Fabio Scatiggio, Claudio Marchiori and Paulo Botelho

UNDERSTANDING
AND MANAGEMENT
OF SULFUR
CORROSION FROM
INSULATING OIL

0
TSN (Transmissora Sudeste Nordeste)

1.169 Km transmission lines at 500kV

5 Substation at 500kV
1 Substation at 230kV

NOVATRANS (Interligação Norte Sul II)

1.278 Km transmission lines at 500kV

6 Substation at 500kV

1
34 Reactors - Areva 55 MVAr
Start-up 2004
40% filled with Nynas oil e 60% filled with Petrobras
oil
Analysis on May 2004 Non
Corrosive
Corrosive
ASTM
D1275 13 21
19 h
Nynas Petrobras
10GBN - A AV58

2
March 2005 (~1 years after energisation): a not failed
reactor was retired and completely dissembled for
inspection

Extended sections of
the upper half of the
winding showed severe
corrosion and insulation
contamination

3
 Copper - 20th turn of 40 P a pe r - 20th turn of 40

60
60
59
59

58
58

57
57

56
56

55
55
Disk

54

Disk
54

53
53

52
52

51
51

41
41

24
24

12
12

0 4 8 12
0 1 2 3

4
After 3 – 9 months of exercise the corrosive oil
(13 units) was changed with other non-corrosive

After oil change

NO FAULTS

5
Reactors Areva 33,3 MVAr: 8
Reactors Areva 45,3 MVAr: 5
Reactors Siemens 50 MVAr: 12
Reactors Siemens 66 MVAr: 15
Transformers Siemens 83,3 MVA: 4
Transformers Toshiba 100 MVA: 7
Transformers Areva 200 MVA: 7
Start-up 2003

6
Results for the TSN system were
more articulated and difficult to
handle in the light of knowledge
available at the time
ASTM Corrosive
D1275 %
19 h 0

48 h 25

72 h 59

120 h 100

7
 5

3
Faults N°
2
TSN

0
2° Sem. 1° Sem. 2° Sem. 1° Sem. 2° Sem.
2004 2005 2005 2006 2006

The faults didn’t affect the service quality of grid, thanks to the
presence of spare reactors in each station and the quickly actions of
operating Transener, TSN and Terna technicians

8
 N° of reactors -
Reactors Nº of faults
TSN

66,6 MVAr Siemens 15 8

50 MVAr Siemens 12 4

45,3 MVAr Areva 5 2

33,3 MVAr Areva 8 -

Total 40 14 Start-up 2003

9
 Reactors 50 MVAr total n0 : 11 (+1 bought)

Faults n0 3 Dic. 2004; Jan. 2005; Mar. 2005

Oil change (5 units) Mar. – Jun. 2005

LACK OF “GOOD OIL”

Passivation (6 units) August 2005

After oil change After oil passivation: 1 fault

NO FAULTS (363 days)

10
 Reactors 66,6 MVAr total n0 : 14 (+1 bought)

Faults n0 2 Jun. 2005 – Aug. 2005

LACK OF “GOOD OIL”

Passivation (all units) Aug. 2005

After oil passivation 6 faults (33,

102, 136, 168, 284 and 478 days)

11
Reactors 45,3 MVAr total n0 : 4 (+1 bought)

Faults n0 2 Jun. 2005 – Dec. 2005

LACK OF “GOOD OIL”

Passivation (2 units) Aug. 2005

After oil passivation NO FAULTS

12
 B
COPPER CONTAMINATION
A
100,
99,5
99,1
98,6
98,1
97,7 Copper contamination –
vertical axis (ASTM D130)
97,2
92,6
88,0
83,3
78,7
74,1
71,8
HEIGHT %

71,3 100 %
70,8
69,4
64,8
60,2
55,6
50,9
46,3
A B
41,7
37,0
32,4
27,8
23,1
18,5
0%
13,9
4,6
0,5

0 4 8 12

13
 Paper contamination – vertical axis
B
INSULATING PAPER OF SINGLE PAPER A+B
A
ELEMENTAL CONDUCTOR
100,
100,0 99,5
99,5 99,1
99,1 98,6
98,6 98,1
98,1 97,7
97,7 97,2
97,2 92,6
92,6 88,0
88,0 83,3
83,3 78,7
78,7 74,1
74,1 71,8

