2012 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Shanghai, China, September 17-20, 2012

Changing the dielectric dissipation factor of

transformer fluid based on synthetic ester in the
condition of a concentrated heat flux
Pawel Rozga Anna Skowron
Technical University of Lodz Polimex-Mostostal
Institute of Electrical Power Engineering ZREW Division, Transformer Branch
Lodz, Poland Lodz, Poland
[email protected] [email protected],

Abstract—The problem of the influence of concentrated heat production process and exploitation of transformers immersed
flux on the dielectric dissipation factor (DDF) of synthetic ester is in esters.
presented in this article. Some industrial practice has shown that
in the result of action of concentrated heat flux of high intensity II. CHARACTERISTICS OF TESTED FLUID
on the synthetic ester, the dielectric dissipation factor of this ester
changes, rising to the level disqualifying this ester as a useful for The tested transformer fluid was the organic synthetic
the insulation in power transformers. The preliminary pentaerythritol ester, which consist of four ester groups –
experimental studies, which had in view a verification of the COOR occurring at the end of the cross structure of the
practical observations, indicate that the DDF increase with the compound. The organic groups R in the ester could be either
growth of the unitary surface load of heating elements used in the
heating process. For the certain values of unitary surface load, the same or different [4, 8, 9]. The physico-chemical and
the DDF of synthetic ester may increase even above the specified dielectric properties of tested ester are listed collectively in
in the standard IEC 61099 level of 0.03. In the case of presented Table I. In the same table, the requirements, which should be
experimental works such value is about 1.1 W/cm2 and is lower met by the fresh synthetic ester before the transformer is filled,
than the value of 2 W/cm2, which is typical for the heating described in the standard [10], are also quoted. For each
elements used in the heating process of mineral oil. It means that
the influence of concentrated heat flux on the properties of parameter, the standard used for determine it, is specified.
synthetic ester is visible and taking into account this result and TABLE I
also the industrial experiences, it seems to be important the PROPERTIES OF FRESH SYNTHETIC ESTER
continuation of initiated experiments. IEC 61099
Fresh synthetic
Parameters standard
Keywords-synthetic ester; transformer fluid; dielectric ester
requirements
dissipation factor
Density at 20OC [kg/dm3]
0.98 Max. 1
(ISO 3675)
I. INTRODUCTION
Kinematic viscosity at -20OC
2400 Max. 3000
In recent years, the interest in insulating fluids, which could [mm2/s] (ISO 3104)
replace the mineral oil in power transformers, in the situations Kinematic viscosity at 40OC
28 Max. 35
where the crucial importance is focused on the environmental [mm2/s] (ISO 3104)
protection and fire prevention, is grown up [1-8]. Such fluids Flash Point [OC]
260 250
are specially produced synthetic and natural esters. From the (ISO 2719)
O
environmental protection point of view, these esters, in relation Fire Point [ C]
316 300
(ISO 2592)
to the conventional mineral oils, are characterized by the high
level of biodegradability reaching even 95% and the higher Breakdown voltage [kV]
> 75 Min. 45
(IEC 60156)
than mineral oil fire point (above 300OC) [1, 5, 7, 8, 9]. The
short time of existing the above mentioned fluids in the DDF at 90OC and 50 Hz
< 0.008 Max. 0.03
(IEC 60247)
transformer market and also the short time of their exploitation
Resistivity at 90OC [GΩm]
in power transformers cause, that the knowledge about their (IEC 60247)
> 30 Min. 2
dielectric properties is not full. The practical experiences from O
Permitivity at 20 C
the using of these esters (especially the synthetic esters) as an (IEC 60247)
3,2 -
insulating medium in power transformers bring, which each
new produced unit, an information giving the impulse for Specific heat [J/kgK] 1880 -
additional studies. These studies can contribute to the
increasing the knowledge about the dielectric properties of In addition, it should be noted that the tested synthetic ester
synthetic esters and thus have the positive influence on the meets the criteria of biodegradability described in OECD 301
Presented work has been financed by the Polish National Science Center on
the basis of decision DEC-2011/01/D/ST8/03549.
978-1-4673-4746-4/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE 651
 2012 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Shanghai, China, September 17-20, 2012

