The 20th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 27 – September 01, 2017

A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF MOISTURE ON PAPER INSULATION

IMPREGNATED WITH MINERAL OIL AND ESTER OIL USING
FREQUENCY DOMAIN DIELECTRIC SPECTROSCOPY
1 1
Manas Ranjan Patra and B. Nageshwar Rao
1
Central Power Research Centre, Bengaluru, India
Email: manaspatra166@gmail.com, nagesh@cpri.in

Abstract: Condition monitoring of power transformers has been a continuous process

and has seen many improvement over the years. Although several diagnostic tests such
as dielectric loss angle, IR/PI, DGA, furan analysis are available, interpretation of data
still appears to be a challenging task due to multiple failure mechanisms. Interpretation of
data requires much care and expertise. In recent times dielectric response methods have
been used for detection and estimation of moisture content and ageing of
pressboard/paper insulation system of power transformers. Moisture in the transformer
affects the dielectric strength and the rate of insulation ageing. In some cases, there is
also threat of bubble evolution above a certain temperature when the load is suddenly
increased. Earlier, the water content of the cellulose of a transformer in service is
determined indirectly by measuring the moisture content in the oil sample. Moisture
distributes unequally between the oil and pressboard, the greater part residing within the
solid insulation. As the water concentration in the oil is highly temperature dependent, the
measurement of moisture in oil is not a reliable indicator of dryness of the cellulose. In
addition to the conventional measurement of power frequency loss angle, recent attention
has focused on measuring various dielectric response parameters, which characterize
some known polarization phenomena. Frequency Domain dielectric Spectroscopy (FDS)
is a promising method to estimate the moisture content in oil-paper insulation system of
the transformer.
Research work is going on to use vegetable ester oil as replacement to mineral
oil. However, information regarding the effect of moisture on paper-oil insulation system
using ester oil is limited. In this paper a comparative study has been made to understand
the effect of moisture in mineral oil and ester oil using Frequency Domain dielectric
Spectroscopy (FDS). Mineral oil and vegetable ester oil impregnated paper insulation
samples are prepared in the laboratory with different moisture content at controlled
conditions. The dielectric behavior of these composite with different moisture has been
studied. It is found that dielectric behavior of ester oil impregnated sample is better
compared to mineral oil impregnated paper sample. Experimental details and findings are
discussed in this paper.

