Both the private and public sectors use small substations, which are usually located in unprotected areas and are vulnerable to vandalism and theft.

Oil-cooled transformers usually target the copper in the windings and the oil in the cooling system. This makes dry-type transformers a particularly useful and safer alternative to conventional transformers.

Dry-type transformer company Trafo Power Solutions will provide two custom-designed miniature substations for the expansion of the electric plant in Pretoria, South Africa.

Have you read...? Benefits of adopting dry-type transformers in AfricaIntegrating automatic temperature alarms into dry-type transformers

The two units will be located outdoors and will be used to power the facility's lighting system and safety requirements and other loads. Although most small substations are equipped with traditional oil-cooled transformers, these devices are equipped with dry-type transformers.

David Claassen, managing director of Trafo Power Solutions, said the benefits include safety and environmental factors. The windings of dry-type transformers are cast with resin, so copper or aluminum are not easily accessible. There is also no oil to recover, further reducing the motivation of criminals to destroy the structure.

"In terms of environmental protection, dry-type transformers do not require any additional protective structures, such as walls or dams, to prevent oil spills or fires. These devices also require almost no maintenance, which reduces the management and technical burden on the owner," Klassen said.

Although these two transformers were manufactured at TMC Transformers' factory in Italy, the balance design and manufacturing of the miniature substation was carried out in South Africa.

"This also allows us to fully test the equipment locally before delivering, installing and commissioning the equipment on site. We have seized as many opportunities as possible to manufacture locally to support local industry and increase job creation," Carat Sen said.

© All contents are copyright 1997-2021 Vuka Group, unless otherwise stated.