids

An interview with
Vinamra Agarwal
Jt. Managing Director at Technical Associates Ltd
Mr. Agarwal, thank you for Globally, including India, we are at a very is around 1800 kWh per annum, where-
accepting our invitation to interesting point in history. 20 years ago, as in an economy like the US, it is closer
an interview in Transformers if anybody mentioned the word ‘energy’, to 16,000 kWh per annum, and the world
then oil was what came to people’s mind. average is around 12,000 to 13,000 kWh
Magazine. I would like to Today, whenever anybody mentions the per annum. India is already the fifth-largest
ask you about the business word energy, it is electricity. This transfor- economy in the world, and economists
now, in your company, in mation of the energy sector, moving from predict that in the next couple of years, it
India, and on the market fossil fuels to electricity, is driving the elec- could very easily become the third-largest
that you are supplying trification story across the world. We are economy. It has consistently been grow-
transformers to. Can you very fortunate to be here at this point in ing at a growth rate of about 7-8%, and the
time. Even in India, we are seeing this play country recognises that if we want to con-
say something about your
out in multiple ways – growth in renew- tinue to grow at this rate and to be a devel-
product portfolio? Which able energy, e-mobility, mass transporta- oped economy by 2047, as is the vision of
types of transformers do tion and the increasing use of electricity in our prime minister, Mr Narendra Modi,
you manufacture? homes as the Indian economy grows and the writing is on the wall. Unless we invest
as income levels rise. in infrastructure and electricity, we cannot
Thank you for having me here. Before I go there. That is giving us the biggest tail-
talk about myself, I must put on record That has given us a massive boost in terms wind for growth, and that’s one reason why
that I think very highly of the work that of our business. To provide context, the we have been able to aggressively grow to
you do in publishing Transformers Mag- per capita energy consumption in India this size in the last couple of years.
azine, and it truly has become the leading
voice of the industry across the world.
Thank you for what you do for the indus-
try. It is definitely very helpful.

Currently, our focus is exclusively on

power transformers. We manufacture
transformers starting from 10 MVA, 33
kV, up to 500 MVA, 400 kV. Most of these
are liquid-immersed, oil-filled transform-
ers for use in transmission grids. We have
been seeing very healthy business growth
over the last couple of years. The company
has grown almost 20 to 30% on a year-on-
year basis, mainly in terms of top line, and
we closed the last year, having produced a
total MVA of approximately 10,000 MVA
of transformers. The target this year is to
produce about 14,000 MVA of transform-
ers. We already have a very healthy order
book for the next six to eight months.

50 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 51

INTERVIEW

We have already announced plans for an expansion where we are set-

ting up a greenfield manufacturing unit, and the capacity for that unit is
going to be about 24,000 MVA, all the way up to 765 kV

You touched on these main countries is that it is already fairly self-suf- growth, or maybe because of this aggres-
global trends and the trends in ficient in terms of the state of the econo- sive growth that the country has been
India, as well as the amazing my. And hence, funding for infrastructure seeing? We have a production capacity
is not that big of a concern. Unfortunately, of about 18,000 MVA per annum in our
growth rate in India. What
in many parts of the developing world, current facility. This year, we are looking
is the situation in the other like some other countries in South Asia at rolling out about 13,000 to 14,000 MVA
markets where you export or a lot of countries in Africa, sources of in this financial year, which will still leave
your products? In neighbouring funding are very critical to infrastructure us with a capacity of about 5000 MVA that
countries, it’s probably similar, growth. What we have seen over the last we can still service. We have already an-
but what about Africa? And year or two in many developing countries, nounced plans for an expansion where we
the second question, with such possibly because of old projects getting are setting up a greenfield manufacturing
over and new lines of funding not having unit, and the capacity for that unit is going
strong domestic growth, do been arranged up in time, is that there has to be about 24,000 MVA, all the way up to
you have the capacity to take been a slowdown as far as electrification 765 kV.
more orders from abroad? projects are concerned. This is not be-
cause of any issue with fundamentals, be- This new facility will be based in Northern
Absolutely. The situation, as far as the fun- cause the fundamentals exist, it is a series India near a city called Lucknow – which
damentals are concerned, is very similar in of time lags between the project and the is also the capital city of Uttar Pradesh,
neighbouring countries like Nepal, where sources of funding being ready. India’s largest and most populous state.
we are very active, as well as in several The reason for that is also strategic be-
countries in Africa. However, what sets To answer your second question, will we cause most of the industry in India has
India apart from some other developing have more capacity despite this aggressive been concentrated in the western or the

52 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 53

INTERVIEW

Most estimates by global think tanks like the International Energy

Agency also predict a period of sustained growth of the transformer
market over the next 20-30 years

software, particularly ELDINST and kets across the world. Running a manufac- capability, and manufacturing is only an
SAPR TON, which has been of great value turing business in India still involves mul- extension of the same.
in engineering high-quality power trans- tiple challenges on the ground, but with 55
formers. However, we also recognise the years of experience, we have been able to
Mr Agarwal, thank you for
need to expand our product range, and we successfully navigate those and grow and
are looking for technology partners who explaining this subject. It’s
thrive in this environment. Hence, if any-
can help us introduce new products to our quite a unique discussion that
body looking at India as a potential market
portfolio. In particular, we are looking for touches on some areas that
is concerned that they would have to do
technology partners for Scott-connect- we don’t have a chance to
it on their own, such a partnership would
ed transformers in 132 and 220 kV and help alleviate those concerns as well.
see every day in the media.
Shunt Reactors up to 400 kV, Is there something else that
Also, geopolitical factors are very favour-
A partner who engages with us for the ably inclined towards us. Realignment
you would like to address?
above would immediately get access to a of global supply chains and geopolitics is I remain extremely optimistic about the
high-quality, low-cost manufacturing lo- leading all global corporations to relook future. The growth in this industry has
cation which can service the world. This their relationship with their current sup- been on a sinusoidal curve for many years.
would help such a partner increase their pliers in Asia – and India can be a very We have just started this period of expan-
manufacturing capacity and be able to strong alternative to such locations. The sion, so there will certainly be a period of
meet global requirements at a much low- rush (even in our own sector) to set up consolidation and a period of slowdown,
er cost base. At the same time, this partner large Global Capability Centers in India which will happen in the future. This is the
would also get access to the Indian market is a testament to the confidence that many cyclical nature typical for most business-
– which is one of the fastest-growing mar- global corporations have in our technical es, especially ours. When you see high

Growing any business is only about two things: the ability to identify and
reach a market that has a need and being able to deliver a quality prod-
uct which that market needs
southern part of the country, and there is significant disparity in supply deliver a quality product which that mar-
hardly anybody up in the north. That is and demand. You are also ket needs. These are the two things which
great value to most of our customers in planning to contribute to will allow any business to be successful.
the region. With this facility, we will have We are working very hard on both these
addressing this problem by
a total of about 42,000 MVA of capaci- aspects to grow our company both in In-
building new manufacturing dia and in overseas markets. On market
ty available, and that will make us one of
the largest, if not the largest, transformer
capacity, so you will be able access, we are working on expanding our
manufacturers in India. to address the increased network of overseas representatives. We
demand, not only in India are also looking actively for global profes-
but also worldwide. What sionals, both in marketing and transform-
This is great news when we er engineering, to join us and be part of
are the major challenges to
look at the discussion that we our growth story. Our strategy is for these
doing it successfully? Do you professionals to be based out of their own
had during the Transformers
need new types of products preferred locations, to work from wher-
Magazine’s Industry or some new technology? Do ever they are, and to make periodic visits
Navigator conference you need support in a sales to India. I strongly believe in technology,
on Investments and network worldwide, maybe and Covid has also taught us that it is pos-
Sustainability and Artificial in partnering? What are your sible to work remotely.
Intelligence in Madrid, where objectives? How do you plan
you were our delegate, In terms of product mix, we are complete-
to make this happen? ly self-sufficient as far as power trans-
and you also participated Growing any business is only about two former and autotransformer technolo-
in these discussions. We things: the ability to identify and reach a gy is concerned, up to 400 kV. We have
all agreed that there is a market that has a need and being able to also invested in VIT’s suite of simulation

54 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 55

INTERVIEW

CORPORATE
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

In the last 5 decades, we have successfully undergone five paradigm

shifts as far as our knowledge and technology are concerned in our jour-
ney from 5 kVA, 11 kV transformers up to 500 MVA, 400 kV transformers
Be ahead of the game.
growth happening, suddenly, a lot of com- of transformers in the world, but we of-
petition comes in. However, as long as the
world is growing, at least for the next 50
fer a product which meets and exceeds
customer specifications and which has
Vinamra Agarwal is a second-genera-
tion entrepreneur, and he runs a compa- Get the Corporate Subscription and educate ALL of your
to 60 years, the need for transformers
won’t go down. Most estimates by global
its fundamentals right. That is our big-
gest strength. We also believe strongly in
ny called Technical Associates Limited,
which is one of India’s oldest transformer employees at ONE fixed price!
manufacturers. Their journey started al-
think tanks like the International Energy standing by our products and customers
most 55 years ago, manufacturing small
Agency also predict a period of sustained and ensuring that we are always around to Enjoy the following BENEFITS and more:
distribution transformers, and over the
growth over the next 20-30 years. support them.
last 55 years, they have gradually scaled • Individual access to your own copy of the magazine anytime, anywhere
up to become one of India’s leading • Full access to the entire magazine archive
The challenge is to make long-term suc- When my father started this company 55
manufacturers of power transformers • Opportunity for continuing education, staying up-to-date with the latest technology
cess out of this. When markets are grow- years ago, our first order was to manufac-
upto 400 kV. Vinamra is the Joint Man- • Learning about the latest research, findings and applications
ing, it is natural that there will be more ture a 5 kVA, 11 kV single-phase trans-
aging Director of the company. He has
competition and a wave of consolidation former. Since then, we have successfully a background not in engineering but in
in the future. However, I am not scared of undergone four or five paradigm shifts as mathematics, followed by an MBA from
consolidation because I have already seen far as our knowledge and technology are one of India’s leading business schools.
four waves of consolidation in my brief 20 concerned. From 11 kV to 33 kV, from 33 subscription S subscription M subscription L
He’s been with the company for the last
years of experience. We have stood strong kV to 66 kV, from 66 kV to 132 kV, to 220
through those waves, we have weathered kV, and now to 400 kV, and this is some-
20 years, learning the ropes and being
forced to learn a lot about transformers USD 190 USD 320 USD 590
those storms, and in fact, we have grown thing that we have done completely on the on the shop floor while having no formal UP TO 30 31 TO 100 OVER 100
through them. back of our own R&D, our own efforts, training in engineering. He enjoys being EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEES
our own engineering capability. There can in the sector as it comes with its own
The difference that we have as a compa- be no bigger example to show that we are set of challenges. There’s never a dull
ny is our belief in our value system. We very strong fundamentally as a company, moment in this industry, but that’s what
are not the most aggressive for growth. and that is something that will keep us in
We are not the cheapest manufacturer good stead in the future.
keeps the fun alive for him. www.transformers-magazine.com [email protected] +44 203 734 7469
56 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024
FLUIDS Advertorial

Shell’s investment in MIDEL’s synthetic and natural ester will en-

able Shell to complement its differentiated

better sustainable position in Transformer Fluids

solutions

58 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 59

FLUIDS

Shell is actively looking at increasing the share of biodegradable this space. Shell’s products are fit for long When it comes to transformer fluids, Shell
life (in this way they better address the
formulations to reduce the environmental impact of lubricants more intense needs required by trans- is actively working on the development of a
formers nowadays, plus making it ready
circular offer

