Transformers transfer energy from one circuit to another and are integral to many companies’ power supply. They also allow businesses using power distribution systems to adjust the voltage to their ideal levels.
Transformers use oil to insulate and cool their electrical components and add protection from the elements. If the oil leaks, the transformer’s efficiency will decrease. When these leaks enter the water, they also harm marine life and create further damage, which is why oil containment is critical. If you work at a utility company using transformers, you must know how to implement oil containment strategies.
What Is Secondary Oil Containment for Transformers?
While companies aim to prevent oil spills, they may still occur. Your business has a responsibility to ensure these spills don’t harm the ecosystem by seeping into soil and water. The impact of leaked oil is more than an ethical concern — oil containment is also essential for complying with safety laws and regulations.
If your primary oil containment system fails, you need a plan to prevent it from damaging the environment. Your transformer’s secondary containment catches any oil that escapes your container. This way, oil spills remain contained, and the leak can’t spread too much.
The Importance of Secondary Oil Containment
While you may want to use secondary oil containment out of respect for the environment, you also need to do it to ensure you do not break any rules or laws. Here are some of the plans and regulations you must create and follow:
SWPPP: A stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) is necessary to meet the guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Oil leaks can damage national waterways and the environment, and SWPPP strategies help minimize harm. If your company discharges pollutants into waterways, you must have a SWPPP to protect nature.
SPCC: Businesses that use large quantities of oil may need to comply with the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule, which means they must have measures to contain oil to ensure it doesn’t reach navigable waters and adjoining shorelines.
FRP: A facility response plan (FRP) is part of SPCC. This regulation requires your facility to have a plan in place in case of a spill so that you can reduce the damage it causes.
Types of Transformers and Applicable Secondary Containment Solutions
Explore different types of transformers and associated oil containment systems below.
1. Solar
Solar transformers don’t use direct power from the sun. Instead, solar panels capture solar energy and convert it into direct current (DC) energy. Then, the inverter converts that DC energy into alternating current (AC) energy. Finally, the AC electricity is transmitted through the transformer.
While solar power is a natural energy source and thus eco-friendly, the problem is that these transformers only have a reliable power supply when the sun is shining. However, the number of solar deployments has grown at an annual average of 26% over 10 years, and it’s likely to become more widely used.
Using containment solutions for solar transformers ensures that oil will be contained should your transformer leak. Companies in hot or desert-like environments often use solar power because they have more consistent access to sunlight, so look into high-quality containment solutions that can withstand high temperatures.
Containment solutions with advanced technology, like the Petro-Pipe®, can even shut down entirely in the case of a significant spill. This solution backs the oil into the containment area.
2. Wind
In 2023, wind contributed more than 10% of America’s energy. The wind turbine generates low-voltage electricity — typically DC energy — which the inverter converts to AC energy. Then, transformers step up the voltage so that energy grids can use it. Transmission lines carry this high-voltage electricity to communities, where local transformers reduce the voltage to make the electricity safe for use.
Transformers for wind power often use Cargill® and Midel® oils to cool down. Should wind transformers leak, secondary oil containment systems ensure the spill remains contained, allowing for less damage.
3. Hydroelectric
Hydroelectric power, or hydropower, is one of the oldest renewable energy sources and accounts for 5.7% of total utility-scale electricity generation in the United States. Like wind transformers, hydroelectric power transformers take electricity generated by a dam’s generator and increase its voltage. The high-voltage electricity is distributed where it is needed, and local transformers reduce the voltage again to make it suitable for use.
Containment solutions like plugs reduce oil spills in drains, and their watertight features make them an ideal containment solution for hydroelectric transformers.
How to Prevent Transformer Oil Spills
At Solidification Products International, Inc., we have various solutions for stopping oil spills on land.
1. SPI Angle Bracket Berms
Containment liners use innovative technology to offer complete spill protection. They’re completely sealed, so you have peace of mind knowing that your oil will be properly contained in case of a spill and that your equipment and property will remain protected. SPI’s Angle Bracket Berm is a thermal berm that comes in various sizes. These berms effectively contain your oil so that you can rest assured that you comply with the necessary laws.
2. Petro-Pipes®
If you’re looking for an all-around oil containment option that passively prevents spills, Petro-Pipes® are an excellent solution. They’re easy to install and replace, and you can optimize them to suit your needs. They have a watertight seal to provide advanced filtering, and they’re suited to various applications.
3. Petro-Plugs®
Petro-Plugs® are barriers that fit floor drains so that water can filter through while oils remain behind. Because they offer complete sealing, these plugs make it easier to clean up oil spills, saving you on cleanup costs. They’re especially helpful in environments like warehouses, schools and hospitals, where large amounts of indoor water require treatment.
4. Petro-Barriers™
If your business has to drain large amounts of water, Petro-Barriers™ should be at the top of your list — they can drain more than 30 gallons of water per minute while effectively trapping oil. Facilities that use Petro-Barriers™ will benefit from 100% oil containment and rainwater discharging.
5. Pump-Thru Barrier™
Businesses that need versatile oil containment options should consider Pump-Thru Barrier™ to keep their rainwater clean without installing complicated systems during construction. If oil spills, the system redirects it to the containment area to ensure the spill doesn’t harm the environment and the water remains clean. It works for multiple types of oils in addition to transformer oil, including diesel, jet oil and heating oil.
7. StoneQuench™ LHD®
Alongside containment, you need fire-quenching capabilities for electrical transformer pits, which is where StoneQuench™ LHD® comes in. This system helps quench fires in electrical transformers without using actual stone. They restrict the containment pit’s airflow to extinguish the fire, differentiating them from traditional grating systems with no fire resistance.
8. Oil Solidifiers
SPI Oil Bond® is a solidification particulate that gets applied directly to oil on water. Oil Bond® rapidly turns the oil into a solid cohesive material that is easy to remove from water. Some of the benefits of solidifiers are:
Affordability: Oil solidification systems require less manual labor than other containment options, making them a cost-friendly solution.
Eco-friendliness: Solidifiers are eco-friendly as they prevent oil from entering the environment, and they do so in a gentle way that doesn’t hurt the planet.
Monitoring: You can efficiently test oil solidifiers like Oil Bond® for deeper insight into your containment.
Why Trust SPI With All Your Containment Needs?
Solidification Products International, Inc. aims to be an expert in the oil spill management industry. We use patented technology to help our customers get the best solutions.
We have the knowledge, experience, and tools needed to help you find a custom oil containment solution for your transformers. Our experts are here to assist you every step of the way. If you’re ready to take the next step toward electrical transformer oil spill protection, contact us for more information.
