Transformer:
Transformer is one of the most useful appliances
ever invented. Transformer can raise or lower the
voltage or current in alternating current (AC)
network, it can transfer power from one section to
another on the same frequency but different
voltage levels and currents. Transformer basically
consists of two coils of a conductor which acts as
an inductor electrically separate but magnetically
attached. With the help of transformer the circuit
can be isolated from one another, and to increase
or decrease the apparent value of a capacitor,
inductor, or resistor. Furthermore, the transformer
allows us to transmit electricity long distances and
to circulate safely in factories and homes.
(Electrical Machines, Drives, and Power Systems,
6th Edition).
The cost of a transformer is high. The failure of
one transformer resulted in a loss in terms of the
price of one transformer or in terms of energy
supply disruptions to consumers. Therefore, to
monitor the transformer oil is one the right way
and good for detecting the causes of damage to
transformers.
Fig 1:Transformer
What is Transformer Oil?
Transformer oil (also known as insulating oil) is
a special type of oil which has excellent electrical
insulating properties and is stable at high
temperatures. Transformer oil is used in oil-filled
electrical power transformers to insulate, stop
arcing and corona discharge, and to dissipate the
heat of the transformer (i.e. act as a coolant).
Transformer oil is likened to be the blood within
the transformer body. It must be periodically
tested to monitor condition of the transformer.
Fig 2: Parts and cooling of transformer
Transformer oil serves three basic functions which
are to insulate, to cool and maintain the
transformer functions at all times. Transformer oil
is also used to preserve the transformer’s core and
windings – as these are fully immersed inside the
oil. Another important property of the insulating
oil is its ability to prevent oxidation of the
cellulose-made paper insulation. The transformer
oil acts as a barrier between the atmospheric
oxygen and the cellulose – avoiding direct contact
and hence minimizing oxidation. The level of
transformer oil is typically measured using a
MOG (Magnetic Oil level Guage).
Transformer Oil Properties:
The properties (or parameters) of transformer oil
can be classified as:
1. Electrical properties: Dielectric strength,
specific resistance, dielectric dissipation
factor.
2. Chemical properties: Water content,
acidity, sludge content.
3. Physical properties: Interfacial tension,
viscosity, flash point, pour point.
The main function of transformer oil is insulating
and cooling of the transformer. It should have the
following properties:
1. High dielectric strength and good
dielectric properties resulting in minimum
power loss.
2. Low viscosity improves cooling.
3. Freedom from inorganic acids, alkali, and
corrosive sulphur.
4. Resistant to emulsification.
5. Rapid settling of arc products.
6. Low pour point.
7. High flash point resulting in low
evaporation losses due to high thermal
stability.
8. High resistivity gives better insulation
values between windings.
9. Excellent interfacial tension for quick
water separation.
10. Proven resistance to electrical stresses.
11. High electrical strength.
12. Remarkably low sludge and acidity
formation in both ageing and oxidation
tests gives longer life to oil and equipment
during storage and service.

Fig 3: Transformer Oil

TRANSFORMER OIL CLASSIFICATIONS

1. Good Oils
NN 0.00 - 0.10
IFT 30.0 - 45.0
Colour Pale Yellow
OQIN 300-1500
2. Proposition A Oils
NN 0.05 - 0.10
IFT 27.1 - 29.9
Colour Yellow
OQIN 271 – 600
3. Marginal Oils
NN 0.11 - 0.15
IFT 24.0 - 27.0
Colour Bright Yellow Types of Transformer Oil:
OQIN 160 – 318
4. Bad Oils
NN 0.16 - 0.40
IFT 18.0 - 23.9
Colour Amber
OQIN 45 – 159
5. Very Bad Oils
NN 0.41 - 0.65
IFT 14.0 - 17.9
Colour Brown
OQIN 22 – 44
6. Extremely Bad Oils
NN 0.66 - 1.50
IFT 9.0 - 13.9
Colour Dark Brown
OQIN 6 – 21
7. Oils in Disastrous Condition
NN 1.51 or more
Colour Black Fig 4: Types of transformer oil
Mineral Transformer Oil (Mineral Based Oil): Regular maintenance and upgrading of the oil will
A mineral oil or liquid petroleum is a liquid by- add years to the life of both your car and your
product of the distillation of petroleum to produce transformer.
gasoline and other petroleum based products from
crude oil. A mineral oil in this sense is a Oil Quality
transparent, colourless oil composed mainly of Transformer oil is a mineral based oil. It is
alkenes (typically 15 to 40 carbons) and cyclic commonly used in transformers because of its
paraffin, related to petroleum jelly (also known as chemical properties and dielectric strength.
“white petrolatum”). It has a density of around 0.8 Minimal breakdown of the oil occurs under
g/cm3. Mineral oil is a substance of relatively low normal operating conditions.The insulation and
value, and it is produced in very large quantities. cooling properties of the transformer are effected
Mineral oil is available in light and heavy grades, by the quality of the oil. The quality of the oil is
and can often be found in drug stores. reduced by oxidization and contamination. The
results of each of these can be summarized briefly
There are three basic classes of refined mineral as follows:
oils:
Contamination commonly found in oil can be
water and particulate. The presence of either
1. Paraffinic oils, based on n-alkenes.
contaminant will cause reduced insulation quality
2. Naphthenic oils, based on cycloalkanes.
of the oil.
3. Aromatic oils, based on aromatic
Oxidization is the acid that forms in the oil when
hydrocarbons
it reacts to oxygen. This acid will form sludge
which will settle on the windings of the
Naphtha oil is more easily oxidized than paraffin
transformer reducing the heat dissipation from the
oil. But the product of oxidation – i.e. sludge – in
transformer. The heat transfer from the windings
the naphtha oil is more soluble than the sludge
to the oil is limited thus causing the windings to
from the paraffin oil. Thus sludge of naphtha-
run hotter. Sludge formation on the windings has a
based oil is not precipitated in the bottom of the
snowball effect on the transformer with more
transformer. Hence it does not obstruct convection
sludge creating more heat, creating more sludge
circulation of the oil, means it does not disturb the
etc. The high acid content together with the
transformer cooling system.
excessive temperatures will cause the
deterioration of the transformer insulation to be
Although Paraffin oil has a lower oxidation rate
accelerated and if left untreated the transformer
than Naphtha oil, the oxidation product (sludge) is
will fail.
insoluble and precipitated at the bottom of the
tank. This sludge acts as an obstruction to the Transformer Oil Testing Methods:
transformer cooling system. Another problem
with paraffin-based oil that the dissolved waxes
inside of it can lead to a high pour point. Although
this is not an issue in warmer climate conditions
(such as India).Despite the disadvantages
mentioned above, paraffin-based oil is still
commonly used in many countries (such as India)
due to its high availability.

