Kraft transformer insulation paper aged in, natural ester (vegetable oil) dielecvic fluid was compared to identical paper aged in conventional transformer mineral oil. Sealed steel aging tubes containing copper, aluminum, Kraft paper, and dielectric fluid (mineral oil and natural ester) were aged at 150°C for 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 hours. The extent of paper degradation after aging was determined using paper tensile strength, paper degree of polymerization, and furanic compounds in the aged fluid. Water contents of fluids and paper were compared. Paper aged in conventional transformer oil degraded at a significantly faster rate than in natural ester dielectric fluid. Paper in mineral oil reached three criteria for EEE end-of-life (50% retained tensile strength, 25% retained tensile strength, and degree of polymerization of 200) within the first 1000 hours. After 4000 hours of aging, paper in natural ester did not degrade to any of the E E E end-of-life criteria. At 4,000 hours, the paper aged in natural ester,retained about 55% of the original tensile strength and a degree of polymerization of about 280. Paper aged in conventional transformer oil degraded to the same values in about 315 and 390 hours, respectivelyan order of magnitude faster. The reduced paper-aging rate in natural ester is primarily attributed to the fluid maintaining the paper in a very dry state. ' Whiteley Ltd. Grade K 0.255" presspaper ' Cooper Power Systems Tranelec@ inhibited insulating mineral oil and Envirotemp@ FR3-natural ester dielectric fluid 0-7803-7350-2/0U$17,00 0.2002 IEEE
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.