DEliRO!JMl I O N IJF ELt.

CTH1LAL

I N S ! _ I L U l ING P O P E R rlOPJlT'3:h-EE! ! J ~ I N G

L I QU I D CHROMATOGRAPHY

H I titi P E H F U H P I U N C t

d.

School o f

ABS : H A C
t.eLh,?;i;ue

for

U n s w o r t h and F .

Mitchel I

M a t e r i a l s P h y s i c s Hesearch Centre,
M a t h e m a t i c s . P h y s i c s . Computinq and E l e c t r o n i c s .
Macquarie U n i v e r s i t y ,
New S o u t h W a l e s , A u s t r a l i a .

r
measurinq t h e

i r i c r e a s e i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f f u r a n crimpourids
c l u e t.u t h e deq'adaticin
o f c e l l u l o s e r l a s been
d e s c r i b e d bv t 3 : r t o n [ 1 , 2 J . I h e i n c r e a s e i n
r- onc en t r a t 1on U 1 :?- hvd r o x yme t hy 1 - 2 -

t u r a l d e h y d e . 2~ t i ~ r - a l d e h y d eand f o u r o t h e r
t u r a r i s i n t h e miiheral oil i n t r a n s ' o r m e r s and
z i l - f i l l e d c a b l e s can be m o n i t o r e d u s i n q H i q h
Pet- furmance L i q c r i d Chroma t o q r a p h y ( H . P . L . C . )

l h e deqradation o t e l e c t r i c a l k r a f t
paper- under c a r e f u l l y c o n t , - o l l e d l a b o r a t o r y
e x p e r i m e n t s i s b e i n g examined i n o r d e r t o f i n d
a c o r r e l a t i o n between t h e d e c r e a s e ot
d i e l e c t r i c p r o p e r t i e s . mechanica: s t r e n q t h and
a v e r a g e m o l e c u l a r w e i q h t o f t h e c e l l u l o s e and
the increase i n concentration of furan
compounds. R e s u l t s f r o m some p r e l i m i n a r y
experiments a r e presented.

INTHODULTION
O i l - i m p r e q n a t e d paper is commonly
used as an i ~ s u l a n ti n power c a h l e 5 ,
c a p a c i t o r s and t r a n s f o r m e r s . U e t e r i o r a t i o n o f
t h e o i l i n s u l a n t can be e a s i l y m o n i t o r e d :
s a m p l i n q p o i n t s a r e p r o v i d e d on t h e e l e c t r i c a l
e q u i p m e n t and t h e o i l sampleb can be t e s t e d
f o r p r o p e r t i e s such as p e r m i t t i v i t y ,
d i S 5 i p a t i O n f a c t o r , breakdown s t r e n q t h .
a c i d i t y and i n t e r f a c i a l t e n s i o n . w h i c h
i n d i c a t e the extent o f deqradation o f the o i l .
A=sessrnent c f t h e s t a t e o f t h e paper
i n s u l a t i o n i s more d i f f i c u l t . Because t h e
paper 1 5 wrapped a r o u n d t h e c o n d u c t o r s , i t
c a n n o t be sampled w i t b o u t t a k i n g t h e e q u i p m e n t
o u t o f s e r v i c e . The method c u r r e n t l y used by
power q e n e r a t i n q a u t h o r i t i e s f o r a s s e s s i n q t h e
e x t e n t o t paper d e q r a d a t i o n is m o n i t o r i n q
c a r b o n monoxide and c a r b o n d i o x i d e l e v e l s i n
t h e o i l , by D i s s o l v e d Gas O n a l y 5 i s . T h l s is
n o t an a r c b r a t e i n d i c a t i o n , however, because
q e r e r a l o x i d a t i c n o f t h e o i l can a l s o p r o d u c e
t h e s e qases.
The c e l l u l o s e f i b r e s i r l paper
deqrade t o p r o d u c e a r a n q e o f f d r a n s , w h i c h
d i s s o l v e in t h e i m p r e g n a t i n g minerai. o i l . A
method has been d e v e l o p e d 11,721 t o d e t e r m i n e

the c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f these f u r a n s i n t h e o i l .
The c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f 2 - f u r a l d e h v d e , i n
p a r t i c u l a r . has been d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e
e x t e n t o f d e q r a d a t l o n o f t h e paper C31. The
ddvantaqe o f u s i n q f u r a n l e v e l s , i n s t e a d o f
t h e c a r b o n o x i d e l e v e l s . is t h a t t h e f o r m e r
are deqradation products s p e c i f i c t o the
p a p e r . 011 d e q r a d a t i o n w i l l n o t o r o d u c e
furans.
l h e aim o f these experiments i s t o
examine t h e c o r r e l a t i o n between t h e
c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f f u r a n s i n t h e o i l , and t h e
d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f t h e m e c h a n i c a l and dielectric
p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e paper.

