Waste Transformer Oil Research Articles

Thermal (TG/DTA) and mass (GC-HRMS) analysis of waste transformer oil and its blends

ABSTRACT This study investigates the potential use of waste transformer oil (WTO) and its blends as alternative fuels for CI engines. Thermal (TG/DTA) and mass (GC-HRMS) analyses were performed on neat samples of diesel, biodiesel, WTO, and four sets of samples with different volumetric ratios of WTO, diesel, and biodiesel. TG/DTA analysis showed that the blended samples WTO20BD10D70 and WTO30D70 had a lower range of rapid disintegration temperatures (150°C), while WTO30BD20D50 exhibited the lowest temperature range for enthalpy change. The weight loss and enthalpy change of WTO and its blends were similar to those of standard diesel fuel. GC-HRMS analysis revealed that the compounds present in WTO and its blends were n-alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, esters, and cyclic compounds, similar to those found in diesel fuel. Sample WTO20BD10D70 showed a narrow range of compounds (C8 to C27) and a similar composition of hydrocarbons to that of neat diesel, indicating its potential as an alternative fuel. Blended samples with higher carbon numbers may be harder to ignite but more stable for long-term storage, and their composition is similar to diesel fuel, suggesting their potential as eco-friendly diesel alternatives.

Experimental investigation of engine performance and emissions, and characterization, of waste transformer oils and diesel blends with biodiesel produced from olive oil wastes in a CI engine

In this study, five different fuel blends were prepared by mixing biodiesel obtained from olive oil wastes using transesterification method, waste transformer oil, and Euro diesel in different ratios. The important physicochemical properties of the prepared fuel blends and produced biodiesel were determined by gas chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry analyses, and their characterizations were carried out. Then, the effects of the prepared fuel blends on engine performance and emission characteristics were investigated in a compression ignition engine. The experiments were performed with five different fuel blends (TD30, TD30B10, TD30B20, TD30B30, and D100) at 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 rpm. At all speeds, each fuel blend produced an average torque value that was highest for D100 fuel and lowest for TD30 fuel The average BP value produced by each fuel at all engine speeds was highest in D100 fuel and lowest in TD30 fuel. The results of the experiments showed that there was a 23.98% decrease in the average NOx emissions of TD30 fuel blend compared to the average NOx emissions of D100 fuel at all engine speeds. It was observed that all important fuel properties such as density, kinematic viscosity, and pour and cloud points of all fuel blends met the fuel standards.

Efficient removal of dibutyl phthalate from transformer oils by iron/activated carbon adsorbent

Capturing dibutyl phthalate (DBP) impurities from transformer oils and purifying them is crucial for maintaining long-term sustainable transformer operation. Furthermore, this process significantly reduces the generation of waste from aged transformer oils, thereby contributing to environmental protection and sustainable development. In this study, various metal ion-modified wood activated carbons (ACs) were prepared using the wet impregnation method. The adsorption isotherms and adsorption kinetics studies reveal that Fe/AC exhibits a significant enhancement of more than 40% in DBP adsorption capacity compared to the original AC. Consequently, Fe/AC is the material with the highest adsorption capacity for DBP in transformer oils up to now. Furthermore, the desorption activation energy of DBP on Fe/AC was 46.623 kJ/mol, 1.73 times higher than original AC. Ultimately, the adsorption mechanism was explained using the Hard-Soft-Acid-Base (HSAB) principle, which demonstrated a stronger interaction between hard base DBP and Fe/AC due to the hard acidic nature of Fe3+ and therefore a higher capture capacity of DBP by Fe/AC. The simplified preparation method and enhanced adsorption capacity of the modified Fe/AC make it an efficient and cost-effective approach to ensure reliable and sustained transformer operation, while also minimizing the generation of waste transformer oils.

