Transformer fires

[Bugtownboy]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/0 ... -sabotage/

[dan_b]

As ever, the Telegraph has its own agenda.

Transformers are not failing more often. An engineer who was interviewed for that Telegraph piece puts it in proper context.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/simoncga ... GZ9qXY4PUc

[Bugtownboy]

Thanks Dan - good to have balance

So, in fact, the number of failures is very low

[AE-NMidlands]

However this https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly22eelnxjo is more depressing:

The National Energy System Operator (Neso) said moisture entering electrical components at the North Hyde substation caused the blaze at the site that supplies the UK's biggest airport with power.
It said "elevated" moisture had been detected in July 2018 and that under National Grid's guidance, such readings indicate "an imminent fault and that the bushing should be replaced".
But it said the issue went "unaddressed" and an "basic maintenance" to fix the problem in 2022 was deferred.

This is one of the oldest Q/C or health-check tests that you do on transformer oil, maybe was even the first. At one time I used to do loads, I think a big soldering iron was used for a "crackle" test and a positive on that called for a "measurement"... Maybe that was big diesel engine sump oil, perhaps the insulating oil was straight into an instrument.
Let's hope any fine comes out of dividends and Directors' remuneration, rather than being dumped on the users.

[dan_b]

Yeah that seems pretty poor - to have known about it for 7 years but to have simply done nothing to rectify it...

Also an interesting finding is that there doesn't/didn't seem to be any system that made it clear and obvious where and when grid transformers are connected to what is considered critical national infrastructure - like as in this case - supply of the UK's largest airport!

But Heathrow shouldn't get out of this blame-free either - their site is supplied by 3x independent grid connections and their systems should have been able to continue in the event of losing one of them.