scholarly journals Comparison of the Thermal Performance of Mineral Oil and Natural Ester for Safer Eco-Friendly Power Transformers A Numerical and Experimental Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 149-154
Author(s):  
Sandra Couto ◽  
◽  
Elisabete M. Ferreira ◽  
Diogo Sá ◽  
Catarina Corte-Real ◽  
...  

At present, most of the worldwide transformer fleet uses mineral oil as insulation fluid. However, the use of natural ester is playing an increasing role as safer and eco-friendly alternative to mineral oil. From the utilities’ perspective, the change in the mineral oil paradigm can be approached by replacing their assets by new eco-friendly transformers or refurbishing their assets, substituting only the insulating fluid. To make an informed decision, guidelines indicating how a transformer designed for mineral oil would behave when operating with natural ester, are of paramount importance. In the present research, temperature rise tests were carried out in a 15MVA ODAF core-type power transformer, under different operating conditions. Tests were run for mineral oil as insulating fluid and subsequently repeated for natural ester. To gain further insights on experimental results, thermal modelling of the transformer under the same test conditions was carried out, using Thermal-Hydraulic Network Models and Computational Fluid Dynamics techniques. From the present work it was found that the relationship between the thermal behaviour of the transformer using natural ester or mineral oil is not simple as it depends on the operating conditions of the transformer and on the geometry of the windings.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1510
Author(s):  
Raymon Antony Raj ◽  
Ravi Samikannu ◽  
Abid Yahya ◽  
Modisa Mosalaosi

Increasing usage of petroleum-based insulating oils in electrical apparatus has led to increase in pollution and, at the same time, the oils adversely affect the life of electrical apparatus. This increases the demand of Mineral Oil (MO), which is on the verge of extinction and leads to conducting tests on natural esters. This work discusses dielectric endurance of Marula Oil (MRO), a natural ester modified using Conductive Nano Particle (CNP) to replace petroleum-based dielectric oils for power transformer applications. The Al2O3 is a CNP that has a melting point of 2072 °C and a low charge relaxation time that allows time to quench free electrons during electrical discharge. Al2O3 is blended with the MRO and Mineral Oil (MO) in different concentrations. The measured dielectric properties are transformed into mathematical equations using the Lagrange interpolation polynomial functions and compared with the predicted values either using Gaussian or Fourier distribution functions. Addition of Al2O3 indicates that 0.75 g/L in MRO has an 80% survival rate and 20% hazard rate compared to MO which has 50% survival rate and 50% hazard rate. Considering the measured or interpolated values and the predicted values, they are used to identify the MRO and MO’s optimum concentration produces better results. The test result confirms the enhancement of the breakdown voltage up to 64%, kinematic viscosity is lowered by up to 40% at 110 °C, and flash/fire points of MRO after Al2O3 treatment enhanced to 14% and 23%. Hence the endurance of Al2O3 in MRO proves to be effective against electrical, physical and thermal stress.


Author(s):  
Bokang Agripa Tlhabologo ◽  
Ravi Samikannu ◽  
Modisa Mosalaosi

Transformer liquid dielectrics evolved where mineral oil has been the dominant choice until emergence of synthetic esters and natural esters. Natural ester-based oils have been under extensive investigations to enhance their properties for replacing petroleum-based mineral oil, which is non-biodegradable and has poor dielectric properties. This paper focuses on exposition of natural ester oil application in mixed transformer liquid dielectrics. Physical, chemical, electrical, and ageing characteristics of these dielectrics and the dissolved gas analysis (DGA) were reviewed. Physical properties include viscosity, pour point, flash and fire point which are vital indicators of heat insulation and fire risk. Chemical properties considered are water content, acid number, DGA, corrosive sulphur, and sludge content to limit and detect degradation and corrosion due to oil ageing. Electrical properties including breakdown voltage were considered for consistent insulation during overload and fault conditions. These properties of evolving alternative dielectrics were reviewed based on ASTM International standards and International Electro technical Commission standards for acceptable transformer liquid dielectrics. This review paper was compiled to avail modern methodologies for both the industry and scholars, also providing the significance of using mixed dielectrics for power transformers as they are concluded to show superiority over non-mixed dielectrics.


2015 ◽  
Vol 789-790 ◽  
pp. 336-341
Author(s):  
Joris Coddé ◽  
Wim Van der Veken ◽  
Martine Baelmans

In this paper the mass flow distribution in zig-zag cooled power transformer windings is shown to play a crucial factor to accurately predict the winding temperature. In order to enable thermo-hydraulic network models for transformer design, new correlations are derived for combining and dividing T-junctions and elbow configurations. Good correspondence is achieved in comparison with CFD simulation results for a zig-zag cooled power transformer winding.


