2012 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Shanghai, China, September 17-20, 2012

Experimental Evaluation on Dielectric and Thermal

Characteristics of Nano Filler Added Transformer Oil
Pugazhendhi Sugumaran.C
Assistant Professor
Division of High Voltage Engineering,
Anna University,
Chennai, India.
Abstract-Abstract- Liquid dielectrics play a major role in In recent years, most of the works have concentrated on
the insulation system used in high voltage equipments. The increasing thermal conductivity of the heat transfer fluids.
most commonly used liquid dielectric is transformer oil which
serves the dual purpose as insulation and a coolant. It also The key idea behind these works was to exploit the high
acts as insulation between the conductingparts and as an arc thermal conductivity of solid particles [1-3]. Millimeter and
quenching medium. Moreover the breakdown strength of the micrometer sized particles were earlier used in liquids to
paper and the pressboard insulation depends on the properties increase their effective thermal conductivity. But
of the oil in which it is impregnated. Therefore investigations unfortunately these suffer from stability problems and cause
have been attracted towards the development of nano fluids
with better thermal and dielectric properties. severe clogging. The advancement in Science and Technology
has led to the development of nano sized (< 100 nm) particles
In this work, ceramic nano particles are chosen because which form stable suspensions when introduced into heat
of their electrical insulating property. Because of higher
relative permittivity Zirconia(ZrO2) and Titania(TiO2) nano transfer liquids. These new class of fluids were termed as
particles are used here. The dielectric and thermal properties Nano fluids i.e. nano particle suspensions in the base fluid.
are measured for different concentrations of nanofillers. AC Segal et al. [4] investigated the properties of a ferro fluid i.e.,
and Impulse breakdown voltage measurements were performed Transformer Oil based Nano fluid using magnetite nano
as per IS 6792:1972 and IS 11697:1986 respectively. The particles. George Hwang et al. [5] explained the
specific resistivity and the dielectric dissipation factor
measurement were carried with reference to IS 6103:1971 and electrodynamic process involved in the streamer propagation
IS 6262:1971. The kinematic viscosity and flash point are measured using magnetite nano particles. Yue-fan et al. [6] have used
as per IS 1448 Part-25:1970 and IS 1448 Part-21:1970 respectively. TiO2 nano particles and have studied the dielectric properties.
In this work, transformer oil is to be used as the base fluid.
I. INTRODUCTION The effect of the addition of TiO2 and ZrO2 nano particles on
Reliability of the power system is a major concern in any the thermal and dielectric properties of Transformer oil is
transmission and distribution network. The reliability of the studied and the results have been compared.
system can only be achieved by the proper operation of all the
II. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
power system components. The important one among them is
the power transformer. Satisfactory operation of power A. Preparation of Nano fluids
transformers is hindered by the frequent insulation failures. Transformer Oil based nano fluids were prepared by mixing
Therefore there is a need to discover new insulating materials ZrO2 (size < 50 nm) and TiO2 (size < 100 nm) nano particles.
with improved dielectric and thermal properties. The most The dispersion was made uniform by using an ultrasonic
commonly used insulating material with wide application is mixer. The nano particle content ranges from 0.005%wt to
transformer oil, which is essential for the operation of 0.05% wt. The moisture content of all the oil samples was
transformers. found to be the same. The SEM Image of TiO2 and ZrO2 nano
Transformer oil is a highly refined mineral oil which fillers is shown on Fig.1 and Fig.2 respectively.
performs the dual function of insulation and cooling. The oil
used in the transformer also has an effect on the dielectric
properties of paper and pressboard insulations. The oil fills up
the pores in the fibrous insulation thus increasing its
breakdown strength. From the thermal point of view, the oil
removes the heat generated during the operation of the
transformer by convective heat transfer. Moreover the size and
the weight of the transformer and the current density of the
transformer windings depend on the amount of oil and the rate
of heat transfer. Thus any work related to transformer oil must
take into account both its dielectric and thermal characteristics.
Figure 1.SEM Image of TiO2 nano filler

