“Digitalisation introduces paradigm shift in T&D space”

Hitachi ABB Power Grids has recently launched the TXpert ecosystem for digitalization of transformers. The ecosystem is designed to drive data-driven intelligence and decision making in the operations and maintenance of transformers and power grids. It is a complete suite of products, software, services and solutions that work together and have the capability to integrate with new and existing digital equipment from other manufacturers. In an exclusive interview with Manjit S Sethi, Head, Transformers Business, Hitachi ABB Power Grids India, explains the benefits of digitalisation of transformers. Excerpts:

How do you see the digitalisation redefining the power T&D space?
Power delivery in the 21st century electrical grid is changing. The ever increasing power system complexity presents network operators (at generation, transmission and distribution levels) challenges which were never encountered before. Most of today’s transformers are by no means ready for this complex power system because they were put into service years before the age of interactive “intelligent” information transfer. Consequently, and to assure performance in terms of SAIDI and SAIFI, asset managers chose to underutilise transformers in the past. However, with increased pressure on the demands for network reliability and profitability, underutilisation would be an expensive proposition. Additionally, the grid complexity is set to continue with the expectation that more unregulated generation sources such as wind & solar, will need to be accommodated. This is where digitalisation introduces a paradigm shift in the T&D space.

Why it is essential to digitalise a transformer?
In a knowledge based economy, solutions that offer the ability to visualise what is happening with key assets such as power transformersare vital. Online monitoring of various parameters will be required so that these “intelligent” transformers can ensure reliability of the grid by anticipating upcoming problems. It is these parameters which allow asset managers to sectionalise their grid, enhance management capabilities, obtain transformer health statistics and make informed decisions. Transformer manufactures must focus on developing new intelligent transformers for the 21st century grid. Hence, it is vital to digitise transformers and digitalise asset management.

What are the key benefits of digitalisation of transformers?
There are various benefits. The key ones in my view are:
• Optimise transformer utilisation with live data: Real-time management of transformer by monitoring key thermal parameters.
• Utilisation of dynamic rating capability: Making informed decision on operating transformers beyond nameplate rating. To maximise return on investments, asset managers can take advantage of dynamic rating and achieve financial savings by deferring unnecessary upgrades.
• Early detection of faults: Unplanned outages can be avoided by continuously monitoring key health parameters along with key gas formation, bushing/tap changer monitoring.
• Delay in replacement of sick transformers: Real-time monitoring allows asset managers identify sick transformers and help by enabling to run it below critical limits. We call this concept “nursing”.
• Digitalisation enables fleet management.

Where is the ROI from digitalisation?
All the key benefits mentioned above can be easily quantified in ‘$’ to calculate the ROI from digitalisation. The ROI from simple utilisation of dynamic rating capability is tremendous and in many cases, it can alone cover the cost of adding digitalisation to transformers.

How safe is your TXpert Ecosystem in terms of cyber security?
The TXpert Ecosystem is cyber secure. Hitachi ABB Power Grids used stringent guidelines during development, testing and validation.
For example, if we talk about the TXpert Digital Distribution transformer, 3 layers of defense were added:
• TXpert’s built in WIFI is turned off by default & needs to be enabled by RFID access card. It turns back off after 10 minutes of inactivity.
• User computers need to have a valid security certificate to authenticate communication sessions.
• Data stored is encrypted and user needs a decryption key to be able to read the data.

How flexible is the deployment of TXpert Ecosystem especially for retrofit projects and fleet consisting transformers of different make?
The TXpert Ecosystem is open, scalable and manufacturer agnostic. It provides a complete suite of products, software, services and solutions working together. It is applicable to transformers from any manufacturer and integrates with digital equipment from other manufacturers.

The TXpert Ecosystem is well suited for retrofit projects. Before retrofitting, our service engineers would carry out a comprehensive assessment of the transformer and propose the right suite of products. This is where our deep domain knowledge and intelligence from designing and servicing thousands of transformers helps a lot. This is what differentiates us from competition in the market!

What is next for electrical equipment market in India?
Machine Learning (ML) algorithms as supporting tools for the automatic classification of power transformers operating condition will be the next big thing. The successful use of ML tools may find multiple applications in the industry such as providing fast ways of analysing new data streaming from online sensors, evaluating the importance of individual variables in the context of transformer condition assessment and also the need or adequacy of data imputation in the so widely common problem of missing data. As the world leader in transformer manufacturing, services and asset performance management, Hitachi ABB Power Grids is already working on these concepts and we hope to support the Indian market with our world leading domain knowledge.

Transformer manufactures must focus on developing new intelligent transformers for the 21st century grid. Hence, it is vital to digitise transformers and digitalise asset management.
Manjit S Sethi, Head, Transformers Business, Hitachi ABB Power Grids India