TRANSFORMER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD
A transformer comprises a tank having tank walls. The tank walls comprise composite panels having a core. The tank has a fluid-tight insert.
1 . A transformer, comprising:
a tank having tank walls, wherein the tank walls comprise composite panels having a core, and wherein the tank has a fluid-tight insert, wherein the composite panels abut on an outer surface of the fluid-tight insert.
2 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-tight insert is oil-tight.
3 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein a bottom and plural sides of the fluid-tight insert are integrally formed or joined to each other by welding.
4 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-tight insert ( 30 ) is made of metal.
5 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-tight insert is made of polymer.
6 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the fluid-tight insert is composed of planar faces.
7 . The transformer of claim 6 , wherein the inner surface of the fluid-tight insert is free from stiffener structures.
8 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the composite panels have a higher bending stiffness than the fluid-tight insert.
9 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the tank walls include a bottom wall and several side walls, wherein the bottom wall and each of the several side walls respectively comprises at least one of said composite panels.
10 . The transformer of claim 9 , wherein the bottom wall comprises several composite panels and/or each of the several side walls comprises several of said composite panels.
11 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the transformer comprises bushings and wherein the composite panels contain or are made of non-magnetic materials adjacent the bushings.
12 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the composite panels include a filler in cells of the core.
13 . A method of producing a transformer tank, comprising:
forming a fluid-tight insert and
affixing composite panels having a core, on the fluid-tight insert in such a way that the composite panels abut on an outer surface of the fluid-tight insert.
14 . The method of claim 13 ,
wherein the fluid-tight insert is an integral component having a bottom and sides, wherein the method further comprising forming the bottom and sides by bending or by vacuum forming.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein affixing the composite panels on the fluid-tight insert comprises affixing the composite panels by means of an adhesive.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the core comprises a honeycomb core.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising joining the bottom and sides of the fluid-tight insert by oil-tight weld seams.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the fluid-tight insert comprises forming the fluid-tight insert from at least one of metal and polymer.
19 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein a bottom and a plurality of sides of the fluid-tight insert are formed by bending or vacuum forming.
20 . The transformer of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a honeycomb core.