standard. According to this standard, liquid is considered as a cooperation with one of a polish producer of transformers, was
biodegradable when achieves 10% of degradation under the built in High Voltage Division of the Institute of Electrical
certain condition within the first 10 days and at least 60% Power Engineering of Technical University of Lodz (Fig. 1).
within 28 days. Biodegradability of synthetic ester in the data
sheet is 89% after 28 days while the similarity described
biodegradability of mineral oil is only 10 % [8, 9].
In Table II, a comparison of some properties of fresh
synthetic ester with fresh mineral oil, was listed [3, 8, 9].
TABLE II
COMPARISON OF MAIN PROPERTIES OF FRESH SYNTHETIC ESTER WITH
MINERAL OIL

Parameters Synthetic ester Mineral oil

Density at 20OC [kg / dm3]

0.98 0.88
(ISO 3675)
Kinematic viscosity at 40OC
28 8
[mm2/s] (ISO 3104)
Flash Point [OC]
260 150
(ISO 2719)
O
Fire Point [ C]
316 170
(ISO 2592)
Breakdown voltage [kV]
> 75 > 70
(IEC60156)
DDF at 90OC and 50 Hz
< 0.008 < 0.002
(IEC 60247) Figure 1. Experimental system for investigation the influence of
Permitivity at 20OC concentrated heat flux on the dielectric parameters of synthetic ester:
3.2 2.2 1 - measuring tank, 2 - electric pump forcing the circulation of fluid in the
(IEC 60247)
system, 3 - heater with controlled power, 4 - set of temperature sensors Pt-
III. RESEARCH PROBLEM 100, 5 - temperature recorder, 6 - digital electric meter (voltage, current,
power), 7 - low voltage autotransformer, 8 - systems of supply and control
Practical experiences of working with a synthetic ester have The fully-automated system allows to determine the
been shown, that this fluid can be susceptible on the action of influence of concentrated heat flux on the dielectric parameters
concentrated heat flux. It means that the thermal impact of of any dielectric liquid. The system is equipped with the heater
heating elements, used in the heating system of esters, having the controlled thermal power, which allows to lead the
quantified by the unitary surface load (expressed in W/cm2), heating process of the dielectric liquid in a closed system with
can result in the adverse changes of dielectric dissipation factor forced circulation of oil. The system also allows to control the
DDF of ester. These changes may be so large, that according to temperature of the process in some points of measuring tank.
the standard [10] disqualify this ester from the usage as an The most important components of the system are:
electro-insulating fluid in power transformers. Therefore, it • measuring tank having the capacity of 26 liters and
seems to be important to determine the limit value of unitary transparent side walls enabling the observation of the
surface load of heating elements used in the heating systems of phenomena occurring on the surface of heater and in its
esters, at which the thermal impact do not result in changes of vicinity;
DDF or change it, but to an acceptable value from the standard
• three-phase electrical pump of 300W in power, forcing the
requirements point of view (< 0.03 measured at 90OC) [4, 7, 8].
liquid circulation in the closed system of the tank,
From the other hand, the assessment of the phenomena,
occurring during the heating of the fluid based on esters, such • the heater formed in a cylinder shape with working surface
as a local overheating of the liquid causing decomposition of of 450 cm2, having the controlled by autotransformer a
its particles, can be an important issue broadening the thermal power,
knowledge in the field of the properties of synthetic esters [1-
• temperature recorder with the set of the Pt-100 temperature
5].
sensors, which cooperate with a software recording the
IV. EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM changes of temperature in maximum 9 points of a measuring
tank,
In order to solve the above presented problem, the specialist
experimental system was designed and made. The main aim of • temperature regulator switching off the heater after the
created system was to simulate, as much as possible, the real reaching the fixed temperature,
system for heating the insulating liquids which is commonly
used in the industrial solutions. Such experimental system, in

978-1-4673-4746-4/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE 652

 2012 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Shanghai, China, September 17-20, 2012