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 2012 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Shanghai, China, September 17-20, 2012

low viscosity is most preferable since oil will be in circulation

and it must fill the whole volume of the transformer .Viscosity
measurements were done as per IS 1448 - Part 25: 1970 using
an Ostwald’s viscometer.
E. Flash Point Test
It is the temperature at which oil gives so much vapour that
this vapour, when mixed with air, forms an ignitable mixture
and gives a momentary flash on application of flame under
prescribed conditions. A minimum flash point is specified in
order to prevent the risk of fire that might result by accidental
ignition [10].Flash Point is measured as per IS 1448 - Part 21:
1970 using a Pensky Martens Closed Apparatus.
Figure 2.SEM Image of ZrO2 nano filler III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
B. Breakdown voltage Tests A. AC Breakdown Voltage
The AC breakdown Tests are generally used as acceptance The AC breakdown voltage measured for different
test before filling the oil inside the transformers. AC concentrations of the Nano fillers are tabulated in Table I.
breakdown test was performed using IS 6792:1972 using From Table I, it is observed that there is an increase in the
stainless steel electrodes which were set 2.5 mm apart. High breakdown voltage value of ZrO2 nano fluid if the
Voltage AC is generated by using a 220V/100kV step up concentration is increased up to 0.01%. Similarly for TiO2 the
transformer. The experiments were performed at room breakdown voltage value is higher at 0.005%wt then it is
temperature. The AC breakdown test values depend on the decreasing with increase in the concentration of nano fillers.
moisture content and other impurities present in the sample. The increase in the breakdown voltage can be attributed to the
In order to ascertain the variations in their characteristics due electron scattering at the interfaces. At higher concentrations,
to modifications in the chemical composition impulse the decrease in the breakdown strength may be due to
breakdown tests are used. A MWB (Mess Wandler –Bau) agglomeration of nano fillers.
high voltage test kit was used to generate the Standard
TABLE I. RESULTS OF AC BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE
Impulse voltages (1.2/50μs) of negative polarity. The
waveforms are recorded using the LeCroy Digital Storage Breakdown Voltage( kV) % increment
Samples
ZrO2 TiO2 ZrO2 TiO2
Oscilloscope (DSO) at the sampling rate of 5GS/s and
Pure 61.2 61.2 - -
bandwidth of 1GHz. Impulse breakdown tests were performed
as per IS – 11697:1986 using needle to sphere electrodes. 0.005%wt 67.34 80.36 10.03 31.3
0.01%wt 75.24 75.15 22.94 22.79
C. Dielectric Dissipation Factor and Specific Resistivity
0.05%wt 66.13 57.6 8.05 -6.99
Tests
The specific resistivity is the most sensitive property of oil B. Impulse Breakdown Voltage
requiring utmost care for its proper determination. Resistivity The Impulse breakdown test results are tabulated in Table II.
in Ω-cm is numerically equivalent to the resistance between It is observed that the breakdown voltage decreases with
opposite faces of a centimeter cube of the liquid. Insulation increase in nano particle concentration. At 0.005% wt, there is
resistance of windings of a transformer is also dependent upon an increase of about 16.02% and 19.24% in the impulse
the resistivity of oil. A low value indicates the presence of breakdown voltage when compared to pure transformer Oil for
moisture and conductive contaminants ZrO2 and TiO2 nano fluids respectively. Since Lightning
Dielectric Dissipation Factor is equal to the tangent of loss Impulse breakdown test is independent of moisture and
angle for dielectrics and is a good tool to indicate the quality impurities, these results indicate that a change has occurred in
of insulation. A high value of Dielectric Dissipation Factor is the chemical composition of the oil.
an indication of the presence of contaminations or
TABLE II. RESULTS OF IMPULSE BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE
deterioration products such as water, oxidation products, and
etc [10].Dielectric Dissipation factor and specific resistivity Breakdown Voltage( kV) % increment
Samples
measurements have been done in accordance to IS 6262:1971 ZrO2 TiO2 ZrO2 TiO2
and IS 6103:1971 using an Automatic Tanδ and Specific Pure 34.13 34.13 -
Resistivity Measurement Kit. 0.005%wt 39.6 40.70 16.02 19.24

D. Kinematic Viscosity Test 0.01%wt 38.59 38.9 13.06 13.9

Viscosity of a fluid is a very important property which 0.05%wt 36.61 37.30 7.26 9.28
should be considered for determining the heat transfer rate. A

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 2012 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Shanghai, China, September 17-20, 2012

