How to Extend the Service Life of Transformers

Strictly control the operating temperature and ensure proper heat dissipation

Excessive temperature is the core cause of accelerated insulation aging and shortened lifespan of transformers. During operation, it is necessary to keep the radiator and cooling pipelines free of oil stains and blockages. Oil immersed transformers ensure the normal operation of oil pumps and fans, while dry-type transformers ensure a good ventilation environment; Strictly monitor the upper oil temperature to avoid long-term overheating operation. In high-temperature environments, timely measures such as forced ventilation and cooling should be taken to control the temperature rise within the standard range.

Strengthen insulation oil management and safeguard core insulation

Oil immersed transformers require regular testing of the dielectric strength, moisture content, acid value, and dissolved gases of the insulation oil. The oil should be filtered, degassed, and replaced in a timely manner to eliminate moisture, impurities, and aging products in the oil; Maintain normal oil level, prevent oil leakage and air intake, and prevent insulation oil from getting damp and deteriorating; By conducting oil chromatography analysis, potential internal overheating and discharge hazards can be identified in advance to prevent insulation failure and damage to transformers.

Standardize load operation to avoid overload and impact

It is strictly prohibited for transformers to operate beyond their rated capacity for a long time, and the load should be reasonably regulated during peak loads; Avoid frequent impact loads and short-circuit impacts, and reduce electromagnetic stress damage to windings; Standardize the operation of tap changers to ensure good switch contact, prevent heating and erosion caused by poor contact, and protect the winding and iron core structure.

Strengthen daily inspections and promptly eliminate minor faults

Regularly inspect the appearance of transformers to check for oil leakage, abnormal noise, odor, and discharge marks; Tighten the leads and busbar joints to prevent excessive contact resistance and heat generation; Timely replace aging seals and damaged cooling accessories, keep the surrounding area of the transformer clean and dry, free of corrosive gases, flammable and explosive debris, and eliminate damage caused by external environment.

Improve protection configuration to avoid overvoltage and fault damage

Ensure that the grounding device of the transformer is reliable and the grounding resistance meets the standard; Configure qualified lightning arresters and lightning protection facilities to prevent lightning overvoltage from penetrating the insulation; Ensure accurate setting and reliable operation of relay protection, differential protection, and overcurrent protection, and can quickly cut off faults to avoid transformer operation with faults or high current surges.

Regularly conduct preventive tests and proactively address potential hazards

Conduct preventive tests on insulation resistance, DC resistance, transformation ratio, winding deformation, short-circuit impedance, etc. on a periodic basis to accurately identify hidden issues such as winding deformation, insulation degradation, iron core faults, and wiring errors; Discover potential hazards and promptly carry out major repairs and defect elimination to prevent small hazards from gradually expanding and causing permanent damage to transformers.