Vegetable Oil Transformer Research And Development

"Implement the new development concept, implement the work deployment of the State Grid Corporation, and actively cultivate new manufacturing models such as smart manufacturing, green manufacturing, and service-oriented manufacturing to enhance the core competitiveness of enterprises and serve the development of green power." Adhere to innovation drive and develop green products. Promote products such as natural ester insulating oil (vegetable oil) transformers.

Vegetable oil transformers are safer and more environmentally friendly

“The existing oil-immersed transformer products mainly use mineral oil. Once a leak occurs, it will cause serious pollution to the local environment. At the same time, with the development of urbanization, many substations go to the city center, and the safety and environmental protection of the transformer. Higher requirements have been put forward.” The vegetable oil transformer is made of high-flammable point, environment-friendly and renewable vegetable oil as the insulating medium. It has the characteristics of strong overload capability, green environmental protection, low loss and low partial discharge, which meets the requirements of green manufacturing.

Vegetable oil transformer is a kind of green power transformer that uses natural ester insulating oil (vegetable oil) extracted from natural plant seeds such as soybean and rapeseed as insulation and cooling medium. It has many advantages over traditional mineral oil transformer.

First, excellent environmental performance. Vegetable oil contains no harmful ingredients, no toxicity and danger in water and soil, good biodegradability and environmental compatibility. The biodegradability of 28 days can reach 97%, and it will not pollute the environment. The vegetable oil is non-toxic after leaking, the penetration speed is slow, and it can be completely degraded. The leakage and remediation cost is low, and there is no pollution to water and soil.

The second is good security. The ignition point of vegetable oil is generally higher than 350 degrees Celsius, while the mineral oil is 160 degrees Celsius. The risk of transformer fire explosion is much lower than that of mineral oil transformer. Igniting vegetable oil takes longer than mineral oil and requires a higher temperature. At the same time, the vegetable oil is extinguished for a shorter period of time and the smoke generation rate is lower. Compared to mineral oils, vegetable oils are less volatile and produce less gas when burned, which can reduce high-energy arc faults and reduce the risk of explosions and associated collateral damage.

The third is excellent electrical performance. The dielectric constant of vegetable oil is about 3.2, and the field strength distribution in the oil-paper insulation system is more reasonable. The good moisture adsorption characteristics of vegetable oil can lock the moisture in the transformer in the oil and improve the electrical properties of the solid insulation material. Vegetable oil transformers have superior overload capability.

The fourth is to greatly delay the aging of transformer insulation paper and maintain better insulation strength. Vegetable oil has a larger molecular polarity and a stronger hydrophilicity, so that it absorbs more moisture in the insulating paper and prolongs the thermal life of the insulating paper by about 6 times.

“Transformer is the 'heart' of grid operation, and it is also the core equipment of the grid, which is essential for ensuring the safe operation of the grid.” The key to maintaining the long-term safe and stable operation of traditional power transformers lies in the “blood” flowing in the body – insulating oil Its insulation and heat dissipation properties determine whether the power transformer can carry a higher voltage level and a larger transmission capacity.

Electrical engineers around the world have been working to upgrade the performance of mineral insulating oils. However, the raw material for refining mineral insulating oil, cycloalkyl crude oil, accounts for only 2.2% of the world's proven oil reserves. Its non-renewable and non-degradable properties pose environmental challenges. Vegetable oils are increasingly becoming the ideal medium for replacing electrical insulating oils in the eyes of electrical engineers.