TRANSFORMER OIL

Transformers are considered as one of the most important

equipment of the power network as their service in
distribution of the generated power is most significant.
Therefore maintenance of such transformers become more
responsible as sudden failures in transformer leads to heavy
interruptions in power supply. The effective functioning of
such transformers depends on the insulation condition of the
equipment. The quality of the oil used in transformer ( Liquid
insulation ) determines the reliable working of the
transformer and hence ensures the life of transformer.

Transformer Mineral Oil:

Mineral oil is mostly used as liquid insulation for power

transformers due to their high heat transfer aspect also it
serves as better coolant due to its high viscosity index. The
breakdown voltage of the oil used in transformer should be
high as it has to withstand the effects of ageing, thermal
stress and stress due to heavy loading etc. Mineral oil has
considerable operating characteristics in this concern. After
working continually for years the mineral oil used in the
transformer gets deteriorated by dissolved gases in the oil.
Also it develops sludge and acid products due to oxidation
process that takes place overtime. This necessitates proper
maintenance strategies that should be carried onsite for the
effective functioning of such transformers.

Maintenance Of Transformer Oil :

The oil used in the transformer should be purified regularly so

as to prevent any abnormalities and to improve the quality of
the oil. Oil purification removes the Solid impurities from the
contaminated transformer oil by transformer oil filtration. It
also aims to remove the moisture and dissolved gases
developed due to ageing.

Transformer Oil Filtration :

To extend the life of transformer the oil used in the

transformer has to be purified by oil filtration system once in
a while . Now a days this can be done onsite by using
advanced machines and skilled engineers . To purify the
transformer oil high vacuum transformer oil filtration machine
is engaged. The oil from the transformer is pumped into the
inlet and oil gets prepared for processing without any
interruptions. The temperature of the transformer oil is
raised to a particular level by the heaters present in the
machine which separates the moisture from the oil. The
heaters are controlled to avoid any overheating. Then the oil
is made to fed through the respective transformer filtration
system vacuum. The sludge material present in the insulating
oil is removed by filtering through series of filters present
inside the high vacuum oil filtration machine. The last
important step is to admit the oil in to the degassing chamber.
The chamber is allowed to be at high vacuum where the
dissolved gases found in the contaminated transformer oil is
processed stage by stage to get purified. A discharging pump
is also designed in this chamber through which the degassed
oil is taken out. Now the filtered oil is analyzed for its quality
which would be better when compared with the values before
oil filtration.

Transformer oil Recycling :

Over the years of continuous service the transformer oil is

expected to contain chemical impurities such as
polychlorinated biphenyls which will hardly affects the
potential of the oil used in the transformer in turn leads to
breakdown of the equipment. These unwanted chemical
impurities can be removed by used oil recycling done by
advanced chemical techniques. The oil after gone through
purification and recycling serves efficient for another few
years there by extending the life span of the transformer.