A pole transformer that can reduce power loss by about 70% has been developed.
The inside of the transformer carries coils and an iron core made of a new amorphous material having a high magnetization property to significantly improve performance.
This new model of transformer has been developed by Hokuriku Electric Power Company jointly with its subsidiary. The utility will start installing the transformers in its service areas later this month. Compared with conventional transformers that use a magnetic steel sheet for their iron cores, the new transformer is estimated to achieve about 70% lower power loss and an annual CO2 emissions reduction of 120 kg per unit.
Hokuriku Electric Power had previously used pole transformers with amorphous cores from fiscal 1991 to 2004. However, the utility discontinued the use of these transformers in fiscal 2005 due to their high price. The newly developed transformer has an iron core made of a new amorphous material, which offers a better magnetization property than that used in the previous model. The price has also been reduced by about 10% from the previous model. Although it is still more expensive than transformers with a magnetic steel sheet core, the utility believes that the difference in the prices can be balanced by the cost reduction expected from reduced power loss.
Hokuriku Electric Power plans to install only 20-kVA transformers at the start, and eventually phase in models of different capacities.
