English TOP > CORPORATE INFORMATION > Press Release > By Year > FY 2007

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.
3-5 Higashihama, Tobishima-mura, Ama-gun, Aichi Prefecture
About 20,000 square meters
PCB contamination (utility pole transformer) cleaning equipment
Cleaning capacity: Up to 100 tons/day (360 units/day) [continuous, 24-hour processing]
Containers and components of utility pole transformers containing low concentrations of PCBs and owned by Chubu Electric
Units to be processed: about 765,000
About 8 years
First half of FY2008 (scheduled)
See attachment
< Attachment >
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.

| 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 | |