HEIGHT %
71,8 71,3
HEIGHT%

71,3 70,8
70,8 69,4
69,4 A B 64,8
64,8
60,2
60,2
55,6
55,6
50,9
50,9
46,3
46,3
41,7
41,7
37,0
37,0
32,4
32,4
27,8
27,8
23,1 23,1
18,5 18,5
13,9 13,9
4,6 4,6
0,5 0,5
0 1 2 3 4 0 2 4 6 8 10

PAPER CONTAMINATION by n° of dirty paper turns 14

 Copper and paper contamination – radial axis
(ASTM D130)
A B
COPPER DISC 71%
Liv ello inqu in am ento d a 12
10
8
s olfuro

6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
<---- INTERNAL EXTERNAL --->
TURN N°

4
L iv e llo in q u in a m e n to d a

PAPER DISC 71%

A B
3
s o lfu r o

2
1
1

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

<---- INTERNAL 22
TURN N° EXTERNAL --->
15
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
DEPOSITION AND DEGREE OF
POLIMERISATION OF PAPER COPPER CONTAMINATION
B
A
100,
100,0 993 99,5
99,1
99,5 974 98,6
99,1 983 98,1
97,7
98,6 975 97,2
92,6
98,1 1014
88,0
97,7 1002 83,3
78,7
97,2 982 74,1
92,6 1079 71,8
HIGHT %

HIGHT %
71,3
88,0 1082 70,8
69,4
83,3 1091 64,8
74,1 1084 60,2
55,6
64,8 1104 50,9
55,6 46,3
1167
41,7
46,3 1178 37,0
32,4
32,4 1185 27,8
18,5 1200 23,1
18,5
0,5 1185 13,9
4,6
800 900 1000 1100 1200 0,5
DP UNITS 0 4 8 12

THE COPPER CONTAMINATION

FOLLOWS THE EXISTING THERMAL
PROFILE INSIDE THE REACTOR

16
 A B
COPPER DISC 71%
12
Liv ello inquinam ento da
10
8
s olfuro

6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

<---- INTERNAL EXTERNAL --->

TURN N°

THE COPPER CONTAMINATION FOLLOWS THE

EXISTING THERMAL PROFILE INSIDE THE REACTOR

1300 DP DISCO 71%

1103 1156 1130

1200

1003 1095
DP UNITS

1100
1002 993
1016 970
974 982 964 958 962 984 973
1000
941 960 952
933 926
901
900

800
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

<---- int ext --->

TURN N°
17
18
 ~ 6% of Cu in paper

Contaminated paper

Uncontaminated copper

contaminated copper

19
• Owner of 97 % of Italian Transmission Electric Grid
• 38.987 km of electric lines
– 380 kV: 9.538 km
– 220 kV: 10.280 km
– < 150 kV: 19.169 km
• 350 Substations
• 600 Power Transformers

20
 Terna
Terna Oil
Oil Census
Census
Population of 650 operating transmission transformers,
from 130 to 380 KV, including breathing and sealed
equipment, tested by ASTM D1275 at 19 e 48 hours

19 h 48 h

NO Corrosive % 2 20

FAULTS Non Corrosive % 98 80

CORROSIVE %
100 40

80
30

Corrosivity %
60
19
40 48 19 h
20
20 48 h
0
10
< 1970 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2005

0
ISO-PAR PAR NAPH

Hydrocarbon type groups 21

 Effects
Effects –– Transmission
Transmission
Transformer
Transformer
After less than one year of operation (air av.ge=12°C,
top oil max=65°C, load≤75%) the transformer was
inspected for causes not connected with the presence
of sulfur

NAKED
DIN 51353 ASTM D 1275 DOBLE
COPPER and COPPER
Oil PAPER OF (cables,
Ag 100°C Cu 140°C Cu 150°C
WINDINGS contacts,
18 168 19 48 72 19 48 etc)

Naphtenic oil, NC NC NC 1b C 4a C 4a NC 3b C 4b CLEAR DARK

22
All the metallic
surfaces of
naked copper
result covered
by an adherent
layer of black
dust of Cu2S

23
Copper windings are less corroded then naked copper
surfaces, because at low temperature paper acts as
protective film

24
 Actions
Actions
Specifications for New Oils:
1. standard grade quality oils passing the TERNA or
DOBLE test
2. high-grade quality
3. passivated oils