CHENl_CAL_DE_GRADAJION

O F CELLUCO_SE_

Paper 1 5 a mat o f c e l l u l o s e f i b r e s ,
t h a t have been e x t r a c t e d from some v e q e t a b l e
s o u r c e , commonly wood. The c e l l u l o s e f i b r e s
c o n s i s t o f a bundle o f c e l l u l o s e molecules o f
d i f f e r i n g l e n g t h s , l a y i n g s l d e by s i d e . They
a r e h e l d t o g e t h e r by h y d r o q e n bonds i n v o l v i n g
t h e h y d r o x y l q r o u p s ( - O H q r o u p s ; F i g . 1 ) on
t h e a d j a c e n t molecules. C e l l u l o s e i t s e l f i s a
l i n e a r p o l y m e r o f g l u c o s e m o l e c u l e s ( F i q . 11,
which a r e l i n k e d t o g e t h e r t h r o u g h t h e
q l y c o s i d i c bond. The l e n g t h o f t h e c e l l u l o s e
m o l e c u l e i s measured i n t e r m s o f t h e Deqree o f
P o l y m e r i s a t i o n ( D . P . ) . T h l s is t h e a v e r a q e
number o f q l u c o s e u n i t s p e r c e l l u l o s e
m o I PCU 1 e .
The a c t u a l mechanism o f c e l l u l o s e
d e g r a d a t i o n is complex and depends on t h e
c o n d i t i o n s t o w h i c h i t is s u b j e c t e d . t i o n e v e r ,

, jY-O\

,OH

T- ---r

Figure 1

C H Z ~ B ~ - ~ / ~ / O O O 3O3 7- $01

.oo

Structural Formulae of Glucose and Cellulose

o rgaa

IEEE

- 337 -

t h e r e a r e t h r e e main f a c t o r s w h i c h promote
d e g r a d a t i o n : e l e v a t e d t e m p e r a t u r e , oxygen and
o x i d i s i n g a g e n t s , and m o i s t u r e .

T herma 1 Dearada t i o n
H e a t i n g c e l l u l o s e , i n t h e absence o f
o x i d i s i n g a g e n t s and m o i s t u r e , t o a maximum o f
2OOnC, t e n d s t o break t h e g l y c o s i d i c bonds and
open t h e g l u c o s e r i n g s . P r o d u c t s o f t h i s
r e a c t i o n i n c l u d e f r e e glucose molecules,
m o i s t u r e , c a r b o n o x i d e s and o r g a n i c a c i d s .

~ ~ 0 J C o ; r Heat
" -

Breaks glycosidic
bonds and o m n s
glucose rings

H20

CO

CO2

O x i d a t i v e Dearadation
Cellulose i s q u i t e susceptible to
o x i d a t i o n . Here, e s p e c i a l l y , t h e p r o d u c t s o f
r e a c t i o n depend on t h e n a t u r e o f t h e o x i d i s i n g
a g e n t and t h e pH, b u t , i n g e n e r a l , t h e
h y d r o x y l groups a r e o x i d i s e d t o c a r b o n y l
( a l d e h y d i c ) and c a r b o x y l ( a c i d i c ) groups. T h i s
weakens t h e g l y c o s i d i c bond and can l e a d t o
chain scission.
oxidation-

Moisture i s produced.during

-0oxygen*

COOH

CHO
Moisture produced
ond glycosidic .bonds
weakened
Hydro 1v t i c Dearada t i o n
Water and a c i d s c l e a v e t h e
g l y c o s i d i c bond y i e l d i n g f r e e g l u c o s e . Paper
i n e q u i l i b r i u m ' w i t h t h e atm-p'here
normally
8 X m o i s t u r e by weight.
contains 7
I n s u l a t i n ~ q _ - p a p s ci s - c a r e f u l l y - O r i e d b e f o r e i t
i s put i n service t o stop t h i s type of
d e g r a d a t i o n o c c u r r i n g . I f t h e paper undergoes
t h e r m a l o r o x i d a t i v e d e g r a d a t i o n , where
m o i s t u r e i s produced, h y d r o l y t i c d e g r a d a t i o n
i s promoted. M o i s t u r e i s t h e most p o w e r f u l
degrading agent o f paper.

hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde. The methanism 15

shown i n F i g u r e 2. T h i s i s an u n s t a b l e
compound and can decompose t o o t h e r
f u r a l d e h y d e s . Again, t h e n a t u r e o f t h e
d e c o m p o s i t i o n p r o d u c t s w i l l depend on t h e
c o n d i t i o n s . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , and a l s o because
t h e degraded forms o f g l u c o s e can r e a c t t o
form o t h e r f u r a n s , s i x d i f f e r e n t furans a r e
b e i n g a n a l y s e d i n t h e eixperiments. These a r e
2 - f u r o i c a c i d . f u r f u r y l a l c o h o l , 5hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, 2 - f u r a l d e h y d e , 2a c e t y l f u r a n and 5 - m e t h y l - 2 - f u r a l d e h y d e
(Fig.
3). I t i s hoped t h a t onq, o r a c o m b i n a t i o n o f
these, w i l l g i v e a s e n s i t i v e i n d i c a t i o n o f
paper d e g r a d a t i o n .

EFFECT OF DEGRADATION ON PERFORMANCE

The m e c h a n i c a l s t r e n g t h o f paper
depends on t h e l e n g t h o f t h e c e l l u l o s e
m o l e c u l e s and t h e e x t e n t o f hydrogen bo,nding
between t h e m o l e c u l e s i n t h e f i b r e s . The t h r e e
forms o f d e g r a d a t i o n r e d u c e t h e l e n g t h o f t h e
c e l l u l o s e molecules i.e.
t h e D.P.
f a l l s . This
r e s u l t s i n l o s s o f t e n s i l e s t r e n g t h . A Linear
r e l a t i o n s h a p has been found between t h e D.P.
and t e n s i l e s t r e n g t h by s e v e r a l w o r k e r s C3.43.
When t h e D.P.
f a l l s below a b o u t 250 (unaged
2000). t h e paper
paper has a D.P. o f 1000
has l o s t a l l s t r e n g t h and i s b r i t t l e and
crumb1 y

Hydrogen b o n d i n g a l s o becomes weaker

as c e l l u l o s e i s o x i d i s e d . The h y d r o x y l q r o u p s
r e a c t t o become c a r b o n y l and c a r b o x y l groups,
w h i c h do n o t hydrogen bond as s t r o n g l y as t h e
h y d r o x y l groups. T h i s w i l l c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e
loss of t e n s i l e strength.
The e f f e c t o f d e g r a d a t i o n on
d i e l e c t r i c p r o p e r t i e s does n o t appear t o be as
s e v e r e as on m e c h a n i c a l p r o p e r t i e s . I t has
been found t h a t d i e l e c t r i c l o s s and e l e c t r i c
s t r e n g t h do n o t d e t e r i o r a t e enough t o l e a d t o
equipment f a i l u r e C3.51.

Ring form of glucose

; ;2

Open-chain form
of glucose

-0/f;O

-HzO

o r acid

H O E O H
Free glucose produced.
D e a r a d a t i o n To F u r a n s
A11 t h r e e t y p e s o f d e g r a d a t i o n
cause, o r r e s u l t i n . c h a i n s c i s s i o n , y i e l d i n g
g l u c o s e and degraded forms o f g l u c o s e .
M o n i t o r i n g glucose l e v e l s i n the impregnating
o i l may i n d i c a t e t h e e x t e n t o f paper
d e g r a d a t i o n . b u t g l u c o s e has a v e r y low
s o l u b i l i t y i n o i l . I t tends t o remain
associated w i t h the polar s t r u c t u r e s i n the
paper.
Glucose degrades, u n d e r t h e
i n f l u e n c e o f m o i s t u r e and a c i d s . t o produce 5-

-33a-

QaurC

2 -Mechanism of Degrodatlon o f Glucose

to 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde
EXPER IMENTQL.

analysis- O f Furans

BY

H.P.L.C.

