Transformers: Selection, Operation, Diagnostics, Testing and Maintenance
Birchwood Hotel & O.R. Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, Johannesburg
Accredited with ECSA — 2 CPD points.
About this programme
A transformer failure is seldom sudden. The evidence is usually present months in advance — in gas ratios, in winding resistance drift, in a tap changer that has not been examined since commissioning.
This three-day masterclass moves teams from reactive troubleshooters to proactive guardians of transformer reliability. It begins with design fundamentals — core, coil, insulation and cooling systems, tap changers, and operating limitations.
It then works through installation acceptance testing, DC winding resistance, insulation resistance, dissolved gas analysis and dielectric response testing, so delegates can interpret results rather than simply record them.
The programme includes a site visit to a leading transformer manufacturer, connecting classroom theory to manufacturing and refurbishment practice.
Course content
The workshop programme, day by day.
Design fundamentals, construction, tap changers and acceptance testing (Sessions 1 – 5)
- Session 1 — Design fundamentals: types of transformers, nameplate data, terminal markings, no-load current and impedance, transformer characteristics
- Session 2 — Construction: core and coil construction, insulation systems, cooling systems, tanks, bushings and terminations
- Session 3 — Tap changers: off-power tap changer configurations, power-on and on-load tap changers, tests on tap changers, transformer vector groups
- Session 4 — Operating limitations: core loss, flux density and core heat losses, copper loss, the relationship between load and winding heat, effects of voltage and frequency variation, and the effects of harmonics on performance
- Session 5 — Installation acceptance: acceptance tests, transformer turns ratio test, insulation power factor and tan delta test, AC vs DC testing methods
Transformer testing and oil diagnostics (Sessions 8 – 9)
- Session 8 — Testing: DC winding resistance, insulation resistance, AC or DC high-potential test, polarity test, excitation current test, induced potential test, insulating fluid dielectric tests, polarization recovery voltage test, core ground test, partial discharge tests and sweep frequency response
- Session 9 — Oil and gas diagnostics: oil tests, combustible gas tests, dissolved gas analysis, frequency domain spectroscopy, dielectric response and DIRANA
Manufacturer site visit and oil condition discussion
- Morning: exclusive site visit to a leading transformer manufacturer, connecting theory directly to real-world engineering practice
- Afternoon: facilitated discussion on how moisture and acidity in the oil affect transformer life
- Closure of workshop
Who should attend
- Asset Managers
- Condition Monitoring Practitioners
- Electrical Safety Personnel
- Maintenance Managers, Supervisors & Planners
- Plant Managers
- Plant Engineers
- Power Quality Specialists
- Production Engineers
Ready to elevate your team's capability?
Request a proposal, book a facilitator, or schedule a discovery call. Our advisors respond within one business day.