JSPM’s

Rajarshi Shahu College of

Engineering, Pune
Department of Electrical
Engineering

Academic Year: 2021-2022

Semester: I Class: SY
Subject : Electrical Engineering Material

Experiment No. 3

Title: To Measure dielectric strength of liquid insulating materials as per IS

6798

To test the sample of oil for dielectric strength using high voltage
Aim:
transformer kit.

Apparatus: 60 KV Oil Breakdown Voltage test kit.

Theory:

Liquid dielectrics are used mainly as impregnates in H.V. cables and capacitors and
arc quenching medium in circuit breakers. Transformer oil are most commonly used
as insulating and cooling medium in transformer & dielectric medium in capacitors.
For very high temperature applications in electrical equipment silicon oil is used.
When used for electrical insulation it should be free from moisture, product of
oxidation and other contamination.
The most important factor that affects the electrical strength of transformer oil is the
presence of water in the form of fine droplets suspended in oil. The presence of even
0.01% of water in the volume of oil in the test cell reduces the electrical strength to
20% of dry value.
The electrical properties that are essential in determining the electrical performance
of a liquid dielectrics are –
1. Its capacitance per unit volume or its relative permittivity.
2. Its resistivity.
3. Its loss tangent. It is also called dissipation factor, which is an indication of power
loss under a.c. voltage.
4. Its ability to withstand high electrical stresses.

Liquid dielectrics are used mainly as impregnates in H.V. cables and capacitors and
arc quenching medium in circuit breakers. Transformer oil are most commonly used
as insulating and cooling medium in transformer & dielectric medium in capacitors.
For very high temperature applications in electrical equipments silicon oil is used.
When used for electrical insulation it should be free from moisture, product of
oxidation and other contamination.
The most important factor that affects the electrical strength of transformer oil is the
presence of water in the form of fine droplets suspended in oil. The presence of even
0.01% of water in the volume of oil in the test cell reduces the electrical strength to
20% of dry value.
The electrical properties that are essential in determining the electrical performance
of a liquid dielectrics are –
5. Its capacitance per unit volume or its relative permittivity.
6. Its resistivity.
7. Its loss tangent. It is also called dissipation factor, which is an indication of power
loss under ac voltage.
8. Its ability to withstand high electrical stresses.

Procedure:

1. Adjust the gap between the electrodes to 2.5mm by gauge provided.

2. Fill the Oil cell with oil up to specified oil level and place it on H.T electrodes
ensuring proper connection. Then Close the lid.
3. Connect the mains cord to 230V, 50Hz, AC Supply and switch on the supply.
4. Put the mains rocker switch S1 in the ON position, the MAINS ON indicator
lamp lights up.
5. Bring the MOTOR switch in REV position and wait for meter to indicate zero.
6. Press HT ‘ON’ push button, HT ‘ON’ indicator lamp lights up which indicates
that high voltage supply to the electrodes is on.
7. Put the motor switch in forward ‘FRD’ position. The voltage on the test cell
will increase at then specified speed. The voltage applied to the electrodes is
shown on digital voltmeter.
8. Note down the voltmeter reading at which the breakdown of oil takes place.
9. Repeat this procedure for pure oil & impure oil.

Observation Table:
 Breakdown Breakdown
Distance between
Type of Oil Voltage strength
Electrode ‘d’(mm)
‘V’ (kV) (kV/mm)

Calculations:
Breakdown Voltage (kV)
Breakdown strength = -----------------------------------------
Distance between electrodes(mm)

Conclusion:

Questions:
With reference to breakdown strength for liquid dielectric explain
a) suspended partial mechanism
b) Cavitation & bubble mechanism.
c) Stressed oil volume mechanism.