Projet RETROTRAFO (Horizon Europe, appel à projets 2023)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Power transformers play a crucial role in electric power transmission and distribution systems, being both expensive and strategically important. Their prolonged efficient operation is essential to prevent long-term power outages. With tens of thousands of transformers worldwide approaching the end of their typical 30-40 year lifespan, the question of recycling becomes significant. Remarkably, around 95% of a power transformer's materials could potentially be recycled. Recognizing the importance of a circular economy, the European Commission adopted a Circular Economy plan in 2020, aiming to shift from a linear "take, make, dispose" model to a circular one where waste becomes a new resource. While the initial focus was on energy efficiency in transformers, the impact of materials is not negligible. The upcoming revision of the eco-design regulation for transformers in 2023 will introduce new requirements on material efficiency.  The proposed project will develop research on transformer retrofilling with alternative or recycled insulating liquids. This technique is based on the replacement of the mineral oil of a transformer in service with a biodegradable and less-flammable fluid. The procedure would lead to safer and more environmentally friendly transformers and could allow the application of higher loads, deferring the replacement of equipment in service. However, the technique has not been sufficiently studied, it is needed to evaluate the impact of retrofilling on the operation of the transformer and to assess its economic and technical feasibility. Project's researchers have applied the circular economy concept to power transformers in various ways during project definition: a) Evaluating the efficient use of materials throughout a transformer's life cycle (renewable or re-refined oils instead of conventional oils); b) Lifetime extension through dielectric and thermal design review and guidance on operation and maintenance.

Mots clés : transformers, retrofilling, natural ester, synthetic ester, recycled oils, biodegradabile insulating liquids, life extension, fire safety, increased loadability, circular economy

Participants :
- Université de Santiago du Chili (Chili) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Kyūshū (Japon) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- E.on group innovation gmbh (Allemagne) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université technique de Košice (Slovaquie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 59800.0 €
- Université nationale du Littoral (Argentine) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Universiti Putra Malaysia (Malaisie) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Žilina (Slovaquie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 36800.0 €
- Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 64400.0 €
- Western Michigan University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes publics (hors enseignement & recherche), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université Charles-III de Madrid (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 253000.0 €
- Université de Tanta (Égypte) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Sea marconi technologies di vandertumiatti sas (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 27600.0 €
- Université de Manchester (Royaume-Uni) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Diveg s.a.s. (Colombie) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Valle (Colombie) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Bohême de l'Ouest (Rép. Tchèque) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 69000.0 €
- Universidad técnica Federico Santa María (Chili) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Waterloo (Canada) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de Cantabrie (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 501400.0 €
- Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins (Chili) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Institute of Experimental Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Slovaquie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 73600.0 €
- École polytechnique de Silésie (Pologne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 128800.0 €
- Balikesir elektromekanik sanayi tesisleri anonim sirketi (Turquie) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 46000.0 €
- Rwe stoen operator sp zoo (Pologne) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université du Queensland (Australie) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- National University of San Juan (Argentine) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Celsia colombia s.a e.s.p (Colombie) — Partner, associated partner, Organismes privés (hors enseignement), subvention : 0.0 €
- Université de New York (Etats-Unis) — Partner, associated partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €