An Overview of Asset Management for Power Transformers

ANDRÉS FELIPE CERON PIAMBA; IVAN ORDUÑA; ANDRÉS ROMERO; GUILLERMO APONTE

Bogotá

Seminario; Cuarto Seminario Internacional en Fuentes Alternativas de Energía y Eficiencia Energética; 2013

IEEE

In a deregulated electricity market, power utilities are under constant pressure, because they must reduce their operational costs without loss the reliability of their equipment of electrical energy transmission and distribution to be competitive. Additionally, they must continually improve electrical energy quality and service to their customers. Generally, power utilities don´t have a historical control of their assets, this has made the level of reliability of their equipment aren´t very well. If they have assets that have aged, they increment the risk level of the power system. Today, it has changed the focus of the operation of system and efforts are being conducted to explore new techniques for monitoring, diagnostics, condition assessment and maintenance in order to extend the life of existing assets. Power transformers are usually very precious assets because they are vital components for power plants, energy transmission systems and large industrial plants. Unexpected failures in these elements can produce serious disturbances in operating systems, which results in unscheduled interruptions and electrical energy supply problems. Those failures can be the result of deficient maintenance, a bad performance or undetected damage. The interruptions could affect revenue, it could cause penalties and it could cost a company its reputation and its customers. This article presents an overview of the conceptual framework of the asset management of power transformer based on risk assessment.