Fullers Earth Treatment for Esters Liquids used in Power Apparatuses: Inferences and Arguments

Abstract

Insulating Liquids are widely used for their electrical and thermal properties in power apparatuses, particularly at the level of liquid-filled transformers. With the shift in engineering aspects towards sustainable development, it is important to find a sustainable solution with ecofriendly nature. Therefore, alternative (biodegradable) liquids are of high importance in the global transformer communities. In the present study, the alternative dielectric fluids (ester-based) feasibility for potential regeneration with Fuller’s earth is investigated. The experimental results are confined to the reclamation temperature as well as the ratio of Fuller's earth (the sorbent) and the liquid. A suitable laboratory treatment apparatus is designed and is adopted in this study. Promising measurements to comment on the effectiveness of the treatment have been performed at controlled treatment temperature and sorbent-liquid ratio with the ASTM 7150-13 as a reference norm.The results of this study allowed 80°C and 1 g/30 ml as affirmative conditions for the present experimental conditions. Diagnostic measurements include turbidity, particle counter, and UV spectrophotometry before and after treatments. It is inferred that fuller’s earth is not a promising sorbent for the reclamation of ester liquids.