Advantages of Resin impregnated Dry Type Transformer[RDT]

BY TRINITY ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES ,BANGALORE

Enhanced Safety
With the increasing costs of low voltage cables, it has become a trend to bring high
voltage lines close to installed loads. For cost reasons, transformers are located near
habitable areas such as buildings where fire risk has to be minimized. Additionally,
industries such as chemical, mining, etc. are also a potential risk of fire. Resin
impregnated Dry type transformers (RDT) have no fluids to spill, explode or burn, and
the insulation used class B or Class F used does not support combustion in air. Therefore,
these transformers ensure enhanced safety of equipment against fire hazards.

The Local Electrical Inspectorate authorities have now clearly specified in certain indoor
applications against the use of conventional oil filled Transformers.

Reduced Losses
RDT transformers can be located close to their loads, such as; inside factories, schools,
hospitals and apartments and as a result low-voltage lines can be shortened with a
consequent reduction of the related losses in cables.

Increased short time overload Capacity

If transformers are to be operated continuously at or near their rated loads, efficiency is of
prime importance. In this case, one could select 90°C- rise with class B insulation or
115° C rise with class H, over a maximum ambient of 50 C allowing these units to
operate continuously and with short time overloads (potentially up to 30 percent more
than) than the rated load (if needed, for example, due to unplanned expansions) without
any problem of oil deterioration. This is also more advantageous than fully encapsulated
Resin cast Transformers which has a shorter overload capacity.

Improved Reliability
Transformers are inherently reliable pieces of equipment. Surveys published by IEEE
show failure rates of conventional oil filled units in the same power and voltage classes
are higher as compared to Resin impregnated Transformers . However, in case of any
problems, these units can be easily inspected and minor repairs conducted at site with
least down time. The added advantage of replacing a few failed coils in case of RDT type
makes it more advantageous as compared to completely encapsulated Resin cast
Transformers where you need to replace the complete HV or LV coil as the case may be.

Minimal Maintenance
RDT type transformers require an annual inspection and only cleaning of dust which can
block path of the cooling medium i.e. air. This is only where the maintenance is required
to be carried out. This considerably reduces the running cost. Whereas periodic
inspection for oil leaks and rust is required for oil cooled transformers. Liquid coolants
need continuous monitoring and have to be reconditioned when necessary.

Reduced Cost of Cabling

Resin impregnated transformers installation does not require particular fire safety
arrangements; consequently the transformers can be installed near the load. This results
in reducing the high costs of LT cabling.

Resistance to Humidity
Vacuum resin impregnation of the insulation paper covering the conductors besides the
other insulation components,and then drying it under controlled temperature in oven,
make it resistant to moisture and polluted atmospheres. This allows the placement of
RDT units in many locations not considered in the past.

Friendly to the environment

In these transformers, no liquids is used, thus no risks for any kind of leakage, moreover,
no toxic or corrosive gasses, nor halogens are released from the transformer in case of
any accident/fire. At the end of their useful life, Resin impregnated units can easily be
dismantled, and the copper conductors recovered, along with the steel core. A further
impetus to wider use of dry-type transformers has been the PCB hazard which is present
for many oil filled transformers.

Improved Capability for Harmonic Loading

Transformers supplying loads with heavy harmonic content frequently see high hot-spot
temperatures. Standard transformers typically reduce the base temperature to compensate,
which increases the size of the unit. Dry-type transformers designed still have a large
reserve temperature capability to accommodate these hot spots, with no loss of life.

Compliance Norms:

The Dry type Transformers are manufactured as per IS 11171 and IS 2026.

Cost Vs Benefit Ratio

We have a full fledged team of experienced Engineers who are able to offer ideal cost
effective solution based on your application.
 Resin imprgnated. Vs Cast Resin
System Flexible System Rigid System
i) Technology VPI with class F,G & Nomex Cast Resin
ii) Conductor
Fibre Glass / Nomex No woven polyester
Insulation
iii) Thermal F, G, or H available as per
B or F available only.
Rating requirement
Conventional Winding and
Product process Cast Mould Assembly
Assembly
Vacuum Cast but no
Impregnation Vacuum Pressure Impregnation
Impregnation
Possibility of
Yes Possible to repair Not possible at all
repair
Cast Transformer Epoxy
Resin, can develop cracks as
Not possible as Vacuum
co-efficient of expansion of
impregnation system provides
different at high
Cracking & good amount of flexibility.
temperature.
Tracking Hence, outer surface can not
Also bubbles in Casting gives
devlop cracks etc. Also can
rise to Partial Discharge and
withstand higher over load
ultimate failure.Also cannot
withstand overloads.