An Experimental Assessment of Waste Transformer Oil and Palm Oil Biodiesel Blended with Diesel Fuel on A Single Cylinder Direct in Diesel Engine

The present work emphasized overall viability study of using waste transformer oil (WTO) and its combinations on a diesel engine. To accomplish this fuel samples were divided into three sets with different volumetric proportions. Each set of fuel is compared with the others and finally, the reference fuel is regular diesel. After thorough characterization and utilizing spectroscopic methods like CHNS analysis and FTIR, the performance and emission evaluation was done on a one-cylinder diesel engine. It has been discovered that the flash point, calorific value, and viscosity of WTO blends are more than regular diesel fuel. The WTO blends have higher carbon content than diesel but higher Sulphur content than diesel fuel. WTO and its blends have some similar functional groups as diesel fuel. According to the performance and emission evaluation, the diesel engine is capable of operating even when fueled with raw WTO. Among all the samples tested, WTO20 BD10D70 shows the most satisfactory result. The brake thermal efficiency of WTO20BD10D70 was almost similar to diesel fuel, while BSFC and BSEC were found to be only 4.73% and 3.46% higher than diesel fuel, respectively. The exhaust gas temperature was 8% lower than diesel. However, HC emission of WTO20BD10D70 was 20% more than diesel fuel, while CO and NOx emissions were 14% and 4.75% lower than diesel fuel. So, the sample code with WTO20BD10D70 can be recommended as a substitute for regular diesel fuel.

Synergistic effects of nano-enhanced waste transformer oil and hydrogen premixing on CI engine performance and emissions

Waste materials possess untapped potential when harnessed effectively. One such resource is waste transformer oil, derived from electrical transformers, which can be converted into a valuable fuel source for compression-ignition (CI) engines using pyrolysis techniques. In this study, we explored the utilization of a 50 % blend of waste transformer oil with diesel, augmented with Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (referred to as “nano fuel of waste transformer oil”), in an unmodified CI engine. To further enhance the performance of this nano fuel, we introduced hydrogen (at flow rates of 2.5 LPM, 5.0 LPM, and 7.5 LPM) into the inlet section during the suction phase, promoting premixing within the cylinder. Hydrogen premixing significantly improved combustion dynamics. Notably, when 7.5 LPM of hydrogen was introduced alongside waste transformer oil-derived nano fuel, a remarkable 37.30 % increase in brake thermal efficiency was achieved. Moreover, this configuration exhibited a 15.33 % reduction in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), a 27.09 % decrease in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, a 37.50 % decrease in unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) emissions, and a 28.53 % reduction in smoke opacity compared to traditional diesel operation. These results highlight the potential for enhanced CI engine performance and reduced emissions through the strategic combination of waste transformer oil-based nano-fuel and hydrogen premixing. Consequently, we recommend further exploration of hydrogen premixing in conjunction with nano-enhanced waste transformer oil for superior CI engine performance.

K2CO3‐loaded γ‐Al2O3 for acid removal in waste transformer oil

AbstractTransformer oil plays a critical role in ensuring the insulation and normal operation of power transformers. However, during operation, the transformer oil would undergo oxidation and degradation, leading to the formation of acids and polar compounds that increase its acidity and degrade its performance. Hence, the recycling and regeneration of aged transformer oil is an essential practice in transformer maintenance, contributing significantly to the extension of a transformer's operational lifespan and the reduction of potential risks. Adsorption separation is a preferred method for regeneration, offering simplicity and high efficiency. This study focuses on impregnated γ‐Al2O3 as an adsorbent for acidity removal in waste transformer oil. We conducted static adsorption experiments to investigate the optimal loading amount of the active component and the best calcination temperature for acid removal. XRD technique is employed to monitor the phase changes of the carrier during the calcination process. BET analysis is used to observe variations in the specific surface area and pore volume of the adsorbent during the modification process. DTG‐TGA is utilized to assess the weight loss during the calcination process. FTIR is employed to observe changes in functional groups during modification and adsorption processes. Along with these investigations, a study is also carried out to assess the dynamic acid removal performance of the acid‐removing adsorbent loaded into a fixed bed. The findings contribute to the development of sustainable methods for regenerating transformer oil, ensuring efficient and environmentally friendly operations.

Waste to fuel: Pyrolysis of waste transformer oil and its evaluation as alternative fuel along with different nanoparticles in CI engine with exhaust gas recirculation

Waste to fuel: Pyrolysis of waste transformer oil and its evaluation as alternative fuel along with different nanoparticles in CI engine with exhaust gas recirculation

Removal of water in waste transformer oil considered as an alternative fuel by a factory tea waste-based adsorption process

Removal of water in waste transformer oil considered as an alternative fuel by a factory tea waste-based adsorption process

Performance and emission characteristics on CI engine by using waste cooking oil and waste transformer oil as substitute fuel with coconut shell as a catalyst

