Impacts of Ambient Temperature Change on the Breakdown Voltage of a Distribution Transformer

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine the effects of ambient temperature variation on the breakdown voltage of a distribution transformer. Three different insulation oil samples (naphtha mineral, paraffin mineral and silicon base transformer oil) were collected from six distribution transformers (300 – 500 kVA) across two business units (Asaba and Ugbowo) of Benin Electricity Distribution Company during May and June, 2017. The oil samples were analysed using the 60 kV Megger OST60PB portable oil tester, to determine the trend of breakdown voltage of the oil insulation under varying temperature. A 3rd order polynomial model was deduced for each sample type with coefficient of determination within the range of 96.99 – 99.95 %. The observed average breakdown voltage is 43.6 kV (for naphtha base mineral transformer oil), 42.2 kV (for paraffin base mineral transformer oil) and 46.8 kV (for silicon base transformer oil) within the temperature range (26˚C – 32˚C). The result indicates that the breakdown voltages of the considered transformer oil types are satisfactory but the silicon base transformer oil has the best breakdown voltage.