HD Hyundai Electric Manufactures Ultra-Large Special Transformer
653MVA Phase Shifting Transformer to Be Supplied to US Wind Power Plant
HD Hyundai Electric is expanding its market reach by successfully manufacturing ultra-large special transformers. These transformers are scheduled to be supplied to a wind power plant under construction by the largest renewable energy company in the United States.
HD Hyundai Electric announced on the 2nd that it has successfully completed the final approval test of a 230kV-class 653MVA phase shifting transformer (PST), achieving the production of the largest capacity phase shifting transformer in South Korea. The ultra-large special transformer developed by HD Hyundai Electric is set to be supplied by August to a wind power plant being built in New York by Invenergy, the largest renewable energy company in the United States.
At the HD Hyundai Electric transformer factory, HD Hyundai Electric executives and employees are taking a commemorative photo after the final approval test of the 230kV class 653MVA phase-shifting transformer. The fifth person from the left is Kim Young-gi, CEO of HD Hyundai Electric. Photo by HD Hyundai Electric
Typically, phase shifting transformers are classified as ultra-large when they are 300MVA or above. The newly manufactured 653MVA transformer by HD Hyundai Electric is the largest in capacity and size among phase shifting transformers produced domestically.
Phase shifting transformers are special transformers that regulate the direction and magnitude of current during transmission to maintain the stability of power supply. Their advantage lies in enabling smooth electricity flow, thereby enhancing the overall operational efficiency of power systems. They are also used to optimize usage when exchanging power between countries with different voltage systems or connecting DC-based renewable energy sources to existing AC-based power grids.
Special transformers, including phase shifting transformers, are gaining attention as key devices that efficiently control the flow of electricity and support stable power supply, with demand rapidly increasing mainly in the US and Europe. According to Verified Market Research, a US market research firm, the global special transformer market size is expected to grow to $4.8 billion by 2033, doubling from $2.5 billion last year.
An HD Hyundai Electric official stated, "Ultra-large special transformers require advanced technology in insulation, cooling, and mechanical strength, so only a few companies worldwide can produce them," adding, "We will secure a competitive edge in high value-added markets such as special transformers through continuous research and development investment."
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Electric is also focusing on the market for explosion-proof transformers, a type of special transformer that prevents explosions caused by accidents. After developing a 250MVA explosion-proof transformer for the first time in the domestic power equipment industry in 2019, the company supplied a 750MVA explosion-proof transformer to an energy company in Canada at the end of last year.
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