| Power plant products
Innovative pole-mounted dry-type transformer
Siemens Energy has launched a dry-type single-phase transformer for pole applications, considered to be of an innovative design. Designated ‘CAREPOLE’ it has been designed for the technological requirements of the American grid. It is a cast-resin distribution transformer intended to provide a reliable and sustainable alternative to oil-filled transformers. In American markets, single-phase transformers are often the last stage in the distribution grid, with the function of stepping down the voltage to household levels. In the light of increasing weather and climate extremes, such as heat waves that cause wildfires, the design of new outdoor-installed assets needs to be increasingly focused on their resilience to withstand environmental hazards. Due to its cast-resin design (ie without oil), the self-extinguishing CAREPOLE has a high level of fire safety, cannot explode, and reduces environmental risks to a minimum. “For a successful energy transition, we also must rethink the power grid with a focus on making it greener and strengthening its resilience. With our pole-mounted dry- type transformer, we are closing a gap in
the American market and also presenting a maintenance-free alternative to oil- filled transformers that allows the more environmentally friendly, more reliable, and cost-efficient operation of the distribution grid,” said Eduardo Terzi, senior VP Non-Switching Products at Siemens Energy.
Considering growing energy demand and the fluctuating feed-in of renewable energy, the new transformer was designed to handle high overloads to facilitate power flow balancing and satisfy real time demand at any time. It is sealed with cast-resin under vacuum. Its compact windings allow its approximately 20 % smaller volume size compared to conventional liquid- filled pole-mounted transformers. The high mechanical strength of the transformer’s frame and cast resin protects it against corrosion and thereby extends the transformer’s service life. At the same time, it deters the copper and aluminium theft. It is designed as a plug-and-play asset with an identical fixing mechanism to fluid-immersed transformers, and is therefore a drop-in at existing installations.
The new transformer has a power rating
Digitising power network management in New Zealand
Fugro has delivered a digitised power network management system to Waipa Networks (Waipa) in New Zealand, as a way of improving safety and reliability across its distribution network.
Waipa, assisted by Utilligent, a utilities management consulting firm, chose Fugro to modernise their asset management framework using its ‘ROAMES’ network risk model. It is allowing Waipa to visualise and mitigate ground clearance threats, vegetation encroachment issues, structural safety distances risks, dangerous pole leans, and any asset defects. The project was completed in three phases. First, using the model to create a 3D virtual world to collect and store lidar and pole top imagery geo-data. Second, developing a business intelligence (BI) tool, to prioritise and mitigate issues, risks, and defects. Third, although GPS co-ordinates were already known for each asset, this project served as an opportunity to update anomalies and create a ‘Record of Truth’ for Waipa. This new level of accuracy gives them the tools and insight to expedite work orders and supports its purpose of providing cost-effective and reliable systems for electricity and other services. Peter Armstrong, Waipa’s network asset manager, said: “The aerial survey programme and the associated data analytic tools have
given us a comprehensive view of our overhead network data and condition that we have never had before.”
Jay Reseigh, Utilligent’s VP data and analytics, commented: “This type of project has transformed the industry. Gone are the days of walking the lines and taking photographs of
poles from the ground, which often takes years. The spatial analytics dramatically reduce the time required to inspect the network, allowing Waipa to quickly identify hazardous scenarios and set the foundation for utilities’ advanced distribution management system (ADMS) programmes. The business case speaks for itself.”
between 10 and 100 kVA, a voltage capacity between 15 and 36 kV, and a typical lifetime of over 25 years. It can be fitted with Siemens digital Sensformer solution to optimise operations, which also enables it, via a ‘smart’ IoT gateway, to transmit end-to-end encrypted data to an analytics and visualisation platform.
www.modernpowersystems.com | May 2022 | 39
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