Siemens mobile resilience transformers were developed in collaboration with Con Edison as a part of the Siemens Pretact® concept for maximum grid resiliency. Siemens delivered the mobile resilience transformers late last year. They can be transported to the installation site on a truck and will serve as an emergency measure in the event of unplanned outages – like those caused by hurricanes – or for planned outages due to maintenance work.
The transformers were designed as single-phase units to be as compact and lightweight as possible. For ease and quick installation, they are transported with their environmentally friendly ester filling, transport weight of 216,000 lbs includes fluid, and equipped with plug-and-play bushings and cable connections.
The Pretact® concept used in the design of the Siemens transformers combines several modules that help grid operators prevent transformer failures through dedicated service measures and protect the transformers from harm like that caused by natural disasters. The innovative mobile resilience transformers offer a backup for unplanned outages – just in case all other precautions fail – and support grid coverage during planned outages as well.
It is learnt that a large portion of the installed power transformers within the U.S. were installed in the 1950s, 60s and 70s and are now reaching the end of their projected service life. Studies have shown that the number of power outages in the U.S. increased from 2,769 in 2008 to 3,634 in 2014. It is feared that this number will only increase as equipment ages. More than half of the power transformer outages are caused due to electrical disturbances, natural disasters (for instance, lighting), insulation failures and other forced impacts. Only an estimated 4 per cent of power transformer failures are caused due to overload.
