• Energy Research

The occurrence of renewable energy sources (RES) in distribution systems has increased significantly in recent years, with this change in fundamental changes to the conventional concept of central energy production to local production and consumption. The integration of RES reduces transmission losses and increases the operational reliability of the distribution network, while new problems associated with this change arise, especially in systems of protected and localized failures in the networks. Distribution systems are traditionally associated with the radial topology of larger networks. The standard STN EN 60909 (33 3020) does not take into account the contributions of photovoltaic stations, while their impact takes into account the growing number and performance in distribution networks will be crucial for changes in the systems of protected equipment in the future.

The motivation to improve components in electric power equipment brings new proposals from world-renowned scientists to strengthen them in operation. An essential part of every electric power equipment is its insulation system, which must have the best possible parameters. The current problem with mineral oil replacement is investigating and testing other alternative electrical insulating liquids. In this paper, we present a comparison of mineral and hydrocarbon oil (liquefied gas) in terms of conductivity and relaxation mechanisms in the complex plane of the Cole-Cole diagram and dielectric losses. We perform the comparison using the method of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy in the frequency domain at different intensities of the time-varying electric field 0.5 kV/m, 5 kV/m, and 50 kV/m. With the increasing intensity of the time-varying electric field, there is a better approximation of the Debye behavior in all captured polarization processes of the investigated oils. By comparing the distribution of relaxation times, mineral oil shows closer characteristics to Debye relaxation. From the point of view of dielectric losses at the main frequency, hydrocarbon oil achieves better dielectric properties at all applied intensities of the time-varying electric field, which is very important for practical use.

We report on the investigation of a transformer oil-based magnetic nanofluid exposed to an electric field by means of synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering. Two types of small angle X-ray scattering experiments were carried out. In the first one, the electric field up to 6 kV / cm was generated in the nanofluid between two immersed electrodes. The other experiment focused on the nanofluid in an external electric field up to 10 kV / cm, when the electrodes were not in a direct electrical contact with the nanofluid. In the available range (0.02–4.5 nm$^{−1}$) of scattering vector $q$, the non-contact mode has no effect on the scattering intensity. The contact mode yielded noticeable low-$q$ intensity variations. In comparison to small angle neutron scattering, the small angle X-rayscattering study did not prove the proportional increase in the low $q$ scattering intensity with increasing electric field, but rather stochastic variations. The observed intensity variations reflect the local structural nanofluid changes caused by the induced electrohydrodynamics. The electrical conductivity and relaxation processes are pointed out as favorable conditions for electrohydrodynamics in the magnetic nanofluid. Acta physica Polonica / A 137(5), 942 - 944 (2020). doi:10.12693/APhysPolA.137.942 Published by Acad. Inst., Warsaw

Progress in electrical engineering puts a greater demand on the cooling and insulating properties of liquid media, such as transformer oils. To enhance their performance, researchers develop various nanofluids based on transformer oils. In this study, we focus on novel commercial transformer oil and a magnetic nanofluid containing iron oxide nanoparticles. Three key properties are experimentally investigated in this paper. Thermal conductivity was studied by a transient plane source method dependent on the magnetic volume fraction and external magnetic field. It is shown that the classical effective medium theory, such as the Maxwell model, fails to explain the obtained results. We highlight the importance of the magnetic field distribution and the location of the thermal conductivity sensor in the analysis of the anisotropic thermal conductivity. Dielectric permittivity of the magnetic nanofluid, dependent on electric field frequency and magnetic volume fraction, was measured by an LCR meter. The measurements were carried out in thin sample cells yielding unusual magneto-dielectric anisotropy, which was dependent on the magnetic volume fraction. Finally, the viscosity of the studied magnetic fluid was experimentally studied by means of a rheometer with a magneto-rheological device. The measurements proved the magneto-viscous effect, which intensifies with increasing magnetic volume fraction.

