32-ton faulty transformer replaced at Spartan substation
The transformer weighs 43 tons but once it has been dismantled the shell on its own weighs about 32 tons
BYSTANDERS looked on in amazement as a 32-ton damaged transformer was lifted from the Spartan 66 KV substation on Fitter and Newton roads and loaded onto a load bed on Thursday morning.
To do this electricity to Cresslawn, Croydon and Isando were switched off for several hours.
The tranformer was hoisted to about 20m above the ground by a 550 ton close proximity lift crane that could lift up to 60 tons.
According to Paul Brandon, medium voltage (MV) acting supervisor for the Ekurhuleni energy department, it took about three hours and 25 men to set up and prepare for the operation after six months of organising the logistics.
“The transformer needed to be replaced as an internal fault caused it to explode some time ago. We are now replacing it with a reconditioned transformer that’s as good as new,” he said.
Brandon said it was not clear what the cause of the fault was but once the transformer had been stripped, they would be able to identify the root cause.
Ekurhuleni energy department operation and maintenance engineer, Nick Vauqulin, said substations transformed voltage from high to low levels.
“We buy power at high voltage from Eskom. At the substations the transformers change the voltage level from high transmission to lower distribution voltage to sell to consumers,” he explained.
The transformer weighs 43 tons before the radiator is removed and the oil drained. Once it has been dismantled, the shell on its own weighs 32 tons.
The load bed can carry a maximum load of 90 tons.
