Transformer oil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Transformer oil or insulating oil is an oil that is stable at high temperatures and has excellent
electrical insulating properties. It is used in oil-filled transformers, some types of high-
voltage capacitors, fluorescent lamp ballasts, and some types of high-voltage switches and circuit
breakers. Its functions are to insulate, suppress corona and arcing, and to serve as a coolant.

Contents
[hide]

 1Explanation
 2Mineral oil alternatives
 3Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
 4Testing and oil quality
 5On-site testing
 6See also
 7References
 8External links

Explanation[edit]

Oil transformer with air convection cooled heat exchangers in the front and at the side

The oil helps cool the transformer. Because it also provides part of the electrical insulation between
internal live parts, transformer oil must remain stable at high temperatures for an extended period.
To improve cooling of large power transformers, the oil-filled tank may have
external radiators through which the oil circulates by natural convection. Very large or high-power
transformers (with capacities of thousands of kVA) may also have cooling fans, oil pumps, and even
oil-to-water heat exchangers.[1]
Large, high voltage transformers undergo prolonged drying processes, using electrical self-heating,
the application of a vacuum, or both to ensure that the transformer is completely free of water
vapor before the cooling oil is introduced. This helps prevent corona formation and
subsequent electrical breakdown under load.
Oil filled transformers with a conservator (oil reservoir) may have a gas detector relay (Buchholz
relay). These safety devices detect the buildup of gas inside the transformer due
to corona discharge, overheating, or an internal electric arc. On a slow accumulation of gas, or rapid
pressure rise, these devices can trip a protectivecircuit breaker to remove power from the
transformer. Transformers without conservators are usually equipped with sudden pressure relays,
which perform a similar function as the Buchholz relay.
The flash point (min) and pour point (max) are 140 °C and −6 °C respectively.the transformer oil is
used for the insutation purpose[citation needed] The dielectric strength of new untreated oil is 12 MV/m
(RMS) and after treatment it should be >24 MV/m (RMS).[citation needed]
Large transformers for indoor use must either be of the dry type, that is, containing no liquid, or use
a less-flammable liquid.
Recently, research has been underway in making transformer oil nano fluids by mixing insulating or
semiconducting particles with transformer oil to enhance its thermal conductivity and electrical
breakdown strength.[citation needed]

Mineral oil alternatives[edit]

Silicone-based or fluorinated hydrocarbons, where the added expense of a fire-resistant offsets any
additional costs of building a transformer vault, have also been presented as a viable mineral
oil alternative. However, silicone has been proven to be much less biodegradable than esters in the
event of a leak or spillage.[2]
Pentaerythritol tetra fatty acid natural and synthetic esters have emerged as an increasingly
common mineral oil alternative. They offset all the main risks associated with mineral oil, such as
high flammability, environmental impact and poor moisture tolerance. Esters are also non-toxic to
aquatic life, readily biodegradable and provide a lower volatility and higher flash point.
Additionally, they have a high fire point of over 300 °C and K-class[clarification needed] fluids such as these
are often used in high-risk transformer applications, such as indoors or offshore.[3] They also have a
lower pour point, greater moisture tolerance and improved function at high temperatures.
Vegetable-based oils have also been suggested, but these are unsuitable for use in cold climates or
for voltages over 230 kV. Some papers have also cited coconut oil as a potential substitute for use in
transformers.[4]

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)[edit]

Well into the 1970s, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were often used as a dielectric fluid since they
are not flammable. PCBs do not break down when released into the environment but accumulate in
the tissues of plants and animals, where they can have hormone-like effects. When burned, PCBs
can form highly toxic products, such as chlorinated dioxins andchlorinated dibenzofurans. Starting in
the early 1970s, production and new uses of PCBs have been banned due to concerns about the
accumulation of PCBs and toxicity of their byproducts. In many countries significant programs are in
place to reclaim and safely destroy PCB contaminated equipment.
In the USA, PCBs were banned in 1979. Since PCB and transformer oil are miscible in all
proportions, and since sometimes the same equipment (drums, pumps, hoses, and so on) was used
for either type of liquid, contamination of oil-filled transformers is possible. Under present
regulations, concentrations of PCBs exceeding 5 parts per million can cause an oil to be classified
as hazardous waste in California (California Code of Regulations, Title 22, section 66261).
Throughout the USA, PCBs are regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act. As a
consequence, field and laboratory testing for PCB contamination is a common practice. Common
brand names for PCB liquids include "Askarel", "Inerteen", "Aroclor" and many others.

