Interview with Radoslaw Szewczyk from DuPont
At CWIEME Berlin 2024, Transformers Magazine spoke to Radoslaw Szewczyk from DuPont.
Radoslaw Szewczyk from DuPont
Radoslaw Szewczyk received his master’s degree in electrical engineering at Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland, in 1998 (field of study: electrical machines and transformers).
He has experience in electrical design of liquid-immersed distribution and power transformers. He spent several years working as a Transformer Electrical Engineer for leading transformer manufacturers in Poland and Canada (1998-2006). Currently, since 2006, he works for DuPont™ Nomex® Energy Solutions business as a Technical Service & Development Engineer for Europe, Middle East and Africa region. He supports transformer developments with application of Nomex® aramid electrical insulation for improved reliability, overloading, compactness, weight reduction. He is an author of multiple conference publications in the area of electrical insulation systems and transformer engineering.
Mr. Szewczyk is an active member of multiple IEC and CIGRE working groups. He is the convener of IEC MT 60076-14 “Power transformers using high temperature insulation systems”. He is also a liaison between IEC Technical Committees No. 14 Power Transformers and No. 15 Solid Electrical Insulation Materials.
Transformers Magazine is speaking with Radoslaw Szewczyk from DuPont at CWIEME Berlin 2024. Radoslaw, please tell us about the latest trends or the most pronounced trends in the application of your products, mainly Nomex® for large power transformers.
In large power transformers, we focus on the development of the laminated Nomex® board in large size, for making any kind of thick components, not limited to the thickness of the original sheet of the Nomex® board. We are developing the capability of laminating the sheets together to a thickness of more than 50 mm and in the larger size required for power transformers.
The other frame of work is the wet-formable Nomex® board for making the three-dimensional components for the high voltage insulation structures in large power transformers. We have seen the need in the last years, and we are happy to offer the wet-formable Nomex® board today. Together with our partners, we are developing the capability of having those complex three-dimensional shapes available for transformer manufacturers.
There is also one more development area that focuses more on end-users of transformers than manufacturers. This is investigation on DGA interpretations for transformers having Nomex® based insulation systems. On this subject we work with industry leaders for transformer diagnostics in order to provide adequate tools for transformer condition monitoring and asset management.
And what can we see in the dry-type segment? What are the trends there?
In the dry-type segment, we see a growing interest in increasing temperatures. So, dry-type transformers, such as cast-resin transformers, today are typically in Class F, 155°C, but there is more and more interest in the Class H, 180°C. So, we make sure that the proper range of materials is available for the insulation systems in Class 180.
The other trend is the growing interest of the industry in Europe to supply the American market. The requirements from the American market usually include the UL certified insulation systems. So, insulation systems that were historically developed by DuPont for the American customers are now being adapted to the needs of the European suppliers to make sure that the list of materials used in those systems is available locally. We work with multiple European transformer suppliers on the interpretation and explanation of the UL insulation systems for low voltage and medium voltage transformer.
With above developments, we are happy to support growing new transformers applications, like power supply in data centers or energy transition applications (solar, wind, energy storage, hydrogen, EV charging).