 The
economic and environmental factors associated with energy losses
have prompted a renewed interest in energy efficient transformers.
Copper-intensive energy efficient transformers can be a very
smart decision for conserving precious energy resources and
for reducing industrial operating costs and losses in the distribution
networks of electric utilities. This is why, in many parts of
the world, government regulators are actively promoting energy
efficient transformers and industry is discovering the financial
benefits of owning them.
Transformers are needed to transport electricity economically
to our homes and workplaces. They are designed to raise or lower
(i.e., transform) voltage to meet specific electrical needs.
When "standard" transformers are used, much energy is wasted
in the form of heat. Energy efficient transformers substantially
reduce the amount of this wasted energy.
Energy efficient transformers rely on high conductivity copper
windings. As a general rule, the electrical energy efficiency
rating of a transformer increases as the amount of copper is
increased.
This means that copper, and more of it, enables transformers
to run cooler with higher overload capacities - and therefore
to run more efficiently.
Also, cooler-running energy efficient transformers are expected
to have a longer service life.
Energy efficient transformers are somewhat more expensive to
buy than the standard transformers, but their operating costs
are usually much lower, especially when energy prices are high
and the transformers run at high loads for long periods of time.
Since transformers have a typical service life of 20-40 years
or even more, the lower operating cost of energy efficient transformers
can result in substantially lower total owning costs |
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