Biofuel has proven to be a valuable replacement fuel and is poised to become a major source of renewable energy in the future. Engine performance and emission characteristics of waste cooking oil and waste transformer oil methyl ester blended with diesel carried out on single cylinder water cooled direct injection CI engine. A Novel heterogeneous catalysis of trans-esterification using coconut shell activated carbon was used to produce biodiesel form waste cooking oil and waste transformer oil and methanol. For the experimental work Biodiesel blend is prepared in the ratio of (B20 + D80) and (B40 + D60) for both WCO & WTO oil biodiesel. The results recorded that B20 blending with diesel for both WCO and WTO shows increased BTE, BSFE, lower in CO,CO2 and HC and increases NOx emission. The results revealed that B20 WCO shows highest BTE.

Soil contamination by waste transformer oil: A review

Soil pollution is the environmental problem globally as it affects the growth of plants and genetic variation. Waste transformer oil (WTO) belongs to the class of waste oils when the properties of transformer oil degraded during operation due to mechanical and electrical stresses occur in the transformer. When WTO is disposed of in landfills, the toxic substances such as PAHs, PCBs, heavy metals present in WTO get mixed with soil and increase the hydrocarbons and CO2 in the soil which results in degradation of soil quality. Heavy metals present in WTO change the activity and composition of soil microbial communities. These pollutants from soil then go into the plants and causes adverse effect on human and other living beings. Recycling and reuse of WTO can reduce the harmful effects on soil. Waste transformer oil can be used as an alternative fuel since fossil fuel reserves decreasing day by day and WTO has some properties which are similar to diesel fuel. It can also be used to produce grease and also as a base for lubricant composition for drilling muds.

Characteristics of a CRDI Engine Fuelled by Waste Transformer Oil with High Fuel Injection Pressure

The impact of fuel injection pressure on the characteristics of the CRDI Diesel Injection system powered by Transesterified Waste Transformer Oil (TWTO) is investigated in this study. It was discovered in a previous experimental study that when transesterified waste transformer oil is utilised as a fuel in a normal diesel engine, the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) is dwindled because of the combustion characteristics of TWTO and its blends. TWTO25 blends shows comparable results to that of convention diesel fuel and higher blends exhibited lower characteristics with standard operational parameters due to their higher viscosity. In light of this, experimental research was conducted in the current study to improve the performance of TWTO25 blend in diesel engines with high fuel injection pressure. The fuel injection pressure is varied from 22MPa to 88MPa to achieve better atomization which intern increases the engine performance. Peak fuel injection pressure exhibits an improvement in brake thermal efficiency of 6.67% compared with neat diesel. In terms of emission attributes, the CO, HC and smoke level continuously tumble down with an upsurge in fuel injection pressure due to the well-atomized spray.

Research on the evaluation method of the business model for the recycling of hazardous waste in power grid

Hazardous wastes in power grids include waste transformer oil and waste lead-acid batteries, etc. Due to the problems of extremely large number of points, wide distribution, and small number of units, coupled with differences in hazardous waste recycling technologies, policies, and markets in various regions, so Possible business models need to be listed and evaluated. This paper establishes an evaluation index system for the business model of hazardous waste recycling, and uses the TOPSIS method to evaluate five feasible business models. The evaluation results will help relevant departments of power grid companies at all levels to formulate recycling strategies according to the characteristics of hazardous waste recycling, so as to facilitate the recycling and reuse of hazardous wastes.

Evaluation of Combustion and Emission Parameter of CI Engine Using Waste Transformer Oil as Fuel

