Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Introduction I. Fofana
The role of electrical insulation is critical for the proper op-
eration of electrical equipment. Power equipment cannot oper- Canada Research Chair
ate without energy losses, which lead to rises in temperature. on Insulating Liquids and Mixed Dielectrics
It is therefore essential to dissipate the heat generated by the
energy losses, especially under high load conditions. Failing to
for Electrotechnology (ISOLIME),
do so results in premature aging, and ultimately to failure of the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi,
equipment. Heat dissipation can be achieved by circulating cer- Québec, Canada
tain liquids, which also ensure electrical insulation of energized
conductors. The insulating-fluids market is therefore likely to
be dominated by liquids, leaving to gases (such as compressed
air and SF6) limited applications in power equipment such as The importance of liquids in the field
circuit breakers and switchgear [1]–[3]. Several billion liters of
insulating liquids are used worldwide in power equipment such
of dielectrics and electrical insu-
as transformers (power, rectifier, distribution, traction, furnace, lation is highlighted. Engineering
potential, current) [4], resistors [5], reactors [6], capacitors [7], problems in using these liquids in
cables [8], bushings [9], circuit breakers [10], tap changers [11],
thyristor cooling in power electronics, etc. [12]. electrical equipment are discussed.
In addition to their main functions of protecting solid insu- Their applications and perspectives
lation, quenching arc discharges, and dissipating heat, insulat-
ing liquids can also act as acoustic dampening media in power
are addressed.
equipment such as transformers. More importantly, they provide
a convenient means of routine evaluation of the condition of
electrical equipment over its service life. Indeed, liquids play a Petroleum-based oil, so-called mineral oil, has been the main
vital role in maintaining the equipment in good condition (like insulating liquid in industrial power systems since the 1900s
blood in the human body). In particular they are responsible for [14]–[16] because of its good aging behavior, low viscosity,
the functional serviceability of the dielectric (insulation) system, ready availability, and low cost [14]. Because of the necessity
the condition of which can be a decisive factor in determining of operating distribution transformers in locations where high
the life span of the equipment [13]. Testing the physicochemical fire security standards were required, polychlorinated biphenyl
and electrical properties of the liquids can provide information (PCB)-based insulating liquids were introduced in the early
on incipient electrical and mechanical failures. In some equip- 1930s. Until the 1960s they did not raise environmental concern.
ment, liquid samples can be obtained without service interrup- However, since the 1970s the public has been increasingly criti-
tion. cal of the use of PCB-based transformer oils [1]–[4]. While most
PCB oils have now been replaced with PCB-free liquids, the lat-
ter have not been widely accepted as alternatives to mineral oils
in power equipment. Driven by the desire for a safer nonflamma-
The sixth of a series of invited reviews ble and environmentally acceptable insulating liquid for use in
to be published during 2013 to mark power equipment, researchers and engineers have investigated
the 50th anniversary of DEIS. countless alternatives to mineral oil, and significant advances
have been achieved during the last four decades [17]–[25].
Power
transformers Distribution Traction Instrument Special Tap Terminal Circuit Loading
Insulating liquid1 and reactors transformers transformers transformers transformers Bushings changers boxes breakers Capacitors Cables resistance
Mineral oils X X X X X X X X O O O
Polychlorinated biphenyls — — — —
(PCB)
Silicone oils X X X
High-molecular-weight X X
hydrocarbons
Tetraester of pentaerythritol X X X X
Alkylbenzenes X X X X
Aromatic hydrocarbons X X
(M/DBT, PXE, MIPB, etc.)
Vegetable oils X X
Phthalates (DOP, DNP) X
Polybutenes X
Liquefied gases or cryogenic X X
liquids
Nanofluids X
Mixed liquids X X X
X : In use in the equipment.
O: No longer recommended for the equipment, but still in use here and there.
—: Banned, and therefore should not be in use anywhere.
1
M/DBT = mono/dibenzyltoluene; PXT = phenyl-xylyl-ethane; MIPB = mono-isopropyl-biphenyl; DOP = dioctyl phthalate; DNP = di-isononyl phthalate.
