G.H.PATEL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY V.V.

NAGAR
2180901-TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Department of Electrical Engineering
Date://20

Experiment:6

AIM:To study transformer oil purification and filtration process.

APPRATUS:

RATIONALE:

The transformer oil should be checked during periodic maintenance. Container for
samples should be preferably be bottles of clear glass with ground stoppers and of
1litre capacity. If test is not carried our immediately bottles should be hermitically
sealed to prevent contamination of oil while awaiting the test. While sample is
taken dirt should remove from valve and allow some oil to flow in some
receptacle before present settles at the bottom. Sample of oil should be taken
under switched off condition or no load conditions.

The moisture and dielectric strength are measured. Impurities have bad effect on
the property of oil. The oil sample is taken in a standard oil test cell [80x90cross
sectional area 100hieght] electrodes are polished brass spheres 12.7mm in
diameter mounted horizontally. The gap spacing is 4mm+ 0.02mm. The sample of
oil taken from the bottom of tank. Dark and brown clouds indicate deterioration;
oil in good quality has pale yellowish uniformcolor.

It is tested by means of portable oil testing set which consists of a auto

transformer voltmeter tripping device etc. the voltage can be gradually increased.
Oil in good condition should withstand 45kV rms for one minute in standard oil
testing cup with 4mm gap between electrodes. The condition of oil should be
checked during maintenance and before commissioning.

Six breakdown tests are made at an interval of one or five minutes to allow the
bubbles to escape. The gap between horizontal electrodes should be 2.5mm.
Average of five reading is considered as the break down value (BDV) of oil
sample.

Crackle test is performed to determine free water. A sample of oil taken in the test

Department of Electrical Engineering--GCET

 G.H.PATEL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY V.V.NAGAR
2180901-TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Department of Electrical Engineering
Date://20

and is heated rapidly over silent flame. The crackle indicates presence of moisture
above 50-60ppm of water.

The karl fisher test solution test is used to determining the moisture accurately.

PURIFICATION AND FILTERING OF TRANSFORMER OIL:

The oil is circulated to the filtering equipment for several hours till the desired
dielectric strength of oil is achieved. The purifying equipment removes the
dissolved moisture, free water, and solid particles
The oil purifier comprises the following components
i. Vacuum tank and vacuum pump
ii. centrifugal filter unit
iii. Oil pump 4 Heaters
iv. Valves
v. Temperature gauges
vi. Vacuum gauge
vii. Pressure gauges

Transformer oil is circulated through the purifier. Filter removes particles solid
impurities. Heating chamber heats the oil to preset temperature of the order 80o.
Spray chamber separate heavy particles from the oil vacuum chamber makes the
oil dry. Input pump and output pump help in circulating the oil. Spray chamber:
this contains a motor driven rotating bowl. Dirty oil admitted in the Centre of the
chamber into the bowl having several conical separating vanes. The bowl is
rotated at a speed of 6000rpm by means of gear motor.
Vacuum chamber: The process of drying out is accelerated by application of
vacuum. The oil is admitted in the vacuum chamber. The upper portion of the
chamber is evacuated to about 4mm of mercury by means of motor driven vacuum
Department of Electrical Engineering--GCET
 G.H.PATEL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY V.V.NAGAR
2180901-TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Department of Electrical Engineering
Date://20

pump
Strainer filter: the oil is passed through strainer plates having fine mesh size.
The dirt particles are separated and the oil is filtered , the filter stack comprises
several paper plates held closely together by spring loadings. The dirt particles
remain on one side of filter plates. The filter plates should be cleaned
periodically.

The oil is circulated through the purifier for several hour till the desired
dielectric strength is achieved, the break down value of oil with 4mm gap
should be above 40kV rms at 75o .

Steam line purifier: in such a purifier the oil is subjected to high pressure
(6kg/cm2) by means of compressed air applied to the tank. The oil is passed
through a stack of several filter plates made of filter paper. The stack comprises
severaltightlyplacespaperplates.Thedustparticlesremainononesideoffilter.plates
and filtered oil is passed on. The oil is then passed through a vacuum tank as
mentioned above.

The pressure chamber (1) is pressurized by means of compressed air. The oil is
passed through filter press (2)the filtered oil is passed through heating chamber
with the vacuum chamber.

Comparison between centrifugal type and steam line type of purifier.

 Streamline purifier can remove even fine carbon particles from oil
because of filterpress
 Centrifugal type of filter removes moisture and goes more efficiently
because of oil is pre heated and then sprayedswitched.
 Streamline purifier require special quality filter plates

Department of Electrical Engineering--GCET

 G.H.PATEL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY V.V.NAGAR
2180901-TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Department of Electrical Engineering
Date://20

Conclusion:

Department of Electrical Engineering--GCET

 G.H.PATEL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY V.V.NAGAR
2180901-TESTING AND COMMISSIONING OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Department of Electrical Engineering
Date://20

Questions:

1. Explain BDV test on transformer oil

2. Explain centrifugal purifier
3. Explain oil purification and filtration process
4. Explain tests performed on Insulating oil as per IS.
5. State the properties of good transformer oil.

Department of Electrical Engineering--GCET