Transformer explosion not only means the disruption of life and production, but also lurks in fire, electric shock and other serious safety hazards.In this article, we will dismantle in detail the core causes of transformer blow, the chain reaction after the failure, and the treatment method.
What is a transformer?
Transformer is an indispensable core equipment in the power system, its core function is to carry out the voltage conversion – power plant transmission of high-voltage electricity, converted to families, businesses can be directly used for low-voltage electricity (such as commonly used in the family 220V voltage), to ensure the safe transmission of electricity and normal use.
What happens when a transformer explodes?
Transformer damage (commonly known as “fried transformer”) is not without signs, usually accompanied by obvious visual and auditory signals, you can quickly identify:
Auditory, there will be a loud noise, similar to gunshots or explosions, the sound is sharp and penetrating, can instantly attract the attention of people around.
Visually, there will be smoke, open fire, in some cases will also see the equipment shell broken, line sparks, accompanied by flashes of light in the surrounding area, sudden power outages.
5 reasons for transformer blow
1 Transformer overload
The core danger of overload is “overheating”. When the transformer is overloaded for a long time, the internal coil will continue to generate a lot of heat, the heat can not be emitted in a timely manner, will gradually destroy the internal insulation. Once the insulation layer is broken, long-term accumulation, will eventually lead to component failure, serious transformer explosion will occur.
2 Short circuit and internal failure
Short circuit is the most common and dangerous cause of transformer explosion. Short-circuit occurs, will instantly generate a huge current, the current through the unintended path, will form a high temperature arc. These arcs are extremely high temperature, can quickly ignite the transformer internal insulating oil and other flammable materials.
3 Lightning strikes and power surges
Lightning strikes on power lines or voltage fluctuations during grid switching can create instantaneous high-voltage surges that can cause fatal shocks to transformers. Strong surges can instantly break through the insulation of the transformer, damage the internal coils and windings, and disrupt the electrical balance of the equipment. The whole process takes only a few milliseconds, which is so fast that there is almost no reaction time.
4 Improper maintenance and equipment aging
Many transformers are damaged because of long-term lack of maintenance, such as not regularly testing the insulating oil, not cleaning the equipment surface dust, not checking the connection parts.
5 Environmental factors
During hot weather in summer, the increased ambient temperature will reduce the cooling efficiency of the transformer and increase the risk of failure. Heavy rain, floods and other weather can damage the insulation layer and trigger short circuits, as well as accelerate the corrosion of metal parts, further damaging the equipment. Strong winds, heavy rain, hail and other bad weather may smash the transformer shell.
What happens after a transformer explosion?
Once the transformer is damaged and exploded, the consequences will be immediately apparent, not only affecting the electricity, but also bringing multiple security risks, requiring a high degree of vigilance.
Large area power outage
Transformer damage, the most direct impact is the power outage. Depending on the degree of damage to the equipment, the scope of the power outage may be a few households, or may be an entire neighborhood, an entire industrial area.
Risk of fire
Most transformers are equipped with insulating oil inside to cool the equipment and protect the internal components. When a transformer overheats and short-circuits, the insulating oil can ignite and start a fire.
Electrical hazards
When a transformer is damaged, the connected power lines may break and fall to the ground. These wires may remain electrically charged even if they are detached from the equipment, which can cause immediate electrocution with serious consequences in the event of human or animal contact. A faulty transformer can generate a large number of sparks and electrical arcs, which can ignite not only the surrounding flammable objects.
Noise and physical damage
When a transformer blow, it makes a loud, sharp sound similar to a gunshot. At the same time, the explosion may cause the equipment shell to rupture, metal fragments, component debris scattered around, these fragments have a certain degree of impact, may smash people.
What to do after the transformer explosion?
The first principle: to protect their own safety
Keep a safe distance, do not get close to the faulty transformer, fallen wires, avoid contact with smoke and debris. Pay particular attention to the fact that the transformer explosion may release harmful gases, do not stay, onlookers.
Contact a professional
Do not attempt to dispose of the fault yourself or attempt to repair the equipment.
Immediately contact a transformer service professional, local electric utility or firefighters for professional attention.
Avoiding Smoke Hazards
Smoke from a damaged transformer contains a large amount of harmful gases and pollutants that are hazardous to human health when inhaled.
If there is smoke at the scene, you should try to stand upwind, keep a safe distance, and wear a mask for protection if necessary.
Report power outages in a timely manner
If a power outage is caused by a damaged transformer, report the outage to the power company in a timely manner, explaining the scope of the outage and the cause of the failure (if known).
Can transformer explosions be prevented?
The answer is: most can be prevented. At present, the power industry has mature preventive measures, through scientific management and equipment configuration, can significantly reduce the probability of transformer damage and explosion.
Choose a reliable transformer manufacturer
Reliable transformer suppliers radically reduce the risk of failure.
Jinma Electric is a transformer manufacturer from China, and we offer a wide range of specialized power solutions. Our main transformer products include distribution transformers, silicon steel core transformers, high and low voltage switchgear, prefabricated substations, and customized photovoltaic and industrial power systems, which provide reliable power supply for projects worldwide.
Key points for selecting a supplier
When choosing a transformer supplier, you should focus on three aspects: first, the company’s production qualifications and industry reputation, to ensure that product quality is guaranteed; second, the product’s safety performance and adaptability, combined with their own use scenarios to choose the right equipment; and third, after-sales service, to ensure that after the equipment has a problem, you can get timely and professional maintenance support.
Core advantages of high-quality transformer suppliers
High-quality transformer suppliers, with mature production technology and strict quality inspection system, the production of transformers not only meet the relevant national standards, but also according to different scenarios (such as thunderstorm-prone areas, high-temperature areas), to optimize the protective performance of the equipment.
Jinma Electric , as a professional transformer manufacturer, its production of modern transformers, insulation performance, heat dissipation effect, lightning protection, etc. have been upgraded to better adapt to various types of environments and reduce the risk of damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For the most concerned about the transformer damage related issues, we have compiled the following frequently asked questions and professional answers to help you quickly get the key information.
Q: What are the main causes of transformer damage?
A: Mainly from five major categories of causes, namely overload and capacity failure, short circuit and internal failure, lightning strikes and surges, improper maintenance and equipment aging, environmental factors.
Q: Is the frequency of transformer blow high?
A: Not particularly frequent, but it happens from time to time. According to statistics, only the United States every year there are about 2000 transformer explosion, worldwide, due to power grid failure (including transformer damage) caused by power outages more than 3,000 cases per year.
Q: Can transformer explosions be prevented?
A: Most can be prevented. However, it is impossible to achieve 100% prevention.
Q: How long does it take to repair the transformer after damage?
A: Repair time depends on the degree of damage. Minor faults (e.g., small short circuits, poor contact) can be repaired in a few hours.
Conclusion
If you have any questions about transformer selection, maintenance, safety protection, etc., welcome to contact Jinma Electric’s professional technical experts for one-on-one professional guidance. Let us pay attention to transformer safety, avoid the risk of failure, to protect the stable and safe supply of electricity.
