EE_3183_Laboratory Practice (IV)

BREAKDOWN CHARACTERISTICS OF OIL

Instructed By : Miss.A.C.D.Perera






Name : B.M.D.Mendis
Index No : 110366K
Group : G-12
Date Of Performance :2014/06/13
Date Of Submission :2014/06/29
OBSERVATION SHEET
Name : B.M.D.Mendis
Index No : 110366K
Group : G-12
Practical : BREAKDOWN CHARACTERISTICS OF OIL
Date of Performance: 2014/06/13
Instructed By :Miss.A.C.D.Perera
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Transformer oil







2. Coconut oil







3. Engine oil







Instrument Error:-0.22mm (minus error)
Air gap Spacing (mm) Readings (kV)
1.72 8,6,7,7,8
2.22 9,9,9,8,8
2.72 10,8,9,8,9
3.22 9,9,9,10,9
3.72 11,12,11,11,11
Air gap Spacing (mm) Readings (kV)
1.72 6,6,6,5,6
2.22 7,7,7,7,7
2.72 9,8,7,8,9
3.22 9,10,10,10,10
3.72 12,11,11,10,10
Air gap Spacing (mm) Readings (kV)
1.72 6,8,5,7,7
2.22 8,10,10,10,10
2.72 10,10,12,10,10
3.22 12,12,11,10,14
3.72 12,14,14,14,12
Calculation
1. Transformer oil







2. Coconut oil







3. Engine oil














Air gap Spacing (mm) Readings (kV) Average Reading (kV)
1.72 8,6,7,7,8 7.2
2.22 9,9,9,8,8 8.6
2.72 10,8,9,8,9 8.8
3.22 9,9,9,10,9 9.2
3.72 11,12,11,11,11 11.2
Air gap Spacing (mm) Readings (kV) Average Reading (kV)
1.72 6,6,6,5,6 5.8
2.22 7,7,7,7,7 7
2.72 9,8,7,8,9 8.2
3.22 9,10,10,10,10 9.8
3.72 12,11,11,10,10 10.8
Air gap Spacing (mm) Readings (kV) Average Reading (kV)
1.72 6,8,5,7,7 6.6
2.22 8,10,10,10,10 9.6
2.72 10,10,12,10,10 10.4
3.22 12,12,11,10,14 11.8
3.72 12,14,14,14,12 13.2
Transformer oil



Air gap Spacing
(mm)
Average Reading
(kV)
1.72 7.2
2.22 8.6
2.72 8.8
3.22 9.2
3.72 11.2





















6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
A
v
g
.

R
e
a
d
i
n
g

(
k
V
)

Gap Spacing(mm)
Breakdown Voltage Vs Gap spacing
Coconut oil


Air gap
Spacing (mm)
Average
Reading (kV)
1.72 5.8
2.22 7
2.72 8.2
3.22 9.8
3.72 10.8

























4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
A
v
g
.

R
e
a
d
i
n
g
(
k
V
)

Gap Spacing(mm)
Breakdown Voltage Vs Gap spacing
Engine oil
































Air gap Spacing
(mm)
Average Reading
(kV)
1.72 6.6
2.22 9.6
2.72 10.4
3.22 11.8
3.72 13.2

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
A
v
g
.


R
e
a
d
i
n
g
(
k
V
)

Gap Spacing(mm)
Breakdown Voltage Vs Gap spacing

Transformer Oil, Coconut Oil, Engine Oil


Air gap
Spacing (mm)
Average Reading
Transformer Oil (kV)
Average
Reading
Coconut Oil
(kV)
Average
Reading
Engine Oil
(kV)
1.72 7.2 5.8 6.6
2.22 8.6 7 9.6
2.72 8.8 8.2 10.4
3.22 9.2 9.8 11.8
3.72 11.2 10.8 13.2


















4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
A
v
g
.

