Enhancement of insulating fluids in power transformers

Abstract

The properties of dielectric materials in power transformers are newlineessential aspects of transformer design and maintenance, ensuring the newlinedurability, reliability, and safety of the power transmission system. Nanofluids, newlinecolloidal suspensions of nanoparticles in a base fluid, have garnered newlineconsiderable attention in recent years due to their remarkable thermal properties newlineand potential applications in diverse fields, including heat transfer and thermal newlinemanagement. Among the various nanoparticle combinations explored, newlinegraphene oxide (GO) and copper oxide (CuO) have emerged as promising newlinematerials for enhancing the thermal conductivity of base fluids such as silicone newlineoil, ester oil, mineral oil and natural ester. This study aims to investigate the newlinesynthesis, characterization, and thermal properties of a novel hybrid nanofluid newlinecomprising GO and CuO nanoparticles in silicone oil. newlineGO-CuO composites were synthesized by combining various wt% newlineamounts of CuO nanoparticles with a GO solution in different ratios (1:3, 3:1, newlineand 1:1). The mixture underwent a hydrothermal reaction at 150°C for 10 newlinehours. Subsequently, the resulting precipitate was subjected to centrifugation newlineand underwent multiple washes with ethanol. The obtained GO-CuO newlinecomposites were then dried in an oven at 60°C for 12 hours to achieve the newlinedesired material characteristics. For enhanced heat transfer in transformer newlineapplications, a fluid with superior thermal conductivity, specifically a 1:3 ratio newlineof GO-CuO in silicone oil, is preferred. The hybrid nanofluids are prepared by newlineblending appropriate amounts of GO and CuO with silicone oil via a reflux newlinetechnique, using concentrations of 0.025 wt%, 0.05 wt%, and 0.075 wt%, in a newlinetwo-step process. newline