Oil Type Vs Dry Type Transfromers
Oil Type Vs Dry Type Transfromers
Oil Type Vs Dry Type Transfromers
For liquid-filled transformers, the cooling medium can be conventional mineral oil. There
are also wet type transformers using less flammable liquids, such as high fire point hydrocarbons
and silicones.
Liquid-filled transformers are normally more efficient than dry-types, and they usually
have a longer life expectancy. Also, liquid is a more efficient cooling medium in reducing hot spot
temperatures in the coils. In addition, liquid-filled units have a better overload capability.
However, fire prevention is more important with liquid-type units because of the use of a
liquid cooling medium that may catch fire. (Dry-type transformers can catch fire, too.) It’s even
possible for an improperly protected wet-type transformer to explode.
And, depending on the application, liquid-filled transformers may require a containment
trough for protection against possible leaks of the fluid.
When choosing transformers, dry-types used for the lower ratings and liquid-types for the
higher ratings.
Important factors when choosing what type to use include where the transformer will be
installed, such as inside an office building or outside, servicing an industrial load. For outdoor
applications, wet-type transformers are the predominate choice.
The flowing Table shows losses in dry type and oil filled type transformers:
1/5
Cooling and insulating system
Because air is the basic cooling and insulating system for dry-type transformers, all dry-
type transformers will be larger than liquid-immersed units for the same voltage and capacity
(kilovolt/kilovolt-ampere) rating.
When operating at the same flux and current density, more material for core and coil
implies higher losses and higher costs.
These trade-offs are inherent in the design of dry-type units, but dry-type
transformers have traditionally offered certain fire-resistant, environmental, and
application advantages for industrial and commercial situations. Recent advances in liquid-
filled units are reducing some of these (dry-type) advantages.
Dry type transformers typically have significantly higher operating losses than the
more efficient liquid filled transformers. Dry- type insulation systems lack the additional
cooling and insulating properties of the oil-paper systems, for the same rating the dry-type
transformers tend to be more costly, larger, and have greater losses than a corresponding
liquid-immersed unit.
Losses
At 50% loading, the no-load loss remains the same, and load loss is reduced.
2/5
Costs of Transformer Losses
Energy consumption by the transformer is not the only energy factor. Transformer
losses are dissipated as heat, which must be removed from a controlled temperature
environment by air conditioning.
Costs of Transformer = Transformer Energy + Air Conditioning
Losses Consumption Energy
Consumption
The retirement age of transformers removed from service for a variety of reasons
ranges from 14 to 35 years; the average is 25 years. However, the average life of liquid
immersed transformers that remain in service is 30 years or more.
Because liquid-filled transformers last longer than dry-type, they save on material,
labor to replace, and operational impact due to outage to replace.
Maintainability
3/5
Repairability
Coils in liquid-type units are much easier to repair than coils in dry-type transformers.
Cast coils are not repairable; they must be replaced.
When a transformer fails, a decision to repair or replace the transformer must be
made. Liquid-filled transformers, in most situations, can be economically repaired at local
independent service repair facilities.
Liquid-filled transformers provide the best opportunity to repair existing equipment
rather than dispose and replace.
Footprint
4/5
Operating Sound Level and Noise Pollution
Conclusion
5/5