• supply and measurement system components (including The results are also listed in the Fig. II, where the
wattmeter) and the system of electrical protection. dependence of the dielectric dissipation factor versus unitary
surface load of the used heater was presented.
Additionally, in the laboratory system, the digital camera can
The graph shows that the value of the DDF increase with the
be used. This camera allows on filming the phenomena
growth of unitary surface load. The DDF is therefore
occurring on the surface of the heater and in its vicinity during
dependent on the intensity of heat emitted by the used heater.
the heating process with definitive power. On the basis of the
In the considered case, the value of unitary surface load
recorded films and taken out photos, the quality assessment of
causing that the DDF crosses the limit value specified in the
the heating process seems to be possible.
standard [10] is 1.2 W/cm2, but already for values about 1.1
V. PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF RESEARCH W/cm2 DDF can be higher than 0.03. Determined, thank to the
In order to determine the influence of concentrated heat flux carried out measurements, value 1.1 W/cm2, is lower than the
on the dielectric dissipation factor of synthetic ester, at first, the value of 2 W/cm2, which is typical for the heating elements
DDF measurement of fresh synthetic ester was done. The used in the heating process of mineral oil. Thus, the influence
initial value of dielectric dissipation factor, measured in the of concentrated heat flux on the properties of synthetic ester is
chemical laboratory of transformer manufacturer was highly visible.
0.010629. The next measured values were compared just to it.
After the determining the initial value of DDF, the
measurement series for the tested synthetic ester was
performed. During the measurements the unitary surface load
of the heater installed in the experimental system was changed
in the range from 0.2 W/cm2 to 2.2 W/cm2. For each case,
during the heating process, the phenomena occurring on the
surface of the heater and in its vicinity were recorded using a
digital camera. Tested synthetic ester was heated from the Figure 2. Dependence of dielectric dissipation factor (DDF) versus unitary
ambient temperature (about 25OC) to the fixed temperature surface load of a heater
65OC. Then, the sample of the liquid was taken and according In each case, the quality assessment of the phenomena was
to the standard [13], the measurement of DDF in the done on the basis of recorded films and taken out photos. Two
temperature of 90OC was performed. The measurement tank most different cases recorded at the minimum (0.4 W/cm2) and
was emptied and the heater was naturally cooled to the ambient maximum (2.2 W/cm2) unitary surface load at 60OC were
temperature. The measurement procedure was repeated three presented in the Fig. 3 and 4.
times and three different certified laboratories have measured
the DDF.
The results of the measurements carried out in the above
described experimental system and according to the described
procedure were presented in Table III.
TABLE III
RESULTS OF THE MEASUREMENTS OF DDF (AVERAGE VALUES) FOR THE
DIFFERENT VALUES OF UNITARY SURFACE LOAD

Parameters Results of measurements

Unitary surface
- 0.2 0.4 0.6
load [W/cm2] Figure 3. Photo of the subsurface phenomena for unitary surface load of
0.4 W/cm2
DDF 0.0108 0.0211 0.0244 0.0281
At the all cases, but especially at large unitary surface load
Unitary surface (above the 1.2 W/cm2) the effect of "sticking" of liquid layer to
0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4
load [W/cm2] the surface of the heater was observed. The influence of heat
DDF 0.0283 0.0290 0.0311 0.0323
flux, on the layers, which due to the laminar liquid flow in the
system may find in the direct contact with the surface of the
Unitary surface
1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 heater, is very large, what probably may cause the local
load [W/cm2] overheating of liquid affecting on the disintegration and
DDF 0.0335 0.0338 0.0345 0.0377 decomposition of the molecular binding of liquid.
Consequently, this leads to the changes in some dielectric
properties of ester such as the increasing of dielectric
dissipation factor. At the smaller unitary surface load, in the
range of 0.2 - 0.8 W/cm2, the " sticking" layer of liquid, being

978-1-4673-4746-4/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE 653

 2012 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Application, Shanghai, China, September 17-20, 2012

in contact with the surface of the heater, is visible on the films • probably, changing in the forced flow of the liquid from the
in much lower degree. Thus, the correlation between observed laminar flow in the direction of quasi-turbulent flow, and the
phenomena and result of the measurements is clearly right shaping of the surface of the heating elements may
noticeable. reduce, in some degree, undesirable phenomena of the
influence of concentrated heat flux on the dielectric
properties of synthetic ester, what requires the additional
study.
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Phenom., pp. 1-4.
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in the form of a local overheating of the liquid (destruction at power frequency. Test method."
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dielectric dissipation factor (tan δ) and d.c. resistivity."
indicating the polar particles from the liquid decomposition;

978-1-4673-4746-4/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE 654