ABB Group (ABB) has expanded its transformer portfolio, launching a new range of products to facilitate digitalisation of grids and offer enhanced safety, efficiency and reliability.

The new offerings include the world’s first dry-type (oil free) digital transformer, named the ABB Ability TXpert Dry, which incorporates digital capability within ABB’s proven dry-type transformers.

Transformers typically use oil for cooling and insulation, the core and the coil of the dry-type model are cooled by air and non-flammable solid insulation material. According to a press release from ABB this is a significant safety and sustainability improvement, reducing flammability while decreasing environmental impact. Dry-type transformers are ideally suited for high-risk applications like offshore as well as densely populated areas and sensitive ecosystems.

Smart sensors collect data and combine them into powerful analytics enable key functionality such as power quality monitoring, self-supervision and lifecycle assessment, Due to its dry-type design, digitalisation and little or zero maintenance, this new transformer offers enhanced safety and data security, increased up-time and optimised operations.

“As the world leader in transformers, we continue to push the technology boundaries increasing safety, reliability and efficiency,” says ABB head of transformers Laurent Favre.

“These latest portfolio additions reiterate our ongoing commitment to innovation as we enable a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”

ABB also announced the launch of the TXpand solution for power transformers, where critical components such as the tank have a rupture-resistant design, to mitigate risks associated with unpredictable failures, again offering enhanced safety and lowering environmental impact.

The new product announcements follow the launch of a range of digitally integrated transformer technologies like the TXpert distribution transformers, the ABB Ability based digitally integrated power transformer, as well as the TXplore service solution.