R
e
a
d
i
n
g

(
k
V
)

Gap Spacing(mm
Breakdown Voltage Vs Gap spacing
Average Reading Transformer Oil
(kV)
Average Reading Coconut Oil (kV)
Average Reading Engine Oil (kV)
According to the above graph that draws according to the observations taken in this practical, engine
oil is the best out of other two oils. Engine oil sample has very high breakdown voltage compared to
the other two oils(IEC Standards 60156)

Discussion
1) Methods of purification of oil before testing.
(a)Removal of dust
Small dust particles can become charged and cause local stresses which can initiate breakdown. They
can also coalesce to form conducting bridges between electrodes. Careful filtration can remove dust
particles greater in size than 1 m. The strength of the liquid then increases and greater stability is
achieved.
(b) Removal of dissolved gasses
Liquid insulation will normally contain dissolved gas in small but significant amounts. Some gases
such as Nitrogen and Hydrogen do not appear to upset the electrical properties to a great extent, but
oxygen and carbon dioxide can cause the strength to change significantly. Thus it necessary to control
the amount of gases present. This is done by distillation and degassing.
(c) Removal of ionic impurities
Ionic impurities in the liquid (particularly residual water which easily dissociates) leads to abnormal
conductivity and heating of the liquid. Water can be removed by drying agents, vacuum drying, and
by freezing out in low temperature distillation.

2) Transformer oil tests
There are many other types of tests which should be carried out on transformer oil, according to
relevant IEC standards. These tests are mentioned below
a)Viscosity (ISO 3104,IEC 61868.)
Viscosity influences heat transfer and therefore the temperature rise of the equipment. The lower the
viscosity, the easier the oil circulates leading to improved heat transfer. At low temperatures the
resulting higher viscosity of oil is a critical factor for the cold start of transformers with ON cooling.
b)Pour point (ISO 3016)
Pour point of mineral insulating oil is the lowest temperature at which the oil will just flow. It is
recommended that the pour point should be minimum 10 K below the lowest cold start energizing
temperature (LCSET)
c)Water content (IEC 60814)
A low water content of mineral insulating oil is necessary to achieve adequate electrical strength and
low dissipation losses. To avoid separation of free water, unused insulating oil should have limited
water content. Before filling the electrical equipment, the oil should be treated to meet the
requirements of IEC 60422
d)Breakdown voltage(IEC 60156)
Breakdown voltage of transformer oil indicates its ability to resist electrical stress in electrical
equipment

e).Dielectric dissipation factor (DDF) (IEC 60247 or IEC 61620 at 90 C)
DDF is a measure for dielectric losses caused by the oil. Increased DDF can indicate contamination
of the oil by moisture, particles or soluble polar contaminants or poor refining quality.
f)Appearance
A visual inspection of insulating oil (oil sample in transmitted light under a thickness of
approximately 10 cm and at ambient temperature) indicates the presence of visible contaminants, free
water or suspended matter.
g)Acidity(IEC 62021-1)
Unused mineral insulating oil should be neutral and free from any acidic compound.
h)Interfacial tension (IFT)(ISO 6295)
Low IFT sometimes indicates the presence of undesirable contaminants
i)Sulfur content(BS 2000 Part 373 or ISO 14596)
Different organo-sulfur compounds are present in transformer oils, dependent on the crude oil origin
and the degree and type of refining. Refining treats sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbons As some sulfur
compounds have an affinity to metals, they may act as copper passivators or they may promote
corrosion

j)Corrosive sulfur(DIN 51353)
Some sulfur compounds, e.g. mercaptans, are very corrosive to metal surfaces, i.e. steel, copper and
silver (switchgear contacts) and shall not be present in new oil.
k)Oxidation stability(IEC 61125)
Oxidation of oil gives rise to acidity and sludge formation and can be minimized as a result of high
oxidation stability leading to longer service life time by minimizing sludge deposition, electrical
losses, metal corrosion, electrical faults and maximizing insulation life.


References:
1)High Voltage Engineering- Prof.J.Rohan Lucas
2) INTERNATIONAL STANDARD IEC 60296 Third edition 2003-11