In high-temperature and high-load scenarios such as photovoltaic power stations and industrial plants, the temperature rise issue of 10 kV SCB14 Dry-Type Transformer 160kVA is not uncommon. As a technical expert in the transformer field with many years of experience at Hualai Electric, I have witnessed too many cases where equipment was scrapped due to insulation aging caused by ignoring overheating warnings. Although Dry-Type Transformer does not have the oil leakage risk of Oil Immersed Transformer, overheating will directly accelerate the aging of insulation materials. According to the Arrhenius rule, for every 8-10℃ increase in temperature, the service life will be halved. This poses a fatal threat to the stable operation of integrated power supply scenarios such as Photovoltaic Prefabricated Cabin and Box Type Substation. Below is the checklist I have summarized for overheating detection and prevention to help you safeguard the safety of your equipment.
The main cause of overheating in a 10 kV SCB14 Dry-Type Transformer 160kVA is often mistakenly believed to be solely related to the load. In fact, it is the combined effect of heat dissipation, load, and maintenance. If the equipment casing feels hot or the temperature controller gives an alarm, it is advisable to first check these three aspects:
Failure of the cooling system: Dry-type transformers rely on air convection and fans for cooling. If the ventilation in the photovoltaic prefabricated cabin is poor or the fans are clogged with dust, heat will accumulate rapidly. Especially in enclosed spaces such as box-type substations, for every 1°C increase in the ambient temperature, the temperature rise limit of the transformer must be reduced by 1K, which can easily trigger overheating.
Long-term overload operation: This model has a rated load of 160 kVA. If the actual load rate continuously exceeds 90%, copper loss and iron loss will sharply increase, generating a large amount of heat. Some projects save costs by using it to replace larger-capacity equipment or fail to adjust the load in time during the peak output of photovoltaic power, which will overburden the equipment.
Unlike Oil Immersed Transformer, which requires regular oil quality checks, the maintenance of Dry Type Transformer is often overlooked. Dust accumulation on the surface of the radiator forms an insulating layer, hindering heat dissipation. Meanwhile, loose connection terminals can cause local overheating, a problem that is particularly common in Box Type Substation where multiple devices are integrated.
Quick Diagnosis: Three typical signals accompanying overheating should be taken seriously: Abnormal operation of the fan but no reduction in temperature rise, mostly due to blocked air ducts or fan failure. Immediate cleaning of accumulated dust and inspection of the fan are required; sudden temperature rise without an increase in load, possibly caused by loose terminal connections. The machine should be stopped for tightening and inspection; large temperature fluctuations accompanied by abnormal sounds, most likely due to loose core. Contact the professional team of Hengcheng Tebian for calibration.
Hualai Electric Professional Maintenance Tips: Prevention is better than repair. It is recommended to conduct a thorough inspection of the 10 kV SCB14 Dry-Type Transformer 160kVA once a month, with a focus on cleaning the dust accumulated on the radiator. In scenarios such as Photovoltaic Prefabricated Cabin, ensure that there is at least 0.8m of ventilation space around the equipment. Regularly use an infrared thermometer to detect the hot spots of the windings to prevent overheating operation. If you encounter overheating problems during the selection of Oil Immersed Transformer and Dry Type Transformer or the integrated debugging of Box Type Substation, please leave a message and I will provide you with a customized solution.