G
for circularity at its end of life).
iven the growth of the trans- long a chemical will remain in the envi- crease the reliability of your equipment.
former market in the past ronment (persistence), which is partic- This means longer oil life, less mainte- Recycling used lubricants to recover base
years, and projected growth in ularly important in events such as acci- nance costs, less downtime, so reducing oils, in a process to produce high quali- is exploring different packaging solu- trained using historical data can detect
the years to come, the available dental spills, leaks of fluids or disposal of the Total Cost of Ownership. ty re-refined base oil (RRBO), saves a tions, for example, new packaging for- any abnormal behaviour that could in-
volume of waste transformer oil will be waste. As the market demand increases, valuable resource and prevents it from mats or dispensing and refill solutions. dicate early signs of failure. By detect-
insufficient to be the feedstock for a high Shell looks to meet this demand. Its acquisition of the MIDEL product polluting soil and water (when disposed One of our Respecting Nature ambi- ing an issue early, timely preventive
share of circular products, arguably for range will enable Shell to complement of improperly) or from being incinerated tions is to achieve 30% recycled content action can be taken, and potential fail-
decades to come. The Organization for Economic Coop- the differentiated position in transformer which can further contribute to carbon in our plastic packaging by 2030, which ures and unplanned downtime can be
eration and Development (OECD) is a fluids with a complete range that cov- emissions. The use of RRBO is one of the the Global Lubricants business is on avoided.
Because of this market challenge it’s unique forum where the governments of ers almost all applications in the Trans- key options to provide more sustainable track to meet, with >9% recycled content
even more important to offer high qual- democracies with market-based econo- mission and Distribution sectors. By solutions for our customers. RRBOs en- achieved globally to date [2]. Another example is an AI and machine
ity products that meet the needs of the mies collaborate to develop policy stan- adding synthetic and natural ester-based able us to balance the growing need for vision-based platform that has been de-
more intense use of transformers, for ex- dards to promote sustainable economic transformer fluids and services to our lubricants while reducing waste and the Shell collaborates with providers of signed to identify gaps at workplace safe-
ample solar and wind power generation, growth. OECD 301 B can be interpreted portfolio, Shell Lubricant Solutions aims carbon impact of our products. Al-based predictive maintenance solu- ty aiding Environment, Health and Safe-
a multitude of new electrical appliances, in three categories defined by perfor- to deliver improved fire protection and tions, advanced data analytics and AI to ty professionals to undertake corrective
EV cars being charged – all requiring mance in each test. If by the end of the biodegradability to our customers. Packaging plays an important factor in monitor data from instrumentation and actions. Sensors on site are connected to
grid flexibility and improvement. 28- day test, a substance has degraded by: reducing waste in the supply chain. Shell critical equipment on assets. AI models the platform which applies pre-built AI
In MIDEL’s day-to-day manufacturing
As electricity demand continues to • Non-biodegradable ≤ 20% processes, they put their practices under
grow, power generation is expanding • Inherently biodegradable >20% and constant scrutiny in terms of energy ef-
into diverse and often ecologically sen- < 60% ficiency, energy intensiveness and emis-
sitive locations. Making sure that your • Readily biodegradable ≥ 60% sions and are always working to improve.
transformers on these sites have a high Shell internal testing and analytical data
standard of environmental protection All electricity supplied to the MIDEL HQ
is critical. A key element of this is bio- Substances that are classified as readily in the UK (where the flagship MIDEL
degradability. From offshore wind to biodegradable in an OECD 301 B test 7131 synthetic ester is manufactured) is
solar farms in the desert, it is important can be assumed to biodegrade rapidly provided by renewable energy (ably as-
to protect the surrounding natural envi- (remain for less time) in aquatic environ- sisted by an impressive solar array that
ronment – and reduce the impact of un- ments under aerobic conditions. Shell spans the factory roof).
expected leaks. Shell is actively looking will look to classify all its GTL trans-
at increasing the share of biodegradable former oils as readily biodegradable. Additionally, a recent investment in a
formulations to reduce the environmen- heat recovery system will help to capture
tal impact of lubricants used in a range GTL products are colourless and odour- waste heat from the manufacturing pro-
of applications, including through its ac- less. They contain almost none of the cess. This recovered heat can be used to
quisition of MIDEL. impurities – sulphur, aromatics, and ni- make other parts of the manufacturing
trogen – that are found in crude oil. process more energy-efficient, such as
Shell’s Diala transformer fluids are based in the preheating of raw materials at the
on gas-to-liquid GTL technology. GTL GTL transformer oils – such as Shell start of the production cycle.
is a cleaner base oil and delivers a higher Diala S4 ZX-I, Shell Diala S4 ZX-IG
biodegradability compared to tradition- and Shell Diala S5 BD – offer some Another ongoing innovation area is the
al mineral oils for lower impact on the clear improvements over conventional assessment and introduction of lower
environment in case of spillage [1]. mineral-based products. As well as help- carbon raw materials into the MIDEL
ing to enhance the protection of your supply chain, as is our ongoing efforts to
In fact, Shell Diala ZX-I and Shell Di- transformer components, they can in- increase the biogenic content of MIDEL
ala S5 BD are both readily biodegrad- crease the efficiency of that equipment products.
able. Biodegradation is the breakdown – including in low-temperature condi-
of a chemical or a chemical mixture by tions. Transformer oils based on GTL In application, the MIDEL range of es-
micro-organisms. Biodegradability is a technology also provide you with con- ters is also a positive contributor towards
measure that gives an indication of how sistent performance, helping you to in- the UN Sustainable Development Goals,
particularly around life on land, life be-
low water, innovation & infrastructure
and renewable energy.
The MIDEL range of esters is a positive
contributor towards the UN Sustainable Shell is actively working on the devel-
opment of a circular offer. With various
Development Goals partners, Shell and MIDEL are exploring

60 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 61

FLUIDS

Shell is exploring different packaging solutions, for example, new Cautionary note limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil
and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for
Shell’s NCI also includes the emissions associat-
ed with the production and use of energy prod-
packaging formats or dispensing and refill solutions The companies in which Shell plc directly and Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) ucts produced by others which Shell purchases
indirectly owns investments are separate legal drilling and production results; (e) reserves for resale. Shell only controls its own emissions.
entities. In this content “Shell”, “Shell Group” estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry The use of the terms Shell’s “Net Carbon Inten-
and “Group” are sometimes used for conve- competition; (g) environmental and physical sity” or NCI are for convenience only and not
& Machine Vision algorithm to detect ventory demand planning, reducing References nience where references are made to Shell plc risks; (h) risks associated with the identification intended to suggest these emissions are those of
unsafe conditions, security risks, oper- wastage of products and raw materi- and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the of suitable potential acquisition properties and Shell plc or its subsidiaries.
ational risk points, which then can alert als. This also decreases idle time for [1] Gas-to-liquids | Shell Global, words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer targets, and successful negotiation and comple-
individuals via dashboard, mobile alerts heavy machinery [4]. https://www.shell.com/what-we-do/oil- to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or tion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing
Shell’s net-zero emissions target
and other channels. • Energy Transition: AI supports the and-natural-gas/gas-to-liquids.html to those who work for them. These terms are business in developing countries and countries
development of new materials for also used where no useful purpose is served subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, Shell’s operating plan, outlook and budgets are
Shell leverages AI in several innovative batteries, carbon capture, and lower- [2] Shell Lubricant Solutions internal by identifying the particular entity or entities. judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments in- forecasted for a ten-year period and are updat-
ways to enhance sustainability: carbon fuels, accelerating the energy analysis: PCR calculation 2022 (estimate “Subsidiaries”, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell cluding regulatory measures addressing climate ed every year. They reflect the current economic
transition [3]. based on average annual PCR content in companies” as used in this content refer to en- change; (k) economic and financial market con- environment and what we can reasonably ex-
• Optimizing Operations: AI-driven • Lower Carbon Solutions: AI reduc- Global Lubricants packaging portfolio) tities over which Shell plc either directly or in- ditions in various countries and regions; (l) po- pect to see over the next ten years. According-
real-time process automation helps es fuel consumption in ships, opti­ directly has control. The term “joint venture”, litical risks, including the risks of expropriation ly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and NCI
Shell optimize liquefied natural gas mizes renewable energy use for electric [3] Artificial Intelligence | Shell Global “joint operations”, “joint arrangements”, and and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with targets over the next ten years. However, Shell’s
(LNG) production, maximizing out- vehicle charging, andconnects decen- “associates” may also be used to refer to a com- governmental entities, delays or advancements operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-ze-
put while minimizing emissions. tralized energy units like solar and bio- [4] Digitalisation Transformation | Shell mercial arrangement in which Shell has a direct in the approval of projects and delays in the re- ro emissions target, as this target is currently
• Reducing Waste: AI improves in- energy through virtual power plants [4]. Global or indirect ownership interest with one or more imbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associ- outside our planning period. In the future, as
parties. The term “Shell interest” is used for con- ated with the impact of pandemics, such as the society moves towards net-zero emissions, we
venience to indicate the direct and/or indirect COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional expect Shell’s operating plans to reflect this

Shell leverages AI in several innovative ways to enhance sustainability ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or
unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclu-
conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, and a
significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) chang-
movement. However, if society is not net zero
in 2050, as of today, there would be significant
sion of all third-party interest. es in trading conditions. No assurance is pro- risk that Shell may not meet this target.
vided that future dividend payments will match
or exceed previous dividend payments. All for-
Forward-Looking Statements Forward-Looking non-GAAP measures
ward-looking statements contained in this con-
This content contains forward-looking state- tent are expressly qualified in their entirety by This content may contain certain forward-look-
ments (within the meaning of the U.S. Private the cautionary statements contained or referred ing non-GAAP measures such as cash capital
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) con- to in this section. Readers should not place un- expenditure and divestments. We are unable to
cerning the financial condition, results of opera- due reliance on forward-looking statements. provide a reconciliation of these forward-look-
tions and businesses of Shell. All statements oth- Additional risk factors that may affect future ing non-GAAP measures to the most com-
er than statements of historical fact are, or may results are contained in Shell plc’s Form 20-F for parable GAAP financial measures because
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Forward-looking statements are statements of at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/ non-GAAP measures to the most comparable
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‘‘expect’’; ‘‘goals’’; ‘‘intend’’; ‘‘may’’; “milestones”; tent do not form part of this content.
Shell’s Net Carbon Intensity
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There are a number of factors that could affect carbon emissions from the production of our strictly prohibits us from including in our fil-
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62 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 63

COLUMN Vitaly GURIN

Volt-time curves of oil-filled

power transformer insulation
Survey of 100 years of research – Part III

Fig. 14 shows curves with plotted exper- By extracting and processing the data
7. Other works by Morozova’s imental points of the dependence of the from Fig. 14, we obtained the statistics
team breakdown field intensity of 50 Hz on the shown in Table 2.
Of the dozens of papers by Morozova’s gap width.
team, we singled out only those that con-
tained information of interest to us about
the VTC and the scatter of experimental
data.

7.1. Scatter of breakdown voltage

gradients for different oil gap sizes

In [8], Morozova (Panov died three years

before the article was published) gives
two figures with experimental data on
the effect on the dielectric strength of the
width of the oil gap closest to the winding
S. The experiments were carried out on
models similar to Figs. 2 and 7a. The gap
was formed using a piercing rail or gaskets
resting on the cylinder. The gaskets were
of three types. For each gap size and each
type of formation, 9 to 14 experiments Figure 14. Dependence of the breakdown voltage gradient of the oil duct adjacent to the
were carried out. winding on its width (middle of winding). Alternating voltage, one-minute-long application

Table 2. The coefficients of variation of the breakdown gradient of the oil duct adjacent to the winding of 50 Hz

Oil duct width, mm Number of points, N Mean/kV CV%

statistical coordination of the internal insulation of trans-
ABSTRACT formers. The article is intended for young transformer en-
6 3 89.7 8.9

The third part of the article is a continuation of the previ- gineers and for teaching transformers to undergraduate 10 4 89.8 8.8
ous part and examines the data of Soviet scientists on the and postgraduate students in universities.
16 8 74.6 9.3
dependence of the electrical strength of insulation of pow-
er transformers on time in historical development. Where 20 4 59.5 15.0
possible, the scatter values of breakdown voltage and/or KEYWORDS:
22 4 69.8 15.4
partial discharge initiation voltage have been extracted breakdown voltage, GOST, failure, EHV, insulation coordination,
from the publications under consideration for data col- insulation testing, internal insulation, PD, power transformer, 24 5 55.8 14.1
lection to optimize insulation design and possible future probability distribution, transformer oil, UHV, volt-time curve
28 8 71.8 16.0

64 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 65

 COLUMN Vitaly GURIN

CV% is in the range of 3 - 10.4 and has a By extracting and processing the data The test results show that with impulses of all types, the breakdown
from Fig. 15, we obtained the statistics
noticeable but weaker tendency to increase shown in Table 3. of the insulation of models occurs without its preparation by partial
the scatter with an increasing channel com- As follows from this table, CV% is in the
discharges
pared to a voltage of 50 Hz range of 3 - 10.4 and has a noticeable but
weaker tendency to increase the scatter The studies were carried out on models When constructing the volt-second posure in the range of 50 μs - 1 min.
with an increasing channel compared to of leads with a circular cross-section characteristic, the authors combined the The curve is plotted from the aver-
As follows from this table, CV% is in the Fig. 15 shows curves with plotted ex- a voltage of 50 Hz. However, the trends with a diameter of 20 mm. The lead results for models with and without fix- age values of voltage and impulse
range of 8.8 - 9.3 for 6-16 mm gaps and al- perimental points of the dependence of indicated in Tables 2 and 3 may be un- was insulated with a varnished cloth, ing wooden planks into one group be- ratio.
most twice as much for large gaps (CV% = the breakdown field intensity of impulse reliable due to the very small number of cable, or crepe paper 18 mm thick per cause statistical processing showed that
15 - 16 for 20-28 mm gaps). 1.5/40 µs on the gap width. points. side. The distance between the tap and the difference was random in nature. The analysis of Fig. 16 shows that the
the grounded plane was assumed to be Also, on this basis, the results for leads volt-second characteristic of the lead-
7.2. The volt-second characteristic 40 mm. Experiments were done with insulated with paper and varnished plane differs from that of the main insu-
of the insulating structure “lead – and without a gap fixed with wooden cloth are combined into one group. lation, with a smaller time dependence
plane” acc. to Danishina & Morozova planks. The models reflect a certain in the region from 10 to 100 µs and a
group of possible real designs of taps in Fig. 16 shows the dependence of the much larger one in the region from 100
The volt-second characteristics of indi- transformers. The models underwent impulse ratio on the duration of ex- to 10000 µs. This characteristic can be
vidual parts of the insulation are influ- technological processing correspond-
enced by the degree of field uniformity, ing to the processing of transformers
and therefore, the gaps between taps and filled with oil under vacuum.
grounded parts, between the input screen When constructing the volt-second charac-
and the tank wall, etc. they, may not be the
same as for the main insulation of trans-
The models were tested with a light-
ning impulse of 1.2/50 μs, switch-
teristic, the authors combined the results
formers. In the work of Danishina and ing impulses of various durations: for models with and without fixing wooden
Morozova, the volt-­second characteristic
of the insulating structure lead-plane was
170/1200, 400/3300, 800/14000 µs and
at one-minute power frequency voltage.
planks into one group
studied in the time range from a lightning The voltage of spark discharges in the
impulse to a one-minute power frequen- oil gap between the insulated lead and
cy voltage [9]. The work is pleasantly dif- the plane, which sometimes left traces Table 4. Test results of insulation models acc. to Danishina & Morozova
ferent from previous publications by VEI in the form of branched shoots on the
employees in that it contains statistics on surface of the lead insulation, resulting
the scatter of breakdown voltage (number from the evaporation of oil impregnat-
of experimental points, average values, ing the insulating material, was taken as
coefficients of variation) and gives the a criterion that determines the electri-
Figure 15. Dependence of the breakdown voltage gradient of the oil duct adjacent to the average (not minimum) breakdown volt- cal strength of the model under all types
winding on its width (middle of winding). Impulse 1.5/40 µs age values. of impact.

