EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor Planning Guide 

Step 1 Notify Site Management

Liaise with site management and design to determine if there are any special requirements on site.

Step 2 Plan a Safe Work Site

Ensure any planned work complies with all relevant site management procedures.

Step 3 Choose the EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor Model

Basic model without Hydrogen Sensor:

•  EcoStruxure Transformer Expert

New model with Optional Hydrogen Sensor option:

• EcoStruxure Transformer Expert with H2 Dual Sensor
• EcoStruxure Transformer Expert with H2 Integrated Sensor

Step 4 Confirm the Point of EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor Insertion

Verify that there is a suitable access port for the installation of the EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor. Any position should be verified with the supervising engineer, who can communicate with Schneider Electric on the suitability of the position, if necessary. Probe position, probe diameter, and clearance should all be taken into consideration.

 

4.1 Probe Position:

The sensor can be installed on different places on the tank. Each position have its advantages and disadvantages are shown below, so the choice of the best position for each transformer should be based on its specific physical characteristics. 

Note in case the sensor can't pass through the top or bottom oil valve we recommend to install sensor in the radiator or pipe to the radiator. Click here to see installation examples.

 

 Top of Tank

• PD signal available
• Need to ensure sensor does not protrude >20 mm into tank due to proximity of windings
• Usually requires an outage during installation
• May not have good oil circulation if in the corner of the tank

Bottom of Tank

• PD signal available
• Need to ensure sensor does not protrude >20 mm into tank due to proximity of windings
• May not have good oil circulation if in the corner of the tank
• If the position is also the oil test point, a separate oil sample valve has to be installed. This can be requested with the order

Bottom of Radiator

• Good circulation of oil
• True bottom oil temperature
• No electric field
• No PD Signals
• Sensor Tip maybe exposed to high oil flow in transformer with oil pumps
• May require the radiator to be drained or a vacuum pressure placed on the tank to ensure no oil loss

4.2 Probe Diameter

Ensure the valve will accommodate the 14mm diameter of the sensor probe. 

 

4.3 Clearance:

Ensure there is 600 mm clearance for insertion of the EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor into the transformer valve pipe.

 

Once installed there should also be 50mm clearance around the EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor for heat dissipation as well as an additional 60mm in an arc to allow fastening to the transformer valve pipe and for the low voltage power and external temperature sensor cables.

 

 

Step 5 Determine how to connect the Sensor to a Transformer

Schneider Electric provides ETE adapter (1⁄2” female BSPP to 3⁄4” male BSPP/NPT machined connector with bleed valve) to interface the EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor with the transformer oil valve. See the connection drawings below. NPT threading is suitable for transformers manufactured in USA while BSPP threading is suitable for transformer manufactured elsewhere. 

The adapter has two internal O-rings to ensure there is no oil leakage and a bleed valve to prevent the ingress of air into the transformer tank. Additional hardware may be required to interface the insertion point (oil valve) with the 3⁄4” male BSPP/NPT thread of the connector. 

If you are installing the oil sample valve, the connection point to the transformer will be via the valve rather than the adaptor. See Installation: Oil Sample Valve for more information. 

Similarly, when installing the EcoStruxure Transformer Expert with Dual H2 Sensor, the connection point to transformer will be the H2 Option Dual Splitter. See Installation: ETE with  H2 Dual Sensor for more information.

 

Step 6 Determine the The Length

The figures below show the most common transformer valve configurations. Based on the type of the valve we can calculate pipe length D to select the right probe size.

 

 

Some examples are shown below.

• Flange After Valve:

• Flange Before Valve:

 

• No Flange:

Length of Pipe

Check the approximate length of the pipe (distance, d, in the figures above) leading to the main tank. This information will be used to determine the length of the probe. Ensure that the probe will enter the flow but not impinge on the internal windings.

 

The ETE adapter used to connect the probe to the insertion point removes 45mm from the effective length of the probe. This should be taken into consideration when selecting the probe length. 

 

Select appropriate sensor length - Standard Sensor

1. Short sensor - Pipe length (d) is 165 to 205mm
2. Medium sensor - Pipe length (d) is 250 to 290mm
3. Long sensor - Pipe length (d) is 335 to 375mm

If the pipe length (d) is not within the above ranges, select the longer sensor and pad out the length using male to female spacers. An oil sample valve may be required if the installation of the sensor removes access to the sample point. This will alter the probe length. See Installation: Oil Sample Valve.

 

Select appropriate sensor length - H2 Dual Sensor

1. Short sensor - Pipe length (d) is 70 to 110mm
2. Medium sensor - Pipe length (d) is 155 to 195mm
3. Long sensor - Pipe length (d) is 240 to 280mm

If the pipe length (d) is not within the above ranges, select the longer sensor and pad out the length using male to female spacers.

Step 7 Confirm On-site 3G/4G Coverage/Signal Strength

The EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor reports its collected data back to a secure server over the 3G/4G mobile data network. Good 3G/4G signal strength is therefore vital to its successful operation.
Desktop verification of communications should be completed using online Network coverage maps.

 Step 8 Low Voltage Power Supply

The EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor operates at 18-42VDC, it is provided standard with a 110/240 VAC to 24 VDC, DIN rail mount power adapter.

A suitable power source will need to be identified for the installation of this device. Schneider Electric will provide 10m low voltage cabling, with a pre-installed 5-pin M12 connector, for connection to the logger. Please ensure that the LV cable meets internal standards.

Step 9 Add Drawings (if required)

Please send any drawings required for clarification of any of the above to support.dts@se.com.

Step 10 Place Your Order 

Contact your Schneider Electric representative who will complete the order form at https://www.aurtra.net/order/ Contact support.dts@se.com for access.

Specify the sensor length, model type, thread type (BSPP or NPT), country where the sensors are to be installed and send relevant drawings to Schneider Electric for provisioning purposes to support.dts@se.com

Once planning is completed, visit the EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor Installation Guide for steps on installing the EcoStruxure Transformer Sensor.