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TRANSFORMERS
Googling the word
‘transformers’ brings up the
Hollywood blockbuster movie
about incredible machinery
coming to life and saving
the world. In reality,
a transformer is the heart
that pumps electricity at a
constant supply, saving the
world from darkness, writes
ESI Africa editor, Nicolette
Pombo-van Zyl.
the heart of the electricity supply industry
E skom’s planned load
shedding, implemented to
keep 80% of South Africa
supplied with electricity
during times of crisis,
such as when there is an increased
demand for electricity and a shortage
of generation capacity, means constant
switching of circuits, and this contributes
to the breakdown of switchgear and
transformer assets.
This scenario is not ideal, as in
the electricity supply industry the
performance of transformers and
associated assets is a critical aspect in
keeping the delivery of electricity at a
constant, and is vital to the operation of
industrial plants, commercial enterprises
and residential buildings.
However, whilst generation
equipment is often blamed for load
shedding and outages, unreliability of the
distribution networks is often the cause.
EXPECTED SERVICE LIFE OF
TRANSFORMERS Since the power transformer is one of
the most important and expensive items
of capital equipment in a distribution
52 ESI AFRICA ISSUE 2 2015