In power transformers, energy losses in the form of heat are about 2 percent of their rated power, and in transformers of large power centers reach hundreds of kilowatts. Heat is dissipated into the environment and heats the street air. Therefore, there is a need to consume this thermal energy as a source of heat supply to nearby facilities. (Research purpose) To develop methods and means of using excess heat of power transformers with improvement of their cooling system design. (Materials and methods) The authors applied following methods: analysis, synthesis, comparison, monographic, mathematical and others. They analyzed various methods for consuming excess heat from power transformers. They identified suitable heat supply sources among power transformers and potential heat consumers. The authors studied the reasons for the formation of excess heat in power transformers and found ways to conserve this heat to increase the efficiency of its selection. (Results and discussion) The authors developed an improved power transformer cooling system design to combine the functions of voltage transformation and electric heating. They conducted experiments to verify the effectiveness of decisions made. A feasibility study was carried out on the implementation of the developed system using the example of the TMG-1000/10/0.4 power transformer. (Conclusions) The authors got a new way to use the excess heat of power transformers to heat the AIC facilities. It was determined that the improved design of the power transformer and its cooling system using the developed solutions made it possible to maximize the amount of heat taken off without quality loss of voltage transformation.
3D FEM analysis of a vertical shaft constructed in a slope