Insulation Oil Treatment and its’ Necessity in Power
Transformers
Gerards Gavrilovs, Olegs Borscevskis
Riga Technical University
gerards.gavrilovs@latvenergo.lv, olegs.borscevskis@latvenergo.lv
Abstract-The insulation oil has one of the main ensigns in useful
life of electrical equipment. Each quality parameter of insulation
oil is significant, therefore there are should be controlled during
electrical equipment maintenance. Deterioration and aging
process of oil has place to be in equipment lifetime. The
insulation oil, like a insulation material, is comparatively
expensive and it is the reason not to buy, but thinking about oil
regeneration. The insulation oil quality parameters will be
regenerated in this wise.
I. INTRODUCTION
Insulating liquids used in power transformers, instrument
transformers, circuit breakers and high voltage bushings
require proper testing and maintenance to keep them in good
condition. Liquid insulation – oil – that is not in good
conditions may cause damage to equipment and become a
hazard to personnel and environment.
The majority of electrical equipment in operation today is
filled with insulating (mineral) oil. The primary function of
the oil is to provide a high dielectric insulating material and
an efficient coolant. The effectiveness of the oil as insulating
material is reduced as the moisture level increases, while
cooling is reduced as the oil oxidizes. Paper insulation will
also absorb moisture from oil, thus increasing power factor
readings.
The oxidation of insulation oil begins as soon as the
equipment is energized. A chemical reaction occurs when the
oil is exposed to a combination of heat, oxygen, core and coil
components. As the process of oxidation progresses, acids
and polar compounds are formed and in turn become sludge.
This sludge will then coat heat transfer surfaces on the
core/coil and the tank/radiators, in case of transformer,
reducing the heat transfer capacity of the system. The
operational temperatures are increased, thus accelerating the
degradation of the oil. When the properties of oil have
changed – the oil can no longer perform. Under such
circumstances oil has to be changed or treated. Treatment
methods are: oil filtering, purification and oil regeneration. In
the process of purification water, dirt, and gasses are removed
from power transformer oil. Regular purification will increase
breakdown voltage to required level. Oil purification is an
effective preventive maintenance method. When oil in
transformer, due to deterioration, reaches a stage where
purification is no longer efficient, oil has to be changed or
regenerated. Adsorption clay is the material most frequently
23
used for regenerating of oil. This is naturally occurring clay
with huge adsorbent properties as a result of high surface
activity. Regeneration is the complete treatment of oil to like
new condition. Regeneration of oil in transformer is far more
efficient than simple oil changing. The total volume of oil is
recirculated a number of times thorough the regeneration
plant and “flushing effect” of transformer is achieved. It is
obvious that regeneration as complete oil treatment method is
the best technical solution to aged transformer oil. Apart from
this it is also highly cost effective in comparison to an old
procedure of oil replacing.
II. OIL QUALITY PARAMETERS AND TESTS
Basic quality parameters of insulating oil are: dielectric
strength (tg δ), voltage breakdown, moisture content, color
visual inspection, flash point, acidity, interfacial tension,
particles contamination. Other tests for determination of other
parameters may be required due to the operating environment
and the transformer age [1].
A. Dielectric Strength
This quality parameter determined by test which measures
the voltage at which the oil electrically breaks down. The test
gives an indication of the amount of contaminants (water and
oxidation) in the oil. The minimum breakdown voltage level
is defined in valid standard. If a dielectric strength test falls
below this number, the oil should be reclaimed. Do not base
any decision on one test result, or on one type of test; look at
all the information from several tests and review tendency
before making any decision.
The dielectric strength test is not extremely valuable.
Moisture in combination with oxygen and heat will destroy
cellulose insulation long before the dielectric strength of the
oil has indicated anything is going wrong.
B. Dielectric Losses
It indicates the dielectric losses of the oil. High dielectric
losses indicate deterioration and/or contamination from
byproducts such as water, carbon or other conducting
particles, including metal soaps caused by acids attacking
transformer metals and products of oxidation. If the dielectric
losses value is greater than in standard acceptable limit, that
the oil may cause failure of the transformer. Replacement or
purification of the oil is required immediately. Too bed oil
quality with huge dielectric losses can’t be reclaimed without
special oil regeneration equipment (plant).