A schematic o f t h e i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n
r e q u i r e d t o c a r r y o u t H.P.L.C.
i s given i n
F i g u r e 4.
The f u r a n s a r e e x t r a c t e d f r o m t h e
o i l by s h a k i n g a b o u t 20 grams o f t h e o i l w i t h
2 mLs o f a c e t o n i t r i l e . The a c e t o n i t r i l e
e x t r a c t i s decanted o f f t h e o i l . f i l t e r e d and

5. D r i L d paper t o w h i c h a few d r o p s o f
t a p w a t e r had been added, i m p r e q n a t e d w i t h new
transformer o i l

I/

F~~~~~

re

3 -Furz-s

r i rrz

/sec by

i3

20 m i c r o l i t r e s i s i n j e c t e d o n t o t h e H.P.L.C.
column. The column i s a s t e e l t u b e ( 2 5 cm l o n g
x 4.6 mm 1 . d . )
packed w i t h p a r t i c l e s ( 5 m i c r o n
diameter) of a s o l i d material. A solvent,
c a l l e d t h e m o b i l e phase, i s pumped t h r o u g h t h e
column. The f l o w o f t h e m o b i l e phase s e p a r a t e s
t n e sample components. The s e p a r a t i o n i s based
on t h e d i f f e r e n t e x t e n t s t o w h i c h d i f f e r e n t
sample components i n t e r a c t w i t h t h e s o l i d
s t a t i o n a r y phase and t h e m o b i l e ohase. The
d e t e c t o r senses t h e components as t h e y a r e
e l u t e d f r o m t h e column. The d e t e c t o r r e s p o n s e
i s r e c o r d e d a s a t r a c e , c a l l e d a chromatogram.
Each peak on t h e chromatogram c o r r e s p o n d s t o
one o f t h e sample components; t h e a r e a u n d e r
each peak i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n
o f t h a t component.
For the furan analysis, the
s t a t i o n a r y phase i s o c t a d e c y l g r o u p s bonded t o
s i l i c a p a r t i c l e s ( i . e . a C-18 Column) and t h e
m o b i l e phase i s a m i x t u r e o f methanol and
w a t e r . An u l t r a v i o l e t d e t e c t o r i s used. The
a n a l y s i s was c a r r i e d o u t a s d e s c r i b e d by
B u r t o n C1,21.

PumD and

Controller
Pump

UU

IN Detector

Solvent
Containers

F SU-C- 4 - k c hema-t LG. P f-Inst.r.ume

Re_q_uLreA-.For H.P .L .C.

Chart recorder/
integrator

ntatioy!

P r e l iminary-Aqeinq Test
F i v e samples o f paper were p r e p a r e d
as f o l l o w s , and oven-aged f o r 22 weeks. The
oven t e m p e r a t u r e was 105-C f o r t h e f i r s t 13
weeks, t h e n was reduced t o 90C f o r t h e
r e m a i n i n g 9 weeks. The paper used was T e r t r a n s
N, m a n u f a c t u r e d by T e r v a k o s k i i n F i n l a n d . The
paper i s 60 m i c r o n s t h i c k w i t h a d e n s i t y o f
0 . 7 5 g/cm'.
The samples were:
1.

D r i e d paper aged a l o n e
D r i e d paper i m p r e g n a t e d w i t h new
transformer o i l ( S h e l l D i a l a B)
3 . D r i e d paper i m p r e g n a t e d w i t h used
t r a n s f o r m e r o i l ( f r o m an o p e r a t i n g
transformer)
4 . U n d r i e d paper ( i . e . paper i n
e q u i l i b r i u m w i t h t h e atmosphere) impregnated
w i t h new t r a n s f o r m e r oil

X.

Each sample c o n s i s t e d o f e i q h t
s t r i p s o f paper ( 2 0 0 x 1 5 m m ) i n one t e s t t u b e , and f o u r s q u a r e s o f paper ( 1 2 6 x 126 m m )
i n a second t e s t - t u b e .
I n c a s e s where t h e
f o r 24
paper was d r i e d , i t was d r i e d a t 90'C
h r s and t h e n p l a c e d i n a d e s s i c a t o r ( w i t h
s i l i c a g e l d e s s i c a n t f f o r a f u r t h e r 24 h r s .
Weight loss by t h i s method was 4 - 5 7.. The
o i l s used t o i m p r e g n a t e t h e samples were n o t
degassed o r d r i e d . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 20 grams o f
o i l was added t o t h e t e s t - t u b e s c o n t a i n i n g t h e
8 s t r i p s o f p a p e r , and 5 5 - 57 qrams t o t h e
t e s t - t u b e s w i t h t h e s q u a r e s o f paper. The
t e s t - t u b e s were c o v e r e d w i t h a l u m i n i u m
f o i l t o p r e v e n t d u s t i n g r e s s d u r i n g ageing.
F I f t e r a g e i n g . t h e s t r i p s were t e s t e d
f o r t e n s i l e s t r e n g t h and e l o n g a t i o n on an
I n s t r o n T e n s i l e T e s t e r . The o i l i m p r e q n a t i n g
t h e s t r i p s was a n a l y s e d f o r f u r a n c o n t e n t by
H.P.L.C.
The s q u a r e s o f p a p e r were t o be used
t o d e t e r m i n e d i e l e c t r i c l o s s and p e r m i t t i v i t y .
b u t t h i s has n o t v e t been c a r r i e d o u t .

