The use of vegetable oil (natural ester) in electrical devices like power transformers is increasing due to their high biodegradability and better safety. The lifespan of power trans- formers is mainly defined by cellulose insulation condition, which usually works together with dielectric oil as electrical insulation and also as mechanical winding protector and compactor. That is why the aim and results of this research shows us not only the dielectric parameters evolution, but also the relationship between the mechanical factors and the moisture content of thermal accelerated ageing processes, with commercial vegetable oil, of Kraft paper and Diamond Dotted Paper (DDP). These are two of the most common insulating materials in electric power transformers. In addition, the new tests have been done by a different method of paper ageing analysis. ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement Nº 823969 - BIOTRAFO.
In recent years, the use of biodegradable fluids as liquid insulation for distribution and power transformers is spreading. The main biodegradable fluids used are natural and synthetic esters, although biodegradable hydrocarbons have been recently proposed. Biodegradable fluids have a much lower environmental impact than mineral oil, limiting the risk of soil contamination in leaks, which makes them a suitable solution for applications such as offshore transformers or railway transformers. Additionally, these fluids have a higher flash point than conventional mineral oils, which dramatically reduces the risk of fire and collateral damage derived from explosion and fire. Despite these advantageous factors, there are still some aspects that hinder the broadening of their use, such as the difference in thermal properties or the lack of accepted maintenance procedures for transformers that use them as liquid insulation. This paper presents the current status of biodegradable insulating fluids, analyzing some of their properties and discussing the aspects that are still to be investigated in order to make them a real alternative to petroleum-based fluids. ; Part of the work was performed during secondments and short visits between University of Valle, University Carlos III of Madrid and University of Cantabria executed in the framework of the BIOTRAFO project "Raising knowledge and developing technology for the design and deployment of high-performance power transformers immersed in biodegradable fluids", H2020-MSCA-RISE-2018- 823969, 2019-21. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 823969. Also, we acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation by means of the National Research Project Asset management of biodegradable-fluid-based transformers (PID2019-107126RB-C21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and PID2019-107126RB-C22/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033).
The assessment of a TiO2 vegetal-based dielectric nanofluid has been carried out, and its characteristics and behavior have been tested and compared with a previously tested maghemite nanofluid. The results obtained reflect a similar affectation of the main properties, with a maximal improvement of the breakdown voltage of 33% at 0.5 kg/m3, keeping the thermal conductivity and the viscosity almost constant, especially the first one. This thermal characterization agrees with the results obtained when applying the TiO2 optimal nanofluid in the cooling of an experimental setup, with a slightly worse performance than the base fluid. Nevertheless, this performance is the opposite to that noticed with the ferrofluid, which was capable of improving the cooling of the transformer and decreasing its temperature. The similarities between the characterizations of both nanofluids, the differences in their cooling performances and their different magnetic natures seem to point out the presence of additional thermomagnetic buoyancy forces to support the improvement of the cooling. ; This research is under BIOTRAFO project—"Raising Knowledge and Developing Technology for the Design and Deployment of High Performance Power Transformers Immersed in Biodegradable Fluids," which has received funding from the European Union Commission's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement H2020-MSCARISE-2018- 823969; 2019-21. The authors of this research wish to thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy for its financial support for the National Research Project: "Improvement of Insulation Systems of Transformers through Dielectric Nanofluids: Thermodynamic Characterizations and Modelling" (DPI2015-71219-C2 1-R). Additionally, they want to thank the Regional Government of Cantabria; more precisely, the Department of Universities, Research, Environment and Social Policy, for its financial support for the Project "Fluidos Biodegradables en Transformadores Eléctricos de Potencia: Impregnación de Dieléctricos Sólidos y Modelado Térmico con THNM." Mr. Olmo would like to acknowledge to the University of Cantabria and the Government of Cantabria for the financial support for the Ph. D. scholarship (CVE-2016-6626).
