Biotransformer Project on Ester Based Fluids

Biotransformer is an international and cross-sectoral networking project aimed at expanding existing knowledge about the application of ester-based fluids to power transformers.

Biotransformer is a project funded from the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action-Research and Innovation Personnel Exchange (MSCA-RISE) grant agreement.

BIOTRANSFORMER includes activities related to the production and characterization of ester fluids through physical-chemical, thermal, dielectric and magnetic analysis, and the properties of new liquids and the development of these properties over time are examined. In addition, the interaction of fluids with insulating paper is tested to analyze the effect of ester-based fluids on the aging process and the overall performance of the paper-oil system. Finally, spherical transformer models are being developed to determine the impact of the use of ester-based fluids in transformer design.

The project started on January 1, 2019 and will end on December 31, 2021.

Using biodegradable esters as coolers, the BIOTRANSFORMER project analyzes the effect of temperature on the designs of power transformers, and the environmental and fire performance of these fluids is also evaluated. These machines are very common in our power distribution systems. Since electricity is generated until it reaches the household, it passes through an average of four transformers. The liquid currently used in most of these machines is a petroleum derivative, because its performance is well known. However, the environmental awareness of many companies demands new transformers that are cooled by esters of natural origin.

Against this background, BIOTRANSFORMER proposes a study that allows you to know the temperature in the windings of the transformer when using biodegradable liquids that are more viscous in nature. This temperature is a critical factor for the lifetime of the transformer due to the aging of dielectric solids. The aging of these materials when immersed in these liquids will also be analyzed. Thus, not only will it be seen from a theoretical perspective, but industrial platforms will also be used to test the models produced.