ABB now offers on-site instrument transformer testing solutions

ABB's recent acquisition of Kuhlman Electric Corporation provides utility customers access to the broadest portfolio of medium voltage instrument transformer products in the industry. From indoor and outdoor potential transformers (PTs), current transformers (CTs), to generator CTs, ABB has a product to meet every instrument transformer utility application.

Along with this extensive portfolio, ABB is proud to announce a new service offering on instrument transformers. A new range of on-site testing solutions for instrument transformers in substations and generating stations is now available. By providing this new service, ABB can work with utilities to help improve plant performance and minimize costly outages.

ABB personnel can now conduct the following on-site services for current and voltage instrument transformers:

Current Transformers

• In-Service energized testing
• Injection accuracy testing
• True comparator testing
• Rating factor determination

Voltage Transformers

• True comparator testing

The advantage to ABB's offering is that most of these tests can be performed in-service, thus avoiding expensive outages. This is especially critical for Generator CTs, where traditional testing methods require a shutdown and an expensive dismantling of the primary bus structure. The engineering team at ABB has developed an innovative in-service testing and analysis method to assess the performance of existing installed CTs. This proprietary test process is passive in nature and the performance of the transformer can be measured during normal, steady-state operation. With this new testing service, ABB can help utilities assess the condition of installed transformers on-line and in-service, without jeopardizing plant and systems operations. Dynamic secondary excitation curves recorded by the ABB team during this testing can be used by the utility plant instrumentation staff for predictive maintenance purposes and for future periodic plant condition monitoring.

Contact your local ABB representative for more information or to schedule an on-site visit.