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This article deals with the application of synthetic ester for drying cellulose insulation of distribution transformers. The most important advantages and disadvantages of the commonly used methods of drying transformer insulation on site are discussed. The emphasis is placed on the analysis and research of the most important factors affecting the drying efficiency of cellulose insulation using a synthetic ester, such as: insulation temperature, water content in ester, weight ratio of cellulose materials to ester, thickness of pressboard, and water content in solid insulation. The choice of values range of the individual factors which are used during tests on drying efficiency in laboratory conditions are justified. It is found on the basis of the obtained test results that to ensure the satisfactory drying effect an average insulation temperature should be at least of 70°C and the water content in the ester should not exceed 150 ppm. The results give the opportunity to estimate the drying efficiency depending on the conditions of the process. Moreover, the results are used to develop the procedure of drying of distribution transformers by means of synthetic ester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests of cellulose insulation drying with the use of synthetic ester. The effectiveness of the drying process was investigated depending on the initial moisture of cellulose samples (2%, 3%, and 4%), ester temperature (55, 70, and 85 °C), initial moisture of the ester (70, 140, and 220 ppm), drying time (48, 96, and 168 h), and the weight ratio of cellulosic materials to ester (0.067 and 0.033). A large influence of temperature and time of drying on the efficiency of the drying process was found. This is important information due to the application of the results in the transformers drying procedure. The heating and drying ester unit should provide the highest possible temperature. For the assumed experiment conditions the initial moisture of the ester had little effect on the drying efficiency. An ester with a moisture content below 140 ppm can still be considered as meeting the requirements for drying cellulose with significant moisture. The weight ratio of cellulose products to ester has no major effect on drying efficiency during cellulose drying by circulating dry ester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high level of insulation moisture in a transformer increases the breakdown probability and forces a reduction of its load. Therefore, there is a need to dry the transformer insulation. For technical reasons, there are some restrictions on the use of common drying methods for cellulose insulation available on the market. The aim of the research was to check the possibility of using synthetic ester for effective drying of cellulose materials of various thickness and an evaluation of the drying dynamics. The replacement of mineral oil with a synthetic ester caused a reduction of moisture in paper and thin pressboard by one percentage point. It was possible in the case of drying these materials for seven days at a temperature of 70 °C. The effects of drying were much smaller in the case of thicker cellulose samples. This paper also shows the complex problem of simultaneously drying materials of different thicknesses. Drying thin paper and thick pressboard at the same time significantly slows down the drying process of the pressboard. Presented results will be used to develop a procedure for drying the transformer insulation system using a synthetic ester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]