Testing and oil quality[edit]

Transformer oils are subject to electrical and mechanical stresses while a transformer is in
operation. In addition there is contamination caused by chemical interactions with windings and
other solid insulation, catalyzed by high operating temperature. The original chemical properties of
transformer oil change gradually, rendering it ineffective for its intended purpose after many years.
Oil in large transformers and electrical apparatus is periodically tested for its electrical and chemical
properties, to make sure it is suitable for further use. Sometimes oil condition can be improved by
filtration and treatment. Tests can be divided into:

1. Dissolved gas analysis

2. Furan analysis
3. PCB analysis
4. General electrical & physical tests:
 Color & Appearance
 Breakdown Voltage
 Water Content
 Acidity (Neutralization Value)
 Dielectric Dissipation Factor
 Resistivity
 Sediments & Sludge
 Flash Point
 Pour Point
 Density
 Kinematic Viscosity
The details of conducting these tests are available in standards released by IEC, ASTM, IS, BS, and
testing can be done by any of the methods. The Furan and DGA tests are specifically not for
determining the quality of transformer oil, but for determining any abnormalities in the internal
windings of the transformer or the paper insulation of the transformer, which cannot be otherwise
detected without a complete overhaul of the transformer. Suggested intervals for these test are:

 General and physical tests - bi-yearly

 Dissolved gas analysis - yearly
 Furan testing - once every 2 years, subject to the transformer being in operation for min 5 years.

On-site testing[edit]
Main article: Transformer oil testing
Some transformer oil tests can be carried out in the field, using portable test apparatus. Other tests,
such as dissolved gas, normally require a sample to be sent to a laboratory. Electronic on-line
dissolved gas detectors can be connected to important or distressed transformers to continually
monitor gas generation trends.
To determine the insulating property of the dielectric oil, an oil sample is taken from the device under
test, and itsbreakdown voltage is measured on-site according to the following test sequence:

 In the vessel, two standard-compliant test electrodes with a typical clearance of 2.5 mm are
surrounded by the insulating oil.
 During the test, a test voltage is applied to the electrodes. The test voltage is continuously
increased up to the breakdown voltage with a constant slew rate of e.g. 2 kV/s.
 Breakdown occurs in an electric arc, leading to a collapse of the test voltage.
 Immediately after ignition of the arc, the test voltage is switched off automatically.
 Ultra fast switch off is crucial, as the energy that is brought into the oil and is burning it during
the breakdown, must be limited to keep the additional pollution by carbonisation as low as
possible.
 The root mean square value of the test voltage is measured at the very instant of the breakdown
and is reported as the breakdown voltage.
 After the test is completed, the insulating oil is stirred automatically and the test sequence is
performed repeatedly.
 The resulting breakdown voltage is calculated as mean value of the individual measurements.

See also[edit]
 Heat-transfer oil

Oil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Heat-transfer oil)

For other uses, see Oil (disambiguation).

A bottle of olive oil used in food

An oil is any neutral, nonpolar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures
and is both hydrophobic (immiscible with water, literally "water fearing") and lipophilic (miscible with
other oils, literally "fat loving"). Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are usually
flammable and slippery.
The general definition of oil includes classes of chemical compounds that may be otherwise
unrelated in structure, properties, and uses. Oils may be animal, vegetable, orpetrochemical in
origin, and may be volatile or non-volatile.[1] They are used for food, fuel,lubrication, and the
manufacture of paints, plastics, and other materials. Specially prepared oils are used in some
religious ceremonies as purifying agents.

Contents
[hide]
 1Etymology
 2Types
o 2.1Organic oils
o 2.2Mineral oils
 3Applications
o 3.1Cooking
o 3.2Cosmetics
o 3.3Religion
o 3.4Painting
o 3.5Heat transfer
o 3.6Lubrication
o 3.7Fuel
o 3.8Chemical feedstock
 4See also
 5References
 6External links

Etymology
First attested in English 1176, the word oil comes from Old French oile, fromLatin oleum,[2] which in
turn comes from the Greek ἔλαιον (elaion), "olive oil, oil"[3] and that from ἐλαία (elaia), "olive tree",
"olive fruit".[4][5] The earliest attested forms of the word are the Mycenaean Greek 𐀁𐀁𐀁, e-ra-
wo and 𐀁𐀁𐀁, e-rai-wo, written in the Linear B syllabic script.[6]

