Research & Development Project concerning the replacement of mineral oil with natural esters in Power Transformers

Project description

Natural ester – based fluids are mainly employed in low-power transformers, and seldom on large high voltage and power transformers, despite many environmental and safety advantages. The project concerns the experimental verification of natural esters features relating to insulation and cooling functions in high voltage and power transformers and performance comparison with common use mineral oils.

 

The project had been aimed at the following targets:

• Acknowledgment of the operational characteristics of natural esters – filled power transformers and comparison with correspondent performances of traditional oil filled power transformers;
• Development of fluids thermodynamics models;
• Analysis, study and evaluation of environmental impacts.

Results

The theoretic  models and electric calculation software for the design of power transformers in object have been developed and experimentally validated. The different materials’ compatibilities have been verified, as the effective reduction of safety and environment risk as well.

The results have been successfully employed in the design of new natural ester- filled high voltage and power transformers for the national transmission network.

Project co – financed by the European fund of regional development