Box transformers and ring main cabinets are scattered around the wind farm, at some distance from both turbines and the step-up station. EAPD is deployed locally inside the box transformer — no dedicated piping needed, no frequent inspection — with ICOP managing all site box-transformer status remotely.
The box transformers in a wind farm sit beside each turbine — some on hills, some on mudflats, some in the gobi. These box transformers step the low-voltage power from turbines up to collector-line voltage, integrating a transformer, high- and low-voltage switchgear, and control-protection devices.
The problem with box transformers is that they are exposed outdoors long-term, subject to wind, sun, rain, and frost. Salt-fog corrosion at coastal wind farms, low-temperature freezing at northern wind farms, and condensation at mountain wind farms — these environmental factors all accelerate the aging of the electrical equipment inside. And box transformers are spread across several square kilometers, so O&M staff cannot open and inspect every one every day. Often the problem is only known once the collector line trips.
Aging cable joints. Box transformers contain many cable joints running under high current year-round. The insulation at joints ages far faster outdoors under temperature swings and humidity than indoors. After insulation drops, phase-to-phase short circuits or ground faults are likely.
Abnormal transformer oil temperature. Rising oil temperature inside the box transformer may signal an internal fault. Excessively high oil temperature not only affects transformer life but, in severe cases, can cause tank rupture and oil leakage leading to fire.
Low-voltage-side switchgear failure. The low-voltage side of the box transformer collects power from each turbine; breakers, contactors, and fuses operate frequently. Contact erosion and arc-chamber aging near end-of-life can trigger incidents.
Ring main cabinet cable-head breakdown. The collector-line ring main cabinet gathers power from multiple box transformers. If construction quality is poor or insulation has aged, breakdown faults at cable joints can occur and cause fire.
One EAPD device is configured per box transformer, installed inside the low-voltage distribution room. One is also installed inside each ring main cabinet.
What EAPD monitors in real time inside the box transformer includes:
When an anomaly is detected, EAPD issues a local audible-visual alarm and simultaneously pushes the alert to O&M staff's mobile via the ICOP platform. Upon fire confirmation, the device automatically releases the agent. From trigger to full discharge, the whole process requires no human intervention. The agent is Novec 1230, non-corrosive and non-conductive to the transformer, switchgear, and cables inside the box transformer, leaving no cleanup after suppression.
All box-transformer EAPD data is uploaded to the ICOP platform via wireless network (4G / LoRa / per site conditions). O&M staff open a topology map at the control center to see the status of every box transformer across the site. Normal temperature is green, warning is yellow, alarm is red. Clicking in shows the detailed temperature curve and historical data.
The benefit of this approach is that you do not wait until a fault develops into a trip before acting. An abnormal temperature curve can be detected before it becomes a fire. O&M staff use the warning information to inspect the corresponding box transformer in a targeted way, instead of patrolling the whole site aimlessly.
| Protection rating | IP65 |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature | -40°C to +85°C |
| Trigger temperature | 140°C ±10°C |
| Response speed | ≤ 3 seconds |
| Agent | Novec 1230 (C6F12O), clean suppression |
| Installation | Magnetic / adhesive / bracket |
| Communication | 4G / LoRa / wired |
For a medium-scale wind farm (about 30–50 turbines), the combined number of box transformers and ring main cabinets is roughly 40–60. Protecting only box transformers — one EAPD per box transformer — and covering ring main cabinets together requires about 50–70 devices in total.
This scale is within the ICOP platform's coverage. One ICOP platform can manage hundreds of devices, which is within capacity for a wind farm.
The related design of this solution references the following standards:
We provide customized configuration and quotation based on box-transformer model, quantity, and site conditions
Submit your requirements →