Transformer Oil
I
The article sheds light on n generation system, transformer
types, characteristics, is one of the important and the
main parts in high voltage system.
testing and recent
The heat and insulate problem are
developments of
consuming some problem and can
transformer oil. cause transformer failure. In order
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to cope with this problem, liquid
dielectric as insulating material due
to its function as heat transfer fluid
and electrical insulation and able
to adapt to the problem. In order to
make sure the transformer work in
good condition, use the transformer
insulating oil or petroleum base
mineral oil that fulfils all the
34 Electrical India | February 2020
requirements, specifications and
characteristic of good dielectric.
Good transformer oil acts as a
liquid insulation in an electrical
power transformer and dissipates
heat from the transformer as a
cooling medium. The insulator helps
preserve the core and windings of
the transformer for they dipped in
it. Due to the oxidation susceptibility
of the cellulose paper insulation
made for the both windings, primary
and secondary, the transformer
oil prevents direct contact of
atmospheric oxygen.
 Petroleum based mineral oil has
been used since 1891 as transformer
oil. In addition, the oil is not only
used as a liquid insulation, but also
as a coolant of the transformer. The
petroleum based mineral oils have
been used for insulation because of
their excellent dielectric properties.
This oil has been used since long
time ago due to ability to self-cured
to the situation leading to partial or
total discharge. Dielectric fluid acts
as cooling medium and insulation
of appliances. The insulating oil fills
up pores in fibrous insulation as
well as the gaps between the coil
conductors and the spacing between
windings and the tank. Thus, the
dielectric strength of insulation is
increased. The disadvantages of
mineral oil are non-biodegradable
and non-environmentally friendly.
The mineral oil is low flash point,
low breakdown voltage and difficulty
of disposal after usage. Thus, many
researches have been carried to find
the alternative of liquid insulating
material as they are friendly to the
environment.
Characteristics of
Transformer Oil
• Appearance: The oil shall be
clear transparent and free from
suspended matter of sediments.
• Density: 0.89gm/cm3, at 29.5C
maximum, - at 20C, 0.89589gm/
cm3
• Corrosive: Sulphur, (In terms
of classification of copper
strip+paper), Not corrosive
(1500C for 72 hrs)
• Electric Strength: New
Untreated Oil, After treatment,
30 kV minimum (rms),70 kV
minimum (rms)
• Oxidation Stability after 500
Hrs.@ 120C, Max, Total Acidity
in mg KOH/gm maximum-0.3,
Total sludge per cent by weight
maximum-0. 05, DDF at 90C-
0.02.
• Kinematic Viscosity, in CST:
at 40 0C, maximum-12, at -20
0C, maximum-1800 sqmm/sec
• Flash Point: 135C minimum,
Penskey-Marten (Closed)
• Interfacial Tension: at 27C,
minimum, 0.04 Newton/M
• Pour point: maximum - 30C
• Neutralisation Value:
Total acidity, mg KOH/gm,
maximum,0.01
• Total Sulphur Content % w/w:
< 0.15
• Dielectric Dissipation Factor:
(Tan delta) at 90 0C 0.002
maximum
• Presence of Anti-Oxidation
Inhibito:(Additive),
Minimum-0.25 per cent,
Maximum-0.4 per cent
• Water Content PPM

Comparison of Transformer Oil Specifications

IS:335-1 993 IEC 296:1982 IEC 60296:2003
New Insulating U-Uninhibited T-Trace
Unused Mineral Insulating Oils
Oils - Specification inhibited I- Inhibited (0.08-
1 Grades IS:335 Grade Class I, Class 11, Class Ill Uninhibited 0.4%) HI - High grade
(Uninhibited ) and inhibited grades in each class inhibited (0.08-0.4%)
I II III
2 Kinematic 27 est at 27 C
0
16.5 (40 C)
0
11 (40 C) 0
11 (400C) 12mm2/s at 400C
Viscosity (Max)
800(-150C) 1800 (-300C) 150 (-400C) 1800mm2/s at -300C
3 Flash Point 140 140 130 95 135
(Min) C
0

4 Pour Point (Max) °C -6 -30 -45 -60 -40

5 Acidity (Max) mg 0.03 0.03 0.01
KOH/g
6 IFT (Min) mN/m 40 40 -
7 Dissipation factor 0.002 0.005 0.005
at 90°C (Max)
8 PAC (Polycyclic - - 3
Aromatics
(max)% content)

