Industrial Power Transformers: Selection, Installation, Advanced Maintenance and Reliability

This book

The goal of this book is to explain the recommended ways to do work usually done to prevent problems with transformers.

The methods taught in this book are not for big overhauls and rehabilitations to fix a transformer. However, a lot of activities are done during normal procedures.

Maintenance and major transformer overhaul could be similar. The tasks for taking care of a transformer we talked about can be done if the transformer is not too damaged.

The tips in this book are like the advice that manufacturers give for their products. If you need specific instructions, the operator should look at the manuals from the manufacturer. Preventative maintenance for transformers includes regularly checking, fixing small issues, and special care instructions. Furthermore, if the equipment is installed and operated correctly, it will work well for a long time without any problems.

Large electrical transformers setup and maintenance

A transformer needs to be installed and loaded correctly to work well.

Taking care of something to make sure it works well. It also depends on having the right design and making it well.

Like any device or equipment, if you don't follow the rules for electrical devices, it can cause big problems and you might lose the equipment. The goal of maintaining transformers can be explained like this:

Transformer Corrective (unscheduled) Maintenance

Briefly, fix the equipment when its breakdown. Otherwise, don’t take any action!

TRANSFORMER ROUTINE Maintenance

This includes adjustments, cleaning, inspection, and necessary replacements. Those are the light regular tasks that can be done by the operator himself. And doesn’t require extensive maintenance expertise.

Preventive Maintenance (Scheduled/Planned Maintenance)

This way of doing things involves preventing problems, predicting when issues might occur, and fixing them if they do.

Keeping something in good condition and fixing any problems. Preventive maintenance means doing regular maintenance on a schedule.

Regular testing means regularly checking something to make sure it is working properly. Predictive maintenance means checking and testing things more often.

Fixing and restoring the transformer is what corrective maintenance does.

Repairing something back to its original state when it is damaged.

The aim of transformer preventive maintenance is to stop the oil and winding insulation from getting damaged. Mineral oil and paper insulation can be affected by water, air, heat, and other things like metal, electricity, and stress.

The oil in the transformer gets oxidized, which causes a problem.

Sludging means moving slowly or with difficulty. In sealed units, we need to stop moisture from getting in through the air or from seal leaks. Wetness will make it harder for both the oil and the insulation of the wires to resist electricity. Additionally, when a transformer gets too hot, the paper coating on the wires inside can break down, leading to moisture build-up. More water in the paper makes the paper weaker and as it gets hotter, the water moves into the oil and makes it weaker too. The most important thing is to make transformers in a way that keeps moisture and oxygen away.

Next, we need to make sure that the transformers are not used at temperatures higher than what they are rated for.