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In-service ageing comparison study of natural ester and mineral oil filled distribution transformers

  • Yaohong Zhao
  • , Yihua Qian
  • , Bin Wei
  • , Ruifeng Wang
  • , Kevin James Rapp
  • , Yang Xu
  • China Southern Power Grid
  • SGCC
  • Cargill
  • Cargill

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

In 2011, Shaanxi Power Grid Corporation, a Chinese utility, launched the first batch of natural ester-filled transformers in China to investigate the effectiveness of environmentally friendly insulating liquid in operating transformers. After 7 years continuous operation, two healthy 10kV 200kVA units were selected for study, one is filled with a soybean based natural ester liquid, Envirotemp™ FR3™ Fluid, the other is filled with mineral oil. These two distribution transformers (DT) were operating in the same city for about the same time period. Each transformer is made by a different manufacturers but have similar designs, however, their loading profiles differed significantly. The transformers were taken off the grid in June of 2018. Routine tests of the transformers and oils show that the transformers are in good condition. In January of 2019, both transformers were disassembled to test the oil and winding paper insulation samples. The oil condition, degree of polymerization and water content of paper samples from both units were compared. The details of the teardown and laboratory analysis are presented in this paper. In view of this in-service 7 year test, the compatibility of NE liquid with transformer construction materials under normal loading rate condition is confirmed. Also, the results offer useful status information about oil-paper insulating system for performance diagnosis in daily operation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2019 IEEE 20th International Conference on Dielectric Liquids, ICDL 2019
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
ISBN (Electronic)9781728117188
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2019
Event20th IEEE International Conference on Dielectric Liquids, ICDL 2019 - Roma, Italy
Duration: 23 Jun 201927 Jun 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings - IEEE International Conference on Dielectric Liquids
Volume2019-June
ISSN (Print)2153-3725
ISSN (Electronic)2153-3733

Conference

Conference20th IEEE International Conference on Dielectric Liquids, ICDL 2019
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityRoma
Period23/06/1927/06/19

Keywords

  • Distribution transformer
  • In-service operation
  • Natural ester

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