Experimental Study of Nano Oils Containing Iron Oxide, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and Aluminum Oxide in Reducing the Hot Spot Temperature of Transformers

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

In tropical regions, particularly during the summer, the rise in ambient temperature significantly increases the hot spot temperature of transformers, which can lead to premature transformer failure and cause severe damage to the power grid. Consequently, reducing the hot spot temperature of transformers is crucial. One approach to improving thermal management in oil-immersed transformers is by enhancing the heat transfer properties of the oil through the addition of specific additives, allowing for more effective and rapid dissipation of heat from the windings and core to the surrounding environment. This study explores the experimental performance of three nano oils—aluminum oxide, iron oxide, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes—within a laboratory oil-immersed transformer with a maximum rated power of 150 W. To achieve this, the nanoparticles were mixed with mineral transformer oil at a concentration of 0.5 g/L and tested in the transformer. The findings indicate that incorporating nanoparticles into the oil, within allowable limits, enhances the physical properties of the nano oils, which can play a vital role in the thermal management of transformer oil. For example, at full load (100%), the nano oils of aluminum oxide, iron oxide, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes reduce the transformer hot spot temperature by 2.1°C, 1.3°C, and 5.4°C, respectively, compared to the baseline test with mineral oil, primarily due to the improved thermal conductivity of the nano oils.

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 56, Issue 5
2024
Pages 741-762

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