Improvement of Some Chemical and Electrical Properties of Aged Transformer Oil using Eco-Friendly Fillers

Taha, G.M.; Nasrat, L. S.; Younes, G. S.

doi:10.21608/aujes.2020.127569

Improvement of Some Chemical and Electrical Properties of Aged Transformer Oil using Eco-Friendly Fillers

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

¹ Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Aswan university, Aswan, Egypt

² Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Aswan university, Aswan, Egypt

³ Hydro Plants Generation Company, Aswan, Egypt

10.21608/aujes.2020.127569

Abstract

Transformers are the main component in power generation industries and play a vital part in supplying electricity all over the world. Two main insulators are used in transformers, solid insulator or cellulosic paper and liquid insulator known as insulating oil or transformer oil. Transformer oil has the function of insulation and cooling as basic function also, it is used in suppressing electrical charge and preserving inner component of transformer against corrosion. During service oil deterioration take place under the impact of thermal and electrical stresses. Chemical composition of oil changes with formation of oxidation products and oil characteristics is no longer existing, hence, Transformer oil is monitored in terms of chemical, physical and electrical properties while dissolved gases is carried out by gas chromatography. After years in service, aging of transformer oil with formation of oxidation products is mandatory, looking for solutions able to regenerate oil and remove undesired products without being harmful to original composition of oil chains is required. Treatment of aged oil get attention recently with reclaiming by variety of chemical techniques and different materials for improvement of its properties and maintain these oils in operation for next years. This study represents reclaiming procedure by means of three eco-friendly inorganic fillers: Activated Bentonite (AB), Activated Carbon (AC) and Silica Fume (SF) which used in form of mixture fillers in the sequence of (AB+AC), (AB+SF) and (SF+AC). The main scope is reclaiming aged transformer oil and using mixture technique for efficacy of two fillers despite one. Three properties acidity as a chemical property, dissipation factor and breakdown voltage as electrical properties are tested for the series of mixtures, improvement was achieved providing an environmental reclaiming procedure. Best result in acidity is attributed to mixture 1:5 (AB+SF) with 0.072 mg KOH/g oil and enhancement percentage of -30.8% while improvement in dissipation factor showed result of 0.039 and an enhancement of 61% for mixture 1:7 SF+AC. Breakdown voltage showed improvement of 122.9% of 78 KV/2.5 mm for mixtures 3:1, 5:1 and 7:1 (AB+SF).

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