Transformers in legal guarantee filled with

corrosive oils (Terna or Doble test):
• Oil change, passivation or depolarisation (experimantal)
• Increasing the frequency of chemical and electrical
controls
NO FAULTS 25
 Historical
Historical background
background

The term of corrosive sulfur identifies those

forms of sulfur that are corrosive under
normal operating thermal conditions of the
transformers

26
Not all the sulfur species present in mineral oil are
corrosive in the same way

FORMULA REACTIVITY

Elemental Sulphur (free) S very high reactive

Mercaptans (thiols) R-SH very reactive

Sulphides (thioethers) R-S-R1 reactive

Disulphides R-S-S-R stable/reactive

5 membered ring
Thiophenes very stable
with S

Table from: Lance R. Lewand “The Role of Corrosive Sulfur in Transformers and
Transformer Oil” - Proceedings of the Sixty-Ninth Annual International Conference of
Doble Clients, Boston, MA, USA, 2002.

27
 C C C C SH C C S C C

alchil-mercaptano dialchil-solfuro

C SH C SH
C C SH
C C C C
C C
C C C C
C C C
S
ciclopentantiolo S
cicloesantiolo tiofenolo

C C
C C C C C
C C C C
C C C C C
C C C C
S S C
S S

tiaciclopentano tiacicloesano tiofene benzotifene

28
 International standard
organizations have
adopted, since the ’50s,
a simple ON/OFF test to
detect the corrosiveness
of the oils

Method Description

ASTM D130 – IP 154 – ISO

COPPER sTRIP AT 100°C
2160
ASTM D1275 - ISO 5662 - NBR
COPPER STRIP AT 140°C FOR 19 HOURS
1505

DIN 51353 SILVER STRIP AT 100°C FOR 18 HOURS

TERNA (Extended ASTM

COPPER STRIP AT 140°C FOR 48 OR 72 HOURS
D1275)
CCD (Cover Conductor COPPER AND PAPER STRIP AT 150°C FOR 72
Discoloration Test) HOURS
DOBLE - ASTM D1275/B –
COPPER STRIP AT 150°C FOR 48 HOURS
NBR 1505:05
29
 Methods parameters comparison

Method Materials Quantity °C h O2 Norm.

100 ml oil;
DIN 51353 Ag 100 18 No Yes (IEC)
1600 mm2 Ag
ASTM D 250 ml oil; Yes
Cu 140 19 No
The aim of each 1275 A 300 mm2 Cu (ASTM)
corrosive sulfur TERNA
(ASTM D
method should be 1275 Cu
250 ml oil;
140 48-72 No No
300 mm2 Cu
the ability to extended at
48 or 72 h)
intercept the
NBR 250 ml oil;
corrosivity of oil 1505:05 *
Cu
300 mm2 Cu
150 48 No Yes
in relation of his ASTM D 220 ml oil;
Cu 150 48 No No
application 1275 B 300 mm2 Cu
Cu
15 ml oil;
CCCD conductor
540 mm2 Cu Next
Cigre wrapped 150 72 No
540 mm2 emission
(Siemens) with paper
paper
(one turn)
18 ml oil;
CCCD 720 mm2 Cu
Cu + paper 140 96 Sì No
(ABB) 1200 mm2
paper

* 3b level is taken as corrosive 30

EDS spectrum (Cu peaks only) and SEM photograph of copper
strip surface after test with NONCORROSIVE oil

EDS spectrum (sulfur and copper peaks either) and SEM

photograph of copper strip surface after test with CORROSIVE
31
oil
 Paper
Paper Contamination
Contamination
Copper sulfide is an electric semi-conductor

Tan δ Resistivity (Ωm)

Insulating windings paper,

without visible copper sulfide 0.003 5 ⋅ 1012
contamination
Insulating windings paper, with
low copper sulfide 0.005 5 ⋅ 1010
contamination
Insulating windings paper, with
high copper sulfide >1 5 ⋅ 104
contamination

Equipment faults by short-circuits between windings (arcing)

32
 Sulfur
Sulfur overview
overview
Total sulfur concentration isn’t related with
The market is
corrosivity
requiring “free
sulfur” or “low sulfur” Total sulfur against year of manufacturing

oils. 7000

mg/kg
90% cum.
6000 average value

But at the same time 5000

it is very interesting
4000

to discover that
3000

2000

during the last 10-15 1000

years there has been 0

an increase in the
1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008
Year
presence of corrosive
sulfur and related 1995:
faults “miles
stone”
year

33
 The
The refining
refining process
process

Other process

CRUDE
OIL
Furfural Hydrogenation
FUEL cut treatment

Topping Cracking Waxed Aromatics +

distillate Furfural

Gas (H2)
Diesel Dewaxing Spindle OIL
Gasoline
Kerosene Kerosene (insulating oil base)
Gasoline Diesel
Gas combustibile Fuel oil LMO
Paraffine & others HMO
BS
Bitumen Lubricants
34
 ADVANTAGES:
1. High yield of production
2. Low pour point
3. Low PCA
4. Better impact on
environment (low waste)

LP Hydrogenation Oxidation stability ?

