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Chubu Electric Applies for Partial Change to Transformer Recycling Center(*1) Plan

October 22, 2007
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.

Since April 2005, Chubu Electric has been building a Transformer Recycling Center to clean utility pole transformers that had used insulating oil accidentally containing trace amounts of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) so that these transformers could be used effectively as resources (this was previously announced on November 22, 2004).

During the equipment design process, we have found it necessary to make a partial change(*2) to the original plan. Today, in keeping with the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law, we applied with Aichi Prefecture to authorize the change.

Because of this application, we have rescheduled the start of Transformer Recycling Center operations from the second half of FY2007 to the first half of FY2008.


(*1) Overview of Transformer Recycling Center

Location:

3-5 Higashihama, Tobishima-mura, Ama-gun, Aichi Prefecture

Site area:

About 20,000 square meters

Equipment:

PCB contamination (utility pole transformer) cleaning equipment
Cleaning capacity: Up to 100 tons/day (360 units/day) [continuous, 24-hour processing]

What will be cleaned:

Containers and components of utility pole transformers containing low concentrations of PCBs and owned by Chubu Electric
Units to be processed: about 765,000

Period of operation:

About 8 years

Start of operations:

First half of FY2008 (scheduled)

(*2) Changes in cleaning equipment:

See attachment

< Attachment >

Description of Changes in Cleaning Equipment


Components of cleaning equipment (general overview)

The figure below illustrates how the equipment works. The item to be cleaned (in this example, a transformer case) is put into a special basket and immersed into the cleaning tank, where it is cleaned by exposure to cleaning solvent.
Table 1 describes a change to the ultrasonic oscillators and other changes to the cleaning equipment.

Table 1: Change to Ultrasonic Oscillators and Other Changes to the Cleaning Equipment
Items changed Updated contents Reason for change
Change in ultrasonic oscillators Number and placement of ultrasonic oscillators Reliability assurance
Other changes Cleaning tank Diameter and wall thickness of nozzles Improved safety
Nozzle position Pipe assembly adjustment
Form of steam jacket Improved safety
Vaporizer Form of fixing nozzle for liquid surface detection switch Reliability assurance
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