Aging effect in insulating oil of power transformer

Abstract
We study in this paper the aging effects of insulating oil in power
transformer. There are many products from aging such as acids, sludge and
moisture. The main force of aging is oxidation that occurs with heat and oxygen.
We can study its products and measure acidity by performing DGA (dissolved gas
analysis) that determine influence of acidity for lifetime or aging of insulating oil.

Introduction
Power transformer is the most expensive equipment in electrical network.
Insulating oil of power transformer oil is important insulating medium.
Transformer act as insulation, cooling and extinguishing arc similar to the blood
in human body. The main oil properties are divided to physical, chemical and
electrical characteristics. Insulating oil is powerful tool for monitoring the
condition of transformer. Oil analysis much like blood sample. A sample of oil
from transformer can give information about what is happening inside. This
information can then used to determine the need of maintenance.

Theoretical
IEC 60422 is a guide for supervision and maintenance of mineral insulating
oil in electrical equipment. This standard is used worldwide and specifies limits for
various properties in the oil. Comparing the analysis results for an oil property
with these limits will give a classification as good, fair and poor.
  Good: Oil in normal condition and continue normal sampling.
 Fair : Oil deterioration detectable and more frequent sampling
Recommended.
 Poor: Oil deterioration abnormal and immediate action advisable.

The main force of aging is oxidation. For oxidation to take place in the
presence of oxygen and heat to provide the activation energy. Oxidation of oil
will occur naturally and gradually over many years. It is accelerated as the
temperature of oil increase. It can also be accelerated by presence of catalysts
such as metal or metallic compounds.

When a hydrocarbon molecule (oil molecule) is subjected to a combination of

heat and oxygen (air), it can form peroxide (fig.1). Peroxides are unstable and
therefore reactive. They can easily form alcohols, aldehydes or ketones. These are
polar types of molecules that will change properties of the oil medium in which all
this happens. The formation of polar molecules will also affect the dielectric
dissipation factor (DDF).

Aldehydes and ketones can form acids in two ways; either directly by reacting
with oxygen again or by oxidizing and loosing carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is
the most oxidized form of carbon and represents the absolute end of oxidation
process. However, both aldehydes and acids can react with each other to form
complex compounds that not soluble in oil.
Experimental
Oxidation inhibitors (natural or synthetic) partially or fully stop the reaction
of peroxides to give the liquid protection against oxidation. However, these
inhibitors are consumed over the lifetime of insulating oil. We can study the
formation of carbon dioxide and measure acidity by performing DGA (dissolved
gas analysis) .In our study; we examined a total of separate oil samples from
different poor region about 32 years.

For inhibited oil (fig.2).the first years of service are totally free from acids and
then acidity goes above the fail limit after 33 years. In the case of uninhibited oil
(fig.3) acids form from the start. However, it takes 25 years of service before
acidity passes above the fair limit. The limits apply to equipment with nominal
system voltage above 170 kv.
  Accelerated aging using ϒ – irradiation

Accelerated aging test for the insulating oils has been suggested by EL
SHAZLY ZAGHLOUL and ZAGHLOUL. The ϒ – irradiation accelerated aging method.
A calibration curve is obtained for the breakdown voltage and the ϒ – irradiation
time for unused oil. A used oil of the same type for five years in an 11 kv /380 volt
Distribution transformer. The results obtained are shown in (fig 3.3) . it gives the
variation of the breakdown voltage in kv’s with the ϒ – irradiation time in hrs for
insulating oil. The breakdown occur at 10,45 kv and 58 hrs. this mean that the
accelerated aging test using ϒ – irradiation on the new oil for 58 hrs is equivalent
to 5 years in service in such distribution transformer.
Conclusion
Transformer oil is expected to not only play the fundamental role of
insulation and cooling, but also need to have excellent anti – oxidant and anti –
aging properties.

Early warning from the beginning of oil oxidation is obtained by monitoring

the color and appearance of the oil. Regular testing of the acidity and moisture
levels in oil is required as well as visual inspection during maintenance for signs
of sludgy deposits of equipment.

Understand the aging factors such as temperature and moisture to reduce

effect of them that will improve the efficiency of power system in the future.