Cahors to exhibit its design engineering excellence at ELECRAMA 2023

Elecrama 2023 is a global platform where our focus will be on multiple product sub-segments within the Distribution Transformer category. It includes the hermetically sealed transformer for African and European markets (export); the hermetically sealed BIS-approved transformer for the Indian domestic market; the wind turbine generator duty transformer for the renewable wind market; and the eco-green and fire-safe distribution transformers filled with natural ester oil.
How is the transformer market growing in terms of innovations and efficiency?
As a capital product, the transformer market shows high demand in almost all sectors in India and around the world, where many innovations have been seen in recent times. For the Indian market, the Bureau of India Standards (BIS) implemented IS 1180 manufacturing and quality control guidelines for transformers around five years ago. This turnaround step has boosted distribution grid efficiency in India. Furthermore, the BIS recently revised the losses table for energy efficiencies, which encourages users to choose New Energy Level 2, i.e., old energy Level 3 type losses, and the same for EL2 = old EL1, with additional options for users beyond EL2.
Additionally, considering solutions to fire incidents where the transformer becomes a source or victim of fire, a social safety approach, an environmentally friendly approach, natural or synthetic ester oil, and dielectric fluid offer a gateway to making transformers fire-safe due to a fire point above 300°C. Maximum OEMs, including us, are promoting this option for wider acceptance in the power and distribution grids for the benefit of society and to build fire-safe and environmentally friendly networks at large, along with enhanced loading capabilities. CAHORS India is proud to have supplied the first KNAN Distribution Transformer in India to M/s Tata Power Mumbai in 2014, and later to domestic and industrial clients, with an installed capacity of +120 MVA in the distribution segment.

Which products and technologies are being implemented to maintain maximum uptime and obtain optimal efficiency in transformers?
We have developed a few designs for the European market (Enedis) with the help of our group; the details can be revealed at our Elecrama stall.
Ideally, the selection of current density and flux density, along with a further selection of conductor and magnetic steel raw material grades, plays a vital role in achieving the desired efficiency. Furthermore, proper cooling and heat dissipation calculations are critical for attaining loss restrictions. Design, manufacturing excellence, process engineering, and incoming and process QA are all integrated parameters to achieve maximum uptime and efficiency, typically greater than 99% at the rated load capacity of the transformer.
Which products or technologies do you offer for the smooth functioning of transformers?
For the smooth functioning of transformers, which operate on external input and have a responsibility to offer uniform output irrespective of incoming voltage fluctuations, we offer four types of distinct options: (1) outer flange mounted standard OLTC in 8 steps, 16 steps, and 20 steps, mainly supplied to us by CTR and OLG. (2) Compared to OLG’s standard OLTC, the compact T-series flange-mounted OLTC has smaller footprints and less oil volume. (3) An in-tank L-type tap changer offers uniform construction of the tank with optimization of the overall footprints of the transformer, with prolonged maintenance cycles of the OLTC offered by Easun MR. (4) Eco Tap OLTC by MR Germany offers the most compact OLTC for the in-tank version, which is mounted on top of the core coil assembly. All the above options are available with us, are compatible with the Remote Tap Changing Cubicle Panel (RTCC) or compact Remote Operating Device (ROD), and are getting recommended to users as per their specific requirements and commercial scales.
What are your views on using automation and connected technologies to control and monitor transformer performance?
Automation is now becoming an essential requirement in today’s technological world, which is truly limitless. Many online performance monitoring systems are available for temperature, gases, moisture ppm level, and breakdown voltage of dielectric insulating oil. The monitoring story is decided based on transformer capacity (ex. 10 MVA, 50 MVA, or 100 MVA) and criticalities in the transformer operation, i.e., private feeder, public feeder, national grid, and so on. In the case of removing the disconnected high-power transformers for repair, their disassembly and transportation are difficult. In this case, it is advisable to dry them without disassembly using a low-frequency heater (LFH). It offers onsite support to solve moisture-related faults in the overall insulation system of the transformer.
For more details visit: www.groupe-cahors.com/