Transformer services

Financial impact following the outage of an 760 MVA GSU transformer 330,000 € daily of lost profits

Transforming service into reliability

Whether power transformers, reactors, transformers for industrial applications, phase-shifting transformers, or HVDC transformers – transformers are crucial for ensuring a trouble-free supply of power with no interruptions. As reliable, rugged key components, they are frequently in use for decades at a time – and are thus subject to the unavoidable effects of aging and wear.

Strategically increase value with Transformer Lifecycle Management (TLM)

How can you plan your expenditures in a targeted way and systematically control the timing of new investments? How can you avoid unforeseeable outages and minimize planned downtimes? And how can you reduce the impact on the environment while maximizing transformer availability? The answer to these questions is TLM – Transformer Lifecycle Management – the service concept from Siemens Energy for all the transformers in your network, regardless of age, manufacturer, or power. We service all generations of transformers.

Our TLM service concept is designed to prevent unplanned downtimes and optimize planned maintenance measures. We’re aware that you have fewer and increasingly shorter windows of opportunity even for planned service interruptions. Our response is technologies and methods that are as mobile as our experts. From oil-drying systems to high-voltage testing stations, we provide mobile repair workshops to support you on-site. Mobile teams and technologies are elements that ideally complement the performance spectrum of Siemens Energy´s repair facility – they’re fast, flexible, and can be integrated in your operations.

Highlight services for transformers

Transformers are the cornerstone of power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. Their outages or failures usually have far-reaching consequences on large parts of the power system.

We’ll get your transformers back in top form – and without service interruptions

The Siemens Energy TLM method for extending service life minimizes the unavoidable, undetectable, and ongoing aging process that is taking place inside your transformers. Our stationary and continuous transformer drying system and moisture monitoring SITRAM DRY as well as our mobile container-mounted solution SITRAM REG for the lasting regeneration of the transformer oil are internationally-recognized technologies. These can easily be integrated as retrofit solutions.The online regeneration technology SITRAM REG not only removes the degradation products and corrosive compounds from transformer oil, but also offers substantial economic and ecological advantages, as it is performed during normal transformer operations.

SITRAM REG

SITRAM REG, the online regeneration technology, can clean aged or corrosive transformer oil, restore its dielectric properties, and increase the transformer availability. Regeneration processes requires special equipment, high competence, and long-time experience of staff. Siemens Energy operators have experience in online regeneration of more than 300 transformers with different design, connections and at various ambient temperatures.

SITRAM DRY

Continous drying system and moisture monitoring

SITRAM DRY

Moisture causes irreversible damage to transformers

The insulating materials of all power transformers degrade over time, but moisture in the insulating paper accelerates the aging process, and thus significantly shortening the life of a transformer. Moisture in a transformer can be caused by insufficient drying during production or repair processes, or by the environment due to damaged seals. Even if these factors could be avoided, moisture occurs as a by-product of the degradation process and is therefore unavoidable.

About 98 % of the moisture can be found in the insulating paper and only a small part in the transformer oil, so that a single oil treatment or oil exchange will have no lasting effect. The exact distribution between paper and oil depends strongly on temperature, which makes an evaluation of the moisture in the paper prone to error.

Our Service Team will support you with accurate diagnostics.

Transformer Lifetime extension by continuous transformer drying

With our solution SITRAM DRY, Siemens Energy offers an online transformer drying system. SITRAM DRY can be easily installed next to the transformer and can be operated while the transformer is energized. Three cartridges filled with molecular sieve extract about 10 liters of moisture from the transformer oil. This immediately improves the breakdown voltage and dries the transformer over time.

The robust design of 20 years of experience enclosed in an IP55 cabinet minimizes the required maintenance activity. SITRAM DRY will automatically indicate once the cartridges are saturated, which requires an exchange of the cartridges.

Our cartridge regeneration service completes our offering.

Learn more!

SITRAM DIAG

Intelligent condition diagnostics for transformers

How is your fleet of transformers really doing? Siemens Energy TLM diagnostics makes it possible to detect the current condition with high precision and therefore classify operational reliability for all makes and models and all voltage and power levels. Especially after extraordinary events such as thunderstorms and lightning, relocations, and similar occurrences, comprehensive testing including on-site high-voltage tests is recommended – and with TLM, this is possible with the high quality equivalent to testing in the factory. Mobile TLM high-voltage tests are also used for acceptance testing following on-site repairs.

Our modular diagnostics program for power transformers SITRAM DIAG consists of three levels of analysis and many additional stand-alone modules for the selection and examination of irregular transformers in ever greater detail. You can choose the level of diagnostics that best fits your needs: Essential Diagnostics is performed during your normal operations, while the Advanced Level requires minimum outages. The ultimate level integrates high-voltage testing to optimally evaluate the operational condition and residual life span of each of your power transformers, based on our decades of experiences and highly advanced diagnostic methods.

SITRAM TDCM

Transforming knowledge into availability

SITRAM TDCM

We developed SITRAM TDCM as technically advanced and cost effective transformer online monitoring system, providing reliable early fault diagnostics and supporting precise operational needs. It measures, stores, and correlates indicative values from transformers and by processing data generates diagnostics, prognostics, and recommended actions and trends of incipient faults.

The system applies several transformers’ models and includes family based evaluation and comparison. SITRAM TDCM can be applied on all transformers, from any manufacturer, of any age. This flexibility is due to OEM experience from Siemens Energy, applied in matters of engineering models that represent the various transformers and subcomponents behaviors.

SITRAM Monitoring concept

Our product and service portfolio includes the third generation of online transformer monitoring. While methods and results have been refined from generation to generation, the fundamental benefits have always remained the same: optimized use, monitoring of sensitive components, and the early detection of any emerging problems. Service applications can be meticulously coordinated with and scheduled into your operations.
You can choose the level of online monitoring that best fits your needs. There are three levels ranging from component monitoring to monitoring of individual transformers to comprehensive fleet monitoring. Our monitoring service also supports you by having our team of experts analyze and interpret your measured data.

Highlight - Seismic Protection for Transformers

Seismic Protection for Transformers

Services for your transformers throughout their entire lifecycle

Siemens Energy TLM is based on the expertise available in all Siemens Energy transformer factories, which are well-known for high quality and low failure rates. Our highly experienced transformer experts provide the most effective lifecycle solutions for power transformers of any age and any brand along the value chain from reactive to proactive services.

Preventive maintenance

Time- and condition-based maintenance, following OEM recommendations
Decelerating the natural aging of transformers
Stationary transformer drying and moisture monitoring
Local qualified experts

Repair services

Initial on-site investigation
Developed repair solutions, repairs include parts and materials by expert field service personnel
OEM workshops address failure analysis and repair
On-site transformer repair with a mobile repair container-sized facility

Emergency services

On-call duty contract 24/7 2^nd and 3^rd level senior technical support as well as on-site investigation within contractual timeframe
Utilization of Siemens
Energy´s internal engineering department

Spares consulting / Spare Parts management

Individual consulting solutions for new strategic & operational spares as well as for already existing customer spares
Provision of high-quality spares across all applied technologies and asset generations
Reliable global supply of single parts, parts kits and complete spare modules for planned and unplanned maintenance measures
Managed spares service models

Modernization and retrofit

Modernization of hardware and software with state-of-the-art versions
Retrofit of individual components to maintain the delivery capacity

Refurbishment

Overhaul of your transformers

Upgrade and uprate

System-wide feature upgrades and uprated performance

Lifecycle extension

Extension of your existing systems (such as substations) with existing or new equipment

Monitoring and diagnostics

Monitoring of your critical transformers
Dynamic analysis of transformer conditions in real-time
Online gas-in-oil analysis, partial-discharge monitoring, bushing monitoring, on-load tap changer monitoring

Remote services

Remote Diagnostic Center that performs 24/7 monitoring and diagnostics for online assets
Remote analysis by experts, including recommendations
Reliable and secure data connection

Training programs

Customized and standardized transformer trainings by Siemens Energy-certified trainers, combining technology and business learning
Training in one of the transformer factories and additional visits and training like productions of bushings, tap changers etc. possible
Training modules in different areas, e.g. basics of electricity, transformer components, electrical specifications, basics of power transmissions etc.

