MaDC-A™ Newly Developed Low
Loss Amorphous Alloy for Energy
Efficient Transformers

Power industries today are searching for a technology that saves energy and reduces both CO2 emission and operating cost. For example, normally approximately 10% of all electricity generated by an electric power company is lost during the transmission and distribution process. Losses lost during transmission and distribution include losses in distribution transformers, which are highly desired to be reduced. To meet the demand, Metglas, Inc. (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Proterial, Ltd.) has developed amorphous magnetic alloy Metglas™. Proterial, Ltd. has newly developed amorphous magnetic alloy MaDC-A™, of which magnetic properties have been greatly improved by controlling the magnetic domain of the amorphous alloy. Distribution transformers using magnetic cores made of MaDC-A™ help saves energy and reduction of both CO2 emission and operating cost. 

Major Features and Advantages

I. Amorphous Metal

Amorphous alloy is obtained by rapid solidification of molten alloy, of which cooling rate is more than 1 million degrees Celsius per second. Normal crystalline alloys have regular atomic arrangements, whereas amorphous alloys are characterized by irregular atomic arrangements. Amorphous alloys have different mechanical and magnetic properties from crystalline alloys because of their irregular atomic arrangements. Amorphous alloys have large internal stresses because they are formed by rapid solidification. Therefore, annealing for reducing their internal stress is necessary in order to achieve excellent magnetic properties. Properly annealed amorphous alloys can achieve both high permeability and low core loss. Especially, Fe-based amorphous alloys are mainly used in the cores of distribution transformers, because they have both good magnetic properties and good economic performance.

II. Energy Efficiency

There are two types of energy loss of distribution transformers: no-load loss and load loss. No- load loss occurs in the magnetic core and is constant independent of the load current. On the other hand, load loss occurs in the coils and varies in proportion to the square of the load current. The load factor which is the ratio of rated power capacity and output power of distribution transformers is usually considered to be about 20%*. Therefore, reduction of no-load loss is extremely important for reducing transformer loss, because no-load loss is the dominant loss in distribution transformers. The most effective method in order to reduce the no-load loss is to select and use a low core loss magnetic material such as MaDC-A™.
* Final Report LOT 2: Distribution and power transformers Task 1-7, P. 153, Jan. 2011

III. Cost Efficiency

Most distribution transformers can be operated for 25 years or more*. Operating costs should be considered along with the initial price when purchasing a distribution transformer. In many cases, the initial price of amorphous distribution transformers (AMDTs) can be higher than that of conventional distribution transformers, but the long-term operating cost is lower. The total owning cost (TOC) or total cost of ownership (TCO)**, calculated based on the initial purchase price and the cost of future energy losses, is significantly lower for AMDT. Purchasing AMDT is therefore an economic decision.
* Final Report LOT 2: Distribution and power transformers Task 1-7, P. 134, Jan. 2011
**Final Report LOT 2: Distribution and power transformers Task 1-7, P. 137, Jan. 2011

Contact Person(s)

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Registered Category

• Energy Technologies : Energy saving and energy storage