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Recently, a new batch of prefabricated cabin substations, each paired with an external 35 kV oil-immersed power transformer, has completed final assembly and full routine testing at ZHONGXIN GENERAL’s Chengdu manufacturing facility and is now en route to the Tarim Oilfield core zone in Luntai County, Xinjiang. Once deployed, the units will serve oilfield production expansion, photovoltaic grid connection, and industrial load supply at one of China’s largest onshore oil and gas fields.
Unlike conventional brick-and-mortar substations, each dispatched unit integrates medium-voltage switchgear, low-voltage distribution panels, reactive power compensation, and auxiliary systems inside a single weatherproof cabin — meanwhile, the main 2500 kVA / 35 kV oil-immersed transformer ships as an external unit, mounted alongside the cabin on the same flatbed for streamlined on-site installation and plug-and-play energization.
For a detailed walkthrough of what’s inside a comparable prefabricated cabin, see our previous coverage: What’s Inside a 2500 kVA Prefabricated Substation?
S11-2500/35 Oil-Immersed Transformer
The main transformer is model S11-2500/35, a three-phase oil-immersed power transformer with a Yd11 vector group and ONAN (oil-natural air-natural) cooling. Rated at 2,500 kVA, it steps down from 35 kV to 10.5 kV with five off-circuit tapping positions (±2×2.5%) spanning 33,250 V to 36,750 V on the high-voltage side — delivering a stable 10.5 kV at 137.5 A on the low-voltage side. The short-circuit impedance is 6.84%, and the unit carries a total weight of 6,097 kg.
Engineered for the Tarim Desert: Extreme Environment, Zero Compromise
The Tarim Basin presents one of the harshest operating environments on Earth — relentless sandstorms, summer highs exceeding 50°C, and winter lows plunging below -25°C. Every component of this shipment has been engineered to meet those conditions head-on.
Desert-Specialized Cabin Construction. First and foremost, the prefabricated cabin body uses a double-layer high-strength steel plate structure filled with rock wool insulation, achieving an IP54 protection rating (dust-tight and splash-proof). inside, industrial air conditioning and heating systems work in tandem to maintain a stable internal climate, ensuring all switchgear and control equipment operates reliably across an ambient temperature range from -30°C to +55°C.
Seismic and Wind Resistance. Beyond thermal and dust protection, the cabin structure has been reinforced to withstand Grade 9 earthquakes and wind speeds exceeding Grade 12 — critical for unmanned field installations in Xinjiang’s open desert terrain, where sudden gales and seismic activity are real operational risks.
Smart “Unattended” Monitoring Cabin: Complementing this structural resilience, each unit features an intelligent monitoring system that automatically tracks temperature, humidity, smoke detection, and equipment status.the system transmits real-time data remotely, enabling condition-based maintenance and effectively achieving unattended operation — a decisive advantage for remote oilfield sites where on-site staffing is costly and logistically challenging.
Compact Footprint, Maximum Mobility: compared with traditional brick-and-mortar substations, the prefabricated cabin design reduces land occupation by 30%–50%, minimizing surface disturbance in ecologically sensitive desert areas. Furthermore, the fully modular construction also allows the entire unit to be relocated and reused as field operations evolve — lowering long-term total cost of ownership.
Powering Oil Production and Solar Grid Integration
Beyond withstanding the elements, the dispatched substations will serve a dual role at the Tarim Oilfield: supplying reliable power for oilfield production equipment and facilitating photovoltaic grid connection as part of PetroChina’s push toward greener, lower-carbon field operations. Ultimately, this dual-use application aligns with ZHONGXIN GENERAL’s corporate mission of “manufacturing premium power equipment to empower the dual-carbon green energy transition.”
As the energy landscape in western China continues to evolve, ZHONGXIN GENERAL remains committed to delivering field-proven, desert-hardened power solutions that keep critical infrastructure running — wherever the grid needs to go. And this track record is by no means confined to the Tarim alone. Just this week, the company’s 2,650 kVA and 5,250 kVA SCB14 dry-type transformers at the Yibin Junlian energy storage project in southern Sichuan also successfully completed energization and trial power delivery — further validation of ZHONGXIN GENERAL’s proven reliability across oilfield, desert, and energy storage applications alike.
On-Site: Yibin Junlian Energy Storage Station Energized
Beyond the factory floor and the long road to Xinjiang, the following on-site photos from the Yibin Junlian energy storage project — where ZHONGXIN GENERAL’s SCB14 dry-type transformers and prefabricated substation cabins successfully completed trial power delivery on September 10, 2026 — offer a glimpse of the company’s equipment in active service across another demanding energy application.
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