Table of Contents
What are the different types of transformer oil?
Three basic types of transformer oil used are mineral oil (mostly naphthenic), silicone, and bio-based. Mineral oil based transformer oils dominate the consumption as it has good electrical and cooling properties, and provides cost-effective solution.
What type of oil is used in electrical transformers?
Naphthenic mineral oil
Naphthenic mineral oil has long been the most preferred insulating liquid for power transformer insulation because it has a good pouring point at low temperatures, good thermal cooling capacity, low cost, high efficiency and availability on the transformers market [1, 2, 3, 7].
Why is mineral oil used in transformers?
Transformer oil is a mineral based oil that is commonly used in transformers for its chemical properties and dielectric strength. This oil in your transformer acts as an insulator and a cooling agent. The acid will form sludge which settles on the windings of the transformer resulting in reduced heat dissipation.
What are the different properties of transformer oil?
The properties (or parameters) of transformer oil are:
- Electrical properties: Specific resistance, dielectric strength, dielectric dissipation factor.
- Chemical properties: Water content, acidity, sludge content.
- Physical properties: Interfacial tension, viscosity, flash point, pour point.
What is the difference between inhibited and uninhibited transformer oil?
While uninhibited electrical oils are “straight” mineral oils, containing no additives but achieving their desired characteristics by careful selection of crude and refining technique, inhibited oils contain small amounts of an additive called an antioxidant to inhibit oxidation thus increasing chemical stability.
What is a KNAN transformer?
KNAN is a transformer that uses less flammable non-mineral oil such as silicone oil, synthetic ester or natural ester (FR3) as the insulating fluid with natural air convection cooling. KNAF has same transformer oil as KNAN but with external forced air cooling.
Is mineral oil conductive to electricity?
Mineral oil is used in a variety of industrial/mechanical capacities as a non-conductive coolant or thermal fluid in electric components as it does not conduct electricity and functions to displace air and water.