Predictive maintenance to resurrect transformer’s efficiency

Failure in conducting predictive maintenance practices for efficient functioning of transformers leads to transformer explosion and oil leakage endangering human life.

Talking about the essential aspects to avoid any mishaps or accidents because of transformers, Parag Yelegaonkar, Business Development Manager, Government Business, Testo suggests thermal imaging for a healthy life of transformers.

What kind of regulatory changes are you expecting from the government?
There has to be proper calculation (for per megawatts) from the government, considering the quality of the material we are going to have; also there has to be encouragement for Indian manufacturer but quality check needs to be done the standards has to be stringent so that the end customer should not suffer, so finally government utility is the end customer, quality material is not getting induct the government companies DISCOMs that buy power from the CPCs players and customers, so they are going to have less power yet nobody is checking why are they getting less power. The reason behind this is simple “fall of tariff prices” because of which EPCs are forced to buy inferior or 2nd Q2 material, so Q1 material or excellent material cannot be inducted for all the equipments inside the solar power plant having this competition and tariff like 2.44 or may be less than that.

What are the possible causes of failure in distribution transformers?
I think increasing tariff is one of the key reasons for transformer failure. Either the tariffs are too high, or the maintenance activities for these transformers are not carried out regularly and in the prescribed manner. As we know, it’s highly essential to conduct preventive maintenance in distribution transformers, but most of the times; the preventive maintenance is not done as per the recommendation of the manufacturer. There are instances of transformer explosion and oil leakage, causing harm to human life, which is the backdrop of not conducting preventive maintenance of distribution transformers. Since there was a rise in such incidents, the distribution transformers have started purchasing thermal imagers; and we have seen a few tenders for purchasing thermal imagers, which, in fact is a good thing as aware awareness against these hazards are now visible and are being addressed. Moreover, the sector has realised the importance of thermal inspection for the distribution transformers.

Do you think thermal plants release hazardous gas? What are the measures that can be taken?
Yes, I do agree that thermal plants are the major cause of air pollution. Government is taking steps to reduce the amount of pollution by introducing Flue-gas desulfurisation (FGDs) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCRs) for new plants it is compulsory, but what happens to the old plants which are already installed 5-10 years ago, the implementation of new technologies in old plants is not happening at the rate of which we are expecting, old plants keep polluting the environment, yet there is no 100 percent check on that and plants that are checked are yet not updated with the technology. Basically government has to support these old plants with funds also they need to add deadlines so that the work is done more efficiently.

What is the role of Transformer monitoring system (TMS) in a transformer?
Transformer monitoring is very important aspect , first aspect is human safety because if something happens to the transformer may be a short circuit or oil leakage or say explosion then it is very catastrophic and danger to the human health.

As we know India is a price centric nation, do you think because of low price we face quality issue?
That is one of the major concern as our government is not that supportive, as we say reducing the tariff is causing this problem for example 5 years back the tariff was 10- 15 now it has come to 2.44/unit, how one can expect that they would get proper engineered, designed or trouble free best quality product, as there would be compromises in some of components at least to make project viable at 2.44, in all these the customer and people working are suffering because if we induct the poor quality material then customers would suffer and if the company is not providing good quality product there manufacture will suffer which will come down to people who are working will suffer. Government has to ensure that quality material is being used even at this low tariff.

Parag Yelegaonkar,Business Development Manager,Government Business, Testo