15
Aromatic Hydrocarbons Phthalates
These liquids are mainly used in capacitors and cables [19]. The phthalates include two liquids, namely di-isononyl
Their technical specifications are defined in IEC 60867 [37]. phthalate and dioctyl phthalate. They were developed as al-
ternatives to PCBs in LV and medium-voltage capacitors, but
Alkylbenzenes their use has declined significantly over the last 30 years, as a
In the 1960s a new family of insulating liquids known as al- result of the development of dry-type metalized polypropylene
kylbenzenes became available. Their stability under partial dis- film capacitors. However, dioctyl phthalates are still used for LV
charge is their most important property for today’s applications. capacitors because their good dielectric properties facilitate the
They have considerably greater ability (relative to mineral oil) to manufacture of capacitors that are more reliable than dry-type
absorb gas produced by partial discharges [38] and are therefore metalized polypropylene units. Their most important property
often used in hermetically sealed equipment. Their low viscos- is their high relative permittivity (5.2 at 20°C), which leads to
ity is another important property, especially for oil circulating higher capacitances than those achievable using polybutenes or
in cables. Heavier alkylbenzenes are used for filling capacitive silicone oils. The main properties of dioctyl phthalate are listed
dividers [22], [24]. The addition of about 30% of alkylbenzene in IEC 61099 [40].
liquid (by volume) to mineral oil used for impregnation of cable
systems greatly improves the gas absorbency of the oil [22], High-Fire-Point Liquids
[24], [38]. High-flash-point liquids, also known as “less flammable” liq-
Polyarylalcanes uids, were developed as replacement impregnants in transform-
Polyarylalcanes were primarily developed to replace PCBs ers formerly filled with PCBs. Qualifying liquids must have a
as impregnating liquids for capacitors [22], [24]. Among the minimum open-cup fire point of 300°C [31], [35]. Because of
first generation developed in the 1970s were phenyl-xylyl-eth- this high degree of resistance to ignition, they are specified for
ane, mono-isopropyl-biphenyl, and di-isopropyl-naphthalene. transformers in locations with significant fire risks. At present,
Mono-isopropyl-biphenyl is no longer used in North America, most high-flash-point liquids are produced from four different
but phenyl-xylyl-ethane and di-isopropyl-naphthalene are still chemical bases, namely high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons
used in Asia [24]. In the 1980s phenyl-xylyl-ethane and mono- (HMWHs), synthetic esters, dimethyl silicone, and vegetable
isopropyl-biphenyl were replaced by diphenyl-methane deriva- oils [22], [24], [25].
tives, specially developed for capacitors, e.g., mono/dibenzyl-
toluene 75/25 and benzyl-toluene/diphenyl-ethane 60/40. (The
High-Temperature or High-Molecular-Weight
numbers indicate the mass percentages in the mixtures.) Mono/ Hydrocarbons (HMWHs)
dibenzyltoluenes have been used in power capacitors for more Other alternatives to PCB liquids are the HMWHs or high-
than 25 years. They have also been approved for other electrical temperature hydrocarbons. These liquids are chemically similar
equipment such as capacitive voltage transformers and bushings to regular petroleum-based mineral oils used in transformers.
[19]. Polyarylalkanes are also used for filling capacitive divid- However, they have higher boiling points and higher molecu-
ers. Their dielectric properties, much better than those of alkyl- lar weights, and therefore much higher fire points. HMWHs
benzenes and mineral oils, improve their competitiveness [24]. are classified as paraffinic, consisting mainly of saturated com-
Polyarylalcanes have kinematic viscosities less than 8 mm2/s pounds with long, straight-chain structures. They have good di-
at 40°C [22], [24], so that removing moisture from them under electric and lubricating properties. They also have a higher vis-
vacuum is much easier than from mineral oils. Their thermal sta- cosity, which reduces their heat-transfer capabilities.
bility is much better than that of mineral oils and alkylbenzenes. HMWH-based liquids have been used in transformers fitted
However, they are more polar, and their dielectric properties are with load break devices such as load tap changers [41] and in
more sensitive to contaminants. Because of their high aromatic unit substations, pad-mounted transformers, and oil retrofills
content they generate very little gas under partial discharge and [31]. Combined with Aramid insulation materials, they are also
have high hydrogen absorbance capacity. Their low solubility in used in high-temperature transformers, i.e., those with 175 to
water limits their biodegradability. Their toxicity is very low, as 185°C hot spots [30] found in mobile or double-ended substa-
is the rate at which they accumulate in the environment. tions.
Mixture Application
Mineral oil + alkylbenzene Oil-impregnated-paper capacitor (to improve the gassing tendency)
Mineral oil + perchloroethylene (C2Cl4) Distribution transformers (C2Cl4 oil blends have been classified as nonflammable)
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) + trichloro-benzene (TCB) Distribution transformers (to improve viscosity)
Tetracholorobenzyltoluene (TCBT) + TCB Distribution transformers (to improve viscosity and biodegradability)
Synthetic ester + mineral oil Distribution transformers (to improve fire point, hygroscopicity, and biodegradability)
When electrical equipment fails, the fault can usually be traced e.g., IEC 60599, IEEE C57.104, Duval’s Triangle and the Key
to defective insulation [13]. Gas method [110]–[113]. Since all these methods are heuristic
in nature, i.e., not based on scientific formulation, combining
Dielectric Behavior several of them may reduce the risk of mistaken diagnostics and
During the last 50 years much work has been done with the enhance accuracy [114]. Dissolved gas analysis techniques are
aim of improving our basic knowledge of insulating liquid per- being developed for liquids other than mineral oil [115]–[117].
