It's more than a little meaningful that Benjamin Franklin, famous for his electricity theories, is responsible for the old saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". For when it comes to oil-filled power transformers, an ounce of prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure.
Drawing on more than 15 years of transformer experience, STARK International has been helping utilities and large industrial clients inject an ounce of prevention into their transformer maintenance programs. Through careful monitoring, investigation and repair services, STARK has developed a full-service transformer maintenance program.
The STARK transformer maintenance program is designed to extend the reliable life of oil-filled transformers and to maximize their performance. The cornerstone of our proactive maintenance approach centers on the oil found within the transformer. Regular analysis of the oil found within a transformer can and will identify factors that reduce life expectancy as well as issues that compromise performance. STARK professionals prepare a careful analysis and interpretation of test data as well as concise maintenance recommendations where required. Providing an accurate assessment of how the transformer is operating ensures that every maintenance dollar is maximized.
Building on the foundation of the oil diagnosis, STARK also provides a complete offering of transformer repair and oil processing services. Extending the serviceable life of transformer oil is a key factor in extending the reliable life of a transformer. Transformer oil is an organic hydrocarbon commonly known as mineral oil. All organic compounds are susceptible to molecular decomposition in the presence of oxygen. The rate, at which organic compounds breakdown, or decay, is directly related to the environment in which they are subject to. In the case of an operating transformer, elevated temperatures, moisture and constant electrical stress tends to accelerate the natural decay of the oil. STARK offers a number of oil treatments designed to rectify these and other problems.