INCREASING BIODEGRADABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLINESS OF POWER TRANSFORMERS USING SOYBEAN OIL

Abstract

This study analyzes the breakdown voltage of soybean oil and its potential as an alternative to mineral oil in power transformers. Soybean oil was physically and chemically analyzed in the laboratory for its characteristics such as density, viscosity, moisture content, sludge, acidity, flashpoint, and breakdown voltage. The results indicate that soybean oil possesses suitable characteristics for use as a transformer oil, according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard, with the exception of a lower flashpoint compared to the IEC standard. The researchers suggest that soybean oil can be blended with other oils to improve its characteristics and increase its potential as an alternative to mineral oil. Other plant-based oils such as sunflower, coconut, and palm kernel-based oil have also been explored for their environmental friendliness, biodegradability, and affordability. The dielectric strength of soybean oil was observed to be temperature-dependent, with the breakdown voltage decreasing as the temperature increases. Overall, the study concludes that soybean oil shows promise as an environmentally friendly and affordable alternative to mineral oil in power transformers