Abstract: The post-processing engineering of transformers is an integral part of the entire transformer life cycle engineering, involving technical, economic, environmental, and strategic issues. It should be given high priority and strategic consideration.
Transformers are indispensable electrical equipment in industrial and agricultural production and daily life. Like mechanical equipment and electrical instruments, they have a certain lifespan. When their lifespan ends, how to handle the aftermath of transformers in a proper, economical, environmentally compliant, and law-abiding manner, respecting the present while also considering the future, involves technical, economic, environmental, legal, and strategic issues. It is a complex systems engineering project. For a long time, people have focused most of their attention on the operating costs (expenses) and economic benefits of transformers, paying little attention to their post-operation disposal. From the perspective of modern economics, the disposal of transformers is an effective part of their entire life cycle and an important manifestation of the further deepening of intensive economy. From a service perspective, strengthening the disposal of transformers is an effective extension of the transformer industry chain.
From the perspective of building a modern environment, this issue involves all aspects of national policies such as environmental laws and regulations... All of this indicates that strengthening the disposal of scrapped transformers has both practical and long-term significance and should be given high priority. First and foremost, necessary strategic thinking must be carried out.
Scrapping of transformers
The term "transformer" in this article refers to all types of oil-immersed transformers, dry-type transformers, and gas-insulated transformers for various purposes.
The disposal of a transformer refers to the process of using both technical and economic levers to determine whether a transformer should be taken out of service, and then having relevant departments make a decision to dismantle and dismantle it.
The so-called technical leverage refers to judging, from a purely technical perspective, whether the applicability, technicality, and safety of a transformer's current state meet the requirements of relevant regulations and standards using technical viewpoints, methods, means, and measures.
The so-called economic leverage refers to the comprehensive benefits derived from judging whether a transformer should be scrapped from a purely economic perspective, using economic principles, methods, and standards.
Between technological leverage and economic leverage, technological leverage is dominant and economic leverage is secondary. Focusing only on technological leverage without paying attention to economic leverage is an inefficient leverage, while focusing only on economic leverage without paying attention to technological leverage is a leverage without scientific guarantee. There should be no choice between the two, but rather an emphasis should be placed on them according to the specific time and circumstances. Both should be grasped and managed together.
In the decision-making process for the disposal of transformers, different times, different loads, and different transformers should be treated differently, and scientific management and decision-making should be carried out.
If production is urgent, and a transformer slated for scrapping is still operational and a replacement transformer cannot be delivered in a short time, the scrapping process should be temporarily suspended. In this case, practical technical and management measures should be taken to strengthen the operation and maintenance of the transformer to ensure its safe and stable operation.
If the results of a technical diagnosis of a transformer in accordance with relevant regulations and standards fail to meet the requirements for safe and stable operation, the transformer should be taken out of operation immediately, and all active and feasible measures should be taken to restore power supply and minimize losses in the shortest possible time. If national macro policies and regulations require the replacement of transformers, the call should be actively responded to and the work should be vigorously promoted.
In the process of disposing of transformers, different overall plans are formulated for different types of transformers. Different methods are adopted for different transformers within the general framework. In particular, special disposal plans should be formulated for large and extra-large transformers and transformers using special insulation materials.
Every waste disposal solution is guided by the principles of scientific basis, economic goals, and long-term environmental protection. It never deviates from the main line of science, economy, and environmental protection, and strives to minimize and eliminate waste, minimize pollution and damage to nature, and do its best to recycle and reuse materials and resources to promote the healthy and sustainable development of human endeavors.
The process of disposing of a transformer is a systematic project. What the general public sees is only the final, brief procedural execution and result. The majority of the work involves preliminary scientific thinking, calculation, judgment, economic comparison, respect for the law, enforcement of the law, scientific management, and scientific decision-making.
The transformer scrapping project is an undertaking that requires continuous innovation in thinking, decision-making, methods, and results, as well as the continuous improvement and timely follow-up of relevant laws and regulations.
Thinking and ideas are the initial introduction, methods and approaches are the guarantee, technological research and development and innovation are the development, and relevant laws and regulations are the inviolable red lines. These four driving forces are indispensable, and their mutual support and parallel progress is the most ideal dynamic result.
The significance of strengthening transformer scrapping and disposal projects
Thought determines consciousness, consciousness determines action, and action determines results—this is the most basic common sense of all purposeful activities. Therefore, in the work of disposing of scrapped transformers, our thinking needs to be further liberated and kept pace with the times; we need to attach great importance to technological research and development and invest heavily in dedicated human and material resources. If possible, it would be best to establish a project, set up a special agency, and carry out specialized scientific and technological research; our methods and approaches need to be constantly innovated and updated; and relevant authoritative social functional agencies need to formulate relevant special laws and regulations, which must be jointly observed and earnestly maintained by the whole society.
From a local perspective, strengthening the transformer scrapping process can further improve the economic benefits of transformer operators and expand the service scope and timeframe of transformer manufacturers. From a holistic perspective, strengthening the transformer scrapping process can effectively improve the recycling and reuse rate of resources, promote resource recycling, reduce environmental pollution and protect the environment. It is an embodiment of advocating and practicing green engineering, enhancing the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, extending the mining cycle of basic mineral resources and reducing damage to nature.
It can expand the employment rate and promote the harmonious development of society, improve the overall social benefits, and conform to the development trend and inevitability of applicable, safe, green and intensive management. It is both working for the present and working for the future, benefiting the present and contributing to the future.
The project of scrapping transformers is not only the business of relevant management departments, transformer users, transformer manufacturers, and technology research and development institutions, but also requires the macro-policy guidance of government departments and the supervision of judicial departments. It is a socialized project that requires widespread attention, emphasis, persistence, and long-term sustainability. While strategic positioning is necessary, strategic thinking is also required.
