Engineers 'overcome obstacles' to manufacture Vietnam's largest capacity 500kV transformer

02:01, 31/01/2025

A group of 20 engineers from Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Corporation (EEMC) has been researching and mastering the technology to manufacture the first 500kV transformer with a capacity of 3x300MVA - the largest capacity 500kV transformer on Vietnam's power transmission grid - for 5 years. This is "solving many difficult problems".

On 16 December 2024, leaders of Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam Electricity, Vietnam Electricity Trade Union, and Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Corporation cutting ribbon to launch and affix the name board of project “Design and manufacture of 500kV- 3x300MVA transformer” to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Vietnam Power Sector (December 21, 1954 - December 21, 2024). Photo: EVNEIC

Pressure from pioneers

From the development of Vietnam's 500kV power transmission grid in recent years, transformers with a capacity of 3x150MVA, and 3x200MVA have been gradually replaced by 3x300MVA transformers. Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Corporation has assigned a group of engineers the task of manufacturing 500kV transformers with a capacity of 3x300MVA since 2019.

Over the past 5 years, the EEMC engineering team has faced many difficulties, of which objective factors account for a large proportion. According to the manufacturing engineers, the most difficult stage, the biggest deciding factor for the success or failure of the entire project, is the design and appraisal stage. These two stages cannot be performed independently but must be done in parallel: continuously drawing designs and then “testing" on simulation software. If the requirements are unmet, they must recalculate, redesign, then “run” again and evaluate with foreign experts. This process takes about 1.5 years, from the end of 2022 to mid-2024.

Time pressure is one thing, another difficulty that the group must “solve” is to pioneer in producing the largest capacity transformer currently on the power transmission grid in Vietnam. There is no “model” to refer to. The team of 20 engineers must continuously learn, explore, and research from many different sources: learning through overseas business trips, consulting with experts, inheriting experience from previous products with similar functions, and even other products that EEMC has produced.

First major project of “young engineers”

According to group of authors, 500kV-3x300MVA transformer weighs about 260 tons, height is equivalent to 3-storey house with area of ​​over 70m2. Photo: EEMC

To prepare for the manufacturing process, Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Corporation has upgraded the factory, invested in technological equipment, and built a 500kV laboratory - currently the only laboratory in Vietnam that fully meets the testing items for launching transformers with voltages up to 500kV by IEC standards.

From September 2024, the production process of the transformer has been carried out urgently, but cautiously under the close supervision of design and technology engineers.

After manufacturing, the 500kV-3x300MVA transformer has been tested and passed all testing items for ex-work purposes complying with the IEC standards. This is the result of the creative working spirit and the outstanding efforts of the collective of engineers and workers of Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Corporation when for the first time a domestic enterprise successfully designed and manufactured the 500kV transformer with the largest capacity on the current Vietnamese transmission grid.

The 500kV transformer with the largest capacity in Vietnam plays a very important role in many aspects: helping the Vietnamese Electricity industry to proactively invest, prevent overload, reduce imports, help save foreign currency for the country, and improve competitiveness with similar imported products from abroad.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai:

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is very pleased with the research and manufacturing results of the 500kV-3x300MVA transformer of Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Corporation (EEMC). This is a very important achievement, demonstrating the capacity to "localize" Mechanical - Electrical products to meet domestic demand; More importantly, it is to ensure national energy security in the face of the huge demands for electricity output for the socio-economic development needs of our country in the coming time.

Mr. Dang Hoang An - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Electricity (EVN):

Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and shareholders will support Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Corporation in promoting the spirit of innovation in labor. We request that the Corporation not be satisfied with today's results, urgently expand the product portfolio and shorten the development cycle of new products, meet the needs of the domestic market, and at the same time promote marketing and export to international markets by the principle "Products must meet international standards and be highly competitive.”


Translator: Hải Yến

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