Transformers are among the most important and expensive components of an electrical substation. Responsible for the widespread distribution of power (both high- and low-voltage electricity), transformers are sensitive to how they are constructed, maintained and protected, which are key factors in their long-term operational performance.
Although transformer manufacturers spend much of their time on the design and inner workings of this power supply component, the coatings are often an afterthought. Maria Lamorey, commercial strategy manager at PPG Industrial Coatings, encourages manufacturers to lean into finding the best coating system because it can dictate the equipment’s performance.
Transformers must be protected from corrosion, the number one threat to this component. By implementing the right coating technology and systems, transformer life can be extended without the worry of corrosion interfering with performance. Leveraging the right coating technology and working with a good paint supplier that understands all the layers and will test the system and help with specifications, transformer field performance can be predicted and optimized.
Lamorey explains that not only is the substrate painted but also the paint must adhere to the pretreatment on the substrate making it an important part of the process. Also, understanding the types of metals and the design of the transformer being coated is necessary as well as paint specifications. Many questions must be answered prior to the coating process in order to develop the most beneficial coating technology for an application, she says.
courtesy: https://www.pfonline.com/articles/choosing-coatings-for-best-transformer-performance