C. Moisture Content undergoes oxidative degradation there are formed carboxylic
Moisture, especially in presence of oxygen is extremely acids, which are acidic in nature. The presence of these acidic
hazardous to transformer insulation. Each time the moisture is materials can be quantitatively determined by a procedure
doubled in a transformer, the live of the insulation is cut by called titration.
one-half. The technical staff must keep in mind that the life of Since the insulating fluid in new equipment would have
the transformer is the life of the paper and the life of the little or no acidic materials initially present, as the acidic
paper is extended by keeping out moisture and oxygen. materials start to form the small amounts present would be
Oil should be dried when moisture in oil overachieve soluble. However, as more of the acidic material forms it
values given in standard. Segregated technical decision is would reach a saturation point and further formation would
possible too. result in the separation of solid material. This material would
settle to the bottom of the equipment as sludge. Another
D. Color Visual Inspection
source of sludge would be from the reaction of the acidic
The color of an oil sample is related to the deterioration of
materials in the insulating fluid with various metals present in
the sample. Virgin mineral oil fresh from the refinery is
the equipment to give salts, which would also tend to be
essentially colorless, however, as the sample ages over time
insoluble in the insulating fluid.
or is subjected to severe conditions such as local hot sports or
arcing the sample will become darker in color. The clarity of G. Interfacial Tension
a fresh virgin sample of oil should be sparkling with no As oil ages, it is contaminated by tiny particles (oxidation
indication of cloudiness, sludge, or particulate matter. The products) of the oil and paper insulation. Particles on top of
clarity of an oil sample is determined by observation of the the water extend across the water/oil interface line which
sample when illuminated by a narrow focused beam of light. weakens the surface tension between the two liquids.
The color of a sample is determined by direct comparison to a Particles in oil weaken interfacial tension and lower the
set of color standards. interfacial tension number. Interfacial tension and acid
The color of an oil sample is used mainly as a guide to the number, Fig. 1, together are an excellent indication of when
degree of refinement of the oil when it is new. If the sample is oil needs to be reclaimed. It is recommended the oil be
from a transformer that has been in service then the color can reclaimed-filtered when the interfacial tension number falls to
be followed over a period of time to indicate the possible 25 dynes per centimeter.
condition of the oil. It should be pointed out that the color of
the oil by itself should never be used to indicate the dielectric
quality of the oil [2]. However it can be used to determine
whether more definitive tests should be done to determine
specific characteristics of the sample that are more related to
the performance of the oil.
The clarity of the sample can also give possible suggestions
for further tests. Cloudiness of the sample can indicate the
presence of water, which in turn will decrease the dielectric
strength of the sample.
E. Flash Point
The flash point and fire point refer to the flammability
characteristics of the fluid being tested. The flash point is
defined as the lowest temperature at which the vapor formed
above a pool of the liquid ignites in air at a pressure of one
atmosphere.
The flash point is used to assess the hazardous nature of a
material and the risk of the materials ability to support
combustion. A low flash point can be indicative of the
Fig. 1. Insulating oil service limits.
presence of highly volatile materials in the fluid. For mineral
oils the minimum accepted value for the flash point oil used
The attraction between the water molecules at the interface
in outdoor transformers is 145oC, although this could vary
is influenced by the presence of polar molecules in the oil in
according to local standards. In general the fire points are
such a way that the presence of more polar compounds causes
about 10oC higher than the flash point [3].
lower interfacial tension.
F. Acidity If oil is not reclaimed, sludge will settle on windings,
The acidity of an oil sample is related to the deterioration insulation cooling surfaces, etc., and cause loading and
of the sample. The mineral oil insulating fluid is essential a cooling problems. This will greatly shorten transformer
non-polar saturated hydrocarbon, however, when the sample lifetime.

24
H. Particles Contamination Regeneration is required when purification on its own is
Particles of sludge materials can indicate the products of unable to upgrade the insulating properties of the oil due to
oxidation such as acids that will raise the acidity and lower high acidity, sludge and chemical contamination from other
the interfacial tension. Particles of carbon and metal can oil decay products. During regeneration, degassing and
indicate severe local overheating and or arcing. All of these drying also takes place, but the main function is to extract, by
can suggest further testing to determine the source of these absorption in the special columns of regeneration plant, acid
materials and decide about necessity of oil treatment. contaminants and other soluble and colloidal oil decay
Particles may be drawn into or expelled from high stress products, as in Table I.
regions. Fine particles may agglomerate or be dispersed.
