Transformer Oils Writeup

Transformer oils also known as insulating oils are prepared from highly refined mineral
oils. These oils serve mainly two purpose- one as liquid insulation in electrical power
transformer and two dissipate heat of the transformer i.e. act as coolant. In addition to
these, transformer oils help to preserve the core and winding as these are fully
immersed inside oil and prevent direct contact of atmospheric oxygen with cellulose
made paper insulation of windings, which is susceptible to oxidation.

High voltage transformers are having oil tank above it, often experience gas build up
inside the transformer because of overheating of the oil. This gas build up increases the
pressure inside the transformer results in tripping the protective circuit breaker. The
transformer oil must have low volatility and high thermal stability to ensure reduced gas
formation at high temperature.

The critical requirements for good quality transformer oil are high flash point, superior
interfacial tension, low pour point, higher dielectric strength, superior dielectric
dissipation factor and specific resistivity, superior thermo-oxidation characteristics and
excellent compatibility with the construction materials used in transformers. These
properties ensure satisfactory operation of transformers in wide range of temperatures
prevalent in the country.

Transformer Oils are classified based on oxidation inhibiting characteristics as Inhibited

& Uninhibited Oils. Based on type of hydrocarbon, insulating oils can be paraffin based
or Naphthenic based. The basic difference between paraffinic & naphthenic transformer
oils can be summarised in the following table:
Transformer Oil Transformer Oil-
Property Paraffinic Naphthenic
Low temperature properties Good/ Satisfactory Excellent
Viscosity-temperature characteristics Excellent Poor
Oxidation & thermal stability Excellent Satisfactory
Heat Capacity & Thermal Conductivity Excellent Satisfactory
Solvency Satisfactory Good
Sludge dispersion characteristics Good/ Satisfactory Excellent
Volatility Low High
Flash point High Low
Polarity Low High
*It can be inferred from above that paraffinic transformer oils outweigh naphthenic
transformer oils in most of the characteristics except low temperature properties. India,
being a tropical country, except for Himalayan regions, paraffin based insulating oils are
best suitable for all types of transformers, be it distribution or transmission
transformers.

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 Transformer Oils Writeup
Modern refining methods using hydro-catalytic processes opened up options for making
new generation transformer oils using Paraffinic Base Stock avoiding the generation of
sludge accumulated via process of acid treatment. Such base stocks inherently possess
superior thermo oxidative stability, adequate pourability, lower volatility and higher
flash point. These oils are useful as a base for transformer oil and development of a new
generation series of insulating oils meeting latest Indian standard IS 335-2018

Some of the important characteristics of Paraffinic Transformer Oils are given below :-

- Superior Electrical Properties: Electrical properties of transformer oils are

assessed by various standard tests including Dielectric strength/ breakdown
voltage (BDV), dielectric dissipation factor (tan delta) and specific resistivity.
Dielectric strength refers to the ability of the transformer oil to withstand
electrical stress without affecting the quality of the oil. The electrical properties
of insulating oils depend on the level of refining of the oil as well as the presence
of moisture / impurities or external contaminants. Paraffinic insulating oils have
excellent breakdown voltage, di-electric dissipation factor and specific resistivity
characteristics indicating superior electrical properties.
- Excellent Oxidation Characteristics: The ability to resist oxidation at elevated
temperatures in presence of oxygen is assessed by the oxidation test as per test
procedure appended in the Annexure C of IS 335. In this test, degree of oxidation
is estimated by determining the amount of sludge generated and the
neutralization value of oxidized sample.
- Another test for checking the oxidation characteristics of transformer oil is open
beaker oxidation test as per IS 12177 test procedure. The test result shows
superior thermal / oxidation stability and excellent electrical properties of aged
oils after the oxidation tests.
- Compatibility with Construction Materials: These Paraffinic oils were evaluated
with various construction materials i.e. crape paper, insulating paper, cotton
paper and press board as per ASTM D 3455 test procedure and also with
increased severity (by increasing the size of construction materials to four times).
The compatibility test results establish that even under severe test conditions,
These oils retain the general physico-chemical and electrical properties of the oil.
Other than above, these Paraffinic oils possess superior cooling property, higher flash
point, lower pour point & low aromatic content. These oils are free from Poly
Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).

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 Transformer Oils Writeup
Paraffinic Transformer oils are well accepted by Transformer OEMs and users for use in
generation and transmission transformers of EHV (Extra High Voltage) class up to 400 kV
and distribution transformers to various ratings.

