Dry-type transformers go mainstream
December 2019
Electrical Power & Protection
The uptake of dry-type transformers in South Africa is now well beyond ‘niche’ applications, with local specialist Trafo Power Solutions installing a range of sizes across various sectors. “In recent months, we have been involved in projects with small 50 kVA low voltage lighting transformers, right up to 4,5 MVA medium voltage customised units,” says David Claassen, managing director of Trafo Power Solutions. “These have been installed in healthcare facilities, commercial buildings, educational institutions, mines and data centres, as well as at solar energy plants.”
Among its recent contracts, the company has supplied a number of lighting transformers. It has also provided outdoor instrument transformers to facilitate measurement of voltage on overhead lines. These cast-resin voltage transformers (VTs) typically have 33 kV, 22 kV and 11 kV primaries with 110 V secondaries with between 50 VA and 500 VA burden.
In the mining sector, a recent contract was the installation of 200 kVA dry-type transformers. This is often a corrosive environment in terms of water and dust, so a high ingress protection (IP) rating was applied. Claassen adds that a range of materials and paint can also be specified by the customer to further withstand corrosion.
Data centres are a fast growing aspect of the country’s digital economy, and Trafo Power Solutions is supporting this segment with its cast-resin transformers. It recently delivered and cold-commissioned two 2 MVA units for a data centre in Cape Town.
“These facilities obviously require the highest levels of reliability and protection from their electrical and electronic networks,” says Claasen. “The windings and core of our units were designed for a K factor of 13, given the high non-linear load. An electrostatic shield was also installed, along with surge protection of the highest order.”
He notes that there was substantial time pressure to complete the contract, but flexibility and responsiveness at Trafo Power Solutions ensured on-time delivery.
At three small-scale solar plants, Trafo Power Solutions is providing three 800 kVA transformers which will step up power from 400 V to 22 kV. These applications involve a solar inverter for the 100% non-linear load, as well as an electrostatic shield between the primary and secondary windings.
Claassen emphasises that the business prides itself on the level of application engineering for each customer’s specific requirements. “We understand what we are supplying and the risks faced by the customer and we design the solution accordingly,” he concludes. “Industry is certainly showing their faith that dry-type transformers can be applied in a growing range of applications.”
Further reading:
SF6-free MV switchgear for Western Cape Fruit Processors
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric and Technoserve Medium Voltage have installed the award-winning RM AirSeT SF6-free pure air MV switchgear at the Western Cape Fruit Processors facility in the Elgin Valley, Grabouw.
Read more...
Why expert O&M will secure South Africa’s energy future
Electrical Power & Protection
South Africa’s clean energy sector is entering a new phase. Attention has moved from installing new capacity to how consistently these assets perform. This shift places operations and maintenance at the centre of long-term energy reliability and financial returns.
Read more...
Why it pays to outsource boiler operations
Electrical Power & Protection
Associated Energy Services has improved energy efficiency by 35% at a large FMCG manufacturer’s site and followed up with a 21% improvement at a second.
Read more...
Cable entry plate for reliable protection under extreme conditions
Electrical Power & Protection
With the new KEL-DPU-OD cable entry plate, icotek presents an innovative solution for applications that are permanently exposed to strong UV radiation, weathering and temperature fluctuations.
Read more...
Future-ready electrical infrastructure for evolving mine needs
Electrical Power & Protection
The ability to design and scale electrical infrastructure for mines’ changing needs has become a critical competitive advantage for Trafo Power Solutions, allowing customers to avoid costly re-engineering as their mines evolve.
Read more...
Scalable, high-capacity double-stack busway system
Electrical Power & Protection
Vertiv has expanded its PowerBar Track busway family with the introduction of a compact, high-capacity double-stack design that enables higher power density while optimising valuable white space.
Read more...
How batteries can help SA avoid a grid crisis
WEG Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Last year, Spain and Portugal lost up to 60% of their electrical power in mere seconds. It’s crucial that SA avoids a similar grid crisis, and battery energy storage systems are vital for that transition.
Read more...
Real-time modelling for a resilient, bi-directional energy future
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
South Africa’s electrical grid is a classic example of a traditional power system, designed for one-way energy flow. This is where real-time grid modelling becomes critical.
Read more...
Why grid flexibility and reliability are more important than you think
Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
In South Africa the grid was never designed to accommodate large-scale rooftop solar adoption, widespread distributed generation, or the rapid growth of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. As the electricity landscape and grid evolve, flexibility and reliability should become part of this equation.
Read more...
Electric mobility can bring predictability to international energy disruptions
Electrical Power & Protection
South Africa is vulnerable to international market shifts. Today we are more dependent on energy than we were in the 1970s, and the events unfolding in the Middle East are a catalyst for greater energy independence.
Read more...
printer friendly version