Synthesis and evaluation of oleic acid esters as dielectric liquids

The worldwide depletion of petroleum crude and the search for technologically and ecologically alternative to PCBs for transformers has led to the development of synthetic liquid dielectric which are nonflammable, nontoxic and bio-degradable. Esters like methyl oleate and pentaerthritol tetra oleate were synthesised in the laboratory. These esters were evaluated for their physical, chemical, electrical and ageing properties and the values obtained compare well with those of commercially available liquids like Midel 7131 and RTemp fluid. Further accelerated ageing studies were performed on these esters and the data obtained reveal that the esters prepared in the laboratory have very good chemical stability towards oxidation without an inhibitor when compared to Midel 7131 and RTemp fluid which have phenolic inhibitors