In this paper, dielectric properties (BDV and permittivity) of two vegetable oils (Palm Fatty Acid Ester and FR3) used in power transformers are studied. Also, partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) of Kraft paper impregnated with these oils is measured. All the tests were carried out at room temperature and the samples were prepared following the same procedure. Both the impregnated paper and the vegetable oils were aged at 140°C for 11 days to study the evolution of the dielectric properties with the thermal aging. PDIV has been also measured for different number of paper sheets (from 4 to 6), analyzing the dependence of PDIV on the thickness of solid insulation. Dielectric characterization of the oils showed that they are suitable to use in power transformers. BDV of the oils decreased with the aging and PFAE performance was better. Dielectric constant of both oils is almost the same. PDIV results showed that both oils are suitable for the impregnation of Kraft paper in terms of dielectric properties. PDIV of FR3 insulating system was higher than PFAE system in all the studied cases. FR3 insulating systems showed a decrease of PDIV value after the aging process, whereas PFAE one remained almost constant. ; This research is under BIOTRAFO project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action-Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (MSCA-RISE) grant agreement No 823969. The authors of this research wish to thank the Ministry of Economy for its financial support for the National Research Project: Improvement of Insulation Systems in Transformers Using Dielectric Nanofluids. Thermodynamic Characterization and Modelling (DPI2015-71219-C2 1-R). Also, the authors thank the Council of Universities and Research, Environment and Social Policy for its support for the Project: Impregnation of Dielectric Solids with Biodegradable Fluids Used in Power Transformers 2019-2.
Over the last few decades the insulating performance of transformer oils has been broadly studied under the point of view of nanotechnology, which tries to improve the insulating and heat dissipation performance of transformer oils by suspending nanoparticles. Many authors have analyzed the thermal and dielectric behavior of vegetable oil based-nanofluids, however, very few works have studied the evolution of these liquids during thermal aging and their stability. In this paper has been evaluated the performance of aged vegetable oil based-nanofluids, which have been subjected to accelerated thermal aging at 150 °C. Nanoparticles of TiO2 and ZnO have been dispersed in a commercial natural ester. Breakdown voltage, resistivity, dissipation factor and acidity of nanofluid samples have been measured according to standard methods, as well as stability. Moreover, it has been analyzed the degradation of Kraft paper through the degree of polymerization (DP). The results have showed that although nanoparticles improve breakdown voltage, they increase the ageing of insulation liquids and dielectric paper. ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 823969.The authors of this research wish to thank the Ministry of Economy for its financial support for the National Research Project: Improvement of Insulation Systems of Transformers through Dielectric Nanofluids (DPI2015-71219-C2 1-R).
This contribution presents the early results of a R&D collaboration established between the University of Cantabria and the Power Transformer Manufacturer EFACEC. This paper tests two different techniques of steady state thermal modelling applied to power transformer windings, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Thermal-Hydraulic Network Modelling (THNM). The state of the art of thermal modelling demonstrates that these techniques have been used to calculate both average and hotspot winding temperatures by solving the winding temperature and flows profiles within the winding. THNM models have worse accuracy than CFD in the predicted results. The improvement of these THNM models is a topic of study in transformer thermal modelling. The first goal of this paper is to test the accuracy of a new calibrated THNM model of a disc-type winding immersed in mineral oil. Then, this THNM model is tested with ester-based liquids, such as a natural ester and a synthetic ester, to determine if it can be applied to these liquids without further calibrations. Finally, the cooling performance of both type of liquids is compared using only the THNM model results. The results of this work show that the THNM model developed herein gives good estimations of temperatures compared to those obtained with CFD for both types of liquids. Also, the use of alternative fluids leads to lower temperatures when considering the same oil flow rate and temperature as inlet boundary condition. ; This work was supported in part by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action-Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (MSCA-RISE) under Agreement 823969, and in part by the Ministry of Economy through the National Research Project: Improvement of Insulation Systems of Transformers through Dielectric Nanofluids under Grant DPI2015-71219-C21-R.
Transformers are installed in power distribution systems to perform changes in supply voltage. Large consumers often have several transformers installed in parallel to ensure continuity of supply in the event of failure. These machines can achieve very high efficiency, but their efficiency is not constant since it depends on the power demanded at each time. Therefore, the level of efficiency that correspond to the operation of a specific transformer depends on two factors: machine technical characteristics and electrical load. In this work, the authors have proposed a methodology which shows the optimal number of transformers to be connected at each period in the substations of a large Spanish hospital, in order to achieve the maximum seasonal efficiency of these machines. The results of the energy saving are determined with respect to the current situation, in which all the transformers are permanently connected. On the other hand, the European Union has established a new regulation that sets the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new power transformers. This efficiency improvement is proposed to be applied gradually in two stages, a first limit came into force in 2015, while a more restrictive approach will appear in the year 2021. This work has also studied the potential energy savings that would occur when the substations of the hospital have more efficient transformers complying with the new European Regulation 548/2014.