24/7 customer support

1^st level call center support with direct access to customer-specific documentation
2^nd and 3^rd level technical expert support
Fault analysis via remote access for failure analysis via Siemens Energy cRSP (common Remote Service Platform)
Regional 24/7 field service support, if needed

On-site condition assessment

On-site transformer evaluation and testing
Oil sampling, visual and thermal inspection, historical and operational data, electrical measurements, high-voltage testing
Detailed condition reports and early warnings

Asset management and consulting

Vendor-independent consulting services and software solutions concerning asset and risk management, feasibility, studies, compliance reviews, due diligence and audits etc.

Relocation

Relocation and reuse of entire assets or components
Project coordination and management
Schedule and timeline
Movement and logistics

Service programs

Operation and maintenance services and tailor-made “care-free packages”
Guaranteed performance by defined KPI’s
Operation, maintenance, and management services, special service projects, customer as well as support services

Top class laboratory diagnostics for transformer materials

Do you know the chemical age of your transformer? Well we do! There are numerous complementary methods for diagnosing the transformer ageing process early and reliably. The Siemens Energy Test Laboratory for Transformer Materials is completely focused on the laboratory diagnostics of oil-filled electrical equipment. The highly qualified personnel are constantly developing new methods for ageing diagnostics and are using this knowledge for the benefit of our customers.

100 years of know-how ensuring a long transformer life span

Siemens Energy can look back at over 100 years of experience in the production and operation of transformers. During all these years we have developed numerous methods and parameters so that ageing processes can be diagnosed early and reliably. The life span of a transformer largely depends on the ageing of the solid and liquid organic insulating materials. In normal operating conditions, below the maximum permissible load, and with regular maintenance and care, a transformer's lifespan can be extended to well over 30 years.

Whether it is a case of new construction, operation, retrofit or repair, it is always a matter of reliably recognizing material degradation and rectifying it. For this purpose an extensive knowledge of the materials as well as a specific, precise analysis is fundamental. In order to avoid costly breakdowns, minimize downtimes and extend the lifespan of a transformer, the performance of a regular trend analysis and targeted maintenance are indispensable.

Siemens Energy Test Laboratory for Transformer Materials

Oil analysis

The combination of moisture in the oil and in the cellulose is an indicator of ageing. The most important method for the diagnosis of the ageing process as a result of dielectric, thermal, dynamic and chemical ageing in oil and oil-paper insulation is the Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA).

The Siemens Energy Test Laboratory for Transformer Materials offers a comprehensive service, from the collection of samples to analysis and assessment. The sampling device, developed in collaboration with our customers, is always ready for use, contains all the necessary equipment, and guarantees an easy, secure and reproducible sample collection.

Material testing

During the mostly decades-long service life of a transformer, materials too are subjected to considerable ageing processes. Through our tests we are able to determine the condition of the materials, and offer our clients the possibility to plan any necessary maintenance measures early.

Analyses of solid insulating materials, conductive metallic materials (grain-oriented electrical steel and copper materials) as well as coating materials and sealing materials, are carried out.

Demonstrable competence

Demonstrabe competence from Siemens Energy

Accredited as an independent test laboratory in accordance with ISO 17025 (Certificate)

DKE 182 – liquids and gases for electrotechnical applications
DKE 181 – solid electrical insulating materials
DKE 171 – magnetic alloys and steels
Cigré D1 – materials and emerging test techniques
Various Cigré working groups on the subjects of Dissolved Gas Analysis, corrosive sulphur, insulating liquids and new ageing markers
IEC TC 10 working groups – fluids for electrotechnical applications

Test laboratory for Transformer Materials

Further Information

One step ahead with information

Get to know more about our services for your transformers: We’ll gladly place our information material on our transformer services, training courses, newsletters, and more at your service.

Downloads
Support

Brochures, Flyers

SITRAM REG

PDF (457 KB)

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SITRAM H2 Guard

PDF (192 KB)

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SITRAM Multisense 9

PDF (297 KB)

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SITRAM DRY

PDF (306 KB)

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Transmission Service Portfolio

PDF (224 KB)

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Flyers (Applicable on the US market)

Load Tap Changers

PDF (127 KB)

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On-load Tap Changer Upgrades

PDF (372 KB)

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If you’d like to learn more about what we can do to keep your transformers fit for tomorrow’s energy demands and technological, economical, and safety-related requirements, please contact our Customer Support Center. Our experts look forward to answering all your questions about our transformer services, and we’ll be pleased to provide you with comprehensive information.

Customer Support

+49 911 6505 6505

support@siemens-energy.com