45 minutes presentation includes 10 minutes of Q&A.
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm ET
Intellirent
Through Faults Causing Mechanical Failure in Transformers
Mechanical failures involve physical displacement or damage of parts within a transformer, and happen for several reasons, including but not limited to transportation, seismic activity, improper synchronizing, switching, and through faults. In this presentation we will define a through fault, discuss through fault monitoring, and how we detect mechanical damage to the transformer due to through faults.
Speaker: Drew Welton, Vice President of Business and Technical Development
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm ET
SDT Ultrasound
NFPA70B Updates & Electrical Failure Mode Detection Utilizing Ultrasound
During this presentation, Allan Rienstra, CRL explores recent updates to NFPA 70B, highlighting how electrical inspections have gone from recommended practice to enforceable standard. Allan will outline key updates on inspection intervals, equipment condition assessments, and electrical maintenance programs. Attendees will learn how ultrasound helps detect electrical failures like arcing, tracking, partial discharge, and corona.
Speaker: Allan Rienstra CRL, Director, International Sales
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm ET
Dynamic Ratings
The Critical Role of Transformer Monitoring in Today's Transformer Supply Chain Issues
With supply chain constraints and aging electrical infrastructure, transformer reliability is more critical than ever. This webinar explores how transformer monitoring helps utilities and industrial operators extend asset life, reduce unexpected failures, and maintain grid stability.
Recent CIGRE Technical Brochure TB 939 (September 2024) analyzed 425,000+ transformer-years of operation, revealing that windings (44%), bushings (25%), and tap changers (21%) are the primary failure points. The data confirms that time-based maintenance is ineffective for substation transformers—maintenance should instead be condition-based, using diagnostic measurements and online monitoring.
The webinar will discuss implementing online monitoring systems for the three highest-risk components: main tank active parts, bushings, and OLTCs. These systems provide near real-time technical assessments, enabling fact-based maintenance priorities rather than reactive approaches.
Key takeaways include technical fleet assessment from a criticality perspective, understanding current transformer conditions, and establishing maintenance priorities based on actual component risk rather than assumptions.
Speaker: Brian Sparling, Senior Technical Advisor
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm ET
Zensol Automation Inc.
Vibro-Acoustic as a Fast Diagnostic Tool for On Load Tap Changers
The functioning of an On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC) is complex, since a lot of mechanisms are operating at the same time. Classic testing techniques give very little information on mechanical problems occurring inside an OLTC while in service.
This presentation shows how the vibroacoustic method is used as a fast diagnosis tool to easily detect mechanical problems in Tap Changers ON-LINE or OFF-LINE, before they create an outage.
We will show also how simultaneous correlation of signals recorded by Vibroacoustic, Motor Current and Dynamic Resistance Measurement (DRM) allows a fast understanding of the internal movements of an OLTC.
Each of these tests provides a piece of information that creates a complete picture of the OLTC's condition. Finally, we will present a real case showing how the electric utility New Brunswick Power uses this tool to properly adjust an OLTC.
Speaker: Fouad Brikci, President
