Seed-oil-based coolants for transformers

Abstract

This article presents information on the safety, reliability, and environmental performance of natural ester transformer fluids by acquainting the readers with the history of transformer fluids and also explores how the industry has arrived at the current technologies of natural ester fluid. The properties of natural ester fluids are explained and then compared side by side with conventional mineral oil fluid. This article outlines two refinery case studies. The first case study is from a refinery in Texas City, where natural ester transformers were chosen for a new wet gas scrubber project. The second case study is from a refinery in Memphis, Tennessee, where natural ester fluid was used to retrofill an in-service, large-power transformer. These two case studies show the applicability of natural ester fluids in new and retrofilled distribution and power class transformers.