Power Transformer Asset Management
POWER TRANSFORMER ASSET MANAGEMENT
by
Robert Houbaer1 and Ken Gray
Abstract
This paper discusses how Hydro Tasmania is implementing an advanced asset management program for its power scheme assets that focuses on plant reliability, managing risk and optimising life cycle costs. Hydro Tasmania is taking full advantage of the high initial investment in its passive civil assets by developing advanced asset management plans for its shorter life active electrical and mechanical assets. Most of the active assets are associated with energy conversion and delivery processes. Of these two processes the delivery process has been assessed as having the highest potential risk exposure to the business. A significant asset in the delivery process is the power transformer. A transformer asset management plan has been developed withthe business objective of providing a comprehensive assessment of condition, risk exposure to the business, and recommending future management strategies to minimise life cycle costs. Savings to be delivered over the next 10 years are expected to be in the order of A$3 million, a 30 per cent reduction of the original projected transformer expenditure. Following the success of the transformer study, a program of asset management plans is being introduced for other critical assets in the electrical energy delivery process. The outcomes of these plans are expected to produce similar benefits for the business with a subsequent flow on to further asset studies.
Keywords: asset management, service life, power management, transformers, energy delivery
See Detailin : Power Transformer Asset Management