Particle chains may develop. These complex physical factors TABLE I
DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS OF INSULATION CONDITION
have not been related directly to voltage breakdown in the oil.
Particles may cause partial discharges to develop in oil but Before oil After oil
Oil parameters
these discharges also have not been related directly to short regeneration regeneration
time breakdown of the oil. Insulating oil which is deteriorated Breakdown
14 75
with particles has to get purification process. voltage, kV
Dielectric losses,
III. OIL TREATMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS 7.55 0.06
%
The oil regeneration process is the complex oil treatment of Flash point, oC 143 145
the oil with the aim of improves all technical characteristics Moisture content
and parameters of transformers oil to the quality of new oil. 60.68 6.0
in oil, ppm
First of all, the insulation oil treatment or replacement is Acidity,
needed for power transformer’s lifetime extension. The 0.051 0.01
mgKOH/g of oil
insulation oil replacement has economical disadvantages. It Particles,
has come to be generally recognized as the most efficient and according 21/19/15 14/13/9
cost effective method for restoring transformer oil available ISO4406:2004
today[4]. Clear, light
The level of oil quality is going down during the Color (visual) Brown (dark)
yellow
maintenance and the specialists must to check oil condition
[5]. The final result of oil degradation can be reducing of Absorption efficiency is maximized at the processing
transformer’s lifetime and transformer’s failure. The time temperature of about 60-70oC, Fig. 2.
based maintenance strategy is very applicable in this situation
to minimize risk of abnormal system’s schedules.
The most important oil quality parameters described in
chapter above.
There are three possibilities of oil treatment in
maintenance:
• filtering;
• purification with drying process;
• regeneration (reclamation) with degassing.
It could be done in substation on-site or remove the oil from
transformer and to treat by special regeneration plant. It helps
to get out the moisture from power transformer’s solid
insulation [6]. The filtering process realized at 40oC and it
involve oil filtering from rude and fine particles
contamination with fine filter help.
The purification with drying process starts by heating the
oil to a maximum of 90oC. Processing begins when the oil
reaches a minimum 65oC. The special filter removes acid and
polar compounds from the oil. Next the oil is under vacuum
and occurs degassing process. The moisture will be getting
out from paper.
Regeneration with degassing it is combined the second
method with additional oxidant additives option.
Purification and regeneration constitute the processing
phase. Duration of this phase is dependent on initial oil
Fig. 2. Oil visual difference before and after oil regeneration.
condition.

25
 Before mentioned oil treatment methods, as said before, we above those of new oil. Subsequent oil changes may be
can use like drying process of power transformers’ solid required to remove these redissolved products of oxidation.
insulation. It can be realized in substation on-site in online Each time this is done, the transformer must be de-energized.
state. Another method is to filter press the oil. The only thing
The regeneration process ensures: accomplished by filter pressing is the removal of solid
• valuation of aged oil and its reusing; particles that have been in suspension and free water. This
• saving the costs for the purchasing of the new oil; process does not significantly change the acid or polar
• reduction of oil disposal => environmental compound levels or remove dissolved water. Oxidation and
friendly; sludge formation will continue as soon as filtering is stopped.
• reduction of oil handling, reduction of transport Very little is gained from this method.
costs; A third method is to un-tank a unit, flush the tank,
• providing of complex services on the customer radiators, core and coil with solvents, then refill the unit with
site (also under the voltage and during new oil. This method can result in a successful stabilization
operation); of the oil, but there are several major drawbacks. The units
• cleaning up the inner parts of transformer (core, must be de-energized and sent to a service factory. This
winding), removal of products of ageing; means days, weeks or months without the use of the power
• improvement of oil qualitative characteristics, transformer, plus expensive handling, transportation and
extension of transformer life time. service charge.
It means, that oil regeneration, as function, is a good help The next one method is ageing products removal by
tool to renovate oil quality with perfected parameters and absorbent treatment of insulating oil. The selection of
extend lifetime of power transformer. The oil quality should absorbent for rehabilitation of paper-oil insulation has been
be controlled further in maintenance, after treatment, with made after detailed laboratory tests. It should be noted, that
reinforced attention. Some oil quality parameters after the oil color was slightly changed while highly volatile
treatment and refilling in transformer during years are given aromatic agents and natural inhibitors mainly remained in oil.
in Table II. This conclusion was done after interfacial tension analysis.
