Protecting key power station transformer at Eneco
Netherlands, Rotterdam: To safeguard reliable power output and reduce risk, the Bio Golden Raand biomass power plant installed a continuous transformer monitor.
Image source: Vaisala
Netherlands, Rotterdam: To safeguard reliable power output and reduce risk, the Bio Golden Raand biomass power plant installed a continuous transformer monitor.
The Vaisala MHT410 continuously measures three key parameters in transformer oil – moisture, hydrogen and temperature. Owned and operated by the energy company Eneco, the plant produces steam for local industry as well as power, with a capacity of approximately 135 MW thermal and 49.9 MW electrical.
Transformer materials can deteriorate over time, resulting in the potential for costly faults, repairs and downtime. However, the development of transformer faults results in the accumulation of dissolved gases in the transformer oil, so this oil is routinely tested as part of a preventative maintenance program. Eneco’s transformer gas monitor was installed to provide continuous data and reduce the requirement for periodic oil sampling and laboratory analysis.
“We have benefited from online measurements for more than a year, and it has been very reassuring to see low hydrogen levels in the transformer oil, irrespective of the transformer load,” says Laurens Freriksen, a project manager and maintenance specialist for Eneco.
For Eneco, the installation of the monitor is essentially a risk reduction measure, but as Laurens explains: “It is very reassuring to have constant visibility of the transformer’s condition. However, the key advantage is that it buys us time –time to plan an effective strategy if gases appear in oil, indicating a fault – to optimize the performance of the transformer and to extend its working life.”
Source: Vaisala
#continuous transformer monitor#Eneco#power plant#The Netherlands#transformer monitoring#Vaisala