Maintenance of transformer oil:

The easiest way to explain the reasoning for

proper transformer oil maintenance is to compare
a transformer to a car. A car requires oil for
lubrication while a transformer requires oil for
insulation and cooling. Just as a car requires
regular checks of both oil quality and oil level, a
transformer requires the same proactive treatment.
Oil in each instance degrades over time resulting
in the potential for failure or costly repair bills.
1.Color D1500(standard):Color is determine
meaning of transmitted light and give a numerical
value based on series color stranded.Therefore
Transformer oil testing colors are indicate arcing
is take place of the oil.
2.Dielectric breakdown voltage D877: This
standard is measured by apply voltage between
two electrodes and oil entered between both of
them. Finally Measuring of this voltage are
indicate which amount of moisture in transformer
oil.
3.Dissolved gas analysis D3612:The transformer
oil generate different gases are indicates occurring
various types of thermal and electrical stress. So
an internal faults are remove in oil can earliest
using this test method.
4.Dissolved metals D7151:It is identify to these
testing after that can generate overheating or
arcing from transformer oil. Rather it is measured
by inductively dissolved metals in micrometers.
5.Flash and fire point D92:It indicates the
moisture in insulating oil by measuring the
minimum temperature at insulating oil .Which is
heated transformer oil to gives a sufficient vapor
in form of unstable and mix with air.
6.Interracial tension D971:Its define as interracial
tension to decrease value indicates an increase in
oxidation products within the transformer oil.
Measures to oxidation products in oil are
expressed in mN/m. It is a test of interracial
tension surface tension in that the surface, after
testing the water is contact with oil instead of air.
7. Furanic compound D5837:The determines
testing of furanic compound that present of
degradation in cellulose materials such as paper,
press board, and cotton, etc. Measurements of
furanic compound are made using high-
performance liquid to used Insulating oil.
8.Moisture content D1533:It does not measure the
water content in the insulation paper. Measured
weight of moisture divided by the weight of oil.
Hence Moisture content in oil to insulate dielectric
strength and allows flash overheating that can
damage a oil.
9.Neutralization number D974: This stranded after
testing measures the acids formed by oxidation.
Transformer oils can contain no acids. As a result
after measurements that can acid occur the high
amount of potassium hydroxide (KOH in mg)
in oil.
10.Oxidation inhibitor content D2668:Its define
testing the amount of transformer oil as protection
against oxidation. The oil it measures the amount
remaining after oxidation has reduced its
concentration to used material.
11. Polychlorinated biphenyls content D4059: It is
tested by these content to detects the concentration
level of polychlorinated biphenyls in insulating oil
by gas chromatography. Another measured it also
applies to the determination of PCB present in
mixtures known as askarels.
12.Pour point D97: It indicates the lowest level of
temperature at which the oil will flow. So this test
the oil is particularly useful in cold climates. To
ensure that the transformer oil will circulate and
serve properly. Since the purpose of oil as an
insulating and cooling medium.
13.Power factors D924:Testing of power factor
the dielectric losses of oil are dissipate as form of
heat. While measure of power factor equals to
cosine phase angle between an ac voltage and
current. Since mineral oil of power factor not
exceed 0.05 percent at 25 degrees Increase.
14.Relative density D1298: To determines relative
density, or API gravity of oil by use of
hydrometer at a reference temperature. After the
testing process high specific gravity to indicates
the oil’s ability to suspend in mineral water. All
whether ice will float on the transformer oil.
15. Resistivity D1169: Measures the electrical
insulating properties of oil under conditions
comparable to those after testing method. In
addition a low resistivity to indicates reflects a
high content of free ions and particles of
insulating oil.
16.Visual examination D1524:Oil is passing a
beam of light transparency medium and identify
foreign matters. It has Contamination of the
transformer oil testing is poor transparency and
cloudiness.