Sea Marconi carries out a series of maintenance activities on transformers, including monitoring and treatment of the insulating fluid used to fill them.

Under typical operating conditions the insulation oil in transformers is subject to degradation. This is caused by the (indirect) contact between oil and air, which leads to oxidation reactions, and the presence of metals and organometallic compounds, which act as oxidation catalysts. This may result in the oil changing colour, the formation of acidic compounds and, in an advanced stage of oxidation, the precipitation of sludge.

Under normal operating conditions the insulating oil is in contact with the live parts of the transformer, hence, in the same way as for human beings, it is possible to determine the health of the deviceby analyzing a sample of the oil it contains. Sea Marconi's approach is to avoid changing deteriorated oil, preferring to adopt treatments designed to restore its original properties (in a manner similar to dialysis).

This approach:

• is cost-effective

• avoids the logistical problems associated with draining and refilling the transformer

• avoids the functional problems associated with draining the transformer

• represents a substantial benefit to the environment by preventing the disposal of large amounts of waste oil.

Sea Marconi is capable of carrying out a series of maintenance procedures on the oil and transformer, including treatments designed to remove physical oil contaminants (water, particles, dissolved gases), or dehumidify internally mounted circuit boards, as well as depolarisation treatments designed to eliminate chemical/physical contaminants (polar compounds, acids, ionic, oxidised, corrosive, sludge) from both the oil and the internal parts of the transformer.

There are also other treatments aimed at resolving specific critical issues such as the presence of corrosive sulphur or PCBs.