Transformers move electricity along, and they are essential to getting it to customers. They are also very expensive, and it takes time to repair them if they have a problem. Those things that can go wrong are divided into internal and external faults concerning transformers. Testing to find faults is a key part of maintenance of transformers. Electrical companies do performance testing, maintenance and failure testing on their transformers.
Internal faults:
- insulation deterioration
- winding failure
- overheating
- contamination of oil
Phase to phase fault is also considered an internal fault. if insulation starts to fail it can create a short circuit inside the transformer that can shut it down. A high current flow can also cause problems with winding and over heating. Mechanical faults can also happen when the cooling mechanism fails to operate properly. High current levels can also deteriorate the insulation, which is a major cause of faulting. Most of these faults can be prevented through testing and maintenance.
External faults:
- lighting strikes
- system overload
- short circuit
External faults are things that happen outside the transformer, and cannot generally be prevented by maintenance. The transformers are subject to things like lightning strikes, or other damage from the outside that cannot be prevented. Since these things cannot be predicted, it is important to have a plan in place to make repairs as fast as possible. These can also be fairly minor in nature, but can cause damage to the insulation and cause problems over time to the inside of the transformer. The greater concern is when something happens outside that shuts the transformer down immediately.
Need transformer services or electrical testing? Contact the team at Power Plus Engineering today, we can help!