RESULTS
Furan Analyses
Results o f the furan analysis
a r e g i v e n i n T a b l e 1. The a n a l y s i s c o u l d n o t
be p e r f o r m e d a c c u r a t e l y on Sample 1, so n o
r e s u l t s a r e q l v e n f o r t h i s sample.
Tensile Tests

The r e s u l t s o f t h e t e n s i l e t e s t s a r e
g i v e n i n T a b l e 2. F i g u r e s i n p a r e n t h e s e s a r e
standard d e v i a t i o n s o f t h e r e s u l t s .
DISCUSSION QF RESULTS
D u r i n g a g e i n g , e l l samples would b e
u n d e r g o i n g t h e r m a l and o x i d a t i v e d e g r a d a t i o n .
S i n c e t h e samples were n o t s e a l e d from t h e
atmosphere and a i r b u b b l e s t r a p p e d between t h e
l a y e r s o f paper when t h e samples were p r e p a r e d
were n o t removed, t h e r e was r e l a t i v e l y f r e e
access o f oxygen t o t h e p a p e r . The f a c t o r t h a t
v a r i e s between t h e f i v e samples i s t h e
m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t . A l t h o u g h t h i s was n o t
a c c u r a t e l y measured. Samples 4 and 5 would
have t h e h i g h e s t m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t . I t would be
l i k e l y t h a t t h e used t r a n s f o r m e r o i l i n Sample
3 would have a h i g h e r m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t t h a n
Sample 2. I t would a l s o be more a c i d i c . I t
would be e x p e c t e d t h a t t h e Sample 5 would be
t h e most s e v e r e l y aged, f o l l o w e d by Sample 4
and Sample 2. Depending on t h e m o i s t u r e and
a c i d c o n t e n t o f t h e used o i l , Sample 3 may be
more o r l e s s s e v e r e l y aged t h a n Sample 4.
However, t h e f u r a n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n
Sample 5 a r e n o t a s h i g h a s t h o s e i n Sample 4 ,
and t h e t e n s i l e t e s t r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e
paper i s s t r o n g e r . T h i s d i s c r e p a n c y w i t h
e x p e c t e d r e s u l t s a p p e a r s t o be due t o uneven
d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e added w a t e r t h r o u g h t h e
p a p e r , c a u s i n g t h e paper t o age s e v e r e l y i n a
few l o c a l a r e a s . When t h e s t r i p s were removed
from t h e t e s t - t u b e ,
f o u r o f them c r u m b l e d and
c o u l d n o t be used f o r t h e t e n s i l e t e s t s w h i l e
t h e r e m a i n i n g f o u r were n o t as b r i t t l e . The
f i r s t f o u r s t r i p s had p r o b a b l y absorbed a l l

339 -

100.0 i

' Unrged Paper

$ 1
I

10.9

Conemtation oi

FiaureA
SElWPLE

TENSILE STRENGTH
( WPd

Unaqed paoer

87.1 (4.a)

STReIN

ENERGY

(J)

( X )

1.97

(0.22)

0.127

(0.0101

63.7 ( 5 . 2 )

1.52

(0.25)

0.060

(0.012)

40.6 ( 2 . 5 )

0.71

(0.20)

0.012

(0.0021

0.001

(0.001)l

0.004

(0.0021

9.1

(4.6)

-l6.8 (9.8)

0.44 (0.12)

