10/28/2019 A transformer is only as strong as its weakest link

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A transformer is only as strong as its weakest link

Home / Technical Articles / A transformer is only as strong as its weakest link

Transformer rating
Capacity (or rating) of a transformer is limited by the temperature that the insulation
can tolerate. Ratings can be increased by reducing core and copper losses, by
increasing the rate of heat dissipation (better cooling), or by improving transformer
insulation so it will withstand higher temperatures.

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A transformer is only as strong as its weakest link

A physically larger transformer can dissipate more heat, due to the increased area
and increased volume of oil.

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10/28/2019 A transformer is only as strong as its weakest link

A transformer is only as strong as its weakest link, and the weakest link is the paper
insulation, which begins to degrade around 100 °C. This means that a transformer must
be operated with the “hottest spot” cooler than this degradation temperature, or service
life is greatly reduced.

Presspahn – A proven surface insulation material, resistant to high

voltage and a high capacity for impregnation with transformer oil (by
UKi – one of Europe’s largest suppliers of electrical insulation materials)

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Reclamation typically orders transformers larger than required, which aids in heat
removal and increases transformer life.

Ratings of transformers are obtained by simply multiplying the current times the voltage.
Small transformers are rated in “VA,” volts times amperes.

As size increases, 1 kilovoltampere (kVA) means 1,000 voltamperes, 1 megavoltampere

(MVA) means 1 million voltamperes. Large generator step-up (GSUs) may be rated in
hundreds of MVAs.

A GSU transformer can cost well over a million dollars and take 18 months to 2 years or longer to obtain.

Each one is designed for a specific application. If one fails, this may mean a unit or
whole plant could be down for as long 2 years, costing multiple millions of dollars in lost
generation, in addition to the replacement cost of the transformer itself.

This is one reason that proper maintenance is critical.

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10/28/2019 A transformer is only as strong as its weakest link

This transformer used to be strong, but… (on photo: Transformer paper

insulation damaged due to poor maintenance; credit: gcequipment.com)

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Reference: Transformers: Basics, Maintenance, and Diagnostics – U.S. Department of
the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of
LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations,
commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

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