Combined Instrument Transformer (CIT) Solution for Economic & Space Optimization

07/22/2025

Challenge:​ Substations, especially aging facilities requiring retrofit (including Gas-Insulated Substations - GIS) or new installations in space-constrained urban environments, face significant pressure to minimize footprint and control costs. Traditional separate Current Transformers (CTs) and Voltage Transformers (VTs) contribute to space inefficiency, higher material/installation costs, and complex maintenance.

Our Solution:​ Implement a purpose-designed, compact ​Plug-and-Play Combined Instrument Transformer (CIT)​ solution. This innovative approach integrates CT and VT functionality into a single, optimized device, delivering substantial benefits from both an economic and spatial perspective.

Core Features & Economic/Space Optimization Strategy

  1. Radical Footprint Reduction (Space Optimization):
    • Single Unit Design:​ Replaces the traditional, spatially separated CT and VT units with one integrated device.
    • Compact Enclosure:​ Engineered specifically for tight spaces, ideal for congested substations, brownfield site retrofits (especially within existing GIS bays), and greenfield projects where land is expensive or scarce.
    • Result:​ Achieves a ​50-70% reduction​ in the required installation footprint compared to conventional separate units. This frees up valuable real estate for other critical equipment or future expansion.
  2. Lightweight Composite Materials (Cost Optimization - CapEx):
    • Material Innovation:​ Utilizes advanced composite polymers or hybrid composites instead of traditional porcelain or heavy metal housings.
    • Significant Weight Reduction:​ Dramatically lowers the overall unit weight.
    • Foundation & Structural Cost Savings:​ Reduced weight translates directly to ​simpler, lighter, and less expensive support structures and foundations. This lowers both material and civil engineering costs during installation or retrofit.
  3. "Plug-and-Play" Installation (Cost & Time Optimization - CapEx & OpEx):
    • Pre-Integrated Design:​ Factory-assembled and tested CIT unit ensures core CT/VT alignment and calibration are complete.
    • Simplified Site Work:​ Reduces on-site assembly complexity and installation time.
    • Reduced Labor Costs:​ Faster installation translates to lower labor expenses.
    • Minimized Downtime (Critical for Retrofits):​ Especially vital in GIS retrofits or live substation upgrades, where minimizing outage windows is paramount for grid reliability and operator revenue.
  4. Standardized High-Utility Ratio Designs (Cost Optimization - CapEx & OpEx):
    • Limited Range of Optimized Types:​ Instead of stocking a vast array of separate CTs and VTs, standardize on a curated portfolio of CIT designs covering the most common voltage levels, current ratings, and accuracy classes (e.g., covering 80% of typical substation requirements).
    • Streamlined Inventory Management:​ Utilities and suppliers benefit from drastically ​reduced SKU counts​ for instrument transformers.
    • Reduced Initial CapEx:
      • Fewer Units:​ One CIT replaces two devices, lowering the unit purchase count.
      • Smaller Structures:​ See Point 2 (Lightweight Materials).
      • Bulk Procurement Savings:​ Standardization allows for larger volume purchases per CIT model, leveraging economies of scale.
    • Reduced Long-Term OpEx:
      • Simpler Maintenance:​ Only ​one unit​ needs inspection, cleaning, and physical checks instead of two. Access points are consolidated.
      • Reduced Testing Time & Cost:​ Only ​one unit​ requires primary and secondary injection testing during commissioning and routine maintenance, effectively halving the testing time and associated labor/resource costs compared to separate CTs and VTs.
      • Optimized Spare Holding:​ Lower SKU count means fewer different spares required in inventory, reducing tied-up capital and storage space.
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