0.93

(0.281

t h e added water w h i l e t h e o t h e r s remained

relatively d r y and did n o t a g e as rapidly. T h e
reported tensile test results f o r S a m p l e 5 a r e
theref0r-f not accurate. T h e f u r a n results d o
n o t r e f l e c t t h e local ageing observed. T h e 9
g i v e an a v e r a g e furan c o n t e n t for t h e w h o l e
sample. T h i s will b e important t o remember
when applying t h e a n a l y s i s t o operating
electrical equipment. Different parts o f t h e
insulation will b e a t d i f f e r e n t temperatures,
w i t h different moisture contents, so t h e r a t e s
of degradation will b e different ih t h e
different areas. A n a l y s i s o f an oil sample,
u n l e s s taken from s o m e specific po.int in t h e
windings, will only i n d i c a t e a n . a v e r a g e of t h e
s t a t e o f t h e paper.
F r o m t h e s e preliminary results,
there a l s o a p p e a r s t o b e a good correlation
between t h e concentration o f 2-furaldehyde and
tensile strength. A s t h e furaldehyde
c o n c e n t r a t i o n increases, t h e t e n s i l e s t r e n g t h
drops, &s d o e s t h e s t r a i n and energy t o break.
A g r a p h of tensile s t r e n g t h against 2furaldehyde c o n t e n t i n t h e oil i s given in
F i g u r e 5. T h e c o n t e n t r a t i o n s o f furfuryl
alcohol, 2-acetyl furan and 5-methyl-2furaldehyde a l s o i n c r e a s e w i t h t h e tensile
properties; however, their i n c r e a s e s a r e not
a s dramatic a s the 2-furaldehyde. T h e latter,
from this, a p p e a r s t o b e a m o r e s e n s i t i v e
indicator.
F U R T H E R WORK
E x p e r i m e n t s a r e currently being
prepared where the paper and oil u n d e r g o m o r e
riqorous drying and degassing prior t o ageing.
Mc,re t e s t s will b e carried o u t t o find t h e
true n a t u r e of the correla.tion with furan
c o n t e n t s in t h e oil.
T h e s a m p l e s shall be aged at three
d i f f e r e n t temperatures ( 90C. 110C. 140C,
w i t h a control a t 20C). T h e weight loss o r
gain o f the paper o v e r a number of ageing
periods will be measured.
T h e d e g r e e o f polymerisation will
a l s o be measured. T h i s i n v o l v e s dissolving the
paper in a special s o l v e n t , called

- 340-

z-tunia*w

20.0
ipwi

Tensile Strenath. v s 2-iur-aldehyde

Content of t h e Oil

cupriethylenediamine, and determining t h e

viscosity of t h e resultant solution.* The'
viscosity i s d i r e c t l y - r e l a t e d t o t h e length of
t h e cellu'lose c h a i n s (61. O t h e r t e s t s on t h e
paper will include t h e t e n s i l e tests,
determination o f permittivity and dissipation
factor ( w i t h a guarded e l e c t r o d e test c e l l )
and breakdown stren.gth.
CONCLUSIONS
T h e concentr,ation of 2-furaldehyde
in impregnating mineral oil, from these
preliminary e x p e r i m e n t s , a p p e a r s t o b e
inversely proportional t o t h e tensile s t r e n g t h
o f aged paper. I f it c a n b e s h o w n in further
e x p e r i m e n t s that t h i s relationship definitely
holds, then t h e furan a n a l y s i s will b e a
valuab1.e test f o r t h e degradation o f
insulating paper.
However, it must ,be noted that t h e
test may not indicate any local s e v e r e ageing.
Cls observed in t h e e x p e r i m e n t s here, t h e furan
a n a l y s i s indicates an a v e r a g e of t h e total
amount of paper degradation.
REFERENCES

C13 P.J. Burton, J. Graham, A'.C. Hall,

Laver, and A.J. Oliver, "Recent
Developments By C E G B T o Improve T h e Prediction
And Monitoring Of T r a n s f o r m e r Performance"
CIGRE P a p e r 12-09, 1994.

J.A.

- . [ 2 1 P.J. Burton, " T h e Analysis of

Insulating Oil f o r P r o d u c t s Specific t o t h e
Low Temperature Overheating' o f P a p e r
Insulation", N o t e s f o r C I G R E WG 15-01
presented in Arnhem, March 1985.
C31 D . H . Shroff and A.W. Stannett, "A
Review of P a p e r Aging In P o w e r Transformers",
I E E - P r o c . , Vol 132 P a r t C , 312-319, 1985.
L41 W.G, Lawson, M.A. S i m m o n s and P.S.
Gale, "Thermal Ageing of Cellulose P a p e r
Insulation". IEEE Trans, Vol EI-12, 61-66,
1977.

[SI H. Yoshida et a l , "Degradation of

Insulating Materials o f Transformers",
T r - , Vol E I - 2 2 , 795-800, 1987.
[ 6 I I E C P uh 1 ic a t ion 459.. "Measurement c f
the averaqe viscometric d e g r e e o f
polymerisation of n e w and aged electrical
papers", 1974.