C. Specific Resistivity TABLE VI. RESULTS OF FLASH POINT

The values of the specific resistivity of the nano fluids are flash point (°C) % decrement
Samples
tabulated in Table III. The specific resistivity decreases with ZrO2 TiO2 ZrO2 TiO2
increase in the concentration of nano fillers. The maximum Pure 156 156 - -
increase in specific gravity is achieved for 0.005%wt of nano 0.005%wt 154 148 1.28 5.12
fillers. 0.01%wt 152 150 2.56 3.84
TABLE III. RESULTS OF SPECIFIC RESISTIVITY 0.05%wt 154 152 1.28 2.56
specific resistivity(1012Ω-cm) % increment
Samples IV. ANALYSIS
ZrO2 TiO2 ZrO2 TiO2
Pure 265 265 - -
To understand the physical concept behind the improvement
0.005%wt 330 350 24.5 42.27 in the dielectric characteristics a study about the interaction
0.01%wt 313 317 18.11 28.86 between the base fluid and the nano particle is necessary.
0.05%wt 295 290 11.3 17.88
George Hwang et al. [5] considered the relaxation time of
D. Dielectric Dissipation Factor the nano particle has a major bearing on the electrodynamics
during streamer developments. They have concluded that
The results of Dielectric Dissipation factor for the nano
shorter charge relaxation time constant for transformer
fluids are given in Table IV. 0.01% wt of ZrO2 and 0.005%wt
oil/nano particle system affects the electrodynamic process
of TiO2 have the lowest value of Dielectric Dissipation Factor.
during streamer propagation. The charge relaxation time was
TABLE IV. RESULTS OF DISSIPATION FACTOR
given by
Breakdown Voltage( kV) % decrement
Samples
ZrO2 TiO2 ZrO2 TiO2 τ = (2 ε 1 + ε 2) / (2σ1 + σ2) (1)
Pure 0.00032 0.00032 - - where,
0.005%wt 0.00021 0.00014 34.37 56.25
σ1 (1*10-12) and ε1 (2.2) are the electrical conductivity and
0.01%wt 0.00020 0.00015 37.5 53.12
permittivity of transformer oil.
0.05%wt 0.00022 0.00022 31.25 31.25
σ2 (1*10-10) and ε2 (25) are the electrical conductivity and
the permittivity of ZrO2 nano particles.
E. Kinematic Viscosity
σ2 (1*10-12) and ε2 (85) are the electrical conductivity and
The variation of the Kinematic Viscosity with the particle
the permittivity of TiO2 nano particles.
concentration is tabulated in Table V. It is observed that the
kinematic viscosity increases with an increase in the particle Substituting the values, the relaxation time thus obtained is
concentration. The increase in the kinematic viscosity at very large. This indicates that the relaxation time theory has
higher particle concentrations is due to the presence of more some limitations.
number of solid nano particles which hinder the flow of the
The increment can be understood by considering the
liquid. No thinning of the liquid was observed as reported in
properties of materials at a nano scale. The basic reason
certain literatures [7]. Choi et al. [8] have also observed an
behind differing properties of materials in the nano scale is the
increase in viscosity with increase in particle concentrations.
high surface to volume ratio of nano particles. At the macro
TABLE V. RESULTS OF KINEMATIC VISCOSITY scale, the surface to volume ratio is less and the properties of
the material depends on the properties of the volume atoms
Kinematic Viscosity (Cst) % increment
Samples
ZrO2 TiO2 ZrO2 TiO2 (Surface atoms are negligible when compared to volume
Pure 9.19 9.19 - -
atoms). In the nano scale, the surface atoms are higher when
compared to the volume atoms and hence the property of the
0.005%wt 9.81 10.49 6.7 14.14 bulk material depends on the properties of the surface atoms.
0.01%wt 10.53 11.16 14.58 21.43 In turn the properties of the surface atoms depend on their
0.05%wt 11.21 12.24 21.98 33.18 surroundings i.e. the interface between the nano particle and
the base medium. Thus, the property of a material at the nano
F. Flashpoint scale depends on the interfacial properties.
The flash point obtained for the different nano fluids are
Smith et al. [9] suggested the formation of a local
tabulated in Table VI. The results show that there only a slight
conductive region i.e., stern layer at the interface. Since the
variation in the flash point with the addition of nano fillers.
charges are active in this region, the probability of electron
scattering may be high. Moreover the change in the local
structure and the trap sites may reduce the electron mobility

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 2012 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Shanghai, China, September 17-20, 2012
thus causing less damage to the material and thus higher
breakdown strength.
V. CONCLUSIONS
In this work, new colloidal solutions comprising of TiO2
and ZrO2 nano fillers in Transformer oil were prepared and
their dielectric and thermal properties were studied. The
enhancement in the breakdown Voltage values were found to
be higher in TiO2 nano fluids when compared to ZrO2 nano
fluids. This may be due to the higher relative permittivity of
TiO2 nano fillers. The kinematic viscosities of TiO2 nano
fluids were higher than ZrO2 nano fillers because the TiO2
nano fillers are greater in size thus they prevent the fluid flow.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author thanked Dr. G. Sakthinathan, Dr. N.
Balasubramanian, Anna University, Chennai for providing the
instruments and Mr.P.Sirsabesan, Managing Director, Shree
Abirami Engineering Works,Chennai who helped to measure
mechanical parameters. Specially thanked PG students
Mr.Sandeep and Mr.Ramkumar both helped in the sample
preparation and experimental work.
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978-1-4673-4746-4/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
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