The relatively new one method is low frequency heating
TABLE II [7]. During the transformer revision, service or reconstruction
OIL PARAMETERS AFTER TREATMENT DURING YEARS
on site or in the assembly halls the moisture gets into the
Oil paper insulation and wooden barriers. After the works and
2007 2008 2009 2010
parameters assembling of the transformer on site is advisable/necessary
Breakdown to get the moisture out priori to putting the transformer into
73 73 71 67
voltage, kV the operation. Low frequency heating is modern technology
Dielectric for heating of solid insulation of the transformers by external
1.0 1.72 1.64 1.8
losses, % low frequency source of power. Technology based on the
Flash point, principle of reduction the inductive reactance with low
o 143 143 143 139
C frequency. Low frequency heating technology operates in the
Moisture interaction with filtration or regeneration process. It is a
content in oil, 8.75 12.05 12.5 9.32 mobile technology and it is used on customer’s site. The
ppm insulation system beneath the oil, which is its natural
Acidity, environment. The balanced state of water depends on the
mgKOH/g of 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.013 temperature of the system and the solid insulation is a
oil significant water reservoir. The principle of eliminating the
Particles, water from the solid insulation is to disrupt the balanced state
according 15/12/9 15/13/9 15/13/10 15/13/10 by drying the oil with the connected regeneration plant.
ISO4406:2004 Creates the imbalance consisting of different temperatures
between the solid insulation and the transformer oil
(temperature wave), because it is necessary to supply the
IV. OIL TREATMENT AND DRYING PROCESS
ALTERNATIVES solid insulation with heat by using a special power source.
The heat is transported from the transformer windings to the
Correcting the problems of oil oxidation can be insulation and barriers. There is interaction of low frequency
accomplished in several ways with varying degrees of heating and regeneration of oil by plant. The water is pushed
success. Changing the oil will result in clean oil, but will do from solid insulation into the oil, where it is removed by
little to remove sludge adhering to the radiators, tank walls, regeneration plant, otherwise without regeneration/filtration
and core and coil. Within a year of changing the oil, oxidation plant would stay the water in the oil and then goes back in
products not removed will be redissolved into the new oil solid insulations [8].
resulting in acidity and polar compound levels appreciably

26

CONCLUSIONS
The oil treatment is needed for keeping the power
transformer on good technical condition. The oil treatment
process helps to make better the solid and liquid insulation
parameters. In the paper are mentioned few methods how to
get back insulation properties in maintenance with energized
and de-energized power transformer. Each of them is useful
and has a positive result. But most effective method of
transformer oil regeneration and power transformer drying is
on-site with additional using low frequency heating method.
Insulation oil can be regenerated in energized or de-energized
transformers depending on process cycle. The concept of this
method is highly cost effective, but owner must to think about
necessary and safety efforts regarding to environment.
27
REFERENCES
[1] M. Fingas, “The basics of oil spill cleanup,” 2nd ed, Boca Raton, FL:
CRC Press; 2000.
[2] M. Fingas, “Oil spill science and technology,” in Proc. Gulf
Professional Publishing, ISBN-13/ 9781856179430, 2011, pp.119
[3] IEC 60085:2004, “Electrical insulation. Thermal classification,”
International Electrotechnical Commission, 2004, pp.12.
[4] L.Berzina-Cimdina, V. Lakevics and A. Ruplis, “Characterisation of
new sorbents produced from by-product of the rapeseed oil treatment,”
Scientific Journal of RTU, ID4510, 2008.
[5] EKOFLUID, “Transformer oil regeneration technology,” 2007.
[6] Amish R.S, “Condition Assessment Techniques for Large Power
Transformers,” Curtin University of Technology, Karrinyup, Australia,
Tech. Rep., 09820207, Nov. 2005.
[7] E. Figueroa, T. Kalicki and E. TeNyenhuis, “Low frequency heating
field dry-out of a 750MVA 500kV autotransformer,” Electricity Today,
2009
[8] C. Sumereder, M, Muhr, “Moisture determination and degradation of
solid insulation system of power transformers,” in Proc. of 2010
Conference Record of IEEE International Symposium on Electrical
Insulation, art. No. 5549775