Abstract:
The power transformers are vital components in
the transmission system. In transformers, mineral oil based
insulating fluids are used which are non-biodegradable, therefore
disposing the aged mineral oils is very challenging. From the last
few years, the power utilities all over the world have started
exploring biodegradable insulating fluids as alternatives to
currently available mineral oil based insulating fluids. The
insulating oil is characterized by the properties such as high
breakdown voltage (BDV), high flash point and low pour point
among others. The vegetable oils which have some good physical,
chemical and dielectric properties are sunflower oil, canola oil,
palm oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, olive oil and mustard oil.
Except for mustard oil, good literature is available for various
thermal, dielectric and aging tests on these oils. Various
researchers have demonstrated that adding nanoparticles to base
fluids can enhance thermal properties of insulating oils and also
increases life of kraft paper or press board (used in transformers)
compared to mineral oils. The present investigation is to
determine the effect of temperature on the BDV of mustard oil
based nanofluids. In the present work Al2O3 (size < 50nm)
nanoparticles are used to prepare mustard oil based
nanoinsulating fluids. The prepared nano fluids had been tested
for its BDV strength at different temperatures.