The test results show that with impulses

The volt-second characteristics of individual parts of the insulation are of all types, the breakdown of the in-
sulation of models occurs without its
influenced by the degree of field uniformity preparation by partial discharges. How-
ever, when tested with an industrial fre-
quency voltage, the breakdown begins
Table 3. The coefficients of variation of breakdown voltage gradient of the oil duct adjacent to the winding on its width (middle of winding). Impulse with the appearance of a high-intensity
1.5/40 µs
PD (≥ 5∙10-7 C). These PDs, which are
Oil duct width, mm Number of points, N Mean/kV CV% an oil gap breakdown, damage one or
two layers of cable (crepe) paper or
varnished fabric. The voltage at which
6 3 226 3.8
these PDs occurred was noted as dam-
aging. The interval between damaging
10 4 236 3.0 and breakdown voltage was 15%.

16 4 238 6.2 Table 4 shows the results of testing the

models.
18 4 199 6.1
As follows from Table 4, the coeffi-
24 3 167 5.1 cients of variation are in the range of
(5.6-20.3)%. The switching impulse of
30 7 245 10.4 170/1200 μs has the greatest scatter:
CV% = (15.5-20.3).

66 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 67

COLUMN Vitaly GURIN

Figure 16. Volt-second characteristic of the lead-plane acc. to Danishina & Morozova
 - are the values of the momentum coefficients calculated from the damaging voltage;
 - the same for breakdown voltage

Danishina & Morozova’s important numeri- fact that, in inhomogeneous fields with
switching impulses, breakdown can de-
cal information on the scatter of the break- velop according to two different mech-
anisms.
down voltage and the fact that this scatter
Figure 18. Volt-second characteristic of the lead - plane acc. to Marushchenko & Danishina
is the largest in the region of switching im- In the third section (10,000 µs—1 min),
the breakdown voltage decrease some-
pulses what slows down, which is again associ- technological processes used by manu-
ated with the probabilistic nature of in- facturers of >220 kV transformers. The Up to 25 years, the electrical strength of the
sulation breakdown. Scatter in this area models were tested on a special stand for models is determined by the formation of
divided into three areas: 10 - 100, 100 - cal increase in the breakdown probabili- also decreases (CV% = 8–11). long-term testing in the mode of simul-
10000 µs and 10000 µs - 1 min. ty with increasing time. taneous exposure to electric and thermal bridges from impurities in oil, and there are
The first area (10–100 µs) is charac- In the second region (100–10000 μs), a
Let us note Danishina & Morozova’s im-
portant numerical information on the
alternating fields, causing gas and mois-
ture exchange processes in the paper-oil
no processes of gas formation under the
terized by a relatively small (about 6%) more significant (about 30%) decrease in scatter of the breakdown voltage (Table 4) insulation of the leads. That is, the test action of an electric field
breakdown voltage drop and scatter electrical strength and a significant in- and the fact that this scatter is the largest conditions were close to the conditions
(CV%= 6). Breakdown voltage drop, ap- crease in the scatter (CV% = 12–20) are in the region of switching impulses. of real operation.
parently, is explained by a purely statisti- noted. The latter can be explained by the 1000 h, and then even further so that the (volume of 70 cm3) with a distance be-
The 40 models were tested at AS test volt- resulting total (practically continuous) tween them of 2.5 and 3.5 mm were used.
7.3. The volt-second characteristic age for 1 min - 100 h. The voltage of the duration of testing of the models was
“lead – plane” acc. to Marushchenko occurrence of a high-intensity PD (about 7500 h. The authors consider it proven The rounding of the edges of the elec-
& Danishina [10] 10-7 C), leading to damage to the solid that up to 25 years, the electrical strength trodes was carried out in such a way as
insulation or to a complete breakdown of the models is determined by the for- to avoid breakdown at the edge. When
To obtain the volt-second characteristic, of the model, was selected as a criterion. mation of bridges from impurities in oil, examining the electrodes after the ex-
the models are presented in Fig. 17. The An analysis of the results showed that, and there are no processes of gas forma- periments, it was established that traces
lead insulation was crepe paper. in the entire time range, PDs 10-7 C ap- tion under the action of an electric field, of breakdowns were scattered over their
pear without preliminary weak PDs. The as well as a PD of more than 100 pC. We entire surface. Moreover, they were prac-
Two types of models were studied: in breakdown mechanism is most likely emphasize this important statement by tically absent on the rounded edge. The
one case, the branch insulation was 20 associated with the formation of com- Marushchenko & Danishina. tests were carried out in a transparent
mm thick on each side (25 models), positions (bridges) in the oil gap from organic glass tank with a capacity of 40
while in the other case, it was 10 mm impurities present in the oil and is of a 7.4. Distribution laws and litres. The oil was purified from mechani-
thick (15 models). After insulation, the statistical nature. Therefore, to construct coefficients of variation of cal impurities and water and subjected to
models were subjected to thermal vac- a generalized volt-second characteristic, breakdown voltages of oil gaps vacuum drying, its moisture content was
uum treatment according to standard all data for the two types of models were greater than 100 - 150 mm [11] 15–25 g/t, and the content of mechanical
combined into one common sample. For impurities was no more than 10 g/t.
this, the voltage of the occurrence of a Antonov, the author [11], studied large
PD (or breakdown) was presented in rel- oil gaps (more than 100–150 mm) with- The studies were carried out at one-min-
Two types of models ative units. out barriers (or with a small number ute power frequency voltage, lightning
were studied: in one Fig. 18 shows the volt-second character-
of them) in order to test the effect of
a “stressed” volume on their dielectric
(1‚2/50 µs) and switching (150/800 µs)
impulses. Table 5 shows the test results.
case, the branch in- istic with confidence limits 0‚1. The low- strength. “Stressed” volume is that part of As follows from the table, the change in
er limit of the interval with a 90% proba- the volume of oil in the gap in which the the coefficients of variation of the break-
sulation was 20 mm bility describes the minimum damaging tension is greater than or equal to 90% down voltage with an increase in the
thick on each side (25 stresses of the investigated insulating of the maximum intensity on the elec- volume of oil between the electrodes is
structure lead-plane. trodes. The volume of the gap of 2.4 mm, practically not established, and they lie
models), while in the formed by standard electrodes and equal in the range of 3–9%.
other case, it was 10 VTC in Fig. 18 extrapolated to 25 years.
The validity of this extrapolation is con-
to 0.05 cm3, was taken as a unit. For larg-
er gaps, flat electrodes with a diameter of When calculating the breakdown volt-
Figure 17. The design of the lead model acc. to Marushchenko & Danishina mm thick (15 models) firmed by extending the tests, first up to 50 mm (volume of 5 cm3) and 250 mm age distribution function, Antonov test-

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COLUMN Vitaly GURIN
Table 6. Oil test results in different electrode devices acc. to Morozova & Antonov
The studies were carried out at one-minute power frequency voltage,
lightning (1‚2/50 µs) and switching (150/800 µs) impulses

ed two hypotheses: the distribution of ent electrodes. This publication is one lected value of the stressed oil volume.
experimental data corresponds to the of the rare cases where the authors have Previously, many researchers accepted
normal law or the Weibull law. It turned provided detailed statistics of their ex- the volume of oil limited by the electrode
out that for all examined intervals with periments. Tables 6 and 7 show the geo- and the equigradient surface, the inten-
“tense” volumes (0.05, 5 and 170 cm3) un- metric characteristics of the electrode sity of which was 90% of the maximum
der the influence of lightning and switch- devices that were used in the study and intensity on the electrode surface. Mo-
ing impulses, the Weibull distribution is the results of the experiments. Two types rozova & Antonov investigated the area
preferred. For power frequency voltage, of oils were used in the experiments (I of dispersion of traces of discharges on
the Weibull distribution turned out to be and II). electrodes “ball-plane” with a ball di-
preferable only for a volume of 0.05 cm3 ameter of 62.5, 25 and 5 mm. The balls
and for volumes of 5 and 170 cm3 - the The 26 coefficients of variation from Ta- were previously carefully polished. Up
normal law. bles 6 and 7 are within (1.38 - 11.4)%. In to 50 experiments were carried out on
this case, no dependence on the type of each device. After tests were conducted
7.5. The coefficients of variation of electrode devices and the distance be- on the surface of the electrodes, the po-
breakdown intensity of transformer tween the electrodes is visible. Only one sition of traces of discharge damage to
oil: Decreased scatter with coefficient value equal to 18% (fourth the surface was determined. Traces of
increasing oil volume line of Table 7) inexplicably falls outside 90-94% of breakdowns were found. All
these limits. of them turned out to lie inside a region
Morozova & Antonov, the authors [12], bound by a circle, the intensity of which
studied the effect of oil volume on the Further research by the authors is of is 80-82% of the highest value on the
dielectric strength of gaps with differ- interest to verify the accuracy of the se- lectrode.

Morozova & Antonov studied the effect of oil volume on the dielectric
strength of gaps with different electrodes and published the publication
with detailed statistics of their experiments

Table 7. Type I oil test results with varying electrode spacing acc. to Morozova & Antonov
Table 5. Oil gaps test results acc. to Antonov

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COLUMN Vitaly GURIN

Many researchers accepted the volume of 210 MVA, 500 kV at the Bratskaya HPP;
e) three-phase transformers of 660 MVA,
oil limited by the electrode and the equi- 500 kV at the Ragun HPP; f) autotrans-
gradient surface, the intensity of which was formers of 667 MVA, 1150 kV.

90% of the maximum intensity on the elec- All this indicates large (but unknown)
insulation safety margins and encourages
trode surface prospects for optimizing transformers by
removing excess reserves.