1 INTRODUCTION Currently lot of research is going on to use ester

Transformers are one of the most expensive and
strategically important components of any power
system, so that their proper and continuous
function is important for system reliability. In
transformers the insulation system mainly
consists of cellulosic kraft paper and mineral oil.
Mineral oil is used in the transformer for both
insulation and cooling purpose. Although mineral
oil is cheap and has good and dielectric
properties, it has certain disadvantages due to
various factors like: in the event of a transformer
fire, or explosion, mineral oil has detrimental
effect on environment and vegetation.
Concerning human health and environment,
efforts have been made for the development of
environment friendly vegetable oil as an
alternative to conventional mineral oil.
Vegetable ester oil has superior thermal
characteristics as compared to mineral oil and
mineral oil is being gradually replaced with ester
oil, especially in case of distribution transformers.
oil in power transformer for long term reliability.
Ageing of the oil-paper insulation system of
transformers is influenced by thermal stress
leading to major degradation process for both oil
and cellulose paper [1,2]. Temperature and
moisture together accelerate the process of
aging [3,4] and becomes rapid at higher
operating temperatures, especially when
moisture is present [3,5]. The condition
assessment of the oil-paper insulation of
transformer, particularly determination of
moisture content is important for a continued
functioning of aged transformer [8]. Further, with
time the insulation undergoes aging which
depends on the operating conditions of a
transformer.
Frequency domain Spectroscopy (FDS) and
Polarization Depolarization current (PDC) are
most popular and frequently used methods for
estimation of moisture in paper-oil insulation
system [5,6]. In frequency domain, measurement
of the dissipation factor (tan δ) over a frequency
range of 0.0001 Hz to 1 kHz is made. Further,
Recovery Voltage Measurement (RVM) is also
used for estimation of moisture in transformer.
In the present investigation a study is made to
investigate the effect of moisture on dielectric
behaviour of mineral oil and natural ester oil
impregnated paper insulation. Comparison is
also made to see the effect of moisture on both
mineral and ester oil impregnated paper (OIP).
The effect of moisture on paper samples was
studied by exposing samples to moisture in
controlled conditions using humidity chamber.
The dielectric response study using FDS to find
the dielectric behaviour of mineral oil and natural
vegetable ester oil impregnated paper (OIP)
samples was carried out and discussed.
2 PRINCIPLE OF FREQUENCY DOMAIN
SPECTROSCOPY (FDS):
FDS is based on the principle of impedance
measurement. It is an extension of dissipation
factor (tan δ) & capacitance measurement
usually conducted at power frequency. A
schematic FDS measurement circuitry diagram
for transformer is shown in Figure 1. A sinusoidal
signal is applied to the high voltage terminal and
current is measured from the low voltage
terminal. The transformer tank is connected to
ground. Supply voltage of 140 V (RMS) is fed
from the FDS instrument to the transformer
winding and dielectric response is measured in
the frequency range between 0.001 Hz to 1 kHz.
Figure 1: FDS measurement circuitry diagram for
transformer
2.1 Theory
An analytical transition from time to frequency
domain is made using the Laplace or Fourier
transform by rewriting polarization equations [7].
Since single frequency component is considered
at a time, resultant current is written as:
( ) * ( ) ( ( ))+ ( ) (1)
= [ ( ) ( )] ( ) (2)
= ( ) ( ) (3)
Where C0 is the geometrical capacitance of the
test object, is the high frequency component
of the permittivity, is the angular frequency,
( )is the applied voltage, ( ) ( ) are
real and imaginary components of the complex
capacitance ( ).
The complex susceptibility ( ) ( ) ( )
is the Fourier transform of the dielectric response
function f(t) and defined as the complex dielectric
susceptibility. Given that the complex permittivity
( ) ( ) ( ), the loss factor tan δ in
frequency domain is defined as follows [7]:
( )
( ) (4)
( )
( )
(5)
( )
where σ0 is the dc conductivity of the dielectric
material, 0 = 8.852 e-12 As/Vm is the vacuum
permittivity, ( ) & ”( ) are real and imaginary
components of the complex permittivity. Both
quantities C and tan δ depend on frequency.
3 EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
3.1 Sample preparation
In this experimental investigation kraft papers of
125 μm thickness were considered and were cut
to sizes of 150 mm × 150 mm dimension. Mineral
oil and natural vegetable ester oil (Envirotemp
FR3 fluid) were used for impregnating kraft
paper. Before impregnation, Kraft papers were
dried in vacuum oven at 70˚ C, 1 mbar pressure
for 24 hours. The samples were exposed under
controlled humidity conditions of 50% RH and 23˚
C for three different time intervals i.e. 300
seconds, 480 seconds and 600 seconds. An
electronic precision balance was used to find the
weight of sample before and after exposing the
sample to moisture and percentage weight of
moisture in paper sample was calculated with
respect to weight of dry sample.
3.2 Measurement Setup
Measurement was conducted in an
environmental controlled chamber as shown in
Figure 2. Three terminal cylindrical brass
electrode system was used for measurement.
Frequency domain dielectric spectroscopy (FDS)
measurement was conducted on oil impregnated
paper samples by using Megger make IDAX 300
instrument in the frequency range from 0.001 Hz
to 1 kHz.
 dissipation loss as compared to mineral OIP.
However, at lower frequency of 1 mHz ester OIP
sample shows a marginal increase in tan δ value
mainly due to higher moisture content in ester
OIP (1.2 %). Further the real permittivity of the
ester OIP and mineral OIP as seen from Figure 4
shows similar pattern representing low moisture
content in the kraft paper sample.

