ABB has launched what it says is the world’s first digital distribution transformer. It employs integrated sensing and monitoring technology
ABB has launched what it says is the world’s first digital distribution transformer. Integrated sensing and monitoring technology in the ‘TXpert’ transformer provides information and intelligence, via cloud computing (under ‘ABB Ability’) to maximise management of the asset.
The performance data collected from the sensors is stored and analysed within the transformer, offering insights on how it is operating. This will provide utilities, industries and installations like data centres with information that enables them to make key decisions on the operation and maintenance of their transformers and support the management of the asset throughout its lifecycle. This includes activities like scheduling of maintenance, optimising system performance and planned asset replacement.
ABB believes that changes in the power grids on both the supply and demand side, brought about by the influx of new distributed sources of energy including renewables and new demand loads like electric vehicles, call for a more flexible grid, driving the need for greater digitalisation and automation. This in turn requires intelligent products that can communicate, as an essential component in the convergence of information and operational technologies.