Abstract: This project gives idea for the effective use of Waste Transformer Oil as an alternate option for petroleum based fuels. Rapid depletion of fossil fuels, increasing pollution and increasing prices of petroleum based fuels have given a base for the research of various fossil fuels. As we all know that, petroleum based fuels are limited in reserves, concentrated in certain regions of the world are shortening day by day. Huge amount of dollars are being invested in research of alternative fuels. Meanwhile, the disposal of waste products like waste transformer oil from different electric power stations from many electric transformers throughout the country is becoming increasingly complex. while biodiesel from certain vegetable oils like Jatropha, Karanja, Soyabean and Rapeseed is acquiring much needed attention. The Waste Transformer Oil is a waste product which comes out from a electrical transformer is used for insulation and cooling purpose. This waste product can be used asansource of fuel for diesel engine applications. The WTO can be used after refining it by transesterification process or catalytic cracking process and then mixed with diesel fuel as an base fuel for evaluating different engine and emission parameters and to use it as an alternate source of fuel. The engine and fuel researchers are devoted to explore alternative fuels as the present world largely depends on petroleum fuel for generating power, vehicle movement and agriculture sectors. Price hike, limited reserve of petroleum oils and stringent emission regulation also forced researchers to find alternative fuels. In Bangladesh, there is limited petroleum reserve to meet the demand of the petroleum product and for this reason it is necessary to spend a lot of foreign currency for importing fuel every year. Recent price hike of petroleum oil incurs lots of money. Bangladesh imports most of the petroleum oils from Middle East. In this point of view, waste transformer oil (WTO) can be an alternative source for petroleum oils. WTO has significant physiochemical properties. WTO can meet a portion of our demand without any hesitation. There is a huge unused amount of transformer oil in Bangladesh which is rejected every year. This oil is not used for any other purpose. So, WTO is an important source for meeting the demand of diesel in Bangladesh. Bangladesh imports approximately 2.4 million ton diesel each year . It is well known that the transformer oil is used mainly in the electrical transformer for insulation purpose. Moreover, cooling is another purpose of using transformer oil in the electrical transformer while the transformer is running. Among various properties, one of the main properties of transformer oil is to sustain high temperature during operation. When an electrical transformer is in operation, the transformer oil is subject to mechanical and electrical resistance. For a certain period of time, it is recommended to check the electrical and chemical properties of the transformer oil. By using WTO, Bangladesh can reduce importing a huge amount of petroleum products from foreign countries. Our attention goes to the WTO. WTO results from the power generation and transmission station. At present 100 per cent transformer oil is not used in place of diesel fuel (DF) to run the engine rather blends of WTO and DF. Keywords: Waste transformer oil, WTO characteristics, Diesel fuel

Bioprospecting and Molecular Identification of Used Transformer Oil-Degrading Bacteria for Bioplastics Production

One of the major impediments to the commercialization of biodegradable plastic is the high cost of substrate. Consequently, there is a continuous search for effective microorganisms and cheaper carbon substrates to reduce the high production cost. In this study, waste transformer oil-degrading bacteria were isolated from soil, wastewater, and sediment samples, using a mineral salt medium (MSM) supplemented with 1% waste transformer oil as the sole carbon source. The isolates were screened for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production using Nile red staining and fluorescence microscopy. PHA granules accumulation was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy. Oil degradation analysis was accomplished using solvent extraction and gravimetric methods whereas, the bacteria were identified using 16S DNA sequence homology. A total of 62 transformer oil-degrading bacteria were isolated, out of which 16 (26%) showed positive results for Nile red fluorescence microscopy. The identified organisms belong to four different taxonomic genera of Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Proteus, and Serratia. The percentage of oil degradation observed among the different isolates ranged between 19.58% and 57.51%. Analysis of the PHA extracted from the selected isolate revealed the presence of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHA). The findings of this work have further highlighted the diversity of the bacteria capable of utilizing waste streams such as waste transformer oil. Consequently, the isolates can be explored as agents of converting waste transformer oil into bioplastics.

WASTE TRANSFORMER OIL TO BIODIESEL: EFFECT OF INJECTION TIMING ON ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS

WASTE TRANSFORMER OIL TO BIODIESEL: EFFECT OF INJECTION TIMING ON ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS

Comparative assessment of performance, combustion, and emission of compression ignition engine fuelled with different generations of biodiesel

ABSTRACT In the present research work, the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of compression ignition engine fuelled 22 different biodiesels categorised as (first, second, third generation, waste oil, and animal oil) biodiesel (B100) are evaluated numerically and compared with diesel fuel. Diesel-RK, a full-thermodynamic cycle engine analysis tool was used to carry out the numerical analysis. The engine power, fuel consumption, ignition delay, maximum cylinder pressure, oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission were investigated at four different engine operating loads. Power output was observed to be higher for Corn oil biodiesel, while Jatropha oil biodiesel produced lower fuel consumption among all other biodiesel. 9.1% increase in-cylinder peak pressure was found for waste transformer oil biodiesel than diesel, while ignition delay was found to be lowest for Rapeseed oil BD, Rice bran oil BD among all other biodiesel. The NOx emissions were higher for biodiesel by 30–32%, while CO2 emissions were reduced by 10–12% compared to diesel. The physicochemical properties of biodiesel were responsible for the diverse characteristics of the engine.