One of the results of these experiments is below the standard. All transformers, 330 3. Important conclusions for optimizing
the significant dependence of the scatter kV and above, were designed and man- the main insulation design is the under-
of strength on the stressed (80%) oil vol- ufactured in Zaporizhzhia. Many years standing that:
ume (Fig. 19). of experience in operating both groups
of transformers have proven their high a) breakdown of the insulation when en-
reliability. In particular, the reliability of tering into the middle of the winding and
Conclusion to Parts II and III
transformers with an insulation level be- at the end of the winding with long-term
1. The work of Panov, a leading figure low GOST has been demonstrated by suc- (up to 1000 h) AC voltage is recorded as
in the field of insulation of power trans­ cessful operation: a powerful PD (1-5) -10’7 C, which is not
formers, formed the basis for the creation prepared by a low-intensity PD (Morozo-
of reliable 3-220 kV Soviet transformers. a) more than 25 years (at that time, the va);
standard service life) of an experimental
2. Research by the VEI team in the group of single-phase transformers of 135 b) up to 25 years, the electrical strength
post-Panov era, under the leadership of MVA, 500 kV at the Volzhskaya HPP; b) of the insulation is determined by the
Morozova and Lokhanin, formed the ba- four groups of similar transformers at the formation of bridges from impurities in
sis for the requirements for insulation of Volgograd HPP; c) autotransformers 167 oil, and there are no processes of gas for-
HV and EHV transformers in accordance MVA, 500/220 kV at substations Tash- mation under the influence of an electric
with GOST 1516.1-76, and subsequent- kent, Novo-Donbas, Chimkent, Kustanai, field, as well as a PD of more than 100 pC
ly for transformers with insulation levels Armavir; d) three-phase transformers of (Marushchenko & Danishina). ume of 0.05 cm3 and for volumes of 5 and
170 cm3 - the normal law (Antonov).
The scatter of the breakdown intensi-
4. We note the following important in- ty of transformer oil significantly (2-3
formation about the scatter values of the
breakdown voltage of transformer insula-
- The scatter of the breakdown intensity
of transformer oil significantly (2-3 times)
times) decreases with an increase in the
tion: decreases with an increase in the stressed stressed 80% oil volume in the range from
80% oil volume in the range from 10 to
- For inhomogeneous fields, the devia- 103 cm3 (Morozova & Antonov); 10 to 103 cm3
tions of the breakdown voltages of trans-
former oil (45 kV / 2.5 mm at a tempera- This information, together with the data
ture of 15-20оС) from the average values in Tables 1-7 and Fig. 19 is sent to our data [11] V.I. Antonov, Experimental studies of [12] T.I. Morozova, V.I. Antonov, Experi-
at distances of more than 25 mm are less box, which will be analyzed in the last part the dependence of the electric strength of mental study of the effect of oil volume
than 5%; for relatively homogeneous of the article. transformer oil from “stressed” volume in on the dielectric strength of transformer
fields, the scatter is significant and varies a uniform electric field, VEI Proceedings, insulation, Electrotechnika, No. 3, pp. 41-
depending on the degree of field homoge- Vol. 91, pp. 17-22, 1982 (in Russian) 43, 1986 (in Russian)
Bibliography to Part III
neity (Panov);
[8] A.V. Panov, T.I. Morozova, Electri-
- The coefficients of variation of break- cal characteristics and methodology for
down voltages of transformer insulation calculating the main insulation of large
models are (2.9-4.4)% (Panov, see Table 1); high-voltage transformers, VEI Proceed-
ings, Vol. 79, pp. 13-32, 1969 (in Russian) Author
- The switching impulse of 170/1200 µs Vitaly Gurin graduated from Kharkov Polytechnic
has the largest scatter of breakdown volt- [9] A.A. Danishina, T.I. Morozova, Institute (1962) and graduated from school at the
ages for the “lead-to-plane” design (Dan- Volt-second characteristic of the insu- Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. Candidate of technical
ishina & Morozova, see Table 4); lating design lead-plane, VEI Proceed- sciences in the Soviet scientific system (1970). For 30
ings, Vol. 85, pp. 23-33, 1977 (in Russian) years, he tested transformers up to 1,150 kV at ZTZ,
- The breakdown voltage distribution of including the largest one of that time in Europe, and
large oil gaps (more than 100-150 mm) [10] P.I. Marushchenko, A.A. Danishina, statistically analysed the test results. For over 25 years,
under the influence of lightning and Investigation of the long-term electri- he was the Executive Director of Trafoservis Joint-Stock
switching pulses (150/800 μs) obeys the cal strength of the lead-plane type in Company in Sofia (the diagnosis, repair, and modernisation in the operating
Weibull law. For power frequency voltage, high-voltage power transformers, VEI conditions of transformers 20–750 kV). He has authored about 150
publications in Russian and Bulgarian and is the main co-author of GOST
Figure 19. Dependence of the standard deviation σ of the breakdown intensity the Weibull distribution turned out to be Proceedings, Vol. 91, pp. 3-17, 1982 (in
21023.
Е10% on the stressed (80%) oil volume acc. to Morozova & Antonov preferable only for a stressed 90% oil vol- Russian)

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INTERVIEW

Our advanced materials and components con-

tribute to the efficient and responsible protec-
tion of both people and technology

Jörn Clasen
Managing Director of Krempel
Krempel acquired EIC Insulation
Company (EIC) in Mexico, significantly
expanding its presence in North and
South America

Welcome, Mr. Clasen. It’s great expertise, position us perfectly to contrib-

to have you here. To start, ute to key future areas such as electrical
insulation materials for generators, trans-
could you give our readers formers, and motors. Our commitment to
a brief overview of Krempel innovation and collaboration ensures that
and its global standing in the we remain a critical part of the solution as
insulation materials industry? these industries continue to evolve.

Thank you for having me. Krempel is a

What is Krempel’s overarching
global leader in providing high-quality
insulation materials. We’ve been in the in- strategy, and how do you
dustry for over 150 years, offering a com- see it driving the company’s
prehensive range of products that cater to future?
various sectors, including energy, mobil-
ity, and electronics. Our commitment to Globality, innovation, and competence
innovation and quality has established us are at the core of our strategic direction.
as a trusted partner worldwide.

Krempel has built strong Biography

customer relationships and In 2018, Jörn Clasen was appointed
manufacturing competencies Managing Director of the Krempel
Group. In this role, he holds global
over the years. Can you
responsibility for sales and market-
elaborate on how these long- ing, manufacturing and develop-
standing relationships have ment, innovation, technology, and
contributed to the company’s HSE. Mr. Clasen holds a degree in
success? Business Administration and has an
extensive professional background.
Our long-standing customer relationships He previously served as a manage-
are the cornerstone of our success. Over ment consultant at Arthur D. Little
decades, we have cultivated trust and re- and held senior management posi-
liability with our partners, which allows tions at Freudenberg and Trelleborg,
us to deeply understand their needs and with experience spanning Germany,
develop tailored solutions. These relation- China, and the United States.
All pictures: © 2024 Krempel GmbH Jörn Clasen, Management Board of Krempel GmbH ships, combined with our manufacturing

74 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 75

 INTERVIEW

Our long-standing customer relationships customer-specific components and kits.

are the cornerstone of our success EIC boasts modern production facilities,
ample storage capacity, and a develop-
ment and sales center. Due to its geo-
graphic proximity to the United States,
By expanding our global footprint and Recently, Krempel acquired the site will serve as a central produc-
investing in innovative technologies, we EIC Insulation Company (EIC), tion and logistics hub for the important
can address the growing needs of the en- located in Mexico. What markets in North and South America.
ergy sector. A key example is our focus on Krempel and EIC have enjoyed a success-
insulation materials and advanced com- prompted this acquisition, ful partnership for more than 20 years
posites, which are critical for industries and what benefits will it in the field of electrical insulation for
like renewable energy and e-mobility. bring to your customers generators, transformers, and motors. A
These materials enhance performance, globally? strong entrepreneurial mindset exists in
efficiency, and sustainability in electrical both companies. Acquiring EIC Insula-
systems, making them vital for the fu- Krempel has acquired all shares of EIC tion Company was a strategic move to
ture of energy. Additionally, we focus on as part of a share deal, effective Septem- expand our product portfolio and en-
reducing our environmental impact by ber 30, 2024. The acquisition included hance our market presence, particularly
innovating more efficient products and both the business of commercializing in the Americas. EIC has a strong repu-
optimizing our supply chain operations electrical insulation materials and the tation for high-quality insulation materi-
to promote sustainability. further processing of these materials into als, and their expertise complements our
own. This acquisition allows us to offer a
more diverse range of products and ser-
vices to our customers, improving our
Krempel has acquired all shares of EIC as part ability to meet their specific needs and
of a share deal, effective September 30, 2024 deliver exceptional value.

Short-circuit-proof ladder grids providing superior short-circuit resistance – one of Krempel’s latest innovations.

Krempel and EIC have a long America through the integration of EIC
into the Krempel group of companies. A
history of collaboration. How significant addition to the transformer
do you see this partnership sector is the Kit Center, which provides
evolving post-acquisition, machined parts and cylinders. Local
and what advantages production allows for the competitive About Krempel
does the combination of fulfilment of customer-specific require- As a leading manufacturer of electri-
Krempel’s expertise and EIC’s ments, such as cutting roll material into cal insulation materials, composites
strips. This benefits the oil transformer and electronic materials, Krempel
capabilities bring to your
sector, but also the dry-type transformer is a system partner to customers
global customer base? segment. Additionally, customers of EIC in the energy, mobility, and indus-
The long-standing partnership between can benefit from Krempel’s comprehen- try sectors. Technical materials and
Krempel and EIC has laid a solid foun- sive expertise in the field of composite components from Krempel help to
dation for this acquisition. Krempel’s al- materials and special laminates. ensure that lives and technology are
ready extensive product portfolio is suc- protected effectively, reliably, and
cessfully marketed in North and South EIC and Krempel complement each responsibly. Krempel has acquired
other perfectly: two companies with a EIC Insulation Company (EIC) effec-
strong focus on innovation and service tive September 30, 2024. The group
orientation are coming together to offer of companies now has 14 locations
EIC and Krempel com- greater value to their customers. The on four continents with a work-
plement each other resulting synergies open up new oppor-
tunities for organic growth across the
force of more than 1,300 employees
worldwide.
Christian Reh and Jörn Clasen (Management Board of Krempel) with Raul Maldonado Martinez, long-standing CEO of EIC, now Managing Director of EIC. perfectly entire group.

76 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 77

INTERVIEW

Our goal is to not only maintain our leadership position but to set new
standards for innovation and sustainability in the insulation industry

ing manufacturer, we offer a full range How do you envision the new markets and sectors where our ex-
of insulation materials for both liq- company continuing to lead pertise in insulation can drive significant
improvements. Our goal is to not only
uid-filled and dry transformers, all per- the industry?
maintain our leadership position but to
fectly matched to various thermal classes
Moving forward, we plan to intensify set new standards for innovation and
for optimal performance and longevity. our focus on innovative and sustain- sustainability in the insulation industry.
able practices and products. This in-
Looking ahead, what are cludes reducing our carbon footprint
across all operations and developing Thank you, Mr. Clasen, for
Krempel’s future plans for more eco-friendly materials. We’re also sharing these insights with
growth and sustainability? exploring opportunities to expand into us.

Production of customized transformer kits at the EIC location in Monterrey, Mexico.

As a leading manufacturer, we offer a full range

of insulation materials for both liquid-filled and
dry transformers

Speaking of value,
can you share some of
the latest innovations
Krempel is bringing to the
market, particularly in the
transformer sector?
About EIC Insulation At CWIEME 2024 we introduced the all
Company new Short-Circuit-Proof Ladder Grids
providing superior short-circuit resis-
EIC is a well-established provider of tance through an enhanced connection
high-quality insulation solutions and between ladder strips and backing mate-
services, catering to a wide range of rial. Also, we launched very successfully
customers in the energy and indus- KREMporEx Slot Insulation Filler, de-
trial sectors across North and South signed for advanced generator and mo-
America. It is engaged in both ma- tor technology. KREMporEx expands to
terial manufacturing and conversion an astonishing 1.400% when exposed to
and located in the Monterrey metro- elevated temperatures, forming a porous
politan area, Mexico. matrix that is perfect for absorbing and
retaining impregnating resins. As a lead- Production buildings as well as raw materials and finished goods warehouses of EIC Insulation Company.

78 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 79

MATERIALS Advertorial

How can cork-based

compressed layer damping
(CLD) improve noise
reduction and control
vibration in
transformers?

80 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 81

 MATERIALS

S
tructural attenuation of noise formance, the thickness of the damper By choosing cork composite solutions, sign but also improves the overall effec-
and vibration is a crucial aspect must be comparable to that of the tank we not only contribute to more envi- tiveness of the damping solution.
of the design and maintenance wall. If the wall is too thin, the damping ronmentally friendly systems but also
of transformers since it pro- effect will be minimal or even non-ex- add the specific benefits of cork to the Effective implementation of a com-
vides a means of converting mechan- istent. It is, therefore, necessary to care- solution - such as natural resilience, pressed layer damping solution in-
ical energy from vibration into heat. fully consider the design specifications flexibility, and low lateral extrusion. cludes:
When implemented correctly, it can to ensure that the damper provides an By opting for Amorim T&D solutions,
significantly reduce noise levels, im- appropriate level of damping. That is manufacturers can optimize trans- 1. Identify all areas of the tank wall that
prove operating conditions, and extend why Amorim Cork Composites has a former designs to meet stringent noise have the greatest vibration/noise am-
equipment life. One effective method team of technical experts available to and vibration requirements, thereby plitude: This step is crucial in order to
for achieving structural attenuation provide advice and collaborate with creating quieter and more reliable elec- direct the damping efforts where they
is using the cork-based compressed clients in the development of the trans- trical infrastructures for various appli- are most needed.
layer damping solutions developed by former design. cations. 2. Define the area of the constrained-lay-
Amorim Cork Composites. er damping solution in function of the
The Amorim T&D VC2100 has been In addition to its multiple technical ad- mechanical constraints, in at least 50 %
The effectiveness of a compressed developed for use as a compressed layer vantages, cork is 100% natural and one of the wall area: This ensures that a sig-
layer damping solution depends on damping solution with excellent damp- of the world’s most versatile materials. nificant area of the wall is covered, pro-
its thickness in comparison with the ing properties, suitable for industrial Studies show that for every ton of cork viding effective damping without under-
thickness of the wall of the tank where applications where vibration and noise produced, the cork oak forest seques- mining the tank’s structural integrity.
it is installed. To ensure optimal per- reduction are essential. ters up to 73 tons of CO2, and no trees 3. Design a clamping mechanism to com-
are felled in the process.1 press the material nominally by 10 %:
Adequate compression of the damping
By opting for Amorim T&D solutions, manu- In equipment that includes a shunt material is essential to maximize its ef-
wall, cork composites can be used as fectiveness in absorbing vibration. The use of high-quality materials such as
facturers can optimize transformer designs the compression element for the com-
Amorim T&D VC2100 ensures that these
to meet stringent noise and vibration re- pressed layer damping against the Compressed layer damping is an effec-
tank’s inner wall. This dual-function tive and practical solution for reducing damping solutions work effectively in
quirements construction not only simplifies the de- noise and vibration in industrial envi-
ronments. The use of high-quality ma- demanding environments
terials such as Amorim T&D VC2100
ensures that these damping solutions
work effectively in demanding envi- possible, preventing them from reach- tact occurs. In the third step, we incor-
ronments. ing the tank structure. By doing so, we porate a Compressed Layer Damper
ensure that structural vibrations with- (CLD) within the tank walls. Last but
in the tank do not get amplified and not least, external vibration pads can be
Minimize power transformers’
converted into airborne noise by the applied outside the transformer. This
noise and vibration with tank walls, which could otherwise act approach is flexible and can be tailored
Amorim T&D solutions as “loudspeakers”. to fit the specific hardware design and
constraints of the customer.
Through our experience in T&D ap- Our approach begins with the recom-
plications, Amorim Cork Compos- mendation for the installation of in- Are you looking for sustainable solu-
ites has developed a four-step system ternal vibration pads beneath the ac- tions to mitigate noise and vibration
to analyze and address issues with tive part of the transformer. Next, we from electrical transformers? Visit
“noisy” equipment. This method em- focus on optimizing the connections Amorim Cork Composites’ website,
phasizes the importance of controlling between the active part and the tank, www.amorimcorkcomposites.com, to
vibrations as close to the source as particularly where metal-to-metal con- know more.