Hydrogenation
(4/10 atm)

MP Hydrogenation Naphtenic base

(40/80 atm) + Lubricants

HP Hydrogenation
(> 180 atm)

Hydrogenation is also able to remove the majority of OCS

(organic sulfur compounds)

35
Main
Main analytical
analytical techniques
techniques applied
applied
To verify the presence of sulfur compounds in new and used oils
it was decided to apply a powerful technique, GC-AED (Gas
Chromatography - Atomic Emission Detection).
GC-AED is widely used in petroleum industry for its unique
capability to detect and quantify molecules with heteroatoms, in
the presence of a complex matrix (hydrocarbon background).

Scheme of GC-AED detection

Courtesy of JAS – Joint Analytical Systems

36
 Hz

200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

-0.2
004 c010

c006
Other

007 c009
005 c008
[c014]
c019

0
[c030
c018
c015 c017
c016 c032
[C023]
c026
c031
c028
c020 c033 c053 [c021]
c022 c051
*ECD1 A, (06-10-06\1917.D) [ERRT Calculation]

c045
c046 c069 [c039
c052 [c038
c049 c073]
c048 c075 c043]
c047 [c062 c065]
cc044
037 c042 c059
c041
c040 [c057 c103]
c067 c100
c074 [c061 c094] c070 [c076 c098]
c066 c095 [c080 c088 c093 c102]
c091
C 30

c056 c060 [c155]

c090 c101 [c089]

0.2
c099 [c079 c113]
c097 [c086 c152]
c087
c085 c115 [c081 c111 c116 c117 c125 c145]
c136 [c120
c077 c148]
c110
c082 c151
c135 [c124 c144]
c118 c123
[c139c149
c140][c106]

c146 [c161 c165 c188]

c132
c105 [c127 c153 [c184]
c168]
c141
c179
c137 c176
c138 c160 c163 [c164]

0.4
c158 [c186]
Other technique
technique

c187 [c159 c182]

c183 [c162]
c128
C70 + DBDS

c174 [c181]
c177
c156 c171

c180
0.6

c170

c199
c196 c203
0.8
C 209

c195 c208

c194
DBDS is overlapped to PCB C70 congener

c206
1

c209
choice because of its widespread availability for PCB
with high sensitivity and will probably be the method of

min
The electron capture detector (ECD) responds to DBDS

analysis in chemical labs servicing the electrical industry

37
AED reveals the constant presence
of a sulfur peak towering above a
sea of uniformly sized peaks of
sulfur compounds residual from
deep hydro-treating

Nynas Nytro 10GBN oil

(with DBDS)

Petrobras AV 58 oil Nynas Nytro 11GBX-US oil

(without DBDS)
(without DBDS)

38
 Confirmations
Confirmations
All the samples were then analyzed by GC-MS, and the presence of DBDS
was confirmed in each sample that showed one major sulfur peak with GC-
AED detection.
10ng_060606205844 #1686 RT: 18.90 AV: 1 NL: 2.85E6
T: + c Full ms [ 50.00-650.00]
91.1

These confirmation study were performed by two

100

laboratories: Sea Marconi Technologies (IT);

95

University of Missouri, Rolla (USA)

90

85

80

75

70

65

60

Relative Abundance
S 55
S 50

45 S
S
40

35

30 181.1

25
65.0
20

15

10
92.1 246.0
5 121.1 182.2
165.2 203.2 247.1
337.0 369.6 427.0 477.8 524.5 604.3
0
100 200 300 400 500 600
m/z
39
 DBDS
DBDS’’ behaviour
behaviour with
with copper
copper
Oils containing DBDS were subjected to copper-to-oil reaction under the
conditions prescribed in ASTM D 1275.

