Vegetable-oil-based dielectric coolants

Author

McShane, C. Patrick

Author_Institution

Cooper Power Syst., Waukesha, WI, USA

Volume

8

Issue

3

fYear

2002

Firstpage

34

Lastpage

41

Abstract

Electrical transformer insulation systems are evaluated based on economic, safety, and environmental standpoints using total life cycle analysis. Because of the inherent high efficiency of liquid-cooled transformer designs, new developments focus on improving the environmental and safety properties of fire resistant (less-flammable, high fire point) fluids. This article reports the latest findings on dielectric systems using natural ester (vegetable oil) fluids. Because esters naturally have lower oxidation resistance than mineral oils, a novel blend of base oils and additives were developed to overcome this potential handicap. Single- and three-phase prototype field installations using these new dielectric coolants are discussed

Keywords

cooling; power transformer insulation; transformer oil; additives; base oils; economic standpoints; environmental standpoints; fire resistant fluids; high efficiency; liquid-cooled transformer designs; lower oxidation resistance; natural ester fluids; paper-insulation life improvement; safety standpoints; single-phase field installations; three-phase field installations; total life cycle analysis; transformer insulation systems evaluation; vegetable oil based dielectric coolants; Coolants; Dielectrics and electrical insulation; Electrical safety; Environmental economics; Fires; Oil insulation; Oxidation; Petroleum; Power transformer insulation; Resistance;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Industry Applications Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-2618

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2943.999611

Filename

999611