Author
Marta Reinas, Technical Product Manager

Marta Reinas completed her master’s degree in chemical

engineering in 2015, and in the same year, she started
working at Amorim Cork Composites. She started as
a developer technician in the R&D department and is
currently Global Technical Manager responsible for
providing all the technical support regarding Sealing and Power Industry all
over the world.
1
https://amorimcorkcomposites.com/en-us/disclaimers/

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TECHNOLOGY Salvador MAGDALENO-ADAME

Power transformer
magnetic shunt topologies:
A brief review
review of interesting magnetic shunt briefly presented and discussed.
ABSTRACT
configurations utilized in the power
The use of magnetic shunts in power transformer industry in the last 30
equipment is necessary to reduce the years and some research about new
KEYWORDS:
stray losses and possible hot spots in magnetic shunt topologies is present- magnetic shunt, shell-type transformer,
magnetic structural and support el- ed. Real magnetic shunt topologies electrical steel, stray field, leakage field,
ements. This article presents a brief utilized in power transformers are grain-oriented electrical steel

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TECHNOLOGY

Magnetic shunts are employed in power transformers to avoid This magnetic shunt topology with tank wall stepped shunts is utilized
the penetration of stray fields in structural and support elements, to reduce the distance between coils and tanks, reducing the overall
reducing the power losses and the presence of hot spots dimensions

1. Introduction low shunt effectivity [4], [5]. Figure 1 (b) eral vertical shunts are employed to pro- inations in the vertical magnetic shunts Figure 4 shows an interesting and gradual and bottom coil regions. Vertical and hor-
shows the magnetic shunts mounted on tect the LV and HV tank wall sides and of a 190 MVA core-type transformer. magnetic shunt topology in a three-phase izontal shunts with different lengths are
Magnetic shunts are employed in power the LV tank wall side and the end wall of a the end tank walls from high stray fields, The NOESs have lower relative permea- shell-type transformer. This shunt topolo- used to cover the main tank walls of the
transformers to avoid the penetration of core-type power transformer. as shown in Figure 2 (a). The vertical bility compared with the GOESs, and the gy has a design like a “bell curve” covering transformer. The vertical shunts create a
stray fields in structural and support ele- shunts pretend to protect the entire tank NOESs have similar magnetic properties the tank walls located in front of the top magnetic path for the stray field coming
ments, reducing the power losses and the wall surfaces, but with the use of horizon- in the rolling and transverse lamination
presence of hot spots or high tempera- tal shunts, the authors sought to protect direction compared with the GOESs.
tures [1], [2]. Magnetic shunts are gener- In core-type trans­ only the top and bottom HV and LV tank The authors analyzed and compared the
ally composed of grain-oriented electrical
steel (GOES) laminations, which have a
formers, vertical shunts walls located in front of the transformer
coils where the stray field is high, reduc-
use of NOES shunts and GOES shunts,
and they concluded that NOES shunts
high relative permeability, especially in are employed to pro- ing the amount of electrical steel used for produce 9% more stray losses compared
the rolling lamination direction. The roll-
ing direction of the GOES laminations tect the LV and HV tank the magnetic shunts, as shown in Figure 2
(b). The authors optimized the horizontal
with GOES shunts, and the use of NOES
shunts increased 2% the transformer
must be aligned with the main stray field wall sides and the end shunt topology, and they concluded that weight. In addition, the authors didn’t
paths to secure a good shunt effect and there was a reduction of 9% in the tank find overheating issues in the tank walls
to protect effectively the structural and tank walls from high stray losses using the horizontal shunts using NOES shunts. Finally, the authors
support elements of power transformers. stray fields compared with the use of vertical shunts. concluded that there is a shunt material
High power losses and possible hot spots In addition, the authors reduced the total reduction cost of 26% using NOES shunts
could be produced if the magnetic shunts amount of shunt material by 25% using compared with GOES shunts. In [9], the
are wrongly aligned and positioned with horizontal shunts. Similar research about authors analyzed the use of magnetic
the main stray field paths [3]. Figure 1 There is interesting and practical research the use of horizontal and vertical shunts shunts in the core frames of distribution
(a) shows the typical edgewise magnetic about new shunt topologies for power in a 650 MVA core-type transformer was transformers to protect them from the
shunt lamination configuration used in transformers. For example, in [6] the au- presented in [7] where the power loss stray field produced by closed high cur-
power transformers [2]. The shunt di- thors analyzed the idea of the use of hori- reduction efficiency of the horizontal rent leads. They demonstrated that it’s
mensions, shunt location, and number zontal magnetic shunts to protect the tank shunts is presented. In [8], the authors an- possible to reduce more than 90% of stray
of magnetic shunts shall be optimized to walls of a 200 MVA core-type transformer. alyzed the use of GOES laminations and losses in the core frames using magnetic
avoid shunt magnetic saturation and a Generally, in core-type transformers, sev- non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) lam- shunts.

2. Magnetic shunts in tank (a)

walls
Some interesting topologies have been
utilized in power transformers during the
last 40 years. More interesting topologies
have been seen in shell-type transform-
ers compared with core-type transform-
ers. The main reason is that in shell-type
transformers, the coils are closest to the
tank walls and other support and struc-
tural elements, and the designs of shell-
type transformers are more compact
than those of core-type transformers [1].
Figure 3 shows the magnetic shunts in a
single-phase shell-type power transformer,
and with a combination of vertical and
horizontal shunts covering the tank walls
of the transformers. The vertical shunts
create a magnetic path for the stray field
coming from the top and bottom regions
of the coils, and the horizontal shunts
create a magnetic path for the stray field
(b)
(a) (b) coming from the limb and corner regions
of the coils [1]. Figure 2. Three-phase core-type transformers: a) vertical shunts, b) vertical and horizontal
Figure 1. a) Edgewise magnetic shunt configuration [2], b) magnetic shunts of a core-type power transformer. shunts [6].

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 TECHNOLOGY

from the top and bottom regions of the

coils, and the horizontal shunts create a
Despite using thick
magnetic path for the stray field coming shunts to avoid mag-
from the limb and corner regions of the
coils. The shunt length dimensions should
netic saturation, high
be optimized to protect the tank walls of magnetic flux den-
the transformer effectively. Moreover, the
horizontal shunts located in the lateral sities and consider-
tank walls of core supports are sometimes able shunt losses are
stepped to avoid their magnetic satura-
tion because these shunts are closest to the produced in the end
transformer coils, as shown in Figure 4 (c).
This magnetic shunt topology with lateral
shunts during the
tank wall stepped shunts is utilized to re- transformer operation
duce the distance between coils and tanks,
reducing the overall dimensions. The tank
size of shell-type transformers with this
shunt topology presents reduced dimen- shell-type power transformer during the
sions compared with the tank dimensions assembly process.
presented by other similar transformers
with the shunt topology of Figure 3. Another interesting and simple magnetic
shunt configuration is composed of a set
of thick shunts distributed on the T-beam
(a) supports, as shown in Figure 7. Despite (a)
In shell-type pow- using thick shunts to avoid magnetic
er transformers, the saturation, the author has noted that for
this shunt topology, high magnetic flux
T-beam supports are densities and considerable shunt losses
subject to leakage are produced in the end shunts during
the transformer operation [10]. Then, the
fields produced by dimensions of these shunts should be op-
timized to avoid magnetic saturation and
the transformer coils, to reduce the shunt losses. The design of
which is the reason these thick shunts is simple compared
with the stepped shunts presented in Fig-
why they are generally ure 6. These simple shunts don’t require
protected by magnetic cutting laminations with different dimen-
sions for the end shunt steps, reducing the
shunts complexity of the manufacturing process.
Similar magnetic shunts can be found in
(b) arc furnace power transformers where (b)
large T-beams are utilized. More research
3. Magnetic shunts in support
must be conducted on this thick shunt to-
elements pology for T-beams.
In shell-type power transformers, the
T-beam supports are subject to leakage Another interesting shunt topology for
fields produced by the transformer coils. T-beams of shell-type transformers con-
The T-beam supports are generally pro- sists of mixing the shunt topologies pre-
tected by magnetic shunts, and some sented in Figures 6 and 7, as shown in
interesting shunt topologies have been Figure 8. Thick shunts with stepped ends
found in real shell-type power trans- are employed to gradually distribute the
formers. For example, as shown in Figure magnetic field and losses in the shunts.
5, stepped shunts are utilized on T-beam This shunt topology permits the gradu-
supports to gradually distribute the eddy al distribution of the shunt losses in the
current losses in the end shunt steps to end shunt steps, reducing the risk of high
mitigate the risk of high temperatures in temperatures in these end regions of the
the end regions of the shunts [10]. These shunts.
stepped shunts should be optimized for
(c) different transformer sizes and ratings In core-type power transformers, the core (c)
[5], [10]. Figure 6 shows the stepped clamps and yokes need to be protected
Figure 3. a) Single-phase shell-type transformer, b) top tank shunts, c) bottom tank shunts magnetic shunts on the top T-beam of a from the high stray field produced by the Figure 4. a) Three-phase shell-type transformer, b) bottom frontal tank walls shunts, c)
bottom lateral tank walls shunts.
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 TECHNOLOGY

transformer coils [11]-[13]. The mag-

netic shunts protect the core clamps and
yokes from the stray fields produced by
the transformer coils which are closest to
the clamps, as shown in Figure 9 (a) [10].
Shunts are located on the top and bottom
vertical elements of the core clamps. High
power losses and high temperatures have
been reported in some transformers with-
out these clamp magnetic shunts. Figures
9 (b) and (c) show the magnetic shunts on
the core clamps of a three-phase core-type
power transformer.

Conclusion
In this article, diverse magnetic shunt to-
pologies employed in power transformers
were presented. Several shunt topolo- Figure 7. Thick magnetic shunts for T-beams.
gies for core-type and shell-type power
transformers were presented, refreshing
Figure 5. T-beam stepped shunts. the perspective and ideas about the use [6] M. Moghaddami, A. I. Sarwat, and F. In core-type power transformers, the core
of magnetic shunts in power transform- de Leon, “Reduction of stray loss in power
ers. The author considers that several transformers using horizontal magnetic clamps and yokes need to be protected by
transformer shunt topologies could be
improved, and new topologies could be
wall shunts,” IEEE Trans. Magnetics, vol.
53, no. 2, pp. 1-7, Feb. 2017.
the magnetic shunts from the high stray
proposed using new magnetic materials fields produced by the transformer coils
and geometries. [7] R. Altay, I. Hazar, N. Mert Kocanali,
C. Adisen, and M. Aksoy, “Investigation
of magnetic wall shunt combinations on Electronics and Computing (ROPEC), Ix- ing (ROPEC), Ixtapa, Mexico, pp. 1-6,
Bibliography
650 MVA power transformers by finite el- tapa, Mexico, pp. 1-7, 2018. 2015.
[1] X.M. López-Fernández, H.B. Ertan, ement methods,” Transformers Magazine,
and J. Turowski. Transformers: Analysis, vol. 11, no. 2, April 2024. [9] S. Phani Kumar Mokkapaty, J. Weiss, [10] J. Turowski, Xose M. Lopez-Fernan-
Design, and Measurement. 1st Edition, A. Schramm, S. Magdaleno-Adame, J. dez, A. Soto, and D. Souto, “Stray losses
CRC Press, 2013. [8] S. Magdaleno-Adame, T. D. Kefalas, C. Olivares-Galvan, and H. Schwarz, control in core and shell type transform-
A. Fakhravar, and J. C. Olivares-Galvan, “3D Finite Element analysis of magnetic ers Part I: Upgrading of energy-saving
[2] S.V. Kulkarni, S.A. Khaparde. Trans- “Comparative study of grain-oriented and shunts and aluminum shields in clamp- and reliability of large transformers,” 2nd
former Engineering: Design and Prac- non–oriented electrical steels in magnetic ing frames of distribution transformers,” International Advanced Research Work-
tice. 1st Edition, CRC Press, 2004. shunts of power transformers,” 2018 IEEE 2015 IEEE International Autumn Meet- shop on transformers (ARWtr 2007), pp.
International Autumn Meeting on Power, ing on Power, Electronics and Comput- 56-68, Oct. 2007.
(a) [3] J. Turowski, I. Kraj, K. Kulasek, “In-
dustrial Verification of Rapid Design
Methods in Power Transformers,” Inter-
national Conference TRANSFORM-
ER’01, Bydgoszcz, Poland, 2001.

