ARU 60 (70) DEVICE FOR DETERMINATION OF ELECTROINSULATING OIL

DIELECTRIC RIGIDITY

1. DISIGNATION OF THE PRODUCT

The ARU 60 (70) device for determination of the olectroinsulating oil dielectric rigidity is
meant for determination of the dielect r i c rigidity of electroinsulating oil under operating conditions,
according to the provisions stipulated within STAS 286-81.
The determination of the electroinsulating oil dielectric rigidity is porformable by moasuring
the rupturing voltage at mineral electroinsulating oils whose 20°C viscosity is of max. 50mm 2s-1
(cat) and which is used as oils for tranaformers, circuit-breakers, condensers and other similar
devices.
The device is manufactured in two structural alternatives with a maximum 60kV working
voltage between electrodes - of ARU 60 type and of 70kV, respectively - of ARU-70 type.

2. MAIN FEATURES
The device is under the form of a metal box of 585 x 420 x 380 sizes, the testing bowl,
being covered with a tranolucent and tilting lid that is included within this gauge-size.
The device has the following structure (see the enclosed drawings):
 the body of the device, mainly including the 200/60,000 (70,000)V high voltage
A.C. transformer, the autotransformer for supply voltage variation in the range
between 0¸220V A.C. with the driving motor and the adjustment and measurement
system;
 the testing bowl with electrodes;
 the protection translucent lid that enables vizialisation of the electric arc occurrence
betweeun the electrodes.
The device is supplied from the 220V A.C. eloctric grid., the supply being made by means
of a protection contact plate; the devise is also fitted with an auxiliary distinct terminal for the
compulsory earth connection.
The supply voltage variation of the high voltage transformer is performed by tripping an electric servo-
motor autotransformer ensuring a constant voltage variation.
Technical Specifications
 supply voltage: 220±20V A.C, 50±5Hz;
 maximum testing voltage: 60(70)kV A.C.
 electric power input: max. 300VA;
 curent for tripping the sparkover current relay: 1,2±0,1A;
 testing bowl capacity: 500cm3;

1
  prescribed distance between electrodes: 2,5±0,05mm
 maximum voltage increase speed: 2kV/s;
 voltage variation tripping: by means of the servo-motor;
 total nette weight: 48,0(49,6)kg.
The device is designed for operation within rooms with low mechanical vibration, within an
environment laching electroconductive dust, excessive humidity or chemically corrosive agents.

3. OPERATION
3.1. Generals
The measurement of the electric rupturing voltage by means of the ARU--60 (70) device is performed for:
 new oil (on untreated oil sample and on treated oil sample);
 oil taken from operating equipments (sampled from the stored equipments);
 physically or chemioally re-conditioned oil.
The eleotric rupturing voltage (kV) represents the efficacious value of the A.C, voltage of practically
sinusoidal shape at which electroinsulating oil dielectric rupture ocoure, at a standard distance between
electrodes of 0,25mm.
The olectroinsulating oil dielectric rigidity (kV/cm), which is a conventional quantity, represents the
ratio between the rupturing electric voltage of the dielectric (kV) under the specific conditions of the test and the
distance between tho two electrodea (cm), between which voltage is applied. It evinces the degree of
contamination of the. electroinsulating oil (presence of water, of soluble or insoluble particle, of gas or solid
particle), also enabling assesment of the advisnbility of the re-conditioning oil treatment (drying, filtering) so
that it may be further used.
The dielectric rigidity values for electroinsulating oils at different electric power equipments are given
within tho "Recommended standards for testing and measurements on electric equipments and facilities " – PE 116 /
84.
The rupturing voltage is influenced by the slightest sample contamination, a special attention boing
particularly required for avoiding humidity absorption.
The way of sample taking and manoeuvoring should be made in oompliance with the provisions
stipulated within STAS 286-81 for the determination of electroinsulating oil dielectric rigidity, paragraph 4;
and within STAS 41-78 for crude oil and oil products, packing, labelling, storage, transportation and
manoeuvering.

3.2. Preparements in view of determination

In case of new oil, the rupturing voltage is to be moasured on both the untreated oil sample and on the
treated oil sample by sample heating up to 90 ± 3°C; it should be filtered in heat, under a 20 torrs vacuum,
through a G4 filtering crucible and, afterwards, cooled within an exsiccator down to the environmental
2
temperature. Both measurements are to be presented within the testing bulletin.
In case of oils sampled from either operating or stored electric equipments, rupturing voltage
measurement should be performed on tho untreated sample, without its being previously filtered. Rupturing
voltage measurement is recommended to be performed after preserving the sample 24 hours within the
room in which the measurement is tobeperformed.
The testing bowl, with electrodes should be repeatedly washed both inside and outside,with extraction
petrol or with mineral ether and afterwards it should be dried at 60°C, for at least 30 minutes.
It is forbidden to wipe the testing bowl or the electrodes with cotton or stock materials. The operator
should not touch with his hand the surface that will directly get into contact with the testing oil.
Before pouring the electroinsulating oil from the bottle into the testing bowl with electodes, the sample shold
be homogenized by shaking the bottle and avoiding air bubble formation.
The testing bowl with electrodes should be rinsed with the testing oil and afterwards the oil sample is to be
slowly poured within the bowl along a clean glass rod, previously rinsed with the oil under testing.
The level of the within the testing bowl should be of at least 1 centimeter over the upper edge of the electrodes.
After its being filled, the testing bowl is to be placed with its connection knives into the connection locations,
the protection translucent lid is to be closed and operator should wait for at least 10 minutes. It is only afterwards that
testing vottage increase should be initiated.

