Comparative Study on the AC Brekadown Voltage of Palm Fatty Acid Ester Insulation Oils Mixed With Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Mineral oils are are derived from petroleum which is a non-renewable and non-sustainable source, and therefore there is a critical need to develop alternative insulation oils for use in transformers. Ester oils offer a number of benefits over mineral oils such as good biodegradability, high cooling stability, good oxidation stability and excellent insulation performance. Nowadays, nanotechnology has become one of the most important research fields in both the academia and industry and it has been shown in previous studies that nanoscale materials are beneficial for transformers. In this regard, the objective of this study is to compare the AC breakdown voltage of palm fatty acid ester (PFAE) oils mixed with iron oxide (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) nanoparticles. The PFAE-based nanofluids are prepared using two methods: (1) Method I (weight-based method whereby the concentration of the Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4 </sub>nanoparticles is 0.01 g/l) and (2) Method II (volume-fraction method whereby the concentration of the Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4 </sub>nanoparticles is 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03%). The AC breakdown voltage test is conducted on the PFAE-based nanofluids in accordance with the ASTM D1816 standard test method. Weibull statistical analysis is carried out to analyse the AC breakdown voltage of fresh PFAE oil and PFAE-based nanofluids. It is found that there is enhancement of the AC breakdown voltage for all PFAE-based nanofluids with the exception of with the exception of one sample prepared using Method II (0.01% Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4 </sub>nanoparticles).

Modification of insulating oils and oil-based titanium dioxide nanofluids for transformers: a review

“…On the one hand, they exhibit superior properties such as high fire and flash points, high moisture saturation and slowing effects on aging. 5,6 On the other hand, they suffer from oxidative instability. 7,8 As another type of insulating fluids, SOs exhibit high gas absorption capacity under partial discharge, high fire and flash points, superior thermal and oxidative stability, while they have disadvantages such as poor lubricity and very low biodegradability.…”

“…107,108 The viscosity of three NE-based NFs (SBO-based NFs, PObased NFs and PFAE-based NFs) has been compared with that of MOs and found to be better than that of MOs at the same temperature. 6,68 PFAE-based TiO 2 NFs were prepared by Mohamad et al 6 and the viscosity of the insulating fluid was investigated at 313 K and 333 K. Compared to MO, the viscosity of PFAE-based NFs was reduced by 43% at a concentration of 0.01 g L À1 of NPs at 313 K. It was also found that the difference in viscosity between the PFAE-based NFs and the original PFAE was less than 0.5% at 313 K and 333 K and the percentage difference was smaller with values less than 0.2%. This indicates that the addition of NPs has little effect on the viscosity of PFAE at 313 K and 333 K. The viscosity of SBO-based NFs and PO-based NFs was measured over a temperature range of 300 K to 343 K. 68 There was minimal effect on the viscosity of the oil as NPs were added.…”

Experimental Investigation on Thermal Conductivity of Palm Oil and Zinc Oxide PFAE-based Nanofluids

“…The urgency to replace the non-renewable source MO with alternatives VO as liquid insulators has been increasing in trend ever since decades ago. There are various options of VOs that has been further researched to be implemented as transformer liquid insulator, in which the common used by researchers are palm oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil, olive oil, mustard oil and natural esters derived from the VOs [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”