INFORMATiON SHEET MiNNEsOTA

Upgrade transformers to improve energy efciency

Know these critical details about transformer types
If you are planning a replacement or new purchase of a transformer at your business facility, the following information is critical to your analysis and decision-making process. As part of the Custom Efciency program, brought to you by Xcel Energy, we offer cash incentives for choosing energy-efciency measures that exceed standard options but arent covered by our other energy conservation programs. Standard transformers have efciencies that are based on the average efciency of transformers sold in the market today. The efciency range starts at 95.7 percent for the smaller-sized transformers and increases to 98.7 percent for the larger-sized transformers. These transformers are general-purpose, linear load transformers intended for power, heating and lighting applications. Energy-efcient transformers are constructed with larger wires than standardefciency transformers and use an improved core that causes less heat to be produced from the transformer operation. The efciency range starts at 97 percent for the smaller-sized transformers and increases to a high of 98.9 percent for the larger-sized transformers. These transformers also are called ENERGY STAR transformers and meet the NEMA standard TP-1 for efciency ratings. K-factor transformers are designed specically to withstand harmonic heating and high neutral currents associated with computer equipment and other non-linear loads. These transformers are also called non-linear type transformers. The standard ratings are K-1, K-4, K-7, K-13 and KI-20 where the higher the number the more heat from harmonic currents the transformer is able to handle. These transformers will operate more efciently than standard or energy-efcient transformers when serving non-linear loads such as computers, adjustable speed drives (ASDs) and some uorescent lights. Energy losses are reduced because the transformer is designed with a core and wires that provide less resistance to harmonic currents than a standard-efciency or energy-efcient transformer design. Harmonic-canceling transformers reduce the harmonic currents that ow through the transformer to other loads connected to the transformer. The reduction in harmonic currents will reduce energy loss caused by the harmonic currents. The transformer also will maintain the power quality to loads served by the transformers if those loads are affected by harmonics. These transformers may have lower energy loss than K-factor transformers, depending upon the type and quantity of harmonic loads that are connected to the transformer. Use high-efciency non-linear harmonic-canceling transformers for todays digital electronics Todays average business facilities, from a standard ofce building to a high-tech industrial operation, require electricity for more than incandescent lighting and simple motors. Many common types of equipment, such as computers, fax machines, copiers, uorescent lighting and ASDs, can create harmonic distortion caused by their non-linear electrical loads. This can negatively affect power quality, transformer efciency and the life and operation of your electronic equipment.

Upgrade to a high-efciency harmonic-canceling transformer and you could

Improve power quality Reduce your operating costs Decrease your energy bill Earn cash incentives

UPGRADE TRANSFORMERS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY BuSINESS SOLuTIONS CENTER 1-800-481-4700

iNFORMATiON SHEET MiNNEsOTA

Transformer upgrades to non-linear harmonic-canceling units improve more than power quality: Reduce current and voltage distortion  Lower energy usage saving you money on your bill  Improve power quality inside your facility, which decreases downtime, extends electronic equipment life, reduces unscheduled maintenance Where are harmonics generated?

Why are harmonics a problem? Wiring systems in the United States are designed to handle 60 Hz power. When the power is rich in harmonics it has higher frequencies present. Currents at higher frequencies generate more heat than at 60 Hz. Another problem with harmonics is that current harmonics will distort the voltage waveshape. This voltage distortion can cause problems for other equipment using the power. What are the symptoms of harmonic problems?

H  ave you noticed motors running backwards, premature lighting ballast failure, blown capacitor bank fuses, unreliable circuit breaker operation, audible noise or vibration in electrical panels? I s it important to control maintenance and energy costs? Gain more benefits with a high-efficiency harmonic-canceling transformer versus standard-efciency units

If you answer yes to one or more of the questions in the previous section at the bottom When utilities generate voltage, it is free from of the rst column, a transformer change could A common problem of harmonics is that they harmonic distortion. Non-linear loads inside be benecial to your business. Cash Incentives cause overheating of electrical equipment. your home or business generate harmonics. through Xcel Energys Custom Efciency This can be harmful to neutral conductors, These loads draw current in a non-linear program may help offset the cost of installing transformers, motors, generators, and power fashion, which creates harmonics. factor correction capacitors. Harmonic problems high-efciency options also can result in the problems listed in the next section. Consider the following when Having electrical harmonics does not Heres how to participate in Xcel Energys purchasing a transformer serving non-linear mean pleasant music Custom Efficiency program: loads: When voltage is generated, it looks like a sine  ontact a transformer vendor to determine  Choose a non-linear rated unit with harmonic- C wave. When you connect a linear load such as harmonics levels and how theyre affecting canceling or phase-shifting features an incandescent light bulb, it will draw current, your electrical load  Select a unit that is designed to solve the which is also a sine wave. C  hoose energy-saving models (either specic power quality problem Analyze (See Figure 1.) Connect a non-linear load harmonic-canceling or energyefcient, your existing and future electronic needs such as a switch mode power supply from a based on the vendor recommendation) if for potential problems by answering these personal computer, and it will draw current in you determine that you need to replace or questions: pulses, which is a non-sinusoidal waveform. purchase a transformer for new operations Figure 2 shows a typical current waveshape Are you having power quality problems? C  ontact our Business Solutions Center from a switch mode power supply. Examples  Inventory your sources of non-linear load; do at 1-800-481-4700 or EnergyEfciency@ of non-linear loads are: personal computers, you expect to increase the number of these xcelenergy.com for more information magnetic and electronic ballasts, ASDs, lighting types of equipment in the future? on cash incentives. dimmers, battery chargers, uninterruptible (Pre-approval is required prior to purchase power supplies.  Do you have problems with overheating and installation to qualify for rebates) equipment? Your conservation efforts benefit everyone! Upgrading to a high-efciency transformer will reduce energy costs and may help you improve power quality. You also help Xcel Energy reduce the costs for producing the energy we all consume and help us delay the need to build expensive new generating plants, which help Xcel Energy keep its electric rates among the lowest in the nation. When you use energy more efciently, you also save nonrenewable natural resources such as natural gas, oil and coal used to generate electricity.

Figure 1 Linear Load

Voltage

Voltage

Figure 2 Non-Linear Load

Current

Current

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