[4] M. A. Arjona, C. Hernandez, and J.

Sturgess, “Positioning tank-wall magnet-
ic shunts of a three-phase power trans-
former considering thermal effects,” IEEE
Trans. Magnetics, vol. 58, no. 9, pp. 1-4,
Sept. 2022.

[5] A. Soto, D. Souto, J. Turowski, X. M.

Lopez-Fernandez, and D. Couto, “Soft-
ware for fast interactive three-dimensional
modeling of electromagnetic leakage field
and magnetic shunts design in shell type
(b) transformers,” 2008 18th International
Conference on Electrical Machines,
Figure 6. T-beam shunts in shell-type power transformer: a) left shunt, b) right shunt Vilamoura, Portugal, pp. 1-6, 2008. Figure 8. Thick shunts with stepped end shunts for T-beam.

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TECHNOLOGY PEER REV
IEWED

[11] L. Štrac, “Three-phase shunts for stray

magnetic field,” Procedia Engineering,
vol. 202, pp. 183-188, 2017.

[12] D. Mehta, P. Kundu, and A. Chow-

dhury, “Development of energy efficient,
cost-optimized transformer with low par-
tial discharges,” Modelling, Measurement
and Control A, vol. 91, no. 2, pp. 59-65,
June 2008.

[13] M. Djurovic and J. E. Monson, “Stray

losses in the step of a transformer yoke with
a horizontal magnetic shunt,” IEEE Trans.
Power Apparatus and Systems, vol. PAS-
101, no. 8, pp. 2995-3000, Aug. 1982.

Author
(a) Salvador Mag-
daleno-Adame
received a B.Sc.
degree in electri-
cal engineering
from the Univer-
sidad Michoac-
ana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo in
2008 and an M.Sc. degree in elec-
trical engineering from the Institu-
to Tecnologico de Morelia in 2013.
From 2008 until 2010, he worked
at Industrias IEM S.A. de C.V. as an
R&D engineer for power transform-

Never stop learning

ers, where he conducted research
and design reviews on shell-type
and core-type power transformers,
and he also worked on the devel-
(b)
opment of HV shunt reactors. He
has occupied several magnetic and
electromagnetic engineering posi-
"Transformers Academy is an e-learning platform designed to make
tions in companies in the United knowledge accessible without losing the recognisable scholastic
States, working in diverse magnetic
and electromagnetic technologies, approach of the Transformers Magazine and audience-oriented
including transformers, permanent knowledge communication of the Transformers Forum. Witness the
magnet motors, actuators, loud-
speakers, permanent magnet tech- expertise and become part of it by visiting transformers-academy.com."
nologies, magnetic materials appli-
cations, etc. He has authored over 60
papers for journals and conferences,
and he has over 20 years of experi- Becoming part of an exceptional knowledge community
ence in finite element electromagnet-
ic analysis of electromagnetic devic- is just one click away.
es. He owns a consultancy business
called “Salvador Consultant – www.
(c) salvadorconsultant.com” to support
the magnetic and electromagnetic
Figure 9. a) Core clamp shunts (#3) [10], b) large core clamp shunts, c) assembly of core
clamp shunts. industry in the United States. transformers-academy.com
92 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024
TRANSFORMER
AND ENVIRONMENT Christina IOSIFIDOU

Pushing
sustainability
for transformers

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TRANSFORMER
AND ENVIRONMENT

How do you evaluate how green the energy to become more environmentally We must ensure transformers are as green as possible from cradle to
friendly. That means a more sustainable
infrastructure we need to build is? use phase, end-of-life management, grave, and, ideally, back to cradle again
and a greener supply chain for that

T
infrastructure, i.e., raw materials and
oday, when we look at the manufacturing. But how do you eval-
Industry collaboration: To get ahead on world’s energy infrastructure, uate how green the energy infrastruc- stalled, resulting in the use of millions senkrupp Electrical Steel. “They also the International Energy Agency (IEA)
the path to net zero, it’s not just electric- we see a lot of “more”: more ture we need to build is? Just relying on of tons of steel and copper and a large want to be sure they can trust those estimates total energy investments to
ity generation we need to decarbonize; solar panels, wind turbines, a manufacturer’s self-assessment is not carbon footprint. numbers.” exceed $3 trillion in 2024, with $2 tril-
energy infrastructure itself needs to transmission lines, substations, trans- sufficient. We need a solution. lion expected to go toward clean tech-
become greener. That’s particularly true formers, grid control stations, energy Given these numbers, we must ensure Today, we don’t have standards to de- nologies. This also means that today,
for transformers. Yet, to this day, there storage facilities—you name it. transformers area as green as possible fine what makes a transformer “green- investors and customers take a compa-
is no established standard to evaluate Evaluating a transformer’s
from cradle to grave and, ideally, back er”. Merely examining the transformer’s ny’s sustainability into account before
their sustainability. Not for much longer. One key driver is the global need to de- sustainability to cradle again. However, to do that, operational carbon footprint is insuf- making substantial business decisions.
Working groups at DNV and CIGRE carbonize electricity, enabling decen- A prime example is power transformers. we need standards to evaluate sus- ficient, as it neglects its embodied car- These decisions would be easier if they
are developing a framework to define a tralized energy generation. However, With the global grid expected to tainable practices. It’s in everybody’s bon, supply chain, environmental im- could consider not just an asset’s (such
robust sustainability standard and, with transitioning to a green future requires double in size by 2040, hundreds of interest. “Customers not only want to pact, and social and economic factors. as a transformer’s) performance but
it, best practices to reduce transformers’ more than sustainable energy sources. thousands of new power transformers know how green a transformer is,” said To illustrate this, the embodied carbon also its supply chain.
environmental impacts. The energy infrastructure itself needs for the TSO grid will have to be in- Marcel Hilgers, Vice President at thys- of a 300 MVA transformer is estimated
to be the equivalent of approx. 3.5 t of To remedy the situation, standardizing
CO2e per ton transformer; of that, 91% transformers’ Life Cycle Assessments
accounts for materials and just 9% for (LCAs), defined by different Key Per-
manufacturing and transportation. formance Indicators (KPIs), is neces-
sary. This will help manufacturers, cus-
tomers, and regulatory entities reliably
Stakeholders need to work
compare and assess transformers and
together identify best practices to reduce envi-
This has to change, and not just because ronmental impacts. However, stake-
we must keep anthropogenic glob- holders must work together to usher in
al warming under 1.5º centigrade. It’s such a new, robust standard.
also good business. In its most recent
report on World Energy Investment,
Providing a basis for more
effective communication
Luckily, efforts are underway to en-
“Customers not only hance sustainability transparency
want to know how through standardization. At the 2022
Transformer Magazine conference,
green a transformer Siemens Energy Grid Technolo-
gies co-initiated the Joint Industry
is, they also want to Project (JIP) with DNV to develop a
be sure they can trust standardized transformer LCA with
industry partners (OEMs, suppliers,
those numbers” and customers). The result is a soon-
– Marcel Hilgers, to-be-published report, Recommend-
VP Customers, Mar- ed Practice for Power Transformer
kets & Technology, Sustainability. “It’s all about making
thyssenkrupp Elec- faster advancements towards sustain-
trical Steel Group ability goals with high-quality solu-
tions,” said Mohammad Shah, Team

It’s all about making faster advancements to-

wards sustainability goals with high-quality
solutions. We couldn’t just hang around and
wait for progress.
Christina Iosifidou, Head of Sustainability Grid Technologies at Siemens Energy – Mohammad Shah, Team Lead, Energy Systems at DNV

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 TRANSFORMER
AND ENVIRONMENT

Emission credits should be created annually, and EPDs for a grey prod- Siemens Energy is committed to becoming climate-neutral in its opera-
uct line should not include emissions reductions sold through a green tions by 2030, shifting to 100% green electricity, preventing processes
product line that emit greenhouse gases, and reducing energy consumption overall

Lead, Energy Systems at DNV. “We carbon intensity of the network, etc.) dardization​. For example, future data “It was a no-brainer (Council on Large Electric Systems) e.g., bluemint® Steel by thyssenkrupp
couldn’t just hang around and wait for are also included. For example, it pro- quality assessment should be based on in a Joint Working Group A2 / C3: for Amprion’s Ultranet Project. Over
progress.” vides procedures for suppliers to assess EN 15804, a European environmental to participate in this LCA for Transformers led by Myles 95% of our transformers’ total weight
the carbon footprint of raw materials product declaration (EPD) standard. working group. We Margot, Senior Key Expert for Grid can be fully recycled end of life; we can
The report provides a basis for more such as steel or copper. While this standard mainly applies to Technologies at Siemens Energy. The also design transformers fully to scrap.
effective communication and consul- the construction business, it also ap- need to drive the re- goal is to go beyond DNV’s JIP report Regarding manufacturing, Siemens
tation with and between power trans-
former stakeholders on sustainability Making real-world impact
plies to the energy industry’s solution
business and the products it uses.
quired changes across in understanding and unpacking the
entire life cycle and establish standard-
Energy is committed to becoming
climate-neutral in its operations by
parameters, terminology, data quality, The report also suggests scenarios to the value chain and ized evaluations, scoring systems, and 2030, shifting to 100% green electric-
and life cycle assessment. Influential reduce data variation, providing a more In addition, the report suggests rules KPIs of the transformers’ environmen- ity, preventing processes that emit
aspects (e.g., recyclability, load factors, straightforward path towards stan- to ensure the harmonization and re- collaborate with our tal impact. The group started its work greenhouse gases, and reducing energy
partners on making in 2024 and is happy to welcome new consumption overall. The transform-
members, as only the collective exper- ers have high-performance efficiency.
real-world impact” tise of stakeholders will create the best Finally, their expected lifetime fulfills
– Dr. Ghazi Kablouti,
comprehensive and practical frame- the EU’s EcoDesign Directive at a
Global Portfolio work possible. minimum and can easily exceed it.
Sus­­tainability Lead-
er, Hitachi Energy Yet, the CIGRE working group is not And yet, as laudable as this effort may
Transformers expected to finish a report for approxi- be, self-assessments won’t be enough
mately another two years. In the mean- in the future. Take, for example, the
time – aside from joining the CIGRE EcoDesign Directive. In the near fu-
group – what can you do? As an exam- ture, it will expand its scope, e.g., re-
liability of using mass balancing in ple (and for orientation), let’s look at quire digital product passports and
materials environmental accounting how Siemens Energy has improved its focus not just on performance but also
and declarations across a global supply transformers’ environmental footprint on material efficiency, durability, envi-
chain and minimize the risk of double through sustainable and circular prac- ronmental footprint, etc. For that, we
counting and general greenwashing. tices. need a robust standard as soon as pos-
For example, emission credits should sible. Once we have it, it will not only
be created annually, and EPDs for a provide a reliable basis for comparison
Self-assessments are not
grey product line should not include and evaluation for manufacturers, cus-
emissions reductions sold through a enough tomers, and regulatory entities. It will
green product line. Finally, the report As it is, Siemens Energy’s transformers help us identify best practices to reduce
also focuses on the end-of-life process are fairly sustainable. They feature a transformers’ environmental impacts.
to bring the industry closer to a holistic compact design built to last up to 40 That’s what it is about in the end – cut-
cradle-to-cradle approach and prepare years, using CO2-reduced materials, ting emissions on the way to net zero.
circularity in the HV industry.

