EE241-Electromagnetic Field Theory

ASSIGNMENT # 02
Name: Ajwad Farooq
Class: BEE – 9D
CMS ID: 207380

Submitted to: Sir Salman Ghafoor

Dated: 10th November 2019
 Dielectrics and their applications

Dielectrics:
Dielectrics are materials that act as insulators for electricity. Dielectrics can be polarized by
applying electric field across them and so they exhibit the property of transmitting electric force
without actually conducting current.

Applications:
Dielectrics are used in variety of applications such as:
- Insulating coating in paints
- Used as magnets for toys and compass needles.
- Electro optic devices
- Used in high voltage transformers to maintain an optimum temperature.

Only the last property will be discussed here.

Application of dielectrics as oil filled capacitors:

Oil filled capacitors have been used in high voltage and high current applications such as
transformers, energy storage, and power factor correction. It serves various functions as it
displaces air and prevents corrosion of the capacitor. Also, the breakdown voltage of a
capacitor increases depending on the oil’s thickness. It is to note that the term ‘oil’ doesn’t
specifically refer to some oils but in general to other liquids as well. That is why they are also
known as liquid filled capacitors.
In the early days, the high voltage capacitors were made using paper, but they had shorter life
spans. But later on, new type of ‘oil’ was synthesized chemically known as polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCB). They are heavy liquids and even solids at room temperature. They are used as
coolants, additives in lubricants, adhesives etc. And gradually they were being used in high
energy transformers.
PCB’s were very famous in the electrical industry because of some of the qualities they had:
- Good electrical properties
- Stable at high temperatures
- Corrosion resistance
- They absorb less moisture (Moisture usually lowers the breakdown voltage)
But all this, came with a strong blow to the electrical industry as the PCB’s were found to have
damaging effects on human health such as liver damage, reproductive damage. Also, the PCB’s
had a higher chance of catching fire while under extreme heat.
Since then, PCB’s have been banned and substitute oils are being discovered. These substitute
oils do not have high flammability, high cost production, and any negative health problems for
humans. They are also biodegradable which means they are easier to remove from the
environment unlike PCB’s. Some examples are silicones, fluorocarbons, synthetic esters and
high temp hydrocarbons like diaryl ethane. Sometimes, wax is used in addition with oil known
as epoxy.
Nowadays, the substitute oil filled capacitors are being used which have many advantages as
compared to dry capacitors. Some of which are:
- Cooling of capacitors by removing the heat from capacitor windings. So, the capacitors
keep working in their optimum temperature.
- Reduces temperature rises of active elements
- Prevents short circuiting
- Corrosion prevention
- Prevents formation of electric arcs between the capacitor plates. This is known as arcing
prevention. Even if some arcing occurs, the oil fills the holes. Capacitors undergoing this
phenomenon are known as self healing capacitors.
- Large energy storage devices. Due to this, these oil filled capacitors are of large size.

Conclusion:
We have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of oil filled capacitors. Also, we have
learnt that any new invention or discovery in a specific field might back fire sometimes and
enough research needs to be carried out for a particular discovery in relations to environmental
risks and human health risks. As strange as it may seem, but even oil filled capacitors posed a
threat to our health as discussed above.