Regional low-voltage and medium-voltage grid operators are clearly feeling the effects of the energy transition. The energy supplier EWF is therefore focusing on a detailed status analysis and new sensor technology for older equipment that should continue to function reliably.
Green, wooded hills, its own national park and well-kept half-timbered architecture—the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg is an idyllic spot in northern Hesse and popular with hikers from all over the world. Energie Waldeck-Frankenberg GmbH (EWF) supplies around 90,000 households in the region with electricity, which is increasingly coming from renewable sources such as solar and wind. This poses major challenges for the energy company, reports Thorsten Wieck, Regional Manager at EWF: “We may be a smaller grid operator, but we are also noticing major changes due to the energy transition in our very rural area—in some cases even before our colleagues at the extra-high voltage levels.”
At the moment, everyone is investing in grid expansion, and Wieck and his team receive dozens of applications for new, often large PV systems every week. In addition, a wind farm with two transformers of its own will soon be built. “There’s an enormous amount of movement,” says Wieck. To ensure that the power supply in the more than 1,800 square kilometer grid area functions reliably, it is important that the equipment does not fail, and this is also the case at the substation in Korbach.
Wieck explains: “We are responsible for a total of eleven transformers in our area. Although transformers can function reliably for several decades under high loads, older systems are potentially more susceptible to problems and require more maintenance. At the same time, their utilization is increasing due to changes in the grid. We therefore need to think about how we can deal with this and what we can expect in the future.”
Data Analysis
To address these various questions, Wieck turns to his longtime Reinhausen contact Werner Sammet. “We have already carried out several services for EWF and know their needs and we are good at assessing what really benefits the customer and where they should invest first,” explains Sammet. “For UW Korbach, I therefore recommended our digital consulting approach TESSA® FLEETSCAN 2D which allows us to create a detailed inventory and get an accurate picture of the relevant transformers. We then repeat this in one to two years and compare the results.”
„We are very good at assessing what really adds value for the customer.“
Werner Sammet, MR Area Sales Manager
An important basis for Thorsten Wieck: “Instead of just a snapshot, we need a continuous, regular analysis to identify trends at an early stage—so that we can act in good time before something breaks down. To do this, however, we need to know what the initial situation is. With a partner like MR, we have the specialist knowledge we need to ensure that our equipment continues to run reliably for years to come.”
Upgrade for Sensor Technology
Analysis alone is not enough, and an evaluation is only as good as its data. This is why EWF is also investing in new monitoring devices such as a MESSKO® oil level indicator, a MESSKO® thermometer, and the maintenance-free MESSKO® MTRAB® dehydrating breather which prevents the ingress of moisture and increases operational safety, while at the same time providing important measured variables. “We have often purchased spare parts from MESSKO® and have also had good experience with the MTRAB®, emphasizes Wieck, “It was therefore clear to us that we would also use it here—on one of the transformers, but also on two reactors.”
“We are more dependent than ever on our equipment always being in the best possible condition.“
Thorsten Wieck, Regional Manager EWF
The maintenance-free breather keeps the oil insulation dry, and regenerates the desiccant based on its condition, meaning that no replacement is necessary. This saves the service team valuable time, and EWF can also read out the values remotely via an app. The oil level and temperature indicators as well as the three new MTRAB®s are installed by MR’s service technicians. “Our customers can fit a thermometer themselves—it’s a simple plug and play principle—but the oil-level indicator is tricky so our specialists prefer to do that themselves,” explains Sammet.
Well equipped
The work in Korbach went according to plan and for Wieck this is just the beginning: “Maintaining our assets in an even more targeted manner with the knowledge gained from the ongoing TESSA® FLEETSCAN 2D analyses is essential. A lot can also be done directly on our premises using MR equipment.” Dismantling a transformer for analysis and repairs and sending it across the country, as was common practice in the past, is no longer economical. The transportation costs are far too high, and roads and bridges are sometimes unsuitable. Nowadays, fortunately, everything can be done on site or even remotely.“
Better analysis options and simplified maintenance are crucial for grid operators like EWF in order to keep equipment in optimum condition for years despite increasing capacity utilization,” says Sammet. He further adds :“Especially in the currently difficult supply situation with transformer manufacturers and an enormous price increase for new transformers, I think EWF’s decision is exactly right. With an average transformer age of 40 years, operators and energy suppliers in Germany should monitor their most important assets in the substation more closely in view of new challenges and increasing energy demand in order to extend the service life as much as possible and ensure a smooth power supply.”
Your Contact
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