In the future, all this should enhance

the tendering process, enabling more Author
accurate comparisons and informed Christina Iosifidou is the Head of Sustainability
decision-making. “It was a no-brainer
Grid Technologies at Siemens Energy. In this role, she
to participate in this working group,”
said Dr. Ghazi Kablouti, Global Portfo- drives the decarbonization of products, solutions and
lio Sustainability Leader at Hitachi En- services across the value chain. She holds a Masters
ergy Transformers. “We need to drive degree in business engineering from the Technical
the required changes across the value University of Berlin. She started her carreer at Siemens
chain and collaborate with our partners Energy as PLM for Large Power Transformers, where
on making real-world impact.” she later worked as Global Innovation Sales Manager
and gained valuable experiences in Austria and Brazil too. She strongly
Happy to welcome new believes that decarbonization is not a choice; it is a must to protect our
planet for future generations. Achiving net zero is possible only by join-
members
ing hands together, and for this goal, she involves all the relevant stake-
The DNV Industry recommendation holders to discuss strategies and, most importantly, to act.
is now being continued at CIGRE

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TRANSFORMER LIFECYCLE K. K. MURTY, J. J. L. KAPIL, S. K. CHATURVEDI, Santosh DUBEY

General guidelines
for safekeeping of high
voltage transformers
Part III
Manufacturer) guidelines must be fol- and substation engineers in the
ABSTRACT
lowed. This article is a significant and absence of any guidelines issued by
Transformers such as HV/EHV (132kV important contribution of experienced their utilities or in the industry.
and above) are the most vital and cost- engineers in O&M and testing and
ly equipment in power systems and commissioning up to 400kV in HV/ KEYWORDS:
large Industries. It is the prime duty of EHV substations. The authors deliber-
HV/EHV substation managers, asset ate all the aspects from receiving the N2 (nitrogen gas), SFRA (Sweep Fre-
managers, and substation Operation & consignment of an EHV Transformer quency Response Analysis), FAT (Fac-
Maintenance (O&M) engineers to look on-site through its lifecycle, including tory Acceptance Test), TCIV (Trans-
after transformers, beginning from O&M and life expectancy enhance- former Conservator Isolation Valve),
receipt on-site through their lifecycle ment. OEM (Original Equipment Manufactur-
scrupulously with motherly feelings. er), DGA (Dissolved Gas Analysis), FDS
This article serves as a guideline for (Frequency Domain Spectroscopy), fu-
Generally, OEM (Original Equipment substation managers, asset managers, ran analysis

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TRANSFORMER LIFECYCLE

Thermosyphon filter is an ONLINE trans- 7. Thermosyphon filter (c) Fill diverter switch chambers with
Thermosyphon filter is an ONLINE newly filtered mineral oil.
former oil preservation system for power transformer oil preservation system for Note: All EHV transformers are
transformers, and it is mounted in trans- power transformers. The system consists equipped with in-tank type OLTC
of a container with absorbent (normally (Figure 15C).
former oil pipes outside the main tank of activated alumina) with very high mois- (d) Open the air vent from the diverter
the transformer ture absorption capability. It is mounted
in transformer oil pipes outside the main
switch chambers.
(e) Make sure all stop valves between the
tank of the transformer. While transformer oil conservator and the OLTC driving
oil circulates through this, the absorbent unit are open.
removes moisture from the oil. Oil cir- (f) Cycle the full range of the tap chang-
culation can be either under the thermal er manually and check the end limit
head or through the forced pump. Mois- switch stops.
ture content in transformer oil can be (g) Cycle the full range of the tap changer
maintained at a level below 10 ppm. electrically and make sure rotation is
correct.
(h) Verify the operation of taps when op-
8. Oil filtration job
erated from the RTCC (Remote Tap
(a) Fill thermometer pockets with oil/es- Changer Control) panel.
ter fluid and dip-calibrated thermom- Note: The electrical and mechanical
eters. interlock should also be tested.
(b) Filter transformer oil until its BDV (i) Verify OSR relay contacts if closed op-
is greater than 60 kV and moisture erate the master trip relay module.
content is below 10ppm as per IEC
60422-2013 (Table 4). Make sure that
10. Neutral grounding
the transformer tank oil temperature
does not exceed 50°C. (a) Copper flats of suitable size must run
Figure 14: Thermosyphons Note: (a) During filtration work, ra- through the neutral CT where bush-
diator valves should be kept in closed ing CT is not provided in the neutral
condition. (b) After filtration, push bushing (for REF protection) on the
the oil from the bottom; open radiator support insulators. Connect them to
valves one by one. the earth pit through two ACSR/AAA
(c) For transformers rated 400 kV or conductors clamped with a bimetallic
more, the OEM’s erection engineer pad to the copper flat, as shown in Fig-
shall take care during erection, then ures 16A and 16B.
oil filling and drying according to (b) Neutrals of HV and LV sides of star-
procedures provided by the OEM. star transformers are grounded in sep-
The substation manager, substation arate earth pits.
engineer, and asset manager should (c) All earth pits are connected in par- Figure 15B. OSR
extend all possible help and support to allel and are, in turn, connected to
the OEM’s erection engineer. the earth-mat (earth grid) so that
the combined earth resistance is
less than 1.0 Ω (preferably as low as
9. OLTC erection and
0.5Ω).
inspection (d) Individual and combined earth re-
(a) Connect the operating rod and worm sistances are measured periodically.
gear arrangement. Make sure that taps Earth pits are maintained regularly,
have the same number as that for the and electrodes are replaced if required.
DM (Driving Mechanism) box when (e) The tank (body) should be perma-
connecting the DM with the tap nently connected to the earth by
Figure 15A. Oil surge relay (OSR)
changer. means of a flat, flexible conductor of
Note: Presently, the OEMs ship suitable size and material (galvanized
transformers with completely assem- steel, copper, or acceptable equivalent)
bled OLTC DMs, including diverter terminated on earthing terminals or
Copper flats of suitable size must run switches. pads provided at the bottom of the
(b) Connect OSR (Oil Surge Relay) be- tank (Figure 16C).
through the neutral CT where bushing CT tween the OLTC conservator and the (f) The cable, marshalling, and OLTC op-
is not provided in the neutral bushing (for diverter switch compartment. Make
sure that the arrow on the relay faces
erating boxes should also be earthed
(Figure 16D).
REF protection) on the support insulators the OLTC conservator (Figures 15A (g) Verify the integrity of the earthing sys-
and 15B). tem. Figure 15C: In-tank type OLTC

102 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 103

TRANSFORMER LIFECYCLE

windings, which feed loads for sub- To protect the tertiary delta winding against
station supply, 30 kV LAs or 9 kV
LAs should be installed on each transferred surges, some OEMs recommend
phase. A DTR of 33/0.433 kV or
11/0.433 kV, Dyn11 of appropriate
surge protection capacitors in conjunction
capacity is required with suitable with LAs on each phase of the tertiary winding
isolation and protection arrange-
ments in 33 kV or 11 kV as well as
on 0.433 kV side.
(ii) For 33 kV or 11 kV delta tertiary
windings which feed loads to DIS-
COMs, a zig-zag neutral ground-
ing transformer of appropriate ca-
pacity should also be installed with
associated relays, circuit breakers,
CTs, isolators, and LAs.
(iii) For 33 kV or 11 kV delta tertia-
ry windings which feed reactive
compensation devices such as
capacitor banks or reactors, nec-
Figure 16A. External neutral CT for REF protection Figure 16B. Earth connection through neutral CT essary LAs, isolators, CTs, and cir-
cuit breakers of adequate capacity
should be installed. Some utilities
also use NDR (Neutral Displace-
11. Delta tertiary winding ment Relay) protection with 3 ph,
and bushings: 3U, 3V and 33 kV RVTs or 12 kV RVTs.
3W or Y1, Y2 Y3 (as per IEEE (iv) Ensure that 1U, 1V, and 1W
C57.12.70-2000) (H1, H2, H3 as per IEEE
C57.12.70.2000) designated trans-
(a) In a transformer bank of three sin- former terminals match with
gle-phase units, confirm the tertiary
winding connection as per vector • R, Y, B (R, S, T) phase configuration of
group YNa0d11 or YNa0d5 of the au- buses respectively of HV switchyards
totransformer and connect them ex- • 2U, 2V and 2W (x1, x2 and x3) on IV Figure 16D. Marshalling box earthing
ternally either on a 33 kV or 11 kV bus
drawn near the autotransformer or
through 33 kV or 11 kV XLPE cables.
(b) Protection against transferred surges:
i. Follow instructions of OEMs.
ii. In the absence of instructions from
OEMs, in the case of autotrans-
formers, earth one terminal of the
delta tertiary, either 3U or 3W (in
UVW nomenclature) or Y1 or Y3
(as per IEEE C57.12.70-2000) of
delta tertiary bushing terminals.
iii. In the case of autotransformers
rated 400/220/33 kV and above,
strictly follow the instructions of
OEMs.
iv. To protect the tertiary winding
against transferred surges, some
OEMs recommend surge pro-
tection capacitors in conjunction
with LAs on each phase of tertiary
winding (Figure 18A and 18B).
(c) Tertiary winding utilized for feeding
load
(i) For 33 kV or 11 kV delta tertiary

Figure 16C. Transformer body earthing Figure 18A. Installation of Surge protection capacitors for protection of tertiary winding against transferred surges

104 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 105

TRANSFORMER LIFECYCLE IEWED
PEER REV

(in case of autotransformers / ICTs)

Authors
and LV side (in case of two winding
K.K. Murty holds a Bachelor’s degree (Hons) in Electrical
transformers)
Engineering obtained from the University of Jabalpur. He
• 3U, 3V and 3W (Y1, Y2 and Y3) in del-
was a former Chief Engineer and Head of Department
ta tertiary winding in the case of auto-
at M.P. Power Transmission Co. Ltd. Jabalpur. He was
transformer (ICTs).
a member of the panel of expert professionals at the
Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bangalore,
from 2008 to 2012. Previously, he worked as an advisor
at SOUTHCO, a DISCOM, a metering consultant to
M. P. Electricity Regulatory Commission and a Course Director for the
graduate electrical engineering trainees at the Training Institute of MPPTCL,
Jabalpur. Mr. Murty is a member of CIGRE India, a Fellow of Institution of
Engineers, India (FIE) and is a Chartered Engineer. He has been awarded a
plaque by the Institution of Engineers Kolkata, in October 2015, in recognition
of his eminence and contribution to the profession of electrical engineering at
the national level.

J. J. L. Kapil is a retired assistant engineer, 220 kV S/S,

Figure 18B. Surge protection capacitor nameplate Jabalpur in June 2017, holding a diploma in electrical
engineering. Among his commendations, MD MPPTCK
Caution: If a delta tertiary is not used has felicitated Mr. Kapil in recognition of his hard and
either for reactive compensation equip- sincere work and for preventing many incidences. He was
ment, station supply, or feeding 33 kV responsible for the upkeep of 3x40 MVA 220/132/33 kV
loads, then one corner of delta tertiary Mitsubishi transformer bank (1-Ph. units), which are still
winding should be earthed. in service after 53 years.

Bibliography Santosh Dubey holds a Diploma in Electrical

Engineering. He is the Assistant Engineer of 220 kV
[1] IEEE Guide for Installation and Substation at Nayagaon and at Sukha, Jabalpur, a
Maintenance of Liquid Immersed Power prestigious EHV substation in the State of Madhya
Transformers Std C57.93-2019. Pradesh. He looks after Operation & Maintenance
[2] CBIP Manual on transformers and Erection of EHV equipment very efficiently and
No.: 319-2013 successfully. Down time of any equipment is minimal
due to his sincerity, devotion and relentless efforts. He
[3] Terminal marking UVW as per is an asset to the M.P. Power Transmission Co. Ltd. Jabalpur (India). He has
IS:2026 Part 4, 1977, reaffirmed in 2001 been felicitated and awarded for his exemplary work by the M.D., M.P. Power
and IEEE std. C57.12.70-2000 Transmission Co. Ltd. Jabalpur. Due to his strict execution and monitoring
[4] Central Electricity Authority (Gov- of their maintenance practice, a 55 year-old 3x40 MVA, 220/132/33 kV
ernment of India): Standard specifications
and technical parameters for transformers
and reactors (66 kV and higher voltage
transformer is still in service. He obtained the ISO-9001-2015 certificate
for 220 kV S/S Nayagaon, Jabalpur which is 55 years old. He also removed
and cleaned debris of bursted 72.5 kV bushing from the body of a 132/33 kV,
We publish books on topics useful for a large
class published in April 2021
[5] Mineral oil fresh IS:335. (IEC equiva-
63 MVA Transformer and re-energised it in minimal time by replacing the
failed bushing at 132 kV substation at Mansakara. audience of transformer industry professionals
lent IEC 60296 5th edition 2020)
S. K. Chaturvedi holds a diploma in Electrical Engineering
[6] Unused synthetic organic ester confirm-
and bachelor’s degree in Technology. He presently works as
ing to IS: 16081 – June 2013, IS / IEC 61099
Assistant Engineer (maintenance) 400 kV S/s Katni, since
[7] Power transformers – IEC 60076 Part October 2013 in a 950 MVA, 400/220/132 kV /33 kV AIS he
14: Liquid-immersed power transformers is managing the maintenance and erection / installation jobs
using high-temperature insulation materials independently and successfully of EHV equipment up to
400 kV level. He was felicitated by MD MPPTCL for on spot
[8] Loading guide for oil-immersed ��� ��������
repairing and installation of EMR make diverter switch on a
power transformers IS:2026 (part-7)
24-year-old 160 MVA, 220/132 kV TELK make transformer at 400 kV S/s Katni.
(IEC equivalent: 60076-7)
He successfully assembled a 400 kV, 125 MVAR bus reactor and all associated
[9] IEEE C57.152-2013 (IEEE Guide for
fluid filled power transformers, regulators
equipment for the bay at 400 kV S/s Katni, within minimal time. He obtained
ISO 9001-2008 certificate in 2015, for 50-year-old 132/33 kV AIS Kymore, for
Take corporate subscription and ensure access for all your colleagues!
and reactors) complete renovation. He successfully performed retrofitting and replacement of h�ps://transformers-magazine.com/books/
[10] IS: 16099 / IEC 61203 maintenance 220 kV, 132 kV, 33 kV, 22 old pneumatic circuit breakers / VCBs within minimal
for used synthetic organic ester fluid time and reconditioning of two 40-year-old 132/33 kV transformers. Subscribe, advertise or contact us for further information
[email protected]
106 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024
PROSPECTION Eyman IKHLAQ

Powering
down progress:
The impact of
distribution
transformer
shortage on
green ambitions
in Europe
E
urope is pushing hard to deploy renewable energy to combat climate
change, fulfil international commitments, and reduce reliance on Russian
fossil fuels. The region is making significant investments in electricity grid
infrastructure to accommodate the increasing flux of renewable energy
sources. However, an acute shortage of distribution transformers poses a major
threat to efforts focused on upgrading the grid.

