International Journal of Trend in Scientific

Research and Development (IJTSRD)

International Open Access Journal
ISSN No: 2456 - 6470 | www.ijtsrd.com | Volume - 2 | Issue – 3

Effect of Permittivity on Breakdown characteristic

of Transformer oil based Nanofluid
Mihir Bhatt
Department
tment of Electrical Engineering, C. S. Patel
Institute of Technology
Technology, Changa, Anand, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT

The expansion of forthcoming high voltage network energy flow are critical and costly assets in electric
and smart grid has upraised the desires on reliability power system beginning with the grid, transmission,
and performance of insulating materials used in and down to the plant. As an asset class,
cl transformers
electrical power system to deal with more vigorous constitute one of the largest investments in a utility’s
and volatile operating conditions. Since from long system or in an industrial complex [1]. The political
decades, in conjunction with paper the mineral oil or and media attention has remarkably addressed the
synthetic oil is mainly being applied as an insulating surrounding blackouts at various locations around the
medium in many of the high voltage apparatuses. world was due to the potentialtential consequences of
Concomitant development of advanced new materials transformer failure [2]. The functioning consistency
with high insulation and thermal gains will ensure a and lifespan of transformers predominantly rely on
significant upgrade in the reliability of liquid
liquid-filled characteristics and grade of dielectric material [3].
power equipment and hence the electrical network.
These novel specific desires have brought the One of the potential issues with existing liquid-solid
liquid
challenges to the transformer manufacturing insulation system in
n power transformer that limits the
companies to design the transformers with enhanced compactness in design of a transformer is the
electrical and thermal properties. The transformer oil incompatibility in permittivities between them.
modified by nanotechnology has the potential to Because of inferior properties of liquid insulation, it
switch mineral oil base products in the marketplace was stressed much more than the solids at ac and/or
due to its superiorityity in function and definite impulse voltages which
hich might results in explosive
insulating and thermal properties. This paper operation of transformers. [4]. Apart from the key
discusses on the influence of nanoparticle’s functions such as protecting solid insulation, arc
permittivity over the electrical performance of quenching media and dissipating heat, liquid
transformer oil. insulations can also act as acoustic dampening media
in transformers [5]. So, to survive with the increasing
Keywords: Transformer oil,Nanofluid, Nanoparticle, demand of high voltage rate with compact design for
COMSOL Multiphysics transformers, the advancement of transformer oil with
promising dielectric and thermal characteristics is
I. INTRODUCTION extensively required [3].

The incessant growth of high voltage network [HVAC After the first conceptual introduction of
and HVDC] has provoked the researchers to direct nanotechnology, the Nano dielectrics gained the
their attention onto insulation system which can abide notable devotion in improving the service life of
the intensifying levels of high voltage to make insulations. Nowadays in dielectric society, the term
electrical transmission and distribution network more nanofluid becomes renowned and prominent term that
efficient and reliable. Power transformers, the most brings the challenges and opportunities to the
important electric apparatus for providing the reliable investigators
vestigators over the past decades. The terms

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Apr 2018 Page: 262
 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
“nanofluids” and “Nano-liquids” are used mutually to One step Method: In this technique, the
refer to transformer oil/nanoparticle combination for nanoparticles are dispersed traditionally into a host
insulating and cooling interest [3]. Nano structured fluid to minimize the chances of agglomeration with
particles dispersed homogeneously within the liquid enhanced stability [3, 11]. One of the key weaknesses
with a few concentration forms the nanofluid. The of this procedure is the formation of clusters during
term 'nanofluids – a two-phase mixture' was mass production. The difficulty of grouping can be
introduced by researchers at the Argonne National squeezed by using evaporation-condensation method.
Laboratory containing a matrix liquid, and dispersed
nanoparticles in suspension [6]. Two-step Method: The extensively used technique
for formulating the nanofluids is two-step method. In
In recent years, nanofluids have concerned more first step of formulation, the particles, tubes, fibres or
attention because of their outstanding and exceptional any other non-metals of nano scale are primarily
characteristics [3]. This paper discusses about the fashioned as dry powders via physical and chemical
influence of nanoparticle’s permittivity over the processes. In second step, these powders will be
electrical performance of transformer oil. spread in the matrix fluid by magnetic stirrer or
ultrasonic bath to get stable dispersion. The inert gas
II. Nanofluid condensation process is used for mass production of
nanoparticles which makes this technique more
The restricted electrical performance of the existing expensive to generate nanofluids in a big scale.
electrical insulation system has forced the electrical
engineers to develop up-to-date electrical insulation III. Development of Model
that have fitness to withstand high voltage levels. The
evidences show that the Nanofluids produced by A. COMSOL Multiphysics
dispersing the nanostructured particles have distinct
dielectric characteristics as compared to the COMSOL Multiphysics originates from PDE Toolbox
conventional liquid insulation. A lot of research work of MATLAB.COMSOL Multiphysics software is
has been initiated to analyse the potential of nanofluid universally adopted computer aid engineering
for ultrahigh voltage AC and DC power transmission software which works on finite element analysis.It has
system. a large set of functions for analyses and solution. This
software includes electrostatic module, heat transfer
III. Synthesis and Preparation of Transformer module, electromagnetic module, plasma module,
oil based Nanofluid chemical engineering module and many more. It also
has many pre- and post- processing functions, which
A. Nanoparticles provides a friendly working environment for solving
One of the most significant concerns in preparation of both complex scientific problems and large-scale
the nanofluid is the selection of the nanoparticle. With engineering problems. The other advantage of
the aim of enhancing the dielectric properties of liquid COMSOL Multiphysics is that it can solve coupled
insulations, several nanoparticle additives have been multiphysics phenomena simultaneously. Owing to
examined till date [11-41]. These additives can be these advantages, it is referred to as the first class
categorized according to conductivity and permittivity software package for any number of coupled
into three major groups: multiphysics fields [12].
 Conducting Nanoparticles: Fe3O4, Fe2O3,
ZnO, SiC B. Experimental Analysis
 Semiconducting Nanoparticles: TiO2, CuO, Figure 1 shows the model developed in COMSOL
Cu2O, CdS Multiphysics software to study the influence of
 Insulating Nanoparticles: Al2O3, SiO2, BN nanoparticle’s permittivity over the electrical
performance of transformer oil.
B. Method of Dispersion
One of the preliminary tasks is the preparation of the
sample to make it ready for the experimentation once
the nanoparticle is selected. Ideally, the methods of
dispersion can be classified as one-step or two-step
methods.

