Ekouid expert in transformer oil treatment oil has been heated, it enters the back section of the equipment. Oil is pumped through the back section which houses columns with Ekouid is a manufacturing and servicing company specializing in sorbent media which is specically designed to absorb corrosive sul- high vacuum oil treatment and oil regeneration equipment. The fur molecules. It is important to note that the oil is also regenerated company has an ISO 9001 certied quality system as well as ISO 14001 together with sulfur removal. Oil is then pumped through a vacuum certied environment system. Servicing unit also holds the SCC safe- breaking valve into the degassing section where it is dehydrated and ty management system certication. Since its establishment, Ekou- degassed. Treated oil is then pumped back to the transformer by the id has been focused on the mid-market segment providing a broad outlet pump. After a given period, sorbent in the back section of the range of high-quality components. Its products are being used by equipment achieves full saturation and is no longer corrosive sulfur all energy sectors such as transmission and grid operators, power molecules from oil. At this stage, the sorbent needs to be reactivated generation companies, transformer servicing companies as well as (restored to its original state but more importantly stripped of the numerous industry customers. The technology of oil regeneration absorbed sulfur molecules) to be able to continue the removal pro- and oil treatment has been originally developed at Fluidex (South cess. Reactivation stage starts by draining the columns in the back Africa), more than 30 years ago. Thanks to research and dedication, section of saturated oil. After the oil has been drained, a vacuum is at Ekouid we have taken one step further to innovate and improve created and maintained throughout the whole reactivation process signicantly on the existing Fluidex design of oil regeneration and in the back section. Then by selective use of heating elements on oil treatment equipment establishing our REOIL and FILOIL brands.
Description of offered services
Ekouid servicing division oers three types of services. Transformer oil treatment, transformer oil regeneration, and removal of corrosive sulfur from transformer oil. We provide all services on site with our REOIL and FILOIL equipment. Ekouid eet consists of oil regenera- tion and oil treatment units. Our team of trained experts accompa- nies each unit to ensure awless operation of the equipment. Our units are capable of treating all types of mineral based transformer oils. All equipment is mobile and therefore suitable for intervention on site.
Description of corrosive sulfur
removal process
Corrosive sulfur inside a transformer represents a risk that could lead
to a failure or a complete breakdown of a transformer as was the case in a number of incidents worldwide. The cause of these failures was the growth of conductive layers of copper sulde trough out the paper insulation as well as on other surfaces inside the trans- former. It is therefore highly recommended to identify corrosive sul- fur compounds in transformer oils and subsequently remove them. Corrosive compound found in transformer oil are removed in steps. At the inlet of the equipment, oil is ltered through a coarse lter to prevent any particles from entering the equipment. It is then heated to the desired temperature to elevate the removal eect. After the
the top parts of individual columns, the reactivation process is in-
itiated. After the reactivation process has ended a unique process inside the equipment is initiated to remove any left-over corrosive residues inside the equipment. This entire process is then repeated many times until the oil has been fully regenerated and completely stripped of any corrosive sulfur compounds.
The performance of corrosive sulfur
removal equipment
Removing corrosive sulfur is a complicated process that needs to be
performed for a longer period than standard oil regeneration. The process is done on site at the transformer and can also be carried out on a live transformer. Due to the nature of the removal process oil is also completely regenerated surpassing the requirements of IEC 60422 standard. The level of contamination with corrosive sulfur is irrelevant to the treatment process, and corrosive sulfur is always completely removed from the oil. Therefore, all treated oils meet the requirement of IEC 62697-1 (Test method for quantitative determina- tion of dibenzyl disulde) and IEC 62535 (Test method for detection of potentially corrosive sulfur in used and unused insulating oil).
Carrying out corrosive sulfur
removal process
Before the beginning of the corrosive sulfur removal process, the
responsible sta member always conducts an onsite inspection to ensure accessibility of the transformer and the possibility of connect- ing corrosive sulfur removal equipment to the transformer. Many of sive sulfur removal lasts for some days up to several weeks depending the main factors need to be checked and measured, such as local on the oil contamination but mainly on the total quantity of oil inside power source availability, ange sizes for connection, distances from the transformer. Once our sta determines that the removal process and to the transformer, check valves below the conservator and any has been successful, the last phase of the corrosive sulfur removal other factors that might play a role in the following corrosive sulfur process is started. In the last step, the oil is inhibited to improve its removal process. After a successful onsite inspection, exact dates for anti-aging capabilities. Oil is then inspected in a certied laborato- connecting and disconnecting of equipment are set. At the time of ry to ensure that it meets the requirement of IEC 60422 standard the connection to the transformer, equipment is brought onsite and for mineral insulating oils as well as the standard IEC 62697-1 and connected to the transformer. The connection process takes several IEC 62535 for the presence of corrosive sulfur compounds. Equip- hours to ensure that all safety requirements are fully met. After a suc- ment is then disconnected from the transformer and moved o site. cessful connection corrosive, sulfur removal process begins. Corro-
REOIL DBDS removal 400/110 kV transformer 85 000 kg of oil
Property (Unit) IEC 60422 Before removal After removal 5 years after removal