Eco-design in Oil Immersed Transformers

Abstract

All electrical products, and even all products, have an impact on the environment because of its production, its activity and the end of its active life. Power transformers are one of the most important components of the electrical system and the impact they produce has to be taking into account because of the materials they are composed by and their losses or efficiency. The New European Regulation 548/2014 on eco-design of power transformer fixes the maximum admissible losses and so the efficiency, but all the rest of the aspects related to the impact of transformers should be taken into account State of the art Power Transformers need to take into account: (a) consumption of natural resources used in the manufacturing, (b) environmental impact of the manufacturing process itself, (c) Use of eco-friendly insulation oils, preventing potential contamination of water and soil, (d) Energy losses in service, (e) Contribution to an efficient use of energy in a smart, highly penetrated for renewable generation network, (f) Minimum environmental impact of the end of life process and valorization of dismantled components. The paper considers how some of these aspects are taken into account in a modern, state of the art power transformer design. ORMAZABAL manufactures a wide range of dielectric liquid immersed distribution and power transformers, compliant with all of the requirements in current international regulations and with a range of powers from 25 to 5000 kVA and insulation levels up to 36 kV. In addition, its portfolio includes special transformers up to 72.5 kV and 10 MVA [1].