In oil-immersed power transformers, the insulation system is constituted of a dielectric oil-solid combination. The insulation oil generally used is mineral oil; however, this fluid has started to be substituted by natural and synthetic esters due to their higher biodegradability and flash point. The introduction of a new fluid in the insulation system of power transformers requires kinetic models that can estimate the degradation rate of insulation solids. The aim of this work was to go further in quantifying through different kinetic models the deterioration suffered by a commercial cellulose board (PSP 3055), which is one of the solid materials used in the insulation system of oil-filled transformers. The aging study was extended to cellulose board specimens immersed in two different oils (mineral and synthetic ester). It was obtained that there is a lower degradation when synthetic ester is used in the insulation system. Additionally, it can be concluded that the use of mechanical properties to quantify the degradation of the cellulose board through kinetic models provides information about the different behavior shown by PSP 3055 when different fiber direction angles are considered. ; This research was funded by State Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation Plan under the PID2019-107126RB-C22/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 grant agreement, financed by the Government of Spain
In recent years, the use of biodegradable fluids as liquid insulation for distribution and power transformers is spreading. The main biodegradable fluids used are natural and synthetic esters, although biodegradable hydrocarbons have been recently proposed. Biodegradable fluids have a much lower environmental impact than mineral oil, limiting the risk of soil contamination in leaks, which makes them a suitable solution for applications such as offshore transformers or railway transformers. Additionally, these fluids have a higher flash point than conventional mineral oils, which dramatically reduces the risk of fire and collateral damage derived from explosion and fire. Despite these advantageous factors, there are still some aspects that hinder the broadening of their use, such as the difference in thermal properties or the lack of accepted maintenance procedures for transformers that use them as liquid insulation. This paper presents the current status of biodegrad able insulating fluids, analyzing some of their properties and discussing the aspects that are still to be investigated in order to make them a real alternative to petroleum-based fluids. ; Part of the work was performed during secondments and short visits between University of Valle, University Carlos III of Madrid and University of Cantabria executed in the framework of the BIOTRAFO project "Raising knowledge and developing technology for the design and deployment of high-performance power transformers immersed in biodegradable fluids", H2020-MSCA-RISE-2018- 823969, 2019-21. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 823969. Also, we acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation by means of the National Research Project Asset management of biodegradable-fluid-based transformers (PID2019-107126RB C21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and PID2019-107126RB-C22/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033).
In this paper, an experimental research was conducted to study the effect of the presence of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles over cooling and dielectric performance of a natural ester used in power transformers. Different concentration samples of nanofluid have been characterized to find an optimal one, focusing on viscosity, thermal conductivity and dielectric strength. A monitored experimental platform has been used to observe the temperature increases during operation while being cooled. This includes a single-phase distribution transformer, working at three different load levels, C=0.7, C = 1 and C=1.3. Both natural ester base fluid and optimal nanofluid have been used as cooling fluid. At first sight, the nanoparticles seem not to affect neither thermal conductivity nor viscosity at the concentrations used. On the contrary, breakdown voltage of base fluid experiments an enhancement at some of them. The cooling capacity of the nanofluid has also shown an improved behavior. ; The present investigation has been supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy (DPI2015-71219-C2 1-R), the University of Cantabria and the Government of Cantabria (CVE-2016-6626).
The utilization of Clark's transformation in the estimation of the power system frequency provides more robustness to the classical single-phase methods. One of the advantages of this technique is that extract the frequency information contained in the three-phase system. This is particularly important when asymmetric sag generates a zero voltage in one of the three phases. ; The authors would like to thank the support of the Spanish Government under the CICYT research project DPI2002-04416-C04-01.
