Reasons Why Transformer Oil Testing Is Important
The powerhouses may be located distant from the load centres, as in hydro powerhouses or the middle of populated regions, as in steam powerhouses. The transmission network is an unavoidable need. Long and high voltage transmission lines are required to transfer large blocks of electricity from generating to load centres, link power-houses for improved supply dependability, better system stability, and reduced standby power plant energy, resulting in cheaper electric power plant energy. Transformer oil testing kits are often used in tiny quantities in electrical appliances or power transmission equipment.
Transformer oil is often used in electrical equipment such as transformers and circuit breakers for insulation, heat dissipation, and arc suppression. The transformer oil that surrounds the coil offers cooling, insulation, and protection. Therefore, it is critical to test the oil using a transformer oil test kit. Here are some of the reasons why transformer oil testing is vital.
Water-soluble acid
Because low-molecular organic acids, such as acetic acid, formic acid and others, are more water-soluble, transformer oil is usually simple to produce in the initial stage of oxidation. When the oil’s water-soluble acid content (i.e., pH) rises, when oil includes water, it corrodes solid insulating materials and metals, reduces the insulation effectiveness of electrical equipment, and reduces the equipment’s service life.
Dielectric loss factor
The dielectric loss factor is susceptible to determining transformer oil’s aging and pollution level. Because fresh oil has few polar contaminants, the dielectric loss factor is likewise extremely tiny, typically 0.01 per cent to 0.1 per cent; nevertheless, it is produced as the oil ages due to oxidation or overheating or when other contaminants are combined. As the concentration of polar impurities and charged colloidal particles increases, so does the dielectric loss factor.
Breakdown voltage
The breakdown voltage of transformer oil is a vital monitoring technique for testing the transformer oil’s resistance to the ultimate electrical stress. Under normal conditions, it is mainly determined by the degree of contamination; however, when the oil includes moisture, it has a more significant effect on the breakdown voltage when it is higher or includes impurity particles.
Flashpoint
The flashpoint is an essential factor in the monitoring of working oil. Reduced flash point indicates volatile flammable gases in the oil; the partial overheating of electrical equipment and the thermal cracking of insulating oil at high temperatures induced by arc discharge often create these combustible gases. The measurement of the flashpoint allows for the detection of equipment breakdown in real-time.
Moisture
Moisture is one of the significant factors influencing the aging of transformer insulation. Increased water content in transformer oil and insulating materials immediately reduces insulation effectiveness and accelerates oil aging, impacting the dependability and service life of equipment operation. Moisture control is an essential transformer oil test kit for ensuring the safe functioning of equipment.
This oil is subjected to mechanical and electrical stress, as well as chemical pollution, over time. When functionality is limited, power outages may occur. A regular transformer oil testing kit of the transformer oil is critical for maintaining and extending the life of the power transformer and avoiding catastrophic failures.