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Natural ester oils for transformers—commonly called “vegetable oils”-
are extracted mainly from rapeseed (see illustration 1)ČŶď
Alstom Grid R&D is increasingly studying different types of natural ester oils
such as rapeseed and soya bean oils but also blends of mono and tri ester
(see illustration 2).
ČŹŵ
based on soya beans such as the Luton 90 MVA, 132 kV transformer installed
in the U.K. (see illustration 3).
Fears over looming shortages of petroleum- stresses are much more pronounced. Today, cally no impact on the environment. In
based oil have focused the industry’s atten- only about 100 PT are insulated and cooled Č
tion on renewable alternatives. The T&D by vegetable oil, but research is going strong life of the composite transformer insulation
sector has re-discovered the benefits of in order to ensure high reliability in service. system utilizing oil-impregnated cellulosic
Ħ- “Alstom Grid is participating in a whole series materials. “Technically speaking, natural
ČŶħď
Č- of research projects at several European ester oils really come into their own with
ings were immersed in vegetable oil before universities,” says Christophe Perrier, their high water solubility—20 to 30 times
the introduction of petroleum products at Research Engineer of the Power Transformer higher than that of mineral oil at the ambi-
the beginning of the 20th century. We are Technology and Innovation Center. ent temperature, before saturation,” says
now witnessing an increasing trend in their
- Perrier. As the cellulose-based solid insula-
Ħħď dentials. With their high flash and fire tion is highly hygroscopic, a related advan-
points, the fire hazard is significantly tage is that the oil draws moisture out and
ester oils to high voltage power transform- reduced. They are biodegradable and have absorbs it, thus keeping the insulating mate-
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of the art of alternative liquids and
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brochure is planned for this year.
Meanwhile research teams are running
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Standard deviation (%)
0 0
Natural Natural Natural Mineral Mineral Mineral
ester oil ester oil ester oil oil oil oil
specimen specimen specimen specimen specimen specimen
A B C A B C
BDV before ageing BDV after ageing SD before SD after