Three of today’s key business drivers within the mining sector are cost reduction, safety improvement and ESG compliancy, and mines must explore all possible avenues to achieve optimally in these areas. One such avenue is transformers – critical for delivering consistent power supply to any operation.

Installing or replacing oil transformers with dry-type transformers holds enormous benefits for both reducing capital expenditure and enhancing safety whilst also reducing environmental footprints, DAVID CLAASSEN, CEO of Trafo Power Solutions, tells LAURA CORNISH. Transformers are a critical component of any power generating plant – and while considered a necessity, have become more than a ‘must have’. Transformer technology has evolved over the last decade – seeing outdated oil-based technology evolve to dry-based technology.

“A dry-type transformer uses air as the insulating and cooling medium, instead of oil, and the benefits associated with this have fostered a rapid uptake in the technology in Europe and the US – and Africa needs to follow suit,” says Claassen.

An oil-based transformer is prone to fires if the sub-station it feeds succumbs to a flash or spark caused by a short circuit, for example. The same situation can easily occur should a fire start from an external source. Operating at such high temperatures, oil is a natural fire conductor which typically results in a transformer explosion or a much bigger fire, leading to potential safety hazards and unnecessary repair costs.

Dry-type transformers by comparison conform to a class F1 fire certification, which essentially means that in the event of a short circuit, the transformer will not create a fire. “These transformers contain a resin which is flame retardant and flame resistant and self-extinguishing as well. If a fire reaches that transformer, it will get burned and damaged, but it will not exacerbate the fire and no harmful emissions will be expelled,” Claassen outlines.

Every area of a mining operation must be safety compliant – and this is easily achieved by installing dry-type transformers in one of any operation’s most critical ancillary infrastructure areas – power supply.

Another major cost-saving benefit associated with dry-type transformers is the minimal maintenance requirements. Oil transformers necessitate heavy maintenance requirements over their operating lifecycle – including oil sampling and ensuring oil leaks are prevented. A dry-type transformer by comparison requires little more than an annual check-up. Considering Africa’s ongoing skills shortage, this is something that will assist greatly with remote operations and the sometimes technically challenged personnel on site.

Oil-based transformers are also a logistical challenge. When transported via poor road infrastructure in Africa these transformers can suffer oil leaks or other problems that add to repair costs once on site. Dry-type transformers have a very sturdy design and are far less likely to suffer any damage en route to site.

“As with any technology that builds market share, the cost of dry-type transformers continues to reduce and is consequently becoming more attractive from a capital expenditure perspective. Coupled with the benefits I have already outlined, there is very little one could argue against using this technology,” Claassen emphasises.

The mining industry’s ESG compliancy focus has become a top priority agenda and the implementation of renewable energy plants has become one of the options most mines are using to improve their environmental footprints.

Again, dry-type transformers can be used for power feed to renewable energy plants and offer the same benefits already outlined. “Because these transformers don’t use fossil fuels for manufacture or operation, they can certainly be considered a far greener technology. And by posing less risk to the environment of a toxic fire and toxic gas release into the atmosphere, this technology certainly adds to the mining industry’s green evolution objectives,” Claassen highlights.

With an extensive background in electrical engineering, Claassen founded Trafo Power Solutions with the aim of specialising and promoting dry type transformers in industry. “There are competitors in this market space, but this product is one of a larger portfolio of products in most cases. Our business objective is focusing intensively on this technology and promoting its benefits,” Claassen states.

The company is the official and exclusive partner in sub-Saharan Africa for Italy-based TMC Tranformers, whose transformers are manufactured under stringent quality control conditions at its ISO certified facility.

“It is important to note that we provide a lot of local value-add engineering for these transformers in the form of enclosures, LV and MV switchgear, surge protection, etc.

“This is a technology that can help revolutionise a mine’s power requirements and performance and delivers such a variety of benefits that it is hard to see why any company wouldn’t consider installing dry type transformers or replacing their existing oil-based transformers with immediacy,” Claassen concludes.

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