Internal fault causes transformer explosion on Unit 8 at Eskom's Camden Power Station

What happened

On 29 December 2021 Eskom confirmed that an internal fault had resulted in a transformer explosion on Unit 8 of the Camden Power Station. The unit produces about 190 MW. The fire was contained and no injuries were reported. Eskom said an investigation was under way to determine the cause, the extent of the damage and when the unit could return to service. It said it did not expect any disruption to electricity supply as a result of the incident. The reports do not describe the transformer, the fire response or how long the unit would be out of service.

Contributing factors

Eskom attributed the explosion to an internal fault in the transformer. The underlying cause of the fault was under investigation.

Lessons learned

1. Large generator and unit transformers should have condition monitoring, such as dissolved gas analysis, so that developing internal faults are found before they lead to an explosion.
2. Fire barriers, separation distances and oil containment around unit transformers limit the spread of fire to the rest of the station.
3. Operators should publish a confirmed statement quickly after a visible incident, as early accounts on social media otherwise set the public picture.

Source

eskom.co.za