» TCM Air-Cell™
TCM Air-Cell™
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Built specifically for the electrical transformer industry
About the TCM Air-Cell
The Transformer Conservator Membrane (TCM) Air-Cell flexible separator is specifically engineered for the electrical transformer industry. SEI designs TCM Air-Cells to be used inside cylindrical, elliptical, octagonal or rectangular-shaped conservator tanks. The TCM Air-Cell floats in oil inside the conservator and expands/contracts by breathing through a flange placed in a customer-specified location, thus allowing the TCM Air-Cell to compensate for oil displacement due to temperature variations in the transformer.
The TCM Air-cell also acts as a barrier to separate undesirable elements in the atmosphere, such as water vapor, nitrogen, ozone and oxygen, from transformer oil within a conservator. This barrier also reduces condensation and oxidation inside the transformer and suppresses gas bubble formation in the transformer oil. SEI custom fabricates each TCM Air-Cell to fit a client's specific conservator tank. All SEI TCM Air-Cells are designed to meet ANSI/IEEE C-57.12.80-1978. Sec: 6.5.5 standard.
SEI specializes in quick delivery for custom TCM Air-Cells to meet the demands of field service operators. When required, SEI can engineer and manufacture a new Air-Cell in as little as 24 hours from an approved drawing or damaged tank.
Comparison Chart
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Fabric Conservator Air-Cell |
Oil-Filled, Inert Gas Preservation |
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Lower annual maintenance
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System must be monitored more closely.
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Lower operational costs.
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System must be topped up each year.
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More reliable for remote or unmanned locations.
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If no monitoring, must be manually inspected.
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Better operational temperature ranges
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More temperature sensitive
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Fungicide can be added
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No need for fungicide
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More labor intensive to install
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Usually comes fully assembled
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Less likelihood of oil contamination
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Higher likelihood of oil contamination
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Custom Construction
TCM Air-Cells are constructed from Temp-Shield™ 30 oz. (1017 g) urethane elastomer-coated nylon fabric that has been specifically designed to be compatible with transformer oils, silicon fluids and bio-degradable transformer oils. The fabric is highly abrasion-resistant and is extremely flexible, ensuring a long-term airtight barrier.
Temp-Shield™ has a high temperature resistance (up to 130 degrees Celsius) and can be used in extreme low temperature settings up to -50 degrees Celsius. Temp-Shield's nylon substrate also stretches, offering protection against over pressurization or vacuum during installation.
Features
- SEI offers a selection of standard sizes to meet a variety of conservator oil volume levels. SEI can also design and manufacture TCM Air-Cells to exact conservator tank size specifications and oil volume levels.
- All seams are radio frequency welded and seam sealed then tested to insure seam strength and a long-term airtight barrier.
- A flange is inserted into each TCM Air-Cell. The flange provides a point of entry allowing the TCM to act as a breather. Flanges can be located anywhere on the Air-Cell to match conservator tank design and SEI offers a variety of standard aluminum flanges.
- Each TCM Air-Cell comes complete with hoops or handles that are used during deployment. These handles are also used to secure the Air-Cell to the conservator tank. SEI will place the handles according to the conservator tank design.
- Reinforced patches are placed around the flange, handles and at the point of contact with the level indicator to provide extra wear protection.
- Each TCM Air-Cell is individually marked for identification to enable easy inventory tracking.
- SEI can design and fabricate custom flanges to meet specific conservator tank designs.
- SEI can offer alternate handles or securing tabs to meet bar or hook conservator tank attachment points.
Product Information
 TCM Brochure |
