On Track with a Super Project

“We’re on track with the project. The plant will be one of our most advanced ever, and without a doubt one of the biggest investments Møre Trafo has made,” says Møre Trafo’s factory manager Marcin Gården.

The shift from manual operations to more automated processes improves quality and significantly reduces the risk of errors and leaks.

World-Class

— We have a clear goal to streamline processes, methods, and machines through continuous improvement of innovative technological solutions such as robotics, digitalization, and automation. In this way, we also develop our employees and raise their knowledge and competence enormously. Because Møre Trafo’s goal is to develop transformer production built on world-class expertise, says the factory manager.

A Range of Improvements

The new transformer processing plant will give Møre Trafo a range of benefits and improvements to both product and production:

• Energy savings

• Time savings

• Increased capacity

• Individual process control that ensures consistently higher quality

• Lower residual moisture in windings, which has major impact on quality, especially lifetime and overload capability

• Guaranteed optimal curing of the epoxy bonding in the windings (which ensures optimal short-circuit strength)

• Improved leak-testing process that minimizes the risk of leaks on each individual transformer. Makes the final leak test safer than in the current plant

The Vacuum Chamber

— A vacuum chamber is a vessel where you remove air to achieve a lower atmospheric pressure. Because of the difference between the pressure outside the chamber and the pressure inside, the walls are exposed to loads equivalent to several tons per square meter. That’s why they have to be extremely strong, and that makes the vacuum chamber the most eye-catching component in the processing plant, explains Kyrre Søholt, Møre Trafos Head of Product and Design for transformers.

Advanced Installation

In addition to the vacuum chamber with its pipes, valves, and bushings, the plant includes eight frequency converters with control technology for LFH (low frequency heating), two oil treatment units with process tanks for different insulating liquids, a line for impregnation and cooling, and a line for overpressure and leak testing.

Heating and Vacuum

— Liquid-filled power transformers have an insulation system made up of kraft paper (cellulose) and an insulating liquid, either oil or ester. The combination of heating and vacuum is necessary to dry the insulation paper. Heat is also needed to cure the epoxy glue used on the insulation paper to increase the mechanical stability of the windings, says Søholt about the state-of-the-art and advanced facility.

Better End Result

Vacuum is also necessary during oil filling to prevent bubbles (voids) in the insulating liquid. In addition, vacuum reduces the pressure in the capillaries of the insulation paper, which gives better impregnation of the liquid.

— What’s special about the new plant is that it uses LFH technology, which heats the windings directly with a low-frequency current. This means the entire process of heating, drying, and liquid filling runs as one continuous vacuum process. That ensures a better end result, says Søholt.

First quarter 2025

We are now installing cables and cable ducts. Møre Trafo gets remote support from Germany for the software, and is very pleased with the project manager from Hedrich.

“We’re preparing some transformers for testing in December and aim to keep our startup deadline of January 6. The goal is to be operational in the first quarter of 2025,” says Factory Manager Marcin Gården.