BREATHERS

VE Series
The best-selling traditional breather type, with hydraulic valve

www.cedaspe.com
 AIR DEHYDRATING BREATHERS
for Power Transformers
Single body / hydraulic valve models
type VEP 01-29-49 and VE 50–80–100–150/F, flanged connection
and type TV75, VE 05 - 10 (thread connection) for Distrib Transf,

1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Air dehydrating breathers are transparent hollow cylinder tubes which contain chemically pure silicium salt (silicagel) with
coloured indicator. The air breathed inside the transformer due to the thermal contraction of the oil mass, passes through
the silicagel.
The silicagel absorbs the humidity, indicating the saturation degree by changing colour as follows:
ORANGE silicagel completely dry
GREEN silicagel saturated with humidity
The salt contained in the breather, when saturated, may be easily removed and regenerated by heating it, inside a
ventilated oven, at 120° - 150°C, until the colour becomes orange again.
The specific property of the silicagel is its high absorption power of humidity. This is total until the salt has absorbed water
for about 15% of its weight, and saturation is reached when the salt has absorbed water for 30 to 40 % of its weight.

2. TECHNICAL FEATURES
The upper and lower parts are made in a non-porous corrosion-proof aluminium alloy casting. The hollow cylinder is
made of Plexiglas (upon demand in glass) and it is protected by a stainless steel cylinder, with windows which allow the
visual control of the silicagel colour.
In the bottom side of the breather, an hydraulic valve prevents continuos air contact with the silicagel and allows the air to
pass in both direction (inlet or outlet) only when there is pressure deficiency or excess inside the transformer.
Pressure values for air passage into the dehumidifier are:
0.003 kg/cm2 inlet , or 0.005 kg/cm2 outlet
The hollow container and the hydraulic valve are separated by a drilled plate with a labyrinth system, which have the
double purpose of diffusing inlet air uniformly, and of avoiding that any salt dust may damage the closing system.

3. DRAWINGS AND TECHNICAL DATA

A table on the drawings in the following pages shows, the general overall dimensions, the silicagel contained inside the
cylinder, the max oil quantity, contained inside the transformer on which the breather must be installed, calculated for
normal conditions, as below indicated, using the formula at paragraph 5:
Average air temperature 20°C
Average air humidity 60%
Average thermal cycle “∆ t “ 20°C
Average duration of thermal cycle T 8 hours
Maintenance interval M 90 days
Different environment conditions of the site where the transformer is installed may influence the maintenance interval,
when the choice of the size of the breather has been made.

4. PROTECTION OF OUTER SURFACES

Outer surfaces in aluminium painted with an epoxy primer coat and a finish paint suitable to resists to all weather
conditions and ambient temperature between - 40°C and + 100°C. All the screws and nuts are in stainless steel.

5. CHOICE OF THE BREATHER SIZE (or of the maintenance interval)

The choice of the breather size (or maintenance interval) is directly related to the quantity of the breather silicagel contain.
The mass of silicagel necessary for the proper functioning is given approximately by a function of 6 variable quantities,
listed here following:
- Mass of oil “V” inside the transformer , denominated in dm3 or in litres.
- Average temperature of the air in the environment where the transformer is installed, denominated in °C
- Average Humidity of the air in the environment where the transformer is installed, denominated in %.
- Average thermal cycle “∆t“ of the transformer, denominated in °C, to be calculated as difference between the
minimum and the maximum temperatures reached by the oil inside the transformer within a time period.
- Average duration of thermal cycle “T“ denominated in hours, to be calculated as the time interval between two
thermal cycles.
- Maintenance interval “M“ denominated in days.
- From the saturated steam table for water (see next pages), depending from the average temperature and humidity
of the air, it is possible to calculate the quantity of water “A“(denominated in grams) for each m3 of air which enter
inside the transformer.
Now, using the following formula, we are ready to calculate the quantity of silicagel (denominated in Kg) necessary for
the proper functioning of the transformer:
Mass of silicagel =(127,056 x 10-9 x V x ∆ t x A x M) : T [kg]

File : ESSICC VE r 1 UNCONTROLLED COPY Rev. 7 dtd 15/12/17

It is important to note that the result of above formula is only a first approximation value, due to the simplification related
to the average values considered as constant values for the duration of the thermal cycles between two following
maintenance intervals
It is also evident that shortening the maintenance interval, the average conditions used in the formula simulate more
exactly the true conditions of the transformer during its working life (i.e. the average temperature of the air for 30 days in
January has a statistic scattering degree lower than the average temperature for 90 days in Dec/Jan/Feb); same
comments must be done for humidity, thermal cycle duration and temperature
Only two data may be easily fixed without doubt: mass of oil inside the transformer and maintenance interval.
For a better understanding, we show here following three examples of the choice of quantity of silicagel necessary for the
same transformer installed in three different places, but with the same thermal cycle and maintenance interval; the
following conditions shall be the same in all the tree cases:
- Average thermal cycle “∆ t “ 20°C
- Average duration of thermal cycle T 8 hours
- Maintenance interval M 90 days
- Mass of oil V 10000 dm3

The mass of silicagel necessary foe a good functioning of the transformer will be:
1° CASE: Transformer installed in normal European condition:
- Average air temperature 20°C
- Average humidity 60%
- Silicagel mass 2,95 kg
Suggested size of the breather: size VEP 27/29
2° CASE: Transformer installed in tropical climate:
- Average air temperature 30°C
- Average humidity 90%
- Silicagel mass 7,77 kg
Suggested size of the breather: size VE80-F
3° CASE: Transformer installed in desert condition:
- Average air temperature 35°C
- Average humidity 40%
- Silicagel mass 4,50 kg
Suggested size of the breather: size VE50-F or VEP47/49 or VEL/VEP41

