Insulating oil or transformer oil is one of the same things. Transformer oil purification experts explain the insulating oil as a mineral oil processed through fractional distillation and treatment of crude petroleum.
There are some properties that make insulating oil best in quality. Some of these properties are-
- Excellent dielectric properties resulting in least power loss
- High resistivity
- High flash point
- High thermal stability
- Long life performance
- Superb ageing characteristics
- Protective against corrosion
- Wider operating range of temperature
- Availability in wide range of grades
When engineers use the insulating oil in transformer, it is known as transformer oil. The oil in transformer is used for various reasons-
- Oil offers the liquid insulation in between the windings and other conductive parts of the transformer.
- It is used as a cooling medium.
- It preserves the core and the transformer winding since the core and winding of the transformer remain immersed within the oil.
- The transformer oil is critical as it protects the interaction of environmental oxygen and the cellulose made paper winding insulation. In this way, oil protects the cellulose made insulation from oxidation.
There are two types of transformer oil that you can avail – Naphthenic and paraffinic. Both of these transformer oils are different from each other and we will discuss the differences between these two transformer oil types now.
Naphthenic oil:
Naphthenic oil is derived from special crudes having lower paraffin content. Its pour point is less than the Paraffinic oil as the content of paraffin is low. Its boiling pint is around 425° C. As compared to paraffinic oils, naphthenic oil is more readily oxidized. The oxidation products of this oil are soluble in the oil.
Paraffinic oil:
Paraffinic mineral oil is derived from special crudes having substantial amount of n-paraffin or wax. Its pour point is greater than naphthetic oil due to high content of wax. Oxidation level is less in paraffinic oil. The oxidation products of paraffinic oil are insoluble in the oil.
Paper is extremely hygroscopic in nature and it absorbs highest amount of water content from oil that affects paper insulation property and lowered its life.
If you want to explore more about these two types of oils used for transformers, you can anytime connect with transformer oil purification experts and share your requirements. You can even ask from readers here in comments.