Protection – Transformer Protector
Preventing transformer explosions and fires
A transformer is a device that processes massive amounts of electricity. It is filled with flammable oil and, without a break, can operate for up to a dozen years. This makes the probability of its failure, and thus fire and explosion, very high. The consequences of such a malfunction can be lamentable – extensive damage to the site, halting of production, multimillion-dollar losses or months of repairs. Not to mention the high risk to human health and life. Fortunately, there is effective protection on the market. The Sergi Transformer Protector is a state-of-the-art technology used to protect transformers of various capacities. Its effectiveness is confirmed by hundreds of protected plants and satisfied customers. The authorized distributor of Sergi TP in Poland is CORONA Serwis.
Transformers
Safety-critical equipment
Transformers are considered by corporate risk experts and insurance companies to be the most critical equipment found in plants. The reason is the large amount of oil in contact with high-voltage components.
Regulatory loopholes and market globalization have caused an alarming decline in the quality of new transformers. Therefore, many experts predict that the service life of transformers will decrease significantly and a large increase in transformer failures will be recorded.
Protecting transformers from explosion and fire is becoming a priority because:
- Worldwide privatization programs of electricity generation and transmission companies have caused a decline in investment.
- Today’s market competition demands longer life and higher productivity. This results in aging equipment and overloaded transformers
Transformer Protector (TP) – explosion prevention
The first peak of dynamic pressure activates the TP before static pressure rises. This protects the transformer from explosion and fire. The TP is activated mechanically, without any actuator, after which an alarm is sent to the Control Box. When the dielectric properties of the oil are lost, the TP prevents the transformer from exploding according to the physical process shown in the diagram “Consequences of an electrical short”.
Benefits of Transformer Protector
The financial consequences of transformer explosions and fires can often reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
Using the Protector Financial Profit Index, often used by corporate risk experts and insurance companies, TP is highly recommended and , in the event of a failure, compensates for the investment outlay by more than 1,000 times.
- Significantly reduces power outages and associated high costs
- Prevents the spread of an oil fire to the transformer and surrounding apparatus
- Allows the transformer to be repaired after a short circuit
- Prevents environmental pollution
- Eliminates risk to human life
- Saves the company’s reputation
SERGI Transformer Protector is a French company with more than 60 years of experience in the field of transformer protection. SERGI conducted an intensive research program to learn and understand the physical phenomena that lead to transformer explosions. The result of this research was the invention, design and manufacture of the Transformer Protector (TP). Since the late 1990s, SERGI has been a world leader in transformer explosion and fire prevention.
The Transformer Protector is a proven solution to prevent transformer fires and explosions resulting from a short circuit.The solution is based on the direct mechanical response of the Expansion Kit against the internal dynamic pressure of the vat caused by the electric arc. Once a short circuit occurs, the explosion is prevented by the rapid (milliseconds) expansion of the transformer through the immediate discharge of oil into an independent tank. The first dynamic pressure peak activates the TP before high static pressure is generated. The transformer is thus protected against explosion and fire. When TP protection is activated, a signal is sent to the Control Box. When a second signal is received from one of the transformer’s electrical protections, such as, Buchholz, sudden pressure build-up or ground fault, the TP Control Box initiates an alarm to manually or automatically activate the injection of nitrogen into the transformer vat.
The TP is a passive mechanical system that can be adapted to any oil-filled transformer above 1MVA and is designed to protect against explosion.
Since May 2016, Corona Serwis has partnered with SERGI Transformer Protector.