S
S

Before the
reaction with Before the
copper reaction with
copper

After contact with

copper:140°C, 48h.
After contact with (copper / oil ratio = 21
copper:140°C, 72h. times more then ASTM
(copper / oil ratio = 50 D 1275)
times more then ASTM
D 1275)

40
On new oil, DBDS “naturrally” present On used oil, DBDS “naturrally” present
DBDS was spiked into a white oil (S < 0,0003%) to verify its
behaviour in absence of other sources of sulfur or aromatics.

ppm of DBDS spiked:

0 mg/kg 20 mg/kg 50 mg/kg 100 mg/kg 200 mg/kg

Corrosivity according with ASTM D 130:

2d 3b 4b 4c 4c

41
 DBDS
DBDS and
and oxidation
oxidation stability
stability
Oxidation stability tests were performed accordingly with IEC
61125 C, on unused oils containing DBDS. The same oil was tested
again for oxidative stability.
1,2 AS WELL: oil with DBDS, untreated
1,0 HEAT: oil with DBDS pretreated 3
0,8 AS WELL days at 140°C
COPPER: oil with DBDS pretreated
VA

0,6 HEAT

0,4
COPPER 3 days at 140°C with copper

0,2

0,0
0 5 10 15
DAYS

The oil meets IEC 60296 3,0

requirements as new and even after
thermal stress.
2,5

2,0 SLUDGE

After the reaction with copper (and 1,5 1,2

VA

consequent DBDS consumption)

SA
1,0 0,8 TA

oxidation stability falls to 0,5

unacceptable values. 0,0

AS WELL AS WELL HEAT COPPER IEC 60296
164h 332h 332h 164h
42
 DBDS,
DBDS, corrosion
corrosion &
& faults
faults
All the TSN & Novatrans oils was tested for DBDS presence

Corrosivity ASTM D1275 DBDS

in the
Company Equipment Condition
original
19 h 48 h 72 h 120 h oil

Novatrans Reactors (21) In service No No No No

In service after
Novatrans Reactors(13) Yes Yes Yes Yes
oil change
TSN Reactors In service No No No Yes Yes
TSN Reactors Failed No No Yes Yes Yes
TSN Reactors Failed No Yes Yes Yes Yes
In service after
TSN Transformers No No Yes Yes Yes
oil passivation
In service after
TSN Transformers No Yes Yes Yes Yes
oil passivation

DBDS concentration in range 150 – 250 ppm 43

 Passivator
Passivator and
and DBDS
DBDS
The addition of metal passivator (CIBA® Irgamet 39) is today the
mitigation technique that has been used worldwide to the largest extent.

In the experiments fortified non-corrosive naphthenic oil with 500 ppm of

DBDS and 1000 ppm of Irgamet 39, is submitted to a copper corrosivity
(ASTM 1275-B) long time test at 150 °C

Hours: new 48 96 144 168 192 240 288 320 368

1b 1b 2d 3b 3b 4a 4a 4a 4b 4b

The passivator presence delay the corrosion effects of DBDS, but is

unable to protect the metal from DBDS induced corrosivity over long
time periods. IT’S ONLY TIME AND STRESS DEPENDING !

44
Of course, the blame is not on the passivator CIBA®
Irgamet 39 but on the ill-advised notion it can cure
corrosion and contamination that have progressed
sufficiently.
Some confirmations come from:
• Brazil, 7 shunt reactors (TSN) failed in a range of
1 ÷ 18 months after passivation
• Brazil, 1 GSU (hydraulic) failed after passivation
• USA, 1 GSU (thermal) failed after 1 year from
passivation

45
Highlights
Highlights on
on DBDS/corrosivity
DBDS/corrosivity
• DBDS is present in most of the oils which exhibit
corrosive behaviour
• DBDS is related to some representative faults
• DBDS acts as anti-oxidant
• DBDS is a corrosive sulfur compound, it “shall not
be present in new oils”
from IEC 60296 Ed. 3-2003-11 “Unused mineral insulating oils for transformer and
switchgear”, par. 6.10: Corrosive sulfur.
Some sulfur compounds, e.g. mercaptans, are very corrosive to metal
surfaces, i.e. steel, copper and silver (switchgear contacts) and shall not be
present in new oil

46
 Failure
Failure Mechanisms
Mechanisms
Two different mechanism was observed:
1. ABB:
• Copper dissolve into oil, react with mercaptans and then break
down to copper sulfide.
• Conductive sulfide deposit onto the outer surface of the
insulation and help the inception of partial discharges by steep-
front transients.
• Partial discharge sustain at rated stress until breakdown of the
insulation ultimately takes place.
PD’s should be easily monitored, but they never was measured and
even no H2 by DGA

47
 Failure
Failure Mechanisms
Mechanisms

2. Terna and others:

• Build-up of sulfides on the conductor surface until the film
becomes mechanically unstable
• Transfer of debris and particles to the adjacent paper tapes;
• Migration/diffusion of fine particles across the turn insulation;
• Breakdown at power frequency and rated voltage stress.

