High voltage – Power transformer station

Power transformers are of great importance at any high voltage station. This transformer causes the electrical voltage to change in size, which in turn allows connections with varying power supply voltages. Power transformers are transformers connected to the high voltage grid, which have the ability to transform power of more than 10MVA. They are usually placed in a substation. Most of the time, there are three-phase transformers with an operating principle similar to the one of a regular transformer.

Power transformers can work on both sides, this all depends on what side the power is supplied to. For power transformers, the big advantage is the massively high efficiency. In the case of large power transformers, all electrical power that comes into it also comes out as electricity. It is a fact that efficiency increases with size; therefore large power transformers are also the most profitable.

High voltage DC (HVDC) are voltages of 20 to 30 kilovolts. Today, there are hundreds of marine cable connections with HVDC and these work very reliable. HVDC is highly efficient for transmitting large amounts of electricity over long distances and special applications.

HVDC connections can either be landed or dug or sealed as sea cables. Direct current through these cables goes unlike the alternating current which goes through the entire mains. For long distances, alternating current is not suitable because of the risk of the shine effect, induction between the cables and also the influence of water. This water will provide additional resistance to the cable and can ultimately lead to heat development and unprofitable cables. This is why the direct current is used for very long distances. To transformer this direct current transformers are needed.

A large high-voltage grid where electrical power can go all directions is called a switching field. High voltage voltages of equal voltage can be connected to each other at a switching station where transformers are placed. All of these installations are switchable, and are also called electrical switching fields. Those fields makes it possible to redirect power and make maintenance work easier.

Depending on the required specifications, we offer a number of standard transformers for protection, measurement and revenue purposes within switching fields.

A power plant is a large-scale industrial building where energy is generated. There is a distinction between power plants: some exclusively generate electricity, and some are thermal power stations, which generate both electricity and heat.The fuel is first burnt in a large incinerator. Loads of heat gets released, which is used to heat up giant amounts of water until steam formation takes place. The steam is heavily pressurised, and this pressure will then be used to drive one or more turbines. The turbine starts rotating and causes the generator to generate the current. Through this network of high-voltage pipelines, this generated power is transported to the consumers. Finally, the steam that drives the turbine is cooled off again in a heat exchanger, and the steam condenses back into water. The water is returned to the oven, and the circuit is closed again.

The rotational movement of, for example, a windmill axis, is called mechanical energy. To convert this mechanical energy to electrical direct current, a generation is required. This transformation process in the generator is based on induction; this is a phenomenon that generates an electrical voltage when a conductor is situated in a changing magnetic field. A generator is often compared to a dynamo. A generator containing transformers can increase the voltage of the current, and thus the current can be transported over long distances with minimal loss.

Depending on the required specifications, we offer a number of standard transformers for protection, measurement and revenue purposes of generated energy.

Dutch municipalities gradually develop themselves to be greener. It is remarkable that over 65% of the municipalities are active in generating their own energy (solar, wind, water). There is a sense of sustainability and energy management; especially the larger municipalities (>100.000 residents) seem to be actively looking for the right structure for this. Setting up a policy is often not an obstacle to municipalities; the problem that often arises is the realisation of said policies and its organisation. To make this proces easier, we offer various standard hardware possibilities for energy management purposes in the market.

Energy savings could especially be realised in the fields of lighting, ventilation and humidification. The survey shows that some hospitals could earn about half a million euros a year by saving energy. Hospitals in different locations deal with their energy usage and its management in different ways. There are hospitals whose facilities are switched on 24/7 and where the temperature is not properly adjusted. For example, a policlinic or surgery does not have to be heated or ventilated constantly. Another common issue is that in many hospitals, just one main meter is installed. When there are no additional meters installed in the building, there is no oversight on energy fluxes in the rest of the building. To get more insights into energy usage we developed split-core current transformers, small IEC transformers to mount on a three phase circuit breaker and our easy voltage taps, mountable in retrofit installations.

One must know how energy efficient an office building is before any energy savings are possible. It is essential to first detect any kind of wastage based on actual energy usage, which is measured on the main meters. Possible energy waste must be found and traced back. Measurements must be taken in case more energy is used than strictly necessary. Inefficiencies in practical energy use (the operational side) must be detected. With this information, you can then take the right energy-savins. To measure the energy our analog measurement instruments and transformers can be installed.

Depending on market requests, we offer various standard hardware possibilities for energy measurement purposes on the market.

Hospitals have wide varieties of installed equipment. A hospital also wants to have insight in the abilities and qualities of the installation. Each individual device has a certain effect on the energy flux that runs through the installation. Regularly scheduled energy measurement maps where any possible problems could occur in the installation, or where energy could be saved, and finally which saving options are available.

Due to the price increases of water and energy, as well as new environmental regulations, buildings are required to handle the consumption of these products more effectively. Consumption savings can be achieved by controlling, monitoring and measuring both liquid and thermal energy fluxes.

For municipalities that have invested in energy-saving projects, it is very important to visualise the energy consumption. In order to realise their energy-neutral future, municipalities wish to save energy and generate sustainable energy. They attempt to do so with their partners: the residents, businesses, housing corporations and local energy companies.

This is achieved by launching energy saving projects aimed at energy conservation and generating local sustainable energy and delivering it directly to the residents. The sustainability ambition of municipalities consists out of an energy target and a CO2 target. Not only is this beneficial for the environment, it can also lead to a decrease in housing taxes. To get more insights the energy usage should be measured.