2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-612
Author(s):  
Marek Szmechta ◽  
Tomasz Boczar ◽  
Dariusz Zmarzły

Abstract Topics of this article concern the study of the fundamental nature of the sonoluminescence phenomenon occurring in liquids. At the Institute of Electrical Power Engineering at Opole University of Technology the interest in that phenomenon known as secondary phenomenon of cavitation caused by ultrasound became the genesis of a research project concerning acoustic cavitation in mineral insulation oils in which a number of additional experiments performed in the laboratory aimed to determine the influence of a number of acoustic parameters on the process of the studied phenomenona. The main purpose of scientific research subject undertaken was to determine the relationship between the generation of partial discharges in high-voltage power transformer insulation systems, the issue of gas bubbles in transformer oils and the generated acoustic emission signals. It should be noted that currently in the standard approach, the phenomenon of generation of acoustic waves accompanying the occurrence of partial discharges is generally treated as a secondary phenomenon, but it can also be a source of many other related phenomena. Based on our review of the literature data on those referred subjects taken, it must be noted, that this problem has not been clearly resolved, and the description of the relationship between these phenomena is still an open question. This study doesn’t prove all in line with the objective of the study, but can be an inspiration for new research project in the future in this topic. Solution of this problem could be a step forward in the diagnostics of insulation systems for electrical power devices based on non-invasive acoustic emission method.


2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-194
Author(s):  
Anna Svedberg ◽  
Tom Lindström

Abstract A pilot-scale fourdrinier former has been developed for the purpose of investigating the relationship between retention and paper formation (features, retention aids, dosage points, etc.). The main objective of this publication was to present the R-F (Retention and formation)-machine and demonstrate some of its fields of applications. For a fine paper stock (90% hardwood and 10% softwood) with addition of 25% filler (based on total solids content), the relationship between retention and formation was investigated for a microparticulate retention aid (cationic polyacrylamide together with anionic montmorillonite clay). The retention-formation relationship of the retention aid system was investigated after choosing standardized machine operating conditions (e.g. the jet-to-wire speed ratio). As expected, the formation was impaired when the retention was increased. Since good reproducibility was attained, the R-F (Retention and formation)-machine was found to be a useful tool for studying the relationship between retention and paper formation.


Author(s):  
Giuseppe Starace ◽  
Lorenzo Falcicchia ◽  
Pierpaolo Panico ◽  
Maria Fiorentino ◽  
Gianpiero Colangelo

AbstractIn refrigeration systems, evaporative condensers have two main advantages compared to other condensation heat exchangers: They operate at lower condensation temperature than traditional air-cooled condensers and require a lower quantity of water and pumping power compared to evaporative towers. The heat and mass transfer that occur on tube batteries are difficult to study. The aim of this work is to apply an experimental approach to investigate the performance of an evaporative condenser on a reduced scale by means of a test bench, consisting of a transparent duct with a rectangular test section in which electric heaters, inside elliptical pipes (major axis 32 mm, minor axis 23 mm), simulate the presence of the refrigerant during condensation. By keeping the water conditions fixed and constant, the operating conditions of the air and the inclination of the heat transfer geometry were varied, and this allowed to carry out a sensitivity analysis, depending on some of the main parameters that influence the thermo-fluid dynamic phenomena, as well as a performance comparison. The results showed that the heat transfer increases with the tube surface exposed directly to the air as a result of the increase in their inclination, that has been varied in the range 0–20°. For the investigated conditions, the average increase, resulting by the inclination, is 28%.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4242
Author(s):  
Fausto Valencia ◽  
Hugo Arcos ◽  
Franklin Quilumba

The purpose of this research is the evaluation of artificial neural network models in the prediction of stresses in a 400 MVA power transformer winding conductor caused by the circulation of fault currents. The models were compared considering the training, validation, and test data errors’ behavior. Different combinations of hyperparameters were analyzed based on the variation of architectures, optimizers, and activation functions. The data for the process was created from finite element simulations performed in the FEMM software. The design of the Artificial Neural Network was performed using the Keras framework. As a result, a model with one hidden layer was the best suited architecture for the problem at hand, with the optimizer Adam and the activation function ReLU. The final Artificial Neural Network model predictions were compared with the Finite Element Method results, showing good agreement but with a much shorter solution time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3522
Author(s):  
Konstantinos-Marios Tsitsilonis ◽  
Gerasimos Theotokatos

In this study a coupled thermodynamics and crankshaft dynamics model of a large two-stroke diesel engine was utilised, to map the relationship of the engine Instantaneous Crankshaft Torque (ICT) with the following frequently occurring malfunctioning conditions: (a) change in Start of Injection (SOI), (b) change in Rate of Heat Release (RHR), (c) change in scavenge air pressure, and (d) blowby. This was performed using frequency analysis on the engine ICT, which was obtained through a series of parametric runs of the coupled engine model, under the various malfunctioning and healthy operating conditions. This process demonstrated that engine ICT can be successfully utilised to identify the distinct effects of malfunctions (c) or (d), as they occur individually in any cylinder. Furthermore by using the same process, malfunctions (a) and (b) can be identified as they occur individually for any cylinder, however there is no distinct effect on the engine ICT among these malfunctions, since their effect on the in-cylinder pressure is similar. As a result, this study demonstrates the usefulness of the engine ICT as a non-intrusive diagnostic measurement, as well as the benefits of malfunctioning conditions mapping, which allows for quick and less resource intensive identification of engine malfunctions.


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