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One of the largest transformer manufacturers in South Africa, WEG Transformers Africa, offers an extensive range of services at its advanced oil laboratory in Heidelberg, Gauteng.

Testing transformer oil is a key function, which end-users should build into their maintenance programmes as it speaks volumes about the condition of the transformer itself. This is according to Ronaldo Bertoldi, engineering manager at WEG Transformers Africa.

As one of the largest manufacturers of transformers in South Africa, WEG Transformers Africa has a state-of-the-art oil laboratory at its production facility in Heidelberg, Gauteng, and offers an extensive range of services to transformer owners.

“The dissolved gas analysis (DGA) test is one of the most important for a customer to conduct,” says Bertoldi, “as it provides the first available indication of malfunction within a transformer unit.”

Bertoldi highlights the fact that the DGA indicates the internal condition of the unit, and identifies degradation taking place. It is therefore essential for effective monitoring and trend analysis.

The laboratory can perform a range of important routine tests, starting from the ‘kV’ test, which passes current through the oil to test its insulation properties. The water test would then measure the parts per million of water in the oil; as a conductor of electricity, high levels of water become both damaging and dangerous to the transformer’s continued operation.

“It is also important to measure the amount of cellulose in the oil, as this is an indication of the extent to which the paper around the winding is degrading and turning to sludge,” Bertoldi says. “Judging by how much cellulose is in the oil, a prediction on the life expectancy of the transformer can be provided.”

Even the simple oil colour test has a useful function in showing oil quality, indicating that further investigation may be necessary to keep the transformer well maintained.

“All test results are kept in our extensive database, which allows a history of the trend analysis to be available to each of our customers,” Bertoldi says. “We use these figures daily in developing trends for a particular customer or even a particular transformer unit.”

Access to regular oil test results makes it easier for customers to identify potential problems arising in their transformers, and to take corrective action to avoid expensive damage or unplanned downtime.

2018 WearCheck Training Courses

  Venue

   Oil Analysis 1:

 Understanding oil and its analysis

    Oil Analysis 2:

    Report interpretation

 

  Two full days

  One full day

  Gauteng

  Completed

  Completed

  Middelburg

  Completed

  Completed

  Cape Town

  15-16 May

  17 May

  Rustenburg

  19-20 June

  21 June

  Bloemfontein

  10-11 July

  12 July

  Pinetown

  14-15 August

  16 August

  Namibia

  11-12 September

  13 September

  Gauteng

  16-17 October

  18 October

  Northern Cape

  6-7 November

  8 November

 

For more details on course content, view Training at www.wearcheck.co.za. To book, phone Steven Lumley on (031) 700-5460 or email training@wearcheck.co.za.

Click to download the pdf.

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