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Malaysia is currently the worlds second largest producer and exporter of palm oil. The
plantation sector dates back to 1896, with the start of the rubber industry. Oil palm
cultivation began in 1917, but growth was initially very slow. It was only during the last
50 years that plantation development was accelerated through large-scale investments in
the cultivation of the oil palm as one of the approved crops for diversifying the countries
agricultural development.
Transformers form an important part of an electrical network. Without them,
utility companies would not be able to transmit and distribute electricity generated at
remote power stations. Over time transformer failure can be costly not only to the utility
or owner of the transformer but the consumer as well. Oil is used as an insulator and
coolant in transformers and by monitoring its condition the transformers overall health
is determined. Electromagnetic devices like transformers heat up during operation
because of resistive losses in their electrical and magnetic components. The rejection of
heat is critical, since excessive temperatures can damage insulation, leading to failures.
Cooling capability ultimately determines the amount of power that can be reliably
handled by a transformer. As a result, transformers are designed to maximize heat
rejection, and this often means bulky and expensive designs.
Transformer and even other electrical equipment generate heat during operation,
therefore a coolant is necessary to dissipate this heat. The insulating oil fills up pores in
fibrous insulation and also the gaps between the coil conductors and the spacing between
the windings and the tank, and thus increases the dielectric strength of the insulation.
Transformer in operation generates heat in the winding, and that heat is transferred to the
oil. Heated oil then flows to the radiators by convection. Oil supplied from the radiators,
being relatively cool, cools the winding. There are several important properties, such as
dielectric strength, flash point, viscosity, specific gravity and pour point, to be
considered when specifying certain oil as transformer oil. The quality of the oil is very
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important. At high voltages, highly loaded transformers demand better quality oils.
While at low voltages, lightly loaded transformers, the demand for high quality oils is
not critical.
During the last century, power transformers have generally been filled with
mineral oil, which has good compatibility with the cellulosic insulating paper; good
physical and electrical properties, not only as a cooling fluid but also as an insulator, and
suitable properties such as good electrical are quenching and mainly availability, low
cost and long history. Today esters are being used in transformers, mainly for safety
reason, because they have higher flashpoints and fire points compared with minerals
oils, and for environmental reasons, because they are more biodegradable than the
mineral oils, particularly the natural esters.
This research proposes a new method in transformer oil where the ageing aspects
of palm oil in the presence of air, moisture and metallic substances available inside the
transformer. In 2012, Malaysia, the world's second largest producer of palm oil produced
18.79 million tonnes of crude palm oil. Palm oil is an alternative choice for power
transformer liquid insulation. This research will present ageing aspects of palm oil in
comparison to that of transformer oil.
3. Problem Statement
Mineral oil is widely used as transformer liquid insulation due to its availability
and low cost. However, due to the toxic and hazard nature, attention has been paid to use
other types of alternative environment friendly oils such as vegetable, soya bean,
sunflower, etc.
In addition, mineral oils generate poisonous substances due to oxidative
instability. The disposal and clearance after equipment failure or leakages is very
difficult exercise. This is so, because of the need to comply environmental and safety
regulations of authorities. Conventional mineral oils in transformer oils can pose threat
to environment if spilled. Silicon has a very high flash point (low flammability) and it is
generally used in places where safety is highly desired. It is the most expensive oil and it
is also non biodegradable.
i) To propose new transformer oil- aging effect of palm oil as transformer liquid
insulation and compare with mineral oil.
ii) To evaluate the samples of palm oil and mineral oil with different aging time and
temperature.
iii) To observe the change of color of palm oil and mineral oil at significant
reduction of oil using standard color chart of transformer oil.
iv) To measure the chemical tests include measurements of moisture content,
interfacial tension (IFT) and the acidity number.
v) To measure the electrical tests include breakdown voltage and frequency
dielectric spectroscopy (FDS) measurements.
5. Research Methodology
Initially, this research will propose new transformer oil where the ageing aspects of palm
oil in the presence of air, moisture and metallic substances available inside the
transformer. The test sample of palm oil and mineral oil were sealed and unsealed to see
the different of aging time and temperature. In addition, different metal substances were
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added to each sample to stimulate the catalytic effect of winding, core and transformer
tank to the ageing of oil. Later, the sample will check for any reduction of oil level and
the color of sample were record. Then, chemical tests include measurements of moisture
content, interfacial tension (IFT) and the acidity number will measure. The breakdown
voltage and frequency dielectric spectroscopy (FDS) such as loss tangent, permittivity,
conductivity and activation energy will calculate.
Electrical Testing
(Breakdown voltage, Frequency dielectric spectroscopy (FDS
Electrical testing
Breakdown voltage and Frequency dielectric Spectroscopy (FDS)
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10. References