Rohmanita Duanaputri, Rahman Azis Prasojo, Muhammad Fahmi Hakim, Bustani Wijaya, Geri Widianto, Wita Astuti, Rael Handy Gallant, Gugi Tito Anila Razaan
The growing demand for sustainable and reliable power solutions has highlighted the need for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional mineral oil-based transformer insulation. While mineral oil has been the industry standard, its environmental concerns and supply limitations have prompted the exploration of bio-based options. This study investigates the suitability of natural ester oil as a replacement for mineral oil in transformer insulation. Key performance indicators, breakdown voltage, and color scale, were evaluated. Results demonstrate that natural ester oil exhibits significantly higher dielectric strength compared to mineral oil, with an average breakdown voltage of 45 k V versus 32 kV. However, natural ester oil also showed a higher rate of color change, indicating potential accelerated degradation. After 720 hours of accelerated aging, the average color scale increase for natural ester oil was 3.5-units, while mineral oil experienced a 1.5-unit increase. These findings suggest that while natural ester oil offers enhanced electrical performance, its long-term stability may be a concern. Further research is warranted to investigate the underlying causes of this accelerated color change and to explore potential mitigation strategies to ensure the suitability of natural ester oil for widespread adoption in transformer applications. © 2024 IEEE.
Politeknik Negeri Malang, Department of Electrical Engineering, Malang, Indonesia; Institute Technology, PLN, Deptartment of Electrical Engineering, Jakarta, Indonesia