4.2 Dielectric Behaviour of OIP sample

with moderate moisture level

Figure 5 shows plot of the dielectric dissipation

factor (tan δ) of mineral oil and ester oil
impregnated paper sample exposed to moisture
Figure 2: Test chamber used for FDS under controlled condition of 50 % RH and 23˚C
experiment for duration of 480 seconds. It is observed that at
power frequency and also at higher frequency
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ester OIP has shown lower dissipation loss as
compared to mineral OIP. However, at lower
4.1 Dielectric Behaviour of oil frequency of 1 mHz ester OIP sample shows a
impregnated paper (OIP) sample with marginal increase in tan δ value as in the
low moisture level previous case due to marginally higher moisture
content.
Figure 3 shows plot of the dielectric dissipation
factor (tan δ) of mineral oil and ester oil
impregnated paper sample exposed to moisture
under controlled condition of 50 % RH and 23˚C
for duration of 300 seconds.

Figure 5: Frequency scans of tan δ of mineral

and ester OIP sample with moderate moisture
level.

Figure 6 shows frequency scan of real

Figure 3: Frequency scans of tan δ of mineral
and ester OIP sample with low moisture content.
permittivity of the ester OIP and mineral OIP. It is
observed that at lower frequency of 1 mHz ester
OIP sample shows marginal increase in real
permittivity value as compare to mineral OIP
sample.

Figure 4: Frequency scans of of mineral and

ester OIP sample with low moisture content.
Figure 6: Frequency scans of of mineral and
It is observed that at power frequency and also at ester OIP sample with moderate moisture level.
higher frequency ester OIP has shown lower
4.3 Dielectric Behaviour of OIP sample
with high moisture level
Figure 7 shows plot of the dielectric dissipation
factor of mineral oil and ester oil impregnated
paper sample exposed to moisture under
controlled condition of 50 % RH and 23˚C for
duration of 600 seconds. It is observed that at
power frequency and also at higher frequency
ester OIP has shown lower dissipation loss as
compared to mineral OIP. However, at lower
frequency of 1 mHz ester OIP sample shows a
marginal increase in tan δ value. Further the real
permittivity of the ester OIP and mineral OIP as
seen from Figure 8 shows there is considerable
variation in real permittivity patterns at lower
frequency of 1 mHz.
Figure 7: Frequency scans of tan δ of mineral
and ester OIP sample with high moisture content.
Figure 8: Frequency scans of of mineral and
ester OIP sample with high moisture content
Discussions:
From the above figures of frequency scan of
dissipation loss with different level of moisture it
is observed that ester OIP samples have shown
lower dielectric losses at power frequency but
marginal higher losses at lower frequency of 1
mHz. The reason may be due to the presence of
polar water molecule enhance the intensity of
interfacial polarization in ester OIP sample as
compared to mineral OIP which can be observed
at low frequency of FDS measurement [6].
5 CONCLUSION
In this comparison study effect of moisture on
dielectric response of mineral oil and natural
ester oil impregnated paper was investigated by
using FDS measurement with different level of
moisture. Following are some of the important
conclusions of this study:
 At power and higher frequency of FDS
measurement ester OIP sample shows lower
value of dissipation loss as compare to
mineral OIP sample.
 At low frequency of FDS measurement ester
OIP sample shows a marginal increase in
dissipation loss as compared to the mineral
OIP sample.
Research shows due to high water saturation of
ester oil, it can absorb more water than mineral
oil [9]. So using proper drying out process the
moisture can removed easily from the oil-paper
insulation.
In this preliminary study the effect of moisture on
both ester and mineral OIP sample have been
shown. Further ageing study is being carried out
to find the dielectric behavior ester OIP and
mineral OIP sample in presence of moisture.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Author would like to thanks to the Authority
of CPRI, Bangalore for permitting the publication
of this work.
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