48
 Failure
Failure Mechanisms
Mechanisms
Despite the decay of Breakdown Voltage (BDV) on individual paper
tapes, the withhold voltage of turn insulations remains much
higher than rated stress.

[Tamyres L. M. J. “Corrosive
Sulphur” 2005 IEEE/PES
Elemental Turn Common Turn Transformer Commiettee –
Memphis Tennesse (USA)]

Besides BDV, the Cu2S dramatically affects conductivity. Temperature

accelerates the rate of corrosion and particle diffusion and, especially,
determines the conditions for stability or breakdown.
Stated plainly, breakdown is possible whenever the increased resistive
current generates more heat than can be locally dissipated

49
 Condition
Condition monitoring
monitoring
No evidence of Cu2S contamination from:

Chemical (in oil): DGA, furans, NN, water, DP, BDV,

tan delta, total sulphur, metals, etc.

Traditional electrical test: inductance, PF, PD, etc.

Non-conventional electrical test: RVM, SFRA, FDS

50
 Condition
Condition monitoring
monitoring (RVM)
(RVM)

Negative influenced from electromagnetic induction from

live lines
Moisture interference
NO indication of contamination
51
Condition
Condition monitoring
monitoring (FDS)
(FDS)
Negative influenced from
electromagnetic
induction from live lines
Moisture interference
NO indication of
contamination

52
Condition
Condition monitoring
monitoring (SFRA)
(SFRA)
Little influence of
electromagnetic induction
from live lines

Unable to evaluate the

contamination (contaminated
windings spectra were very
similar than new windings)
53
DBDS,
DBDS, as
as tool
tool for
for contamination
contamination
monitoring
monitoring
100
DBDS (Normalized %)

90

80 REACTOR A
REACTOR B
70
REACTOR C
60 SPARE

50
0 6 12 15 18
months

20 ppm/year of DBDS →
100 grams of elemental S → a pound of
highly conductive copper sulfide

54
 Remediation
Remediation
Passivation (often fails)
Retro-filling (never failed)
Winding substitution (high economic impact)
Improve the cooling efficiency (only in limited cases)
Winding Tem perature
108
106 Forced Air Cooling
104 Natural Cooling
102
100
°C

98
96
94
92
90
0.00 4.48 9.36 14.24 19.12 0.00
time

55
What
What we
we aspect
aspect from
from insulation
insulation oil
oil

Hydro-treated oil is reacted with hydrogen under

pressure over a catalyst which removes efficiently
most unstable compounds, but also results in unwanted
changes in oil composition and properties (removal of
natural inhibitors)

56
What
What we
we aspect
aspect from
from insulation
insulation oil
oil
Overestimation on oxidation stability importance

The fear for the collapse of oxidation resistance

observed with inhibited oils in accelerated laboratory
tests was never supported by field evidence, especially
in sealed equipment.
0,40 sealed

0,30 breathing
IEC 60422 limit
NN

0,20

0,10

0,00
<10 15-10 20-15 25-20 30-25 35-30 40-35 > 40
age (years)

57
What
What we
we aspect
aspect from
from insulation
insulation oil
oil
Revision of current specifications to prevent similar incidents in
the future

Electrical insulating oil made from hydro-treated naphthenic base

oil must come exclusively as inhibited oil with specified amounts
of at least one phenolic inhibitor and one metal deactivator

Sulphur specification:
1. Total amount
2. Splitting in sulphur families (Speciation) :
• Mercaptans
• Sulfides,
• Disulfides
• Thiophenes
• Etc.

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 Contacts:
Contacts:
Fabio Scatiggio e-mail: fabio.scatiggio@terna.it
Claudio Marchiori e-mail: claudio.marchiori@terna.com.br
Paulo Botelho e-mail: paulo.botelho@terna.com.br

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