Utilization of waste transformer oil as a fuel in diesel engine

The growing price of fossil oils, the gradual decline of petroleum supplies and the unsustainable emissions of motor vehicles led researchers to look for substitute fuel, such as waste lubricant oil and waste transformation oil (WTO). In power transformers, welding transformers, and electromotive systems, a significant volume of transformer oil is used as a coolant. The electrical transformer is an integral part of electrical power transmission and distribution equipment used in smaller, intermediate and larger electrical distribution stations. The efficiency and lifespan of an electrical transformer depend upon the transformer’s efficient cooling and insulation. During the working of a transformer, transformer oil is exposed to electrical and thermal stress due to which it started to degrade after some time. Thus a huge amount of degraded transformer oil is rejected as waste. The paper details the utility of waste transformer oil by using simple batch distillation operation at atmospheric pressure by analyzing the physiochemical properties of the product. The treated transformer oil is further tested in the diesel engine to examine fuel efficiency. Diesel engine runs were performed with various combinations of blends consists of diesel fuel and treated transformer oil. Results reveal that brake thermal efficiency of the blends found at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% is 28.19%, 27.52% 26.21% and 25.98% respectively. The brake specific fuel consumption of blends at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% is 0.29 KJ/Kwhr, 0.30 KJ/Kwhr 0.31 KJ/Kwhr and 0.315 KJ/Kwhr respectively.

Performance assessment of DI diesel engine using waste transformer oil with different compression ratios

ABSTRACT Increasing cost of petroleum fuels, fast depletion of petroleum resources and excessive automotive engine pollution lead to the researchers to search for an alternate fuel like waste lubricant oil and Waste Transformer Oil (WTO) for Compression Ignition engines. In the present investigation, WTO is blended with diesel fuel in the ratio of 30:70 (WTO30) on volume basis and is used in a diesel engine to evaluate the performance, emission and combustion characteristics. Initially the engine was operated with diesel and WTO30 and then the test was repeated with WTO30 at different compression ratios. The results revealed that the BTE was increased by 1.12% at CR20 and CO, HC and smoke emissions were decreased and the NOx emissions were increased for WTO30 with an increase in CR when compared to that of diesel. The cylinder pressure and heat release were increased for WTO30 at CR20:1 compared to that of WTO30 at maximum load.

Design and study of a metamaterial based sensor for the application of liquid chemicals detection

The detection of chemical samples having close dielectric response is a big challenge as the detection principle is driven by the variations in the dielectric parameters of the investigated samples. In the current work, a new metamaterial-based sensor is designed and fabricated in order to be used for the detection of liquid chemicals in the frequency range from 8 to 12 GHz. Several designs were tested using genetic algorithm, which is embedded in the CST microwave studio, in order to optimize the desired dimensions of the resonator. The simulation and experimental results showed that the proposed sensor is working well to detect various liquids, including (i) clean and waste transformer oils, (ii) corn, cotton and olive oils, (iii) branded and unbranded diesels and (iv) aniline doped ethyl-alcohol and benzene doped carbon tetrachloride. This was made possible through the occurrence of a shift in the resonant frequency of about 250 MHz, 200 MHz, 250 MHz, 150 MHz and 50 MHz for the aforementioned samples, respectively. The sensing mechanism was interpreted through the surface current and electric field distributions. We believe that the proposed sensor is viable to be used in various applications including liquid chemicals detection and industrial applications.

THERMAL STABILITY STUDY OF GREASE FORMULATED FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTE OIL

This is aimed to investigate the effect of additives on thermal stability of grease formulated with waste transformer oil (WTO). One of the key factors of grease functionality is thermal stability. Grease is unsuitable for high-temperature use if the matrix is unable to withstand high temperature. Addition of additive is able to improve the grease thermal stability. In this work, three types of additives (molybdenum disulphide, fumed silica, and polytetrafluoroethylene) were tested as thermal stability additive. The grease was characterized using ASTM International standards and SKF’s Grease Test Kit. Based on grease characterization, the addition of additive was found slightly affecting the grease properties. Fumed silica was observed able to improve the grease thermal stability by 3.6%.
 Keywords: Waste transformer oil, thermal stability, sodium grease, molybdenum disulphide, fumed silica, PTFE