Electrical India | February 2020 35

 Transformer Oil
(maximum-As delivered): < 30
(in bulk) ;< 40 (in drum)
• Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls
(PCB) Content: Not detectable,
(< 2 PPM)
• Poly Cyclic (PCA) content:
maximum 3% BS 2000 part 346
• 2 FAL/ Furans, ppm: < 0.1
• Impulse Breakdown Voltage
Test: > 145 kVp ASTM method
Testing of Transformer Oil
The first part of a preventative
maintenance program requires
establishing when remedial action
is necessary. With transformer oil,
this is done through testing of the
oil. The following 5-part tests are
a minimal requirement of a yearly
maintenance program.
Dielectric breakdown: Dielectric
strength is a measure of the voltage
which the oil will conduct. Many
contaminants conduct electricity
better than oil therefore, lowering the
dielectric breakdown voltage.
Neutralisation or Acid
Number: Oxidation occurs in the oil
causing the build-up of acid which
will lead to the formation of sludge.
The test indicates the level of acid
present in the oil.
Interfacial tension: This test
points to the presence of polar
compounds, which indicate oxidation
contaminates or deterioration from
the transformer materials i.e. paint,
varnish, paper.
Colour: Indicates the quality,
aging, and the presence of
contaminants.
Water: Is measured in parts per
million. The presence of water will
decrease the dielectric breakdown
voltage.
Key Players in the Global
Transformer Oils Market
• Nynas AB (Sweden)
• Ergon Inc. (U.S.)
• Calumet Specialty Products
(U.S.)
• APAR Industries Limited (India)
• PetroChina Company (China)
• Sinopec Group (China)
• Hydrodec Group Plc. (U.K)
• Cargill Inc. (U.S.)
• Engen Petroleum Limited (South
Africa)

Comparison of Oxidation Stability Tests for Oil

Standard Oil IEC 60296 : 2003 IEC 296 -1982 IS 335: 1993
Grade
Grade Standard High U I U I
U,T,I Grade I (IS :12463-1988)
Test Method IEC 6 1125 Method IEC 61125 IEC 61125 Annexure IS:12177- IS:12422- 1988
C (1992) (Earlier IEC Method A Method B C to 1987 Method (IEC474- 1974,
813-1 985) (Earlier (Earlier IS:335 A ASTMD Same as IEC
IEC 74 - IEC 474- 1934:1968. 61125 Method
1963) 1974) Open Beaker B)
with copper
catalvst
Limiting
Values
Total acidity mg 1.2 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.05 0.4
KOH/g, Max
Sludge % Max 0.:8 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.05 0.1
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Duration of U (uninhibited 164 Min 164 96 Min 120 hrs

Test hrs oil) - 164 T (Trace 120 hrs and limit of
inhibited oil) - 332 I Induction Min 195 Min
(Inhibited oil) -500 Period 195 Rotating
Bomb Test
Method
Temp of oil 120’C in Air 1000C in 1200C in 1000C in 115°C in Air 1200C in
during test Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen
Note: Oil Grade U = Uninhibited Oil, T = Trace Inhibited Oil, I = Inhibited Oil
Continued on page 38

36 Electrical India | February 2020

 Transformer Oil
Continued from page 36
• Valvoline Inc. (U.S.)
• San Joaquin Refining (U.S.)
• Gandhar Oil Refining (India).
Types of Transformer Oil
There are two main types of
transformer oil in use today: Paraffin-
based transformer oil and naphtha-
based transformer oil.
Paraffin-based oil: It is not as
easily oxidised as naphtha-based
oil, in theory producing less sludge.
However, whatever sludge naphtha-
based oil generates is more easily
removed than the sludge from
paraffin-based oil, because it is more
soluble.
Naphtha-based oil: It does not
contain dissolved wax, as does the
paraffin-based type. This wax can
increase the pour point and potentially
cause issues, but in warmer climates
where the temperature never gets
very low, this is not an issue.
Despite the apparent superiority
of naphtha-based oil, paraffin oil
remains the most commonly used
type of oil in transformers worldwide.
Recent Developments
Mineral oils have been used as
insulating and coolant material
for almost over a century in
transformers due to their thermal
and insulating features. The
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38 Electrical India | February 2020
increasing demand of high voltage
rate and small size for transformers,
the development of transformer
oil with favourable dielectric and
thermal characteristics is extensively
required. Therefore, dielectric nano-
fluids have been produced to meet
the above-mentioned necessary
attributes. Nanofluids, a well-known
and a prominent term now-a-days
in dielectric society, have been the
subject of huge research work over
the past decade. In fact, the term
“nanofluid” was first presented by
Choi at Argonne National Laboratory
of the USA in 1995. A liquid with
nanosized particles homogeneously
suspended at just a few weight
percentage (wt%) is called nanofluid
or nano liquid. However, for the
scope of high voltage liquid electrical
insulation research, the terms
“nanofluids” and “nano-liquids” are
used mutually to refer to transformer
oil or nanoparticle combination for
insulating and cooling interest.
The advantages of transformer
oil-based nanofluids as compared to
transformer oil are given as follows:
• Nanofluids have better AC and
impulse breakdown performance
as compared to the mineral oils.
So, it is favourable to be used in
HVAC and HVDC application.
• The AC breakdown strength of
transformer oil-based nanofluids
is less influenced by moisture as
compared to mineral oils. So, it
is helpful in improving insulation
life and hence, transformer life.
• Nanofluids have better partial
discharge characteristics as
compared to the mineral oil.
• Nanofluids have a better
antiaging characteristic as
compared to mineral oil. So,
it can improve the operational
reliability and lifetime of high
voltage transformers.
• Nanofluids have a higher thermal
conductivity than the transformer
oil and they are helpful in better
cooling of transformers.
•
Dr. Sarat Kumar
Sahoo
Professor/HOD Dept. of
Electrical Engineering,
Parala Maharaja
Engineering College
Berhampur, Odisha.
Sadhana Rani
Satapathy
Student, Dept. of
Electrical Engineering,
Parala Maharaja
Engineering College
Berhampur, Odisha.