MechChem Africa February 2019

⎪ Water and wastewater processing ⎪

While dry-type transformers have been around since the early 1900s, they are becoming increasingly popular in a variety of applications because of their price, inherent safety and ease of installation. Trafo Power solutions’ David Claassen explains. Cast resin transformers for Zuikerbosch WWTW

The transformers range in size from 100 kVA to 1 600 kVA and have been modified to include earth fault protection and surge protection. This is inaddition to the standard tempera- ture protection features. “The key advantages of dry-type

locations in which they may be housed. The units are self-extinguishing and flame- retardant by nature, allowing them to be categorised as ‘F1’ in terms of international fire ratings. “The transformers represent state-of- the-art technology from the leaders in cast resin transformer products, HammondPower Solutions (HPS), which has been developing this field for a century,” says Claassen. “We have sourced our custom-designed units from the group’s manufacturing facilities in Italy, which boast world-leading expertise and equipment.” q Dry-type transformers, categorised as F1 in terms of international fire resistance ratings, have been chosen for Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch Wastewater Treatment Works.

transformers in this kindof application is their inherent safety and their ease of installation,” saysDavidClaassen, managingdirector, Trafo Power Solutions. “The units can be installed inside built substations rather than having to be placed outdoors with their own civils and bunding infrastructure.” Unlike conventional oil-cooled transform- ers, the dry-type units do not carry the risk of oil leaks or spillage and hence do not require special mitigation measures to protect the environment. The technology’s relative safety also makes them more versatile in terms of the

D ry-type transformer specialist TrafoPowerSolutionshassecured an order for 13 custom-designed cast resin units for Rand Water’s large Zuikerbosch Wastewater Treatment Works near Vereeniging. The water purification and sedimenta- tion facilities at Zuikerbosch are expected to provide an additional 600 Mℓ per day to the system at a project value of R3-billion, as part of efforts tomeet growingwater demand due to steady population migration into the Gauteng province.

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