Transformers Nanofluids

This chapter interprets the impacts of powder nanoparticles on upgrading the electrical and physical properties of pure transformer oils and contains the new technologies for preparation transformers nanofluids. This chapter draws attention to the theories of dynamic charging and effective parameters for nanofluid polarization. Furthermore, this chapter presents recent procedures for estimation and control of nanofluids conductivity and the effects of nanoparticles on nanofluid conductivity. Moreover, this chapter demonstrates the favored methodology of nanofluid preparation and the tested high voltage breakdown. The precision of recommendation and forecast is another addition to qualitative investigations.

Electric Field Enhancing Artifacts as Precursors for Vacuum High-Voltage Breakdown

Abrupt formation of plasma in a high-voltage insulating vacuum gap and subsequent discharge of electrodes limits the reliability of a class of vacuum electronic devices, such as X-ray tubes. It has been suggested that electron field emission from negatively charged electrodes would precede and initiate such discharge. Heating and evaporation of material upon field emission would cause dense plasma to develop in periods of nanoseconds. High-pressure plasma would expand from the cathode, eventually bridging the gap. Nevertheless, the very reason for the unredictable initial development of discharge events after long periods of reliable operation is still matter of debate. Experience from industrial processes suggests hydrocarbon contamination to degrade the electric stability of high-voltage gaps. While former attempts aimed at explaining high field emission by carbonaceous 2D structures or surface resonance effects, this paper discusses whether 3D structures may grow slowly, until their evaporation in a matter of nanoseconds. Similar to the production of carbon nanotubes, protruding structures might comprise carbon and, in addition, metallic nanoparticles, which would boost production of vapor during their explosion. The hypothesis was tested by scanning electron and energy-dispersive X-ray inspection of two cathodes of medical X-ray tubes, covered with metallic seed nanoparticles, which served as model systems. A third cleaner cathode was inspected for comparison. Although certain suggested conditions of carbon feed, elevated substrate temperature and nanoparticle contamination of the surfaces were met, images showed only a very weak sign of growth of suspicious carbon structures. It seems, therefore, unlikely that CNT-like structures are a major cause of high-voltage breakdown between electrodes of X-ray tubes.

Analysis of Gaseous By-Products of CF3I and CF3I-CO2 after High Voltage Arcing Using a GCMS

Increasing demand for an alternative insulation medium to sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) has led to the investigation of new environmentally friendly insulation gases which could be used in high voltage equipment on the electrical power network. One such alternative, which is currently being explored by researchers, is Trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) which could potentially be used in a gas mixture with carbon dioxide (CO2) as an insulation medium. In this paper an analysis of gaseous by-products detected as a result of high voltage breakdown through pure CF3I and a CF3I-CO2 gas mixture across a sphere-sphere electrode arrangement is given. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS) is used to identify the gaseous by-products produced as a result of high voltage arcing which causes the gas between the electrodes to dissociate. Analysing these gas by-products helps to identify the long-term behaviour of the gas mixture in high voltage equipment.