Use of maximum demand principles for optimizing transformer design of a ship loader

To determine maximum demand currently and most widely used method in Australia is to simply follow Australian Standard guidelines and sum together the loads and find a suitable transformer rating. This practice is considered to have many flaws specifically from a construction and financial point of view and it is this lack of diversity, which this paper will be focusing on. Because of not giving due consideration for diversity, many transformers are largely oversized and as such can easily put strain on low budget contracts issued by clients as larger transformers not only cost more for the unit itself but will also increase structural support costs to adequately support the increased size and weight that the unit will have. The difficulty in attempting to create a more optimized transformer design is attributed to having to understand the ship loader operations at key intervals since maximum demand is the maximum load at certain time intervals. This paper outlines the process undertaken to lower the maximum design electrical load for the transformer of the ship loader. It also provides redesigned transformer specifications, which will be compared with specifications of similar designs carried out without considering diversity