The application of new materials to power transformers: conservatism and potential

It is pointed out that, in spite of the multitude of newly developed synthetic materials and their successful application in other industries, the progress toward new materials for the power transformer industry may seem slow. The system of materials now used in transformers is very tightly interrelated and balanced. Changing one compound results in a need to reanalyze the entire transformer system. Reliability cannot be predicted by short-term accelerated tests because of the complexity of the product. Synthetic materials are on a high price level compared to paper and oil. and substitution can generally not be justified by material cost savings alone. It is suggested that the driving factors of cost of ownership (especially energy cost capitalization) environmental issues, and transformer reliability are likely to drive material research more aggressively in the future. Alternate materials will require justification on a scientific and economic basis. Newly developed analytical techniques and transformer modeling programs will provide the transformer designer with confidence in a new material selection. Such tools were not available until recently