7. MANUFACTURING PROGRAM
We propose a full range of dehydrating breathers for Power Transformers, starting from 1 kg silicagel contain up to 15 kg;
additionally, using dedicated modular unit, it is possible to assembly breathers in racks with high silicagel contain up to
45 kg, see drg. 3482, 3536, 3537, 3632.
All our models are identified with the letters 'VE' or ‘VEP’ followed by two figures which represent the size of each
breather as indicated on the drawings, with a wide choice of silicagel contain, scaled in kg 1;3;5;8;10;15.
All these breathers can be connected to the tube coming from the conservator through a flanged connection (PN10); all
models VEP have a special flange design which is suitable for fixation to a DIN 42567 flange with 3 holes and also to a
DN25/PN10 standard flange; for threaded connections necessary to use adaptors, see drg 3538.
Starting from size VE50-F all the breathers are fitted with a side support which enable to make a bolted connection to a
transformer wall or to a rack.
When there is a need of silicagel contain higher than kg 15, we propose a modular assy using multiple units of 5,8,10,15
kg silicagel contain each, as shown at page 5.50.B; the modular unit follow the same identification littering of the normal
breathers adding the letter 'M' at the end
The dehydrating breathers, complete with salts are despatched in sealed packages in order to avoid alteration of the dry
state of silicagel. Upon request, we supply also empty breathers with silicagel filling packed separately in hermetic bags,
or even without filling, if the customer wants to manage silicagel separately from the breathers.
When they are mounted on the transformer, it is necessary to remove the protective plugs and pour mineral oil up to the
mark on the jar.
For Distribution Transformers we propose the range of small breathers TV75/VE05 and VE10 which are available only
with thread entry connection, seed drg 3535.

8. ORDER INSTRUCTIONS
As said, the identification of a model start with two letters VE followed by two figures which identify the size of the
breather and the letter M for the modular unit.
Few example, to make it completely clear:
VEP 29 Breather with 3 kg silicagel contain
VE150-F Breather with 15 kg silicagel contain
VE100M-F Modular unit with 10 kg silicagel contain
Special instruction must be indicated separately.

File : ESSICC VE r 1 UNCONTROLLED COPY Rev. 7 dtd 15/12/17

9. SATURATED STEAM TABLE FOR WATER
Showing the mass of water, in gram (10-3 kg), contained in one cubic meter of air (related to the air temperature and the
air humidity).

AIR TEMPERATURE AIR HUMIDITY [%]

°C 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

0 0.49 0.98 1.47 1.96 2.45 2.94 3.43 3.92 4.40 4.90
5 0.68 1.36 2.04 2.72 3.40 4.08 4.76 5.44 6.10 6.80
10 0.94 1.87 2.82 3.76 4.70 5.64 6.58 7.52 8.50 9.40
15 1.28 2.56 3.84 5.12 6.40 7.68 8.96 10.20 11.50 12.80
20 1.72 3.44 5.16 6.88 8.60 10.30 12.00 13.80 15.50 17.20
25 2.29 4.58 6.87 9.16 11.45 13.70 16.00 18.30 20.60 22.90
30 3.02 6.04 9.05 12.10 15.10 18.10 21.10 24.10 27.20 30.20
35 3.94 7.88 11.80 15.80 19.70 23.60 27.60 31.50 35.40 39.40
40 5.08 10.20 15.30 20.40 25.40 30.50 35.60 40.70 45.80 50.90
50 8.27 16.50 24.80 33.10 41.40 49.60 57.80 66.20 74.40 82.70
60 13.00 26.00 39.00 52.00 65.00 78.00 91.00 104.00 117.00 130.00

Manufacturing program

Silicagel Transformer
Type contain Tube Fixing oil
drg 3482 in kg Flange in kg in dm3
VEP 01 1,00 PMMA 3500 4000
VEP 07 Glass DN25/PN10
VEP 29 3,00 PMMA or 10000 12000
VEP 27 Glass DIN 42562
VEP 49 5,00 PMMA (3 holes) 18000 20000
VEP 47 Glass

drg 3536
VE 50-F STD 5,00 PMMA 18000 20000
VE 50-F TVT Glass DN40/PN10
VE 80-F STD 8,00 PMMA (upon 28000 32500
VE 80-F TVT Glass demand
VE 100-F STD 10,00 PMMA DN25/PN10 36000 40000
VE 100-F TVT Glass also
VE 150-F STD 15,00 PMMA avaliable) 56000 65000
VE 150-F TVT Glass

10. AIR DEHYDRATING BREATHER TYPE TV75 - VE05 – VE10 (drg 3535)
They are small sized dehydrating breathers, particularly fit for assembling on small distribution transformers
The type VE05 follows the same manufacturing principles of the bigger sizes like the type VE10.
The type TV75 (or TV74) is the cheapest model of our breathers: its top flange is made in corrosion proof aluminium alloy.
The silicagel housing is made of cellulose triacetate (cellidor by Bayer), suitable for mineral oil; only upon request, this
breather can be fitted with a stainless steel cylindrical protection.

File : ESSICC VE r 1 UNCONTROLLED COPY Rev. 7 dtd 15/12/17

 
