Power transformer monitor: bushings, OLTC, DGA, partial discharge, thermal model and cooling control
The AMPERIS E3 watches up to 12 bushings, the on-load tap changer, the cooling system, dissolved gases and partial discharges, models the thermal state of the windings to IEC 60076-7 / IEEE C57 and turns it all into dynamic rating, predictive cooling and consolidated alarms.
Advantages
Detection and diagnosis in one platform
On top of thermal monitoring — top oil, ambient, load current, calculated winding hot spot and insulation aging — the E3 adds bushing monitoring with up to 12 sensors, OLTC and cooling system supervision, multi-gas DGA integration, 15-channel partial discharge monitoring and fiber optic winding probes (up to 12).
Load with confidence
The thermal model to IEC 60076-7 / IEEE C57 delivers a dynamic rating with the time remaining at the present load and the maximum safe load, plus what-if calculations, so the real capacity of the transformer is known at every moment.
Predictive control
SMART predictive cooling starts the coolers ahead of the temperature rise to preserve insulation life and reserve overload capacity, and the advanced voltage regulator offers circulating current, master-follower, VAR sharing and reverse reactance paralleling with complete safety blockings.
Made to integrate
Simultaneous IEC 61850, DNP 3.0 and Modbus communications over RS-232, RS-485 and copper or fiber Ethernet, pass-thru links to DGA analysers and other IEDs, and consolidation of every alarm into common, major and minor groups for SCADA.
Data you can audit
Built-in web pages with no software licenses, a local graphical display with status LEDs and full keypad, and data storage at 1-minute intervals with up to 200 data points and up to five years of CSV history.
Applications
- Power transformers in transmission and distribution substations.
- Generator step-up units, autotransformers and mobile transformers.
- Condition-based maintenance and fleet monitoring programmes.
- New transformers and retrofit of units in service.
About the product
The E3 is a modular system engineered to order for each transformer: CPU with copper and fiber Ethernet, USB and serial ports, individually isolated digital and analog I/O modules and a universal 48-275 V DC / 60-275 V AC power supply with a typical consumption of 50 W. The weather-resistant swing-panel display, with graphical trends, status LEDs and a full numerical keypad, operates from -20 to +70 °C. Safety to IEC 61010-1 and EMC to EN 60870-2-1; hydrogen and moisture sensing are available as options.
Technical specifications
| Thermal monitoring | Top oil, ambient, load current, winding hot spot, insulation aging |
| Bushing monitoring | Up to 12 sensors; capacitance and power factor; self-learning |
| Partial discharge | 15 simultaneous channels; tap sensors, RFCTs and Rogowski coils |
| DGA and moisture | Multi-gas analyser integration; moisture content analytics |
| Fiber optics | 4 probes per module, up to 3 modules (12 probes); -30 to +200 °C |
| OLTC | Tap position, per-tap counter, contact wear, motor current, Delta T |
| Thermal model | IEC 60076-7 / IEEE C57; dynamic rating with maximum safe load |
| Cooling control | Predictive SMART cooling; discrete stages, dual speed, VSD |
| Voltage control | Primary or backup AVR; four paralleling methods |
| Communications | IEC 61850, DNP 3.0, Modbus; RS-232, RS-485, copper/fiber Ethernet |
| Data logging | 1-minute intervals, up to 200 data points; up to 5 years; CSV |
| Power supply | 48-275 V DC or 60-275 V AC, 50/60 Hz; typical 50 W |
Frequently asked questions
What does the E3 add over a basic temperature monitor?
Beyond top oil, load and winding hot spot monitoring, it detects and diagnoses problems: up to 12 bushings, partial discharge, multi-gas DGA, OLTC analytics, harmonics, through-fault counting, a full thermal model with dynamic rating, predictive cooling and an advanced voltage regulator.
How does bushing monitoring work?
Sensors installed in the bushing capacitance taps measure the capacitance and power factor of each bushing, learn its behaviour with load, humidity and temperature and raise an alarm when the response deviates. The same sensors also feed the partial discharge monitor.
Can it control the transformer as well as monitor it?
Yes. It controls the cooling system — including predictive SMART cooling and duty cycling of pumps and fans — and can act as primary or backup voltage regulator with circulating current, master-follower, VAR sharing or reverse reactance paralleling.
How does it integrate with SCADA?
The E3 is the communication hub of the transformer: simultaneous IEC 61850, DNP 3.0 and Modbus over serial, copper or fiber Ethernet links, pass-thru communication with DGA analysers and other IEDs, and alarms consolidated into common, major and minor groups.
How is the data accessed?
From the built-in web pages with any browser and no software licenses, from the local graphical display, or by downloading the history — stored at 1-minute intervals with up to 200 data points — as CSV files.
Download the catalogue of E3: transformer monitor.
If you want to acquire Transformers testing with quality, you can also consult prices of Transformers testing.
If you have any doubts or need advice from our engineers, don't hesitate to contact us and we will be pleased to help you. You can also call us at (+34) 982 20 99 20.