PCB Transformers and Capacitors From Management to

0,31

MB

Reclasification and Disposal

71

stron

1702

ID

Secretariat of the Basel Convention

2002

rok

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 8

2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 10

3 PROPERTIES OF PCBs 11

4 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND PCBs . 13

5 DESCRIPTION OF TRANSFORMERS AND CAPACITORS .. 14

5.1 TRANSFORMERS..14

5.2 CAPACITORS15

6 MANAGEMENT OF PCB TRANSFORMERS .. 16

6.1 IDENTIFICATION OF PCB TRANSFORMERS..16

6.1.1 Manufacturers' original identification plates16

6.1.2 Transformer design 18

6.2 IDENTIFICATION OF PCB OILS.19

6.3 MAINTENANCE OF PCB TRANSFORMERS..20

6.4 LEAKS FROM TRANSFORMERS ..21

6.5 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.21

6.5.1 Electrical tests ..22

6.5.2 Chemical tests ..22

7 HEALTH AND SAFETY. 23

7.1 HANDLING PCB CONTAMINATED LIQUIDS AND EQUIPMENT.23

7.1.1 Health precautions .23

7.1.2 Personal protective equipment (PPE).. 24

7.1.3 Ventilation. 25

7.1.4 Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) .. 25

7.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING . 27

7.3 LEAKS AND SPILLS .. 27

7.3.1 Emergencies . 27

7.3.2 Leaks from transformers 28

8 RECLASSIFICATION OF TRANSFORMERS30

9 RETROFILLING OF TRANSFORMERS31

9.1 RETROFILLING DECISION CHECK-LIST.. 31

9.2 REQUIRED CHARACTERISTICS OF PCB REPLACEMENT OILS . 33

9.3 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.. 34

9.4 CONTROL MEASURES FOR RETROFILLING. 35

9.4.1 Handling of PCB-containing transformers 35

9.4.2 Provision of facilities for handling and dismantling equipment containing PCBs35

9.4.3 Precautions required when cutting PCB-containing equipment 36

9.4.4 Emptying of PCB transformers.. 36

9.4.5 Precautions needed for flushing equipment to remove PCBs. 37

9.4.6 Handling PCB-containing capacitors.. 37

10 ALTERNATIVE FLUIDS FOR RETROFILLING .38

10.1 MINERAL OILS 38

10.2 SILICONE FLUIDS 38

10.3 SYNTHETIC ESTER MATERIALS ..39

Table 1: Basic properties of replacement oils..40

Table 2: Replacement oil specifications of three Standards Commissions .40

11 ELIMINATION AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF PCB TRANSFORMERS 42

11.1 TRANSFORMER ELIMINATION .42

11.2 TRANSFORMER REPLACEMENT..42

12 SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION 44

12.1 GENERAL MAINTENANCE 44

12.2 RETROFILLING44

12.3 BOOKS45

12.4 GENERAL INFORMATION ON PCBs AND LEGISLATION..45

ANNEX A : EXTRACT FROM THE STOCKHOLM CONVENTION CONCERNING PCBS.. 47

ANNEX B : EXAMPLES OF PCB REPLACEMENT OILS.. 49

ANNEX C : LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 69