Transformer fires remain a regular occurrence in aging fleets of power plant equipment. Transformer oil testing remains a critical step in preventive maintenance. Oil testing can warn of electrical and mechanical failure, insulation deterioration, and cooling and thermal performance issues.
Biobased transformer oils are showing superior performance across all these benchmarks in international quality standards tests. Transformer oil testing is revealing that the greening of the electric grid may be the best way to prevent electrical fires and outages.
Biobased Transformer Oil Advantages
Transformer overload is a major cause of fires, but the insulating fluid can help prevent failure. Insulation deterioration is the second leading cause. Biobased transformer oils, especially natural ester, have higher dialectic strength. Under ASTM D6871 and other transformer oil testing standards, this strength is shown to improve insulation properties, load capacity, and the lifetime of transformers.
Thus, the shift from petroleum-based oils to green insulating oil in transformers supports the shift to sustainable power transformer solutions. Biodegradable oils made from soya, canola, and other plant seed oils have been surpassing mineral oil on other testing benchmarks, including:
Mineral oil has traditionally been used to insulate and cool the core and components of the transformer. This oil, in contrast, is flammable and because it is sulfur-based corrosive.
Green Oil to Grease the Gears of the Green Grid
Transformers are under more pressure to switch to biobased oils due to environmental concerns, including fire hazards and clean drinking water and soil. Some countries are switching their electric grids to biobased oils. Other countries are building an ester transformer oil-producing plant with plans to convert in the future.
When fires and spills do occur, biobased oils cause less damage in spills and remediation. Natural ester biodegrades at a faster rate than synthetic ester and mineral oil. Its biodegradability in water and soil is non-toxic and non-hazardous.
The global buildout of power plants and distributed power is increasing the use of transformers. The fastest growth is coming from renewable energy power plants. Biobased transformer oils complement the clean energy goal of supporting clean, sustainable power production.
The cost barriers to using biobased transformer oils are also coming down. The decrease in outages and fires lowers the total cost of ownership of power transformers. Biobased transformer oils are helping to achieve higher transformer availability and durability.
Share29 May 2020
Take a walk out into the forest, and you can't help but be enamored by the complexity of the nature around you. Plants grow green and lush from the forest floor. Frogs chirp away, and birds dart from tree to tree in search of insects and berries. If you want this environment to remain beautiful, you must play your role in caring for it, and that role begins with using energy responsibly. From cutting back on electricity use to driving a more fuel-efficient car, there are so many eco-friendly changes you can make. This website is a good place to learn about these changes, along with other energy-related topics.