This has delayed project completion and escalated costs that will eventually be
passed on to consumers. This article explores the decarbonization goals and cor-
responding grid investments in Europe, followed by a discussion on the impact
of transformer shortages and the Ecodesign Directive on decarbonization goals.
It further sheds light on the regulatory and industry responses to the distribution
transformer shortage.

Decarbonization goals and grid investments

Europe has set aggressive targets to deploy renewable energy, which will, in turn,
reduce carbon equivalent emissions. By 2030, the EU plans to generate 45% of the
electricity from renewable energy sources (initially, the target was to increase the
share of generation from renewable energy sources to 32%).

To accommodate the increasing share of renewable energy in the generation mix,

transformer shortage, examines the unintended effects of the EU plans to invest USD 638 billion in grid expansions and upgrades by 2030.
ABSTRACT In 2023 alone, Europe invested around USD 66 billion, which accounts for 20%
the Ecodesign Directive, and suggests strategies for ad-
With Europe committed to decarbonizing its energy sec- dressing these obstacles to ensure continued progress.
tor, significant investments are being made to upgrade the
The region is making significant invest-
electricity grid and integrate renewable energy sources. KEYWORDS:
Yet, a shortage of distribution transformers threatens to ments in electricity grid infrastructure to
decarbonization, renewable energy, grid infrastructure,
undermine these efforts, causing delays and escalating
costs. This article discusses the factors contributing to the supply chain, ecodesign directive
accommodate the increasing flux of renew-
able energy sources
108 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 109
PROSPECTION

The majority of the EU’s investments into The transformer shortage in the region is
expected to be further exacerbated by the
renewable energy (around 60%) were ear- upcoming Tier-3 of the Ecodesign Direc-
marked for distribution networks tive as it proposed the use of amorphous
steel in manufacturing transformer cores.
Although amorphous steel is compara-
tively energy efficient, it also comes with
of the global investment in grid infra- in the form of an acute distribution trans- significant supply challenges.
structure. former shortage. Several factors have ex-
acerbated the distribution transformer Currently, Europe has a limited supply of
Most of these investments (around 60%) shortage, including geopolitical tensions amorphous steel, while more than half of
were earmarked for distribution net- and supply chain disruptions. it being supplied by China. In the short
works. One reason behind the extensive run, introducing a standard that man-
focus on the distribution grid was the Europe’s distribution transformer pro- dates the use of amorphous steel will only
region’s aging distribution infrastructure. duction capacity is already insufficient increase the dependence on imports and
Over 40% of the distribution grid is over to meet its growing demand, but to meet worsen the shortage in the region.
40 years old and doesn’t align with EU strategic requirements, it had to export
standards. distribution transformers to Ukraine, On the other hand, the use of amorphous
which further strained the limited supply. materials in the manufacturing of cores Figure 2. Utility investments in key countries.
In leading European countries, utility can make them noisy and weak. Improper Source: PTR Inc.
investments increased year over year. These shortages have far-reaching impli- handling of material can also pose health
France, Germany, and Spain invested USD
3.65 billion, USD 3.2 billion, and USD 2.6
cations for renewable energy projects in
the region. An increase in lead times is
risks to workers, as small particles can be
released into the air.
Despite heavy investments, Europe’s push to expand and upgrade the
billion in the utility sector in 2023, respec- causing significant delays in project com- electricity grid is facing a significant obstacle in the form of an acute
tively. Despite the significant investments,
Europe’s push to upgrade and expand the
pletion, which has led to increased prices
across various industries. The lead time of
Regulatory and industry distribution transformer shortage
grid faces a major roadblock. distribution transformers has increased to responses
2 years. In Germany, for instance, trans- The EU, however, is actively trying to ad- cores used in the manufacturing of trans- Looking ahead
former shortages can delay offshore wind dress the transformer shortages. Despite formers has also complicated the situa- About PTR
The impact of transformer
energy projects by as long as two years, bookings until 2030, European manufac- tion. Europe’s ambitious decarbonization goals
shortages jeopardizing renewable energy targets. turers are reluctant to invest in new pro- are driving significant investments to With over a decade of experience in
Despite heavy investments, Europe’s push duction facilities due to the uncertainty of In order to deal with the crisis at hand, upgrade and expand the electricity grid the Power Grid and New Energy sec-
to expand and upgrade its electricity grid The unintended consequences of the transformer demand. A dearth of skilled PTR recommends the following actions: infrastructure, specifically the distribu- tor, PTR Inc. has evolved from a core
infrastructure is facing a major obstacle Ecodesign Directive workers and key components such as iron tion grid. However, the severe shortage of market research firm into a com-
• Increase Domestic Production Capac- distribution transformers is a major road- prehensive Strategic Growth Part-
ity: European governments need to block that threatens to derail these efforts. ner, empowering clients’ transitions
take policy measures to incentivize do- Addressing the transformer shortage is and growth in the renewable energy
mestic transformer production. These crucial for meeting Europe’s renewable landscape and E-mobility, particular-
could include financial incentives, tax energy targets and decarbonization goals.
ly within the electrical infrastructure
breaks, and grants for setting up new Europe can overcome these challenges
manufacturing facilities. by providing incentives to establish do- manufacturing space.
• Enhance Workforce Training: The gov- mestic transformer production facilities, Contact:
ernments and private stakeholders in investing in workforce training, and se-
([email protected])
the transformer industry need to invest curing a sustainable, green energy future.
in training programs and apprentice-
ships in electrical and technical fields.
This will help build a pool of skilled Author
workers capable of meeting the indus- Eyman Ikhlaq
try’s demand for skilled workers. Analyst - PTR Inc.

Eyman is an Analyst at PTR Inc., where she specializes in

Addressing the trans- topics focused on transformers. Her professional journey
began in the research sector at IDR, where she worked as
former shortage is a Market Research Analyst for the APAC region. After
crucial for meeting Eu- gaining a year of valuable experience analyzing market trends across various
domains, Eyman moved to PTR as a Power Grid Analyst. Currently, her focus
rope’s renewable ener- is on conducting thorough analyses and providing insights into the field of
gy targets and decar- transformers. Eyman has a strong technical background, having earned a
Figure 1. Growth in European power grid investments.
Source: PTR Inc. bonization goals bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

110 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 111

PRE-EVENT

Shaping the future The Industry Navigator 2025 Conference

is where industry leaders come not just

of the industry to discuss problems, but to shape the

future

Industry Navigator 2025 Conference

Sustainable Development
Strategies for T&D
9-11 April 2025
- Dubai, UAE

112 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 113

PRE-EVENT

Unlocking new opportunities What makes this conference unique is

through collaboration its business-focused approach, mak-
ing it a must-attend for those looking
The Industry Navigator 2025 Con- to influence the future of the industry.
ference, taking place in Dubai from This is not just an opportunity to gain
9-11 April, promises to be an unpar- insights - it is an event where strate-
alleled event for professionals in the gic partnerships are forged, and high­-
transformer and switchgear industry. value deals are made. At our last con-
This prestigious gathering, part of the ference in Madrid, sponsors reported
broader Industry Navigator initia- significant benefits, with some secur-
tive, will bring together high-profile ing new business directly as a result
decision-makers, influencers, and in- of their participation. In fact, the ex-
novators from around the world, all perience was so impactful that Ganz
converging to address the key chal- Transformers confirmed their Cham-
lenges and future trends within the pion sponsorship for this conference
industry. before we had even announced the
venue or date, underlining the im-
Unlike typical conferences, the Indus- mense value that sponsors receive.
try Navigator conference is the culmi-
nation of a year-long initiative. The
project begins with in-depth research
into the most pressing issues the sector
Located in the heart of
faces, enabling us to generate fresh in- Dubai, Raffles hotel is
sights and solutions. By collaborating
with industry experts, partners, and a name synonymous
the Transformer Champions Club, we with luxury, exclusiv-
not only identify challenges but also
work together to develop actionable ity, and exceptional
strategies. The Transformer Champi- service
ons Club, an exclusive invitation-­only
platform, brings together leaders from
top utilities, transformer manufactur-
ers and material and component sup- Iconic environment
pliers, making it a one-of-a-kind think
tank in the industry. This collabora- The 2025 conference will be hosted at
tion emphasises excellence, expertise, the Raffles hotel, a name synonymous
and above all cooperation, setting the with luxury, exclusivity, and excep-
stage for transformative discussions. tional service. Located in the heart of
Dubai, Raffles offers an iconic setting
where business meets elegance. Re-
nowned for its unique blend of con-
This prestigious gath- temporary design and traditional lux-
ering, will bring to- ury, the hotel provides state-of-the-art
conference facilities, elegant meet-
gether high-profile ing rooms, and exquisite hospitality,
ensuring the ideal environment for
decision-makers, in- high-level networking and collabora-
fluencers, and inno- tion. The hotel’s facilities, including its
luxurious meeting rooms, serene ter-
vators from around races, and gourmet restaurants, offer
the world, all converg- unparalleled opportunities for formal
and informal business interactions.
ing to address the key
challenges and future The strategic timing of the conference,
immediately following the Middle
trends within the in- East Energy exhibition, will allow our
delegates to optimise their travel and
dustry make the most of their time in Dubai.

114 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 115

PRE-EVENT

In addition, sponsors will have the

opportunity to host their own work-
Transformers Maga-
shops, product launches, or even ex- zine’s Quiz League ini-
clusive customer events using the
hotel’s outstanding facilities, which tiative addresses one
include meeting rooms, terraces, of the industry’s most
and restaurants. Therefore, our del-
egates will not only experience a critical issues - the
rich plenary programme, but they skills shortage - by in-
will also have access to workshops,
networking sessions, and exclusive spiring the next gen-
meetings.
eration through inter-
active and enjoyable
Sponsors will have the platforms
opportunity to host
their own workshops, Shape the future!
product launches, or In short, the Industry Navigator 2025
even exclusive cus- Conference is where industry leaders
come not just to discuss problems, but
tomer events using the to shape the future. It is a hub of inno-
hotel’s outstanding fa- vation, collaboration, and growth, of-
fering opportunities for sponsors and
cilities delegates alike to expand their busi-
ness, establish partnerships, and gain
invaluable insights into the future of
the industry.
Inspiring the next generation
Moreover, the Transformers Maga- Whether you’re looking to network
zine’s Quiz League, another part of with top-tier professionals, gain cut-
the Industry Navigator initiative, ting-edge knowledge, or solidify
will continue its mission to promote your company’s position as an indus-
industry knowledge in an engaging try leader, this is the event not to be
way, aiming to attract new talent and missed.
raise awareness of the sector. This ini-
tiative addresses one of the industry’s
most critical issues - the skills short-
age - by inspiring the next generation
The conference is a hub
through interactive and enjoyable of innovation, collabo-
platforms.
ration, and growth, of-
This interactive and educational series fering opportunities to
offers an exciting platform for profes-
sionals and enthusiasts in the trans- expand business, es-
former industry to challenge their tablish partnerships,
knowledge, stay updated on the latest
industry developments, and compete and gain invaluable in-
for the chance to win fantastic prizes.
Over the course of 14 rounds, partic-
sights into the future
ipants will be ranked based on their of the industry
performance, with the top compet-
itors advancing to the highly antic- Contact:
ipated Grand Finals, which will take
place during the Industry Navigator [email protected]
conference in Dubai. [email protected]

116 TRANSFORMERS MAGAZINE | Volume 11, Issue 4 | 2024 w w w . t ra n sfo r m e r s - m a g a z i n e . co m 117

study programs

TA Diploma study programmes

» Leading e-learning entity «
Sharpening the skills of team members makes the company's
long-term misson successful

[email protected] transformers-academy.com
HYDROCAL 1011 genX P
Portable Dissolved Gas Analysis for Power Transformers and
oil-filled Electrical Equipment

Hydrogen
(H2)

Moisture in
Oil (H2O)

Carbon Mono-
xide (CO)

Carbon
Dioxide (CO2)

Methane
(CH4)

Acetylene
(C2H2)

Ethylene
(C2H4)

Ethane
(C2H6)

Propane
(C3H8)

Oxygen
(O2)

Nitrogen
(N2)

The HYDROCAL 1011 genX P is a portable device for the analysis of

dissolved and free gases from the isolation fluid of oil-filled power trans-
formers and other electrical equipment.
MTE's first portable DGA was specifically developed for various applica-
tions besides the classical laboratory and online DGA:
Monitoring of a group of smaller (e.g. distribution) transformers where online DGA would be
less economical
Monitoring of other oil-filled high-voltage equipment, e.g. instrumentation/protection trans-
formers, CTs/PTs, circuit breakers, etc.
Assistance and effective support along with the installation and/or repair of power transformers
Analysis of gas samples from Buchholz relays
Confirmation and further investigation of warnings and results from online DGA devices or
Buchholz relays

Solutions for Landis + Gyr-Strasse 1 Phone: +41-41-508 39 39

a testing future P.O. Box 7550 Fax: +41-41-508 39 38
6302 Zug Internet: www.mte.ch
Switzerland E-Mail: [email protected]