Iran has achieved self-sufficiency in the production of transformer oil and talks are underway to sell the product in international markets.
Behzad Zahiri, managing director of Iran Transfo Corporation, made the statement on the sidelines of a ceremony to open Iran’s first production line for transformer oil in Zanjan Province on Wednesday, ISNA reported.
“The company is capable of producing a wide range of oil for distribution, step-up, step-down, medium and large gas-insulated transformers,” he said, adding that the surplus will be exported to neighboring nations.
The Energy Ministry and its subsidiaries have a hard time importing the oil under the US sanctions.
Transformer oil (aka insulating oil) is a special type of oil that has excellent electrical insulating properties and is stable at high temperatures. It is used in oil-filled electrical power transformers to insulate, stop arcing and corona discharge, and to dissipate the heat of the transformer.
The oil is also used to preserve the transformer’s core and windings – as these are fully immersed inside the oil. Another important property of the insulating oil is its ability to prevent oxidation of the cellulose-made paper insulation. It acts as a barrier between the atmospheric oxygen and the cellulose, avoiding direct contact and minimizing oxidation.
A transformer is a passive electrical device that transfers energy from one circuit to one or more circuits.
Transformers are used for increasing or decreasing alternating voltages in electric power applications and for coupling the stages of signal processing circuits.
“Iran's installed power generation capacity is 85,000 megawatts and the national power grid is equipped with 7,000 transformers, whose capacity has exceeded 290,000 MVA,” he said.
Different types of transformers are manufactured in Iran and companies like Iran Transfo Corporation export their products to Asian and African countries.
Established in 1967 under the license of Germany's Siemens, Iran Transfo Corporation is the top manufacturer of oil-immersed distribution and power transformers. It comprises 13 companies that closely collaborate with more than 100 domestic and foreign subcontractors for manufacturing all kinds of substations, insulation materials, ceramic insulators and accessories such as radiators.
According to Zahiri, the number and capacity of transformers and power substations in the national power grid have increased in proportion to the rise in electricity generation.
“The capacity of transmission and distribution substations has reached 173,000 megavolt amperes and 119,000 MVA respectively,” he said.
