Title: Modelling oil degradation in electric transformer oil under typical loads

Authors: Life Kaanagbara, Hilary I. Inyang

Addresses: Research Associate GIEES and Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Carolina, 9201, Univ. City BLVD, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. ' Research Associate GIEES and Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Carolina, 9201, Univ. City BLVD, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA

Abstract: In testing transformer oils for durability, it is desirable to use typical transformer operating conditions with appropriate allowances for factor of safety against temperature and voltage. The kinetics of degradation of used type II transformer oil with original flash point of 148°C, pour point of <−51°C, and water content of 4 ppm was investigated. Assuming that the oil temperature in models Pr₀₁ and Pr₀₂ transformers rises to 60–85°C with maximum operating voltage of 230 KV, these conditions were simulated in the laboratory using DTS-100D oil tester for voltage breakdown, HKV 400 series High Viscosity Bath, and EM300/CX1 heater.

Keywords: electric power transformers; transformer oils; oil aging; voltage breakdown; kinetics; activation energy; oil degradation constant; hydrocarbons; oil service life; modelling; durability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2007.015883

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2007 Vol.28 No.2/3, pp.325 - 343

Published online: 27 Nov 2007 *

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