Recycling of Amorphous Transformer Cores

Hitachi Metals Begins Recycling of Amorphous Transformer Cores
Recycling Plant To Be Established within Yasugi Works

Tokyo, Japan, July 31, 2010 Hitachi Metals, Ltd. today announced the development of recycling technology for manufacturing its amorphous metal (Metglas^�l ) directly from amorphous cores taken from transformers that have been taken out of service. Hitachi Metals has decided to establish a facility to conduct this operation within its Yasugi Works in Japan.
Ultra-efficient amorphous transformers are garnering attention around the world due to their ability to contribute to energy conservation and help countries curb greenhouse gas emissions. Hitachi Metals will continue in its efforts to develop a recycling framework that will support the further spread of environmentally friendly amorphous transformers.

Amorphous transformers¹ are energy-conserving transformers that use amorphous metal in their cores.² These environmentally friendly transformers can cut power loss – the fixed-rate no-load loss that constantly occurs even when power is not being distributed – by approximately two-thirds compared with conventional transformers manufactured using traditional silicon steel cores. Because of its ultra efficient design used by utilities and industry to both reduce CO₂ emissions and save money over the life of the transformer, the use of amorphous transformers has rapidly spread in China, India, the Americas, Japan, Korea and South East Asia, while in Europe field trials are now underway with an eye to near-term adoption.
The typical life span of distribution transformers is 20 to 30 years. After disposal they are often recycled. Many recycling processes for conventional transformer steel are not applicable to amorphous cores because of the boron content in amorphous metal. For this reason, Hitachi Metals has developed a recycling process whereby used cores can be put to the best use possible in the manufacture of amorphous metal ribbon for use in newly constructed transformers.

In the recently developed process, amorphous cores to be recycled are removed from the scrapped transformers at a scrap processing facility. Hitachi Metals will then remove any insulating oil and other impurities that may adhere to the cores. The cores will then be crushed and melted at a recycling plant to be situated within the Yasugi Works in Japan. The plant, with an initial processing capacity of approximately 50 tons per month, is scheduled to go online in 2011.
Furthermore, by 2014, Hitachi Metals plans to have to have two amorphous core recycling plants in operation. One the plant located within the Yasugi Works in Japan and the other operated by Metglas, Inc. in South Carolina, USA. These investments will allow the Company to undertake the large-scale processing of all scrapped transformer cores worldwide.

Customer Inquiries
Metglas Inc., Conway, South Carolina, USA
Dave Millure (843) 349-7380

Reference: Explanation of Terms

1 Transformer A transformer is a device that boosts or decreases the voltage of alternating current. Substations employ large transformers, with those utilized for extra-high voltage sometimes reaching 500 tons. Utility poles are equipped with pole-mounted transformers that reduce voltage to 100 or 200 volts for the delivery of electricity to homes, small retail shops and small factories.
2 Core As a general example, an iron rod is wound with insulated copper wire (conductive wire), and when electric current is applied to the conductive wire, the process of electromagnetic induction magnetizes iron, which then behaves as a magnetic material. If the electric current is stopped the iron loses its magnetic force. In transformers, the core functions as this iron rod. To temporarily use a substance as a magnet is termed magnetization