The insulating oil in a power transformer performs two major functions. First, it serves as electrical insulation to withstand the high voltages present inside the transformer. Second, it functions as a heat transfer medium to dissipate heat generated within the transformer windings. Thus, the oil must maintain good electrical properties while resisting thermal degradation and oxidation.
Moisture and oxygen are the responsible agents of the insulating oil degradation, which results in worse electrical and thermal insulation properties. Because transformer oil breaks down in a predictable fashion, periodic testing is the common procedure to detect the condition of the oil and, depending on the test results, apply a regeneration treatment or the oil replacement.
This procedure, if tests are scheduled correctly, can assure the proper working of the transformer but it is not a complete guarantee against the chance of unscheduled outages and cannot avoid electrical losses due to worse electrical insulating. Moreover, the periodic oil purification or replacement could require disruption of electrical service.

To solve the problems due to the transformer insulating oil maintenance, a Basque SME, with a large experience in oil purification equipment, has developed an innovative system for the preventive maintenance of the insulating oil especially designed for large capacity electrical transformer. It is a treatment module which, connected to the transformer's insulating oil tank, assure optimal electrical and thermal properties for the oil and guarantee perfect working of the transformer all along its lifetime.

The module needs little maintenance operations, which could be realized by the manufacturer or even by the team in charge of the transformer maintenance, after a short training. The system is at the moment tested by several transformer manufacturers and electrical suppliers companies and the results obtained so far are promising.

The SME is interested in Technical cooperation, with the aim of carrying out further test and Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance in assembly and maintenance.

Innovative Aspects:
Preventive maintenance of the insulating oil, especially designed for large capacity electrical transformer
Constant properties of the insulating oil.
Little maintenance needed
Electrical losses minimized
Avoiding outages
Reducing the oil replacement frequency

 

Patents/Rights: Secret know-how

Type of Organisation: