Siemens Energy Designs Innovative Transformer In Brazil And Launches It Globally, Featuring High Fire Safety Levels And No Explosion Risk, Targeting The Electric Grid Across The Americas

Resin-Based Distribution Transformer, Manufactured by Multinational Siemens Energy, Has High Mechanical Resistance That Protects Against Corrosion and a Lifespan of Over 25 Years

The multinational Siemens Energy has globally launched its CAREPOLE^TM single-phase dry transformer for pole installation. Designed in Brazil for the technological requirements of the electrical grid throughout the Americas, the new resin-based distribution transformer provides a reliable and sustainable alternative to oil-filled transformers.

According to Siemens, in the Brazilian electrical grid, single-phase transformers are often installed in the distribution network, where – as the final stage of the power transmission chain – they step down the voltage to household levels. Due to the increase in extreme weather events, such as heat waves that have caused wildfires, the design of new outdoor installed assets needs to increasingly focus on their resilience to withstand environmental risks. Due to its dry and oil-free resin-based design, the self-extinguishing CAREPOLE transformer has a high level of fire safety and poses no explosion risk, thus minimizing environmental hazards.

“For a successful energy transition, we need to rethink the electrical grid with the intent of making it greener and strengthening its resilience. With our dry transformer for pole mounting, we are not only filling a gap in the Americas market, but we also present a maintenance-free alternative to oil transformers that allows for a more ecological, reliable, and cost-effective operation of the distribution network,” says Eduardo Terzi, Senior Vice President of Switching-Free Products at Siemens Energy. 

CAREPOLE Is Designed to Handle High Overloads

Considering the growing energy demand and the fluctuating supply from renewable energy, the new transformer is designed to handle high overloads to facilitate energy flow balancing and meet demand in real-time, at any moment. Vacuum resin-sealed, the compact windings of the transformer allow for a volume approximately 20% smaller than a conventional pole-mounted transformer filled with liquid.

The high mechanical strength of the CAREPOLE structure and the resin protect the transformer against corrosion and extend the transformer’s lifespan. At the same time, it prevents copper and aluminum thieves from destroying the transformers, putting others and themselves at risk. The new transformer is designed as a plug-and-play resource, with a fastening mechanism identical to fluid-immersed transformers and, therefore, is perfectly suited to replace existing installations.

Depending on the customer’s needs, Siemens Energy’s digital transformer solution Sensformer can also be added to the CAREPOLE to optimize operations and further increase its reliability. Equipped with a gateway for smart IoT, the transformer can transmit end-to-end encrypted data to an analysis and visualization platform. With this, operators benefit from real-time information on the condition and integrity of assets and the status of the grid. Thanks to these digital features, failures can be located and corrected more quickly or often even avoided by identifying operational irregularities at an early stage.

The CAREPOLE has a rated power between 10 and 100 kilovolt-amps (kVa), voltage capacity between 15 and 36 kV, and a typical lifespan of over 25 years.