3.3. Way of performing the tasts

The test implies application, between the electrodes, of a 50Hz A.C. voltage increasing from
0 up to the value at which rupture occurs.
With this aim in view, the device is to be connected to a protection contact plate by means of
its supply cord; it should also be compulsorily connected to the earthing belt by means of a
multicore copper conductor with a minimum section of 4,0 square mm (STAS 6119-70).
The supply circuit-breaker (I) is tripped, voltage presence within the device being pointed
out by the lighting of the bulb on the left side panel (L1).
Attention shold be paid so that indicating instrument be at its zero and that the bulb on the
right side panel (L2) be off. In case the indicating instrument shows other value than zero voltage
and the bulb on the right side panel is off it is necessary to actuate the voltage decresse button
(U¯) for resetting the indicating instrument to zero.
If the indicating instrument is at its zero voltage increased can be commanded: the voltage
increase button (U) should be actuated; attention shold be paid so that bulb (L2) on the right side
panel be simultaneously set on, wich points aut application of a voltage between the electrodes in
the testing bowl.
At the moment in which oil sample rupture occurs an electric sparkle is to be noticed within
the testing bowl electrodes and the bulb (L2) on the right side panel sets off.
3
 The rupturing voltage and the dielectric rigidity of the sample can be read on the indicating
instrument.
After reding the indicating instrument, the voltage decreasing button (U¯) should be
actuated for resetting the device to its initial state (the indicating instrument should be at zero).
After commanding voltage inscrease or decrease and in case the action should be
immediately stopped, the STOP button is to be actuated and afterwards the voltage decrease
button (U¯) should be tripped for resetting the indicating instrument to zero.
For determination of the dielectric rigidity of an insulating oil sample, six ruptures should be
performed.
The first voltage application shold be made after 10 minutes from the moment of filling the
electrodes test bowl, so that airbubbles do not appear within the oil. After each rupture the oil in
the boel is to be lightly mixed between the electrodes by means of the glass rod with which the
device is endowed. The glass rod should be previously cleaned and air-bubbles formation should
be avoided. The operator should wait for 2 minutes in view of removing eventual derivative
products that could occur between the electrodes.
The result of the first measurement should not be taken into consideration.
The mean rupturing voltage, respectively the mean dielectric rigidity is the aritmetic mean
of the results gained from the last five ruptures on codition that none of the five values differ from
the mean rupturing voltage, respectively from the mean dielectric rigidity, by more than 15% i
case of new oils and by more than 25% in case of operation oils.
In case the results gained are different from their arithmetic nean by more than 15%, and
25% respectively, the test will be repeated on a new oil sample.
In than last case, the arithmetic main of the last five rupture values from the two samples is
considered as mean rupturing voltage , and respectively, mean dielectric rigidiy.
If in this case the dispersion of the results is also over 15%, the test should be repeated on a
new oil sample.
The results are to be integrated within a table of the following kind:
No. Temperature of the Rupturing voltage Dielectric rigidity
sample T(0C) Ustr. (kV) Estr. (kV/cm)

Mean Estr

Within the survey bulletin mention has be clearly made of the origin of the oil (now –
untreated sample; new – treated sample taken from the operation; sample taken from the oil
supply), the type of the tested oil, the manufacturer of new oil or of the oil supply as well as the
4
facility from which the has neen sampled, together with its characteristics, in case of operation
oils.

4. LABOUR PROTECTION NORMS

For protection of the operation staff, the following device structural steps are taken:
 the provision that device operation be made only with its being visibly connected to the earth;
 on protection lid opening the high voltage transformer is automatically deenergized and its
primary is short-circuited;
The device for the determination of electroinsulating oil dielectric rigidity should be operated only by
qualified and specially trained staff.
The supply of tho d e v i c e should be made from a protection contact plate it should not be
operated unless the connection between the special feed plate and the earth belt has been previously
made.
The d e v i c e in forbidden to be used with its lid open, which keeps the circuit-brooker locked,
since the device is usually tripped by lid shutting.
During the device operation (when the voltage increase button is tripped) the protection lid is forbidden
to be touched; it can be operated only when between the electrodes voltage is certainly absent.
After a longer term storage or after storage within rooms with a humidity of over 70% at 20 0C and, at
any rate, once a year, the 1000 inductor and the low voltage insulation resistance of the winding shotd be
checked.

5. AUXILIARIES AND SPARE PARTS SUPPLIED ON DELIVERY

On delivery, within the wrapping box the fllowing accompanying documentation should exist:
 Technical handbook
 Quality certificate;
 Operation report;
Within the testing bowl with electrodes the following auxiliaries and spare parts exist:
 2 fuses;
 2 signalizing lamp.