To ensure desired performance of the Transformer oils, regular monitoring of oil quality
particularly for break down voltage and moisture content testing is required. Regular
maintenance of the system by way of checking the breather seal, centrifuging and
dehydration of oil will help in maintaining the quality of the Transformer oil as well as
the performance of the transformer oil. This condition monitoring will also help in
establishing the optimum drain interval of the oil.

Pour Point of Type I transformer Oil can be brought down to (-) 42 or lower by adding
suitable PPD . The requirement is finalized between buyer and seller , technically it
should be (-) 10 lower than the LCSET ( which can be taken as lowest ambient
temperature in that geographical area where it is to be used ( Refer IS 335 point no 6.1
& 6.2).

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 Transformer Oils Writeup
Table : Typical test data of Transformer Oils against IS 335:2018 Type I & II (Un-inhibited)

S. Property Test Method Transformer Transformer Limit as per IS Limit as per IS

No. Oil Type I Oil Type II 335:2018 Type I 335:2018 Type II
(Uninhibited) (Uninhibited)
1. Viscosity at 40 0C, mm2/s IS 1448 (Part 25) 7.99 13.79 12 Max. 15 Max.
0
2. Viscosity at 0 C IS 1448 (Part 25) 36 98 -- 1800 Max.
3. Viscosity at (-) 30 0C IS 1448 (Part 25) 475 - 1800 Max. --
0
4. Pour Point, C IS 1448 (Part (-) 33 (-) 21 (-)40 Max, To be based (-)10 Max, To be based
10/Sec 2) on LCSET on LCSET
5. Water Content, m/kg IEC 60814 21 21 30 /40 Max. 30 /40 Max.
6. Breakdown Voltage, kV IS 6792 79 74 30/70 Min. 30/70 Min.
0
7. Density at 20 C, g/ml IS 1448 (Part 16) 0.8276 0.8371 0.895 Max. 0.895 Max.
8. Dielectric Dissipation IS 16086 0.001 0.001 0.005 Max. 0.005 Max.
Factor (DDF) at 900C
9. Appearance Visual Clear Clear Clear, free from Clear, free from
sediments and sediments and
suspended matter suspended matter
10. Acidity, mgKOH/g IEC 62021-1 <0.01 <0.01 0.01 Max. 0.01 Max.
11. Interfacial tension, N/m at ASTM D 971 0.042 0.043 No general No general
27 0C Requirement Requirement
12. Total Sulfur content, % ISO 14596 or D <0.001 <0.001 No general No general
4294 Requirement Requirement
13. Corrosive sulfur DIN 51353 Not corrosive Not corrosive Not corrosive Not corrosive
14. Potentially Corrosive IS 16310 Not corrosive Not corrosive Not Corrosive Not Corrosive
Sulphur
15. DBDS, mg/kg IS 16497 (Part 1) Nil Nil Non-Detectable Non-Detectable
(<5 mg/kg) (<5 mg/kg)
16. Inhibitors according to IS IS 13631 Nil Nil Uninhibited oil: Uninhibited oil:
13631/IEC 60666, % not detectable not detectable
(<0.01) (<0.01)
17. Metal passivator additives IS 13631 Nil Nil Non-Detectable (<5) or Non-Detectable (<5) or
according to IS 13631/IEC as agreed upon with as agreed upon with
60666, mg/kg the purchaser the purchaser
18. Other additives IS 13631 Nil Nil The supplier should The supplier should
declare the generic declare the generic
type of all additives and type of all additives and
their concentrations in their concentrations in
the case of antioxidant the case of antioxidant
additives additives
19. 2-Furfural & related IS 15568 Nil Nil Not-Detectable (<0.05) Not-Detectable (<0.05)
compounds, mg/kg for each individual for each individual
compound compound
20. Oxidation stability IS 12422
(Method C)
i) Total acidity, mg KOH/g 1.9.4 of IS12422 0.12 0.25 1.2 Max. 1.2 Max.
ii) Sludge, % 1.9.1 of IS12422 0.01 0.03 0.8 Max. 0.8 Max.
0
iii) DDF at 90 C 1.9.6 of IS12422 0.01 0.01 0.5 Max. 0.5 Max.
0
21. Flash Point, C IS 1448 (Part 21) 172 170 135 Min. 135 Min.
22. PCA Content, % IP 346 <0.5 <1 3 Max. 3 Max.
23. PCB Content IS 16082 Nil Nil Not detectable Not detectable

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