COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSFORMERS UNDER HOSTILE SHELLING: ELECTRICAL SAFETY, FIRE SAFETY, AND CIVIL PROTECTION

Abstract

The article examines the comprehensive safety of power transformers under conditions of armed aggression and ongoing shelling of critical energy infrastructure. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of integrating three interrelated components: electrical safety, fire safety, and civil protection measures. Existing methods of physical protection for transformers are thoroughly analyzed. Particular attention is given to the impact of such protective structures on the thermal operating conditions of transformers.Based on three-dimensional thermal modeling of a TM-1000/10 transformer, accounting for heat exchange with the environment, it was found that without adequate ventilation, the temperature of the transformer oil can exceed 100 °C within just one hour of operation.This significantly increases the risk of thermal degradation of insulation, fire, or complete equipment failure.The study shows that ensuring sufficient air exchange is the key factor for the reliable operation of a transformer under protective enclosures. A model was developed to determine the relationship between the required air flow rate and the permissible temperature rise for the TM-1000/10 transformer.It was established that with a small allowable temperature rise (2–5 °C), the required air flow rate exceeds 10,000 m³/h, which may be challenging to implement in practice. In the range of 10–15 °C, the air flow rate decreases to 3,000–4,000 m³/h, which is typical for natural or forced ventilation systems.