Silica gel breather cup of a Transformer

The silica gel breather cup of a Transformer is partially filled with oil to avoid
entering of moisture into the Transformer. As the oil expands due to rise in
temperature, the pressure builds up , consequently, the vapour and dry air
accumulated in the conservator are breathed out.

During the fall of temperature, oil in the Transformer contracts and creates
partial vacuum in the tank which makes the Transformer to breathe in air
from the outside. In the process of breathing in outside air, moisture and
dust particles in the outside air are also sucked in. But, the oil in the
breather cup obstructs dust particles and settles them at its bottom. The
moisture entered is absorbed by the silica gel in the breather.

The oil in the breather cup is only partially filled up to the mark given on
the cup. If oil in
the cup is over
filled, while
breathing in, the
oil gets into
contact and
absorbed by the
silica gel resulting
in bottom portion
of silica gel is
permanently
wasted as the oil
absorbed silica gel
cannot be
reactivated again.