How Reliable Is Your Transformer?

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How Reliable Is Your Transformer?
Your transformer is a pulsating active apparatus,
transforming and feeding electrical power to
your facility. Containing a core, a few metal
windings, insulation, and so many other parts,
just like any other living thing, your
transformer will also age over time, and
eventually die. Everything thats made is meant
to perish one day or the other. Just like us
human beings, transformers can also have their
own individual mortality rate. While
transformers are generally meant to live and
function effectively for anywhere between 25 and
40 years, there could be instances where
transformers fail in even less than 5 years! So,
how would you know how reliable your transformer
is in terms of life and functionality!?
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Reasons of failure Before we understand the
reliability of a transformer, lets first
identify the various reasons that may cause
failure of transformers at different
stages. Infant mortality (Failure between 0 and 5
years) When a transformer fails before completing
even 5 years of age, it is premature failure,
which can primarily be because of an inadequate
design, low quality of raw materials used, or
defects in manufacturing. Poor craftsmanship and
poor quality control are two main factors that
can cause such issues. Further, automated
winding and assembly processes may also fail to
detect errors in construction that may lead to
early failure. Faults during delivery or
installation can also lead to mechanical
failures. Advertisements REPORT THIS AD Random
mortality (Failure between 5 and 25 years) When a
transformer fails between 5 to 25 years of its
operation, it may be considered as normal, based
on its quality. The causes of failure during this
period may be random, such as manufacturing
defects that may show up later, abnormal
operating conditions, transient over-voltages,
power surges, short circuits, persistent
overloading, and environmental conditions.
Lightning strikes or flooding may also be some
rare, but possible, contributors to transformer
failure.
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Wearing out (Failure after 25 years) Failure
after 25 years of operation is natural, and the
main reason behind this can be the time and
temperatures at which the transformer has been in
use. After all, long-time exposure to heat,
vibration, magnetic stresses, and mechanical
stresses gradually weakens both the dielectric
and mechanical strength of the winding
insulation, which can result in the transformer
to die down. Hence, when a transformer is used
constantly for more than two decades, it slowly
reduces in efficiency, which is when the
transformer may need to be replaced, in order to
avoid complete shutdown of operation. How old and
reliable is your transformer? Back to the
previous question How old is your transformer?
And, how much can you rely upon it? Well, the
relevant measure of the age of a transformer is
cumulative operating hours at load, and not
necessarily the calendar time. The time,
temperature, electrical and mechanical stresses
under load are the facets that determine the
residual dielectric strength of insulation, and
thus, the life of a transformer. For instance, a
transformer that function 247 will age four
times as fast as that which has a 5-day 8-hour
duty cycle. And, a transformer with 180 rated
insulation will age faster than one with 220
rated insulation. Every transformer has a unique
specification, and every installed transformer
has a unique load history. Hence, the only way to
accurately measure the age of a transformer is
to continuously monitor and log transformer
temperature and load. Also, any abnormal
voltages and load events should be recorded. The
risk of an imminent failure during operations can
be eliminated by keeping a thorough check. Also,
there must be a replacement planned in case of
any suspicion. Miracle Electronics employs a
robust transformer design using high quality
materials, resulting in zero failures while the
transformer is in operation in the infant stage.
The robust design, quality materials, and expert
workmanship provides an extra margin of
protection against many random stresses that can
cause failure in the random mortality period.
Whats more? Miracle Electronics transformers
have a longer than average useful life because
of all the quality checks in place. They are thus
the best transformer manufacturer in India, who
can help with all kinds of replacements at the
earliest, but theyd rather help prevent any
costly emergencies, by providing you with the
finest quality transformers right in the first
place. Visit our website https//www.miracle.net.
in/
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