MechChem Africa July-August 2021

⎪ PowerGen, PetroChem and sustainable energy management ⎪

Trafo distributes world-leading temperature control Trafo Power Solutions – a leading local supplier of dry-type transformers – has been appointed by Italy-based temperature control relay specialist TECSYSTEM to distribute its products in sub-Saharan Africa. I taly-based temperature control relay specialist TECSYSTEM has appointed Trafo Power Solutions – a leading local supplier of dry-type transformers –as its consider the control and protection require- ments as an integral part of the overall scope of designing a transformer.”

tion,” he notes. “The fans provide efficient and prompt cooling if and when the trans- former temperature exceeds a pre-deter- mined value.” T h e c omp a n y ’ s r e g u l a r u s e o f TECSYSTEM products puts Trafo Power Solutions in an ideal position to assist the market in making effective use of these technologies. There are also adequate stocks held in South Africa to allow for easy availability and quick access to the required products. “Our facilities are equipped with the required equipment to test products before shipment to customers, as well as to pre-programme the units according to the planned application,” says Claassen. The programming is done on a dedicated simulation desk which is able to replicate the conditions in which the relay is required to operate. This simplifies the job for the customer, who then has only to follow a wir- ing diagram when installing the relay. “We can also play a valuable remote trouble- shooting role for customers throughout Africa who need to update parameters in a relay, for instance,” he says. “With our equipment and expertise, we can ‘mimic’ the unit on our side and then assist them over the phone.” According to Giavenni , the first mi- cro-processor unit was developed in 1984 specifically to protect the cast resin transformers from temperature overloads. Continuous research and development by TECSYSTEM has seen ongoing product improvements ensuring reliability. “Quality is an important corner - stone of our production and all our products comply with the latest techni- cal specifications and ratings. Our R&D department conducts both preliminary and routine testing from the initial engineering phase right through to production,” he concludes. www.trafo.co.za

Trafo Power Solutions designs a dedi- cated control and protection panel, which includes a TECSYSTEM relay to suit the customer’s specific transformer. It is then a simple matter of cabling up the main supply, without having to deal with the complexity of linking up the control unit. “This is part of our philosophy of provid - ing a full solution to the customer, not just products,” he says. “We are assisted in this by TECSYSTEM’s wide variety of highly reliable control relays, which ranges from hard-wired configurations to protocols such as SCADA and ethernet.” The company wi l l also be supplying TECSYSTEM’s air-forced (AF) fan cooling systems for cast resin transformers, says Claassen, with control systems designed and installed by Trafo Power Solutions. These fans are installed on the transformer feet, in a set of three fans on each side of the transformer, directly under the windings. “They are typically used for additional protection rather than continuous opera-

distributor in sub-Saharan Africa. TECSYSTEMhas, for over 40 years, been developing and manufacturing electronic and electromechanical devices for control- ling temperature on equipment such as transformers, motors, generators and vari- able speed drives. “We have been using tem - perature control relays from TECSYSTEM on our dry-type transformers for many years,” saidDavid Claassen, managing direc- tor of Trafo Power Solutions. “The quality of this product makes the company one of the global leaders in this specialised field.” Andrea Lorusso, sales area manager at TECSYSTEM, says the company is pleased to have the expertise and network of Trafo Power Solutions to give the South African market easier access to its products. “Trafo Power Solutions understands its operating environment well, and also appreciates the value that our technologies can add to the market,” says Fabrizio Giavenni, sales and marketing manager. “As we continuously develop our product range, customers in South Africa can look forward to more exciting innovations.” The synergy between the two com- panies is based on the fact that Trafo Power Solutions equips all of its cast- resin transformers with heat sensors that l ink to a temperature control system. Wherever there is an unusual temperature rise in a transformer, it is vital that the equipment can automati- cally generate an alert so the problemcan be investigated and solved, emphasises Claassen. “Customers purchasing dry-type transformers are often supplied with a temperature control relay as a separate item – almost as an optional extra,” he says. “This is not our approach. Rather, we

A TECSYSTEM NT935 temperature control relay with communication protocols.

A TECSYSTEM air-forced (AF) fan cooling system for cast resin transformers.

July-August 2021 • MechChem Africa ¦ 31