TransformLife concept
The TransformLife concept was created as a result of the knowledge and experience of several experts, electrical engineers and chemical engineers, involved in long-term monitoring of transformers during their working life.
Different monitoring perspectives included:
→ Supervision of production and factory tests of new transformers,
→ Supervision of installation and setting a referent values of operating parameters,
→ Monitoring of normal operation,
→ Occurrence and monitoring of various malfunctions of smaller or larger scale,
→ Fatal failures and post-mortem analysis at the installation site and in the factory.
Different monitoring perspectives included:
→ Supervision of production and factory tests of new transformers,
→ Supervision of installation and setting a referent values of operating parameters,
→ Monitoring of normal operation,
→ Occurrence and monitoring of various malfunctions of smaller or larger scale,
→ Fatal failures and post-mortem analysis at the installation site and in the factory.
In this way, new perspectives and views were opened. It became clear what are the real needs of all participants in the life of the transformer and the energy system to which it belongs.
For example, the owner (manager) is interested to keep transformer reliable with the least possible consumption of resources and people. He also needs answers about operational and capital costs, and when to expect the end of life to prepare in advance for replacement with a new unit which is cost and time demanding.
Technical staff, on the other hand, has the focus on keeping transformer in good working condition which will provide reliable operation.
At this point, we have two main streams: testing and maintenance strategies.
Testing should give the answer about the working condition with the higher or lesser confidence. It should be pointed out that there is no one universal method or measurement that will give the answer about the working condition of the transformer, instead different methods must be combined. The more different test methods used, the reliability of the working condition assessment is higher. But in that case, of course, the costs are higher.
Additional confusion can be introduced if separate reports are obtained by test methods because then they need to be combined. When all is well then it is easy, but when there is suspicion or malfunction, then problems arise. How to get a unique recommendation? What to apply to avoid failure or premature ageing? When to react and to what extent?
And then, the maintenance strategies… There are different approaches…
– Time-based maintenance (TBM) or
– Condition-based maintenance (CBM) or
– Corrective maintenance or
– Combined maintenance?
All these approaches have their advantages and disadvantages.
For example, the owner (manager) is interested to keep transformer reliable with the least possible consumption of resources and people. He also needs answers about operational and capital costs, and when to expect the end of life to prepare in advance for replacement with a new unit which is cost and time demanding.
Technical staff, on the other hand, has the focus on keeping transformer in good working condition which will provide reliable operation.
At this point, we have two main streams: testing and maintenance strategies.
Testing should give the answer about the working condition with the higher or lesser confidence. It should be pointed out that there is no one universal method or measurement that will give the answer about the working condition of the transformer, instead different methods must be combined. The more different test methods used, the reliability of the working condition assessment is higher. But in that case, of course, the costs are higher.
Additional confusion can be introduced if separate reports are obtained by test methods because then they need to be combined. When all is well then it is easy, but when there is suspicion or malfunction, then problems arise. How to get a unique recommendation? What to apply to avoid failure or premature ageing? When to react and to what extent?
And then, the maintenance strategies… There are different approaches…
– Time-based maintenance (TBM) or
– Condition-based maintenance (CBM) or
– Corrective maintenance or
– Combined maintenance?
All these approaches have their advantages and disadvantages.
The overall goal is to understand the critical balance of cost and quality along with the pros and cons of different condition monitoring and maintenance methods.
TransformLife can help you to reach the balance in transformer management in order to extended transformer life and reliability for optimal costs.
TransformLife can help you to reach the balance in transformer management in order to extended transformer life and reliability for optimal costs.