formance. Understanding the fundamental causes of insulation
breakdown, i.e., the conditions necessary for electron avalanche
formation, is essential to ensure reliable design of liquid-filled A Powerful Tool for Life Management
equipment. Earlier studies were concerned with the physical In addition to gases, insulating liquid decay generates aging
phenomena involved in electro-hydrodynamic processes [82]– by-products, which promote further degradation [118]–[120].
[84], and with streamer initiation and development [85]–[94]. Aged or moistened liquids may be treated by drying out, de-
Reviews are available [23], [88]. Mathematical models have gassing, reclamation, re-refining. and reconditioning [121]. A
been developed to simulate the fundamental processes govern- review of the present state of knowledge of liquid treatment pro-
ing discharges in oil [95]–[98]. Pioneering work by Forster has cedures is presented in [122].
clarified the mechanisms by which high-voltage fields interact The presence of moisture (considered the main enemy of in-
with insulating oils [99]. Static electrification is another impor- sulation) in solid and liquid transformer insulation is known to
tant factor threatening the safety of power transformers [100]– play a critical role in transformer life [123]–[125]. The mois-
[106]. Using modern laboratory testing techniques, researchers ture content of the oil can change quickly within an operational
have improved our understanding of the physical mechanism transformer. Direct measurement of moisture content in paper
by which discharges are initiated in dielectric liquids. However, insulation (cellulose) is complex; moisture partitioning curves
much work is still required. between oil and paper under equilibrium conditions have been
published by several authors [126], [127], so that, the moisture
Insulating Liquid Gassing content of the oil having been measured, the moisture content in
Fundamental investigations have also been carried out on the paper can be quickly estimated and the probability of failure
the gassing of oils [100]–[106]. Knowledge of the resistance predicted. A comprehensive review and comparison of various
of insulating fluids to gassing under high electrical stress is of partitioning curve sets has been published [126]. Complications
utmost importance to electrical equipment designers and opera- due to fast dynamic diffusion processes arise. Another problem
tors [107]. While in service, insulating liquids undergo a slow with the partitioning diagrams is that they are based on new oil
but steady decay process under the impact of electrical, thermal, and do not take into account the effects of aging by-products
mechanical, and environmental stresses. Incipient failures such found in aged transformer oil. Diagnostic techniques, based on
as hot spots and partial discharges are responsible for the gassing dielectric spectroscopy, for assessing the condition of the insula-
of oil. Since the resulting fault gases dissolve in the oil, the dis- tion in aged transformers are reviewed in [108].
solved gas analysis technique was developed in order to detect In free breathing units such as transformers, the insulation
incipient failures at an early stage, and is now probably the most system ages under the influence of electrical stress, moisture,
frequently used in-service tool for detecting faults in liquid- dissolved oxygen, and excessive heat. The chemical aggressive-
filled electrical equipment [108]. About 20 dissolved gas analy- ness of oxygen facilitates the formation of soluble oxidation
sis interpretation techniques have been developed so far [109], products and insoluble sludge, which are detrimental to solid
Table 5. Properties of Insulating Liquids Used in the Last 50 Years (Updated Version of a Table Published in [19]).
Mineral oils Naphthenic, paraffinic Liquid-filled power equipment • Good resistance to oxidation
(transformers, circuit breakers, • Good viscosity index
load tap changer, etc.) • Relatively low fire point
• Low moisture tolerance
• Possible sulfur corrosion
Vegetable oils Castor, soybean, cotton, palm, etc. Capacitors, transformers • Low dielectric losses at frequency higher that
1 kHz
• Readily biodegradable
• Low oxidation stability
Synthetic liquids
Alkylbenzenes Bushing, cables, capacitive dividers • Gas absorbing under partial discharges
• Good lightning impulse breakdown strength
Silicone oils Poly-dimethyl siloxanes or PDMS, Traction and distribution • Good viscosity index
poly-methylphenyl siloxanes transformers • High flash point
• Gas absorbing under partial discharges
• High oxidation stability
• Low biodegradability
Organic esters Simple esters Capacitors • Relative permittivity, at 20°C, higher than 5
Other liquids Ethers (alkyl-diphenyl ether, Capacitors • Relative permittivity, higher than 3 at 20°C
ditolyl-ether) • Adaptability
Cryogenic dielectric liquid (nitrogen) Superconductivity and cryogenic • Reduction or suppression of Joule heating
applications