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
It can be observed that, the electric field strength at
the surface of nanoparticle i.e. nanoparticle-oil
interface is maximum. The value of electric field
intensity would increase with increase in dielectric
constant of nanoparticle. This is validated using
COMSOL Multiphysics.

B. Simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics

The relative permittivities of nanoparticle considered
for the simulation are 5.7, 10.9 and 43.3 [13].
Figures 3 to 6shows the electric field distribution with
and without nanoparticle inside the transformer oil.

Fig. 1 Modeling of Transformer oil with

Nanoparticle using COMSOL Multiphysics

Table 1 shows the specifications of transformer oil

used for the simulation.
TABLE I. SPECIFICATIONS OF TRANSFORMER
OIL [13]
Property Specification Fig. 3 Electric Field distribution in transformer oil
Density at 20°C 875 kg/m3 without Nanoparticle
Flash point 140°C
Kinematic Viscosity at 40°C 9.4 mm2/s
Pour point -57°C
Neutralization Value <0.01 mg
KOH/g
Dissipation factor at 90°C 0.002
Relative Permittivity 2
Fig. 4 Electric Field distribution in transformer oil
IV. RESULTS & DISCUSSION based nanofluid (Relative permittivity of
Nanoparticle is 5.7)
A. Nanoparticle Charging Mechanism
As shown in figure 2, the electric field distribution
inside the transformer oil gets deformed when
nanoparticle of different permittivity values (usually
higher than the permittivity of base liquid) is
dispersed in the base oil [13].

Fig. 5 Electric Field distribution in transformer oil

based nanofluid (Relative permittivity of
Nanoparticle is 10.9)

Fig. 2 Effect of Nanoparticle Permittivity on

Electric Field

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
de-trap the electrons accelerated at high speed in the
ionization region. The trapping and de-trapping
process will cause a reduction in transformation of
energy and velocity of the electrons moving in the
base oil. Because of reduction in the speed of the
electrons the ionization efficiency will reduce which
delay the breakdown until the electrical stress is
increased.
Fig. 6 Electric Field distribution in transformer oil On contrary, the nanoparticles with relatively low
based nanofluid (Relative permittivity of dielectric constant do not have property to trap the
Nanoparticle is 43.3) electrons moving at a high speed. Hence, the exerted
force from the external magnetic field doesn’t have
According to the law of electrostatics, the ionization the ability for electron attraction and hence the
takes place in a given dielectric when the electrical mechanism of trapping and de-trapping will not
potential is applied between two electrodes. Because justify the breakdown mechanism in nanofluid with
of the ionization process the electrons and positive low relative permittivity. The breakdown mechanism
ions are released in the insulation. The electrical force for such type of fluid can be explained based on the
F = qE, where, F is the force in Newton, q is the polarization mechanism [15].
charge value in Coulomb and E is the electric field
strength in V/m is exerted between negative and V. CONCLUSION
positive charges [13]. In case of nanofluids the
electrical force is exerted on the nanoparticle It has been conclude that nanoparticles with high
dispersed in mineral oil. The electrons produced due relative permittivities tend to positively charged when
to ionization of liquid are attracted towards the exposed to an external electric field, but the
nanoparticles and leave the positive ion behind them nanoparticles with low relative permittivities tends to
because of their heavy weight as compared to free be polarized and negatively charged. The electrons
electrons. These attracted electrons are distributed produced at high electric stress are largely responsible
over the nanoparticle surface. for the ionization and hence breakdown in oil. These
high speed electrons will be trapped and de-trapped
It has been claimed that the dispersion of by the interface between oil and nanoparticle. Due to
nanoparticles influences the ionization process inside this trapping and de-trapping process, the energy
the liquid and hence the breakdown physics of the oil transfer and velocity of these electrons will reduce.
[14, 15].The mechanism of augmenting the electrical The fast electrons will become slower ones by this
strength of transformer oil based nanofluid with high process of trapping and de-trapping in the interface
relative permittivity of nanoparticles can be clarified and breakdown will occur at high voltages than that of
by trapping properties of interfacial surface between base oil.
host oil and nanoparticles.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The electrons produced at high electric stress are
The author is grateful to his family members, head of
largely responsible for ionization and hence
the department, colleagues, referees and the team of
breakdown in oil. These electrons gain the sufficient
management for motivating, guiding and supporting
kinetic energy from the applied electrical stress and
to carry out the research activity for betterment of his
accelerated very fast within the liquid. The ionization
efficiency can be reduced by reducing the force career.
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