The application of alternative dielectric oils as esters in power transformers is hindered by the lack of knowledge regarding their properties and respecting which are the best techniques to ensure their proper performance. In this sense one of the fields needing an impulse is the impregnation processes of transformers cellulosic materials with these alternative oils, currently impregnated in most of the cases with mineral oils. This paper studies the impregnation behavior of eight usual dielectric solids, with two esters and a traditional mineral oil. Empirical equations of the impregnation evolution with time have been obtained, from these the rigid cellulosic materials present in the transformers and the viscosity of the dielectric oils have been identified as the key materials and properties to consider during impregnation. An adaptation of the current impregnation processes to the alternative oils have been proposed by increasing their temperature from ambient temperature up to 61-74°C, depending on the viscosity of the oil used. ; This work was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation by the National Research Project Asset Management of Biodegradable-Fluid-Based Transformers under Grant PID2019-107126RB-C22/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033, in part by the Universities and Research Council of the Government of Cantabria by the Grant ''Biodegradable Fluids in Electrical Power Transformers: Solid Dielectric Impregnation and Thermal Modeling with Thermal Hydraulic Network Models (THNM)'' under Grant VP32, 2019-2, and in part by the University of Cantabria through the Industrial Doctoral Program 2016, Scholarship DI13.
Oil-immersed transformers, whose lifespan is defined by cellulose insulation's lifetime, utilize frequently mineral oil. However, this insulating fluid is being replaced by alternative liquids such as natural and synthetic esters. This replacement requires to guarantee a similar behavior of solid insulating materials immersed in them. Although there are different authors who have concluded that Kraft paper reduces its deterioration rate when it is immersed in biodegradable fluids, there are few works that have analyzed the effect of insulation liquids on the mechanical properties of other cellulosic materials such as diamond dotted paper (DDP) during laboratory tests. This paper shows a comparative analysis of four paper/oil specimens (a standard Kraft paper and a diamond dotted paper aged in both mineral oil and natural ester) under controlled laboratory accelerated thermal ageing. This work focuses on changes in mechanical properties such as the energy consumed per unit volume of the failure zone (E R ), rupture strength (σ R ) and strain under ultimate strength (ε cm ). ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 823969-BIOTRAFO
Although oil-immersed power transformers generally use mineral oil as insulation and cooling fluid, this liquid does not meet the new technical requirements of dielectric fluids such as high biodegradability, non-toxicity and high safety. For these reasons, natural and synthetic esters as alternative to mineral oil have increased their utilization in some transformers installations. Despite the fact that there are several works that have demonstrated the suitability of these insulation fluids from the point of view of their stability, dielectric and thermal properties, there are very few works focused on the study of the effects of these liquids on impregnation process. The aim of this work is provide information about the behavior of different rigid insulation materials, not studied until now, during the impregnation process in a synthetic ester compared with a mineral oil. ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 823969-BIOTRAFO
The assessment of two vegetal oils as coolant in Low Voltage Winding of a power transformer with zigzag cooling have been analyzed. These dielectric fluids cooling performance has been compared with a typical mineral oil. To make the study, a 2D-axisymmetrical model of a power transformer has been developed to perform a numerical analysis using a Finite Element Method based software, COMSOL Multiphysics®. Some values are obtained in order to establish the comparison, such as hot-spot temperature or hot-spot factor. Moreover, the influence of the increase of the number of passes of the cooling circuit on the hot-spot temperature has been evaluated for all liquids and compared with the initial design. Results obtained in this work show that the hot-spot temperature is lower for the vegetal oils in the initial design. Furthermore, an increase in the number of passes affect more positively to the mineral oil since similar values of the hot-spot temperature for all liquids are obtained. Values of the hot-spot factor indicates that higher number of passes leads to lower efficient cooling circuits owing to the increase of the pressure drop although the hot-spot temperature decreases. ; The author of this work would like to acknowledge to the Spanish Ministry of Science for the financial support to the National Research Project: Performance of the insulating systems in transformers: alternative dielectrics, thermalfluid modelling and post-mortem analysis (DPI2013-43897-P). Also Mr. Santisteban would like to acknowledge to the University of Cantabria and the Government of Cantabria for the financial support for the Ph.D. scholarship (CVE-2015-11149).