Types
Organic oils
Organic oils are produced in remarkable diversity by plants, animals, and other organisms through
natural metabolicprocesses. Lipid is the scientific term for the fatty acids, steroids and similar
chemicals often found in the oils produced by living things, while oil refers to an overall mixture of
chemicals. Organic oils may also contain chemicals other than lipids,
including proteins, waxes (class of compounds with oil-like properties that are solid at common
temperatures) and alkaloids.
Lipids can be classified by the way that they are made by an organism, their chemical structure and
their limited solubility in water compared to oils. They have a high carbon and hydrogen content and
are considerably lacking in oxygen compared to other organic compounds and minerals; they tend to
be relatively nonpolar molecules, but may include both polar and nonpolar regions as in the case
of phospholipids and steroids.[7]
Mineral oils
Crude oil, or petroleum, and its refined components, collectively termed petrochemicals, are crucial
resources in the modern economy. Crude oil originates from ancient fossilized organic materials,
such as zooplankton and algae, which geochemicalprocesses convert into oil.[8] The name "mineral
oil" is a misnomer, in that minerals are not the source of the oil—ancient plants and animals are.
Mineral oil is organic. However, it is classified as "mineral oil" instead of as "organic oil" because its
organic origin is remote (and was unknown at the time of its discovery), and because it is obtained in
the vicinity of rocks, underground traps, and sands. Mineral oil also refers to several specific
distillates of crude oil.

Applications
Cooking
Main article: Cooking oil

Several edible vegetable and animal oils, and also fats, are used for various purposes in cooking
and food preparation. In particular, many foods are fried in oil much hotter than boiling water. Oils
are also used for flavoring and for modifying the texture of foods (e.g. Stir Fry).
Cooking oils are derived either from animal fat, as butter, lard and other types, or plant oils from
the olive, maize, sunflowerand many other species.
Cosmetics
Oils are applied to hair to give it a lustrous look, to prevent tangles and roughness and to stabilize
the hair to promote growth. See hair conditioner.
Religion
Oil has been used throughout history as a religious medium. It is often considered a spiritually
purifying agent and is used for anointing purposes. As a particular example, holy anointing oil has
been an important ritual liquid for Judaism andChristianity.
Painting
Color pigments are easily suspended in oil, making it suitable as a supporting medium for paints.
The oldest known extant oil paintings date from 650 AD.[9]
Heat transfer
See also: Transformer oil

Oils are used as coolants in oil cooling, for instance in electric transformers. Heat transfer oils are
used both as coolants(see oil cooling), for heating (e.g. in oil heaters) and in other applications of
heat transfer.
Lubrication
Given that they are non-polar, oils do not easily adhere to other substances. This makes them useful
as lubricants for various engineering purposes. Mineral oils are more commonly used as machine
lubricants than biological oils are. Whale oilis preferred for lubricating clocks, because it does not
evaporate, leaving dust, although its use was banned in 1980.[10]
It is a long-running myth that spermaceti from whales has still been used in NASA projects such as
the Hubble Telescope and the Voyager probe because of its extremely low freezing temperature.
Spermaceti is not actually an oil, but a mixture mostly of wax esters, and there is no evidence that
Fuel NASA has used whale oil.[11]
Fuel

Synthetic motor oil

Some oils burn in liquid or aerosol form, generating light, and heat which can be used directly or
converted into other forms of energy such as electricity or mechanical work. To obtain many fuel
oils, crude oil is pumped from the ground and is shipped via oil tanker or apipeline to an oil refinery.
There, it is converted from crude oil to diesel fuel (petrodiesel),ethane (and other short-
chain alkanes), fuel oils (heaviest of commercial fuels, used in ships/furnaces), gasoline (petrol), jet
fuel, kerosene, benzene (historically), and liquefied petroleum gas. A 42-gallon barrel (U.S.) of crude
oil produces approximately 10 gallons of diesel, 4 gallons of jet fuel, 19 gallons of gasoline, 7 gallons
of other products, 3 gallons split between heavy fuel oil and liquified petroleum gases,[12] and 2
gallons of heating oil. The total production of a barrel of crude into various products results in an
increase to 45 gallons.[12] Not all oils used as fuels are mineral oils, see biodiesel and vegetable oil
fuel.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, whale oil was commonly used for lamps, which was replaced with
natural gas and then electricity.[13]
Chemical feedstock
Crude oil can be refined into a wide variety of component hydrocarbons. Petrochemicals are the
refined components ofcrude oil and the chemical products made from them. They are used
as detergents, fertilizers, medicines, paints, plastics,synthetic fibers, and synthetic rubber.
Organic oils are another important chemical feedstock, especially in green chemistry.