Power Transformers

Utility Transformers

New Line of Transformer Oil Exclusively for Canada

This summer, Aevitas Inc. announced a partnership with Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. to bring improved access to premier transformer oil products across Canada. Aevitas will exclusively distribute Calumet’s new line of Caltran™ insulating oil — Caltran C50 — in...

Dielectric Fluids

Advancements in Dissolved Gas Analysis: NEI & Gassing Events

One of the most important steps when looking at DGA data is to decide whether the data support the existence of a fault that is actively breaking down the insulation before you try to use a triangle, pentagon, or gas ratio method to identify a fault type. Otherwise, you are diagnosing random...

Transformer Monitoring

FERC Complaint Targets Duke, PJM Transmission Planning

A coalition of large energy consumers and ratepayer advocates has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), urging the agency to prohibit transmission owners from independently planning "local" transmission projects exceeding 100 kilovolts (kV). The coalition argues...

Transformer Testing & Maintenance

The Dissolved Gas Analysis Toolkit

Dissolved gas analysis: addressing the challenges of collecting samples BY DONAL SKELLY, GE’s Digital Energy business Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is a technique for identifying and quantifying the gas formed in oil-filled electrical equipment because of either the natural aging of oil and paper...

Transformer Software & Technologies

The Role of Transformer Oil Alternatives in Improving Safety and Environmental Sustainability

The Growing Need for Safer and Greener Transformer Oils Transformer oil plays a vital role in the operation and longevity of power transformers, providing insulation, cooling, and arc suppression. Traditionally, mineral oil has been the industry standard due to its effective dielectric properties...

Transformer Protection

Prevent Transformer Shutdown

Power transformers seldom shutdown; however, if a shutdown occurs, the effects would be immediate and devastating to utility operations. According to “An Analysis of Transformer Failures” by William H. Bartley, P.E., on behalf of the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, the...

Home Transformation Power Transformers

Transformer testing and failure analysis

Power Transformer Failures

Electric utilities maximize utilization of their assets, while maintaining reliability. Power transformers are typically reliable, but have been known to fail suddenly and/or prematurely. Transformer failures are both costly and can leave customers dissatisfied, harming the reputation of a utility. Common events or conditions that can lead to a transformer failure include lightning or switching impulses, sustained overvoltage, short circuits on the electric system, overloading, overheating, dielectric breakdown of the insulating oil due...