According to the latest research, nanofluids as a possible future substitution for high-voltage equipment insulation have the potential to enhance the heat transfer and insulation properties of their base fluids. Dielectric properties are represented by breakdown strength (AC, DC, lightning) and dielectric performance as a set of quantities including dissipation factor, permittivity, and volume resistivity. In this study, natural and synthetic esters were mixed with C60 nanoparticles. Samples were examined for dissipation factor, relative permittivity, and volume resistivity at temperatures between 25 °C and 140 °C to monitor changes in dielectric performance with rising temperature, in accordance with IEC 60247. In addition, the samples were tested for AC breakdown voltage (using mushroom-like electrodes with a gap distance of 1 mm) and evaluated using the Weibull distribution statistical method. These measurements allowed complex evaluation of the examined mixtures and the determination of optimal concentration for each ester-based nanofluid.

Abstract This article describes influence of strong (ionizing) electric field on sprayability of magnetic fluid containing colloid particles with size in the range from 10 to 20 nm of magnetite Fe 3 O 4 . Magnetic fluids can be based for example on both transformer oil and physiological solution for application in medical using (in human medical science research), that supports a fluid colloidal system. Further component of magnetic fluid is surfactant. It is acting as surface-active substance that prevents from nanometric dimension particle settlement. Magnetic fluid gets off nozzle with diameter in range 0.3–1.0 mm from container in surroundings of ionizing (i.e. strong) electric field ( E > 10 7 V m −1 ). As a consequence of action of electric field it gives out suppression surface tension in fluid what leads onwards to decomposition of magnetic fluid ligament at the end of nozzle. The diameter of nozzle oneself respects basic theoretical calculations in regards of fluid concentration and thereinbefore its selected size. Magnetic fluid in dependency on its used liquid base has weak-polar till polar orientation polarization character. It gives out sprayability in non-homogeneous electric field E in combination with magnetic field of intensity H . Orientation of vectors E and Ĥ , resp. induction of magnetic field B is defined by parallel or vertical direction. Results are confronted with measurements realized explicitly only at action of electric field (variable B = 0). In the case of magnetic field applications with permanent magnet together with electric non-homogeneous field it gives out unconventional dynamics of electrical charging particles of macroscopic dimension. Orientation particle track is influenced by orientation of field vector combinations. This phenomenon develops magneto-dielectric anisotropy, which oneself manifests behaviour of electrophysical quantities characterizing examination system. In consideration of technology utilization of this method it is very important to respect applied magnetic fluid concentration. Electrical characteristics were examined for volume concentration of magnetite particles in the range from 0.125% to 18%. Nevertheless efficiency optimization of given media suggests to boundary concentration of magnetic fluid of 4.0%, when it is in the regions of weak polar till polar material. Electrophysical research refers to exploitation of applied magnetic layer technology on dielectric insulating substances with inorganic origin as well as thin layer technology coating plastic foils created from macromolecular organic substance.

Abstract In electrical engineering, the heat transfer can be enhanced by changing the thermophysical properties of insulating oils. In this paper, a single-phase power transformer with a nominal power of 5 kVA is subjected to a temperature rise test with three different transformer liquids. The first test is carried out with a novel gas-to-liquid transformer oil applied as a cooling and insulating medium. The other tests are conducted with ferrofluids based on this oil and MnZn ferrite nanoparticles of a low and a high nanoparticle concentration. The ferrofluids are characterized by magnetization curves, magnetic susceptibility and temperature-dependent magnetization measurements. The nanoparticle size distribution is determined from dynamic light scattering and the magnetization data. From the temperature rise profiles of the transformer at various inner locations, it has been found that the low-concentrated ferrofluid significantly reduces the transformer temperature rise. The enhanced cooling performance is ascribed to the thermomagnetic and natural convection, and increased thermal conductivity. The application of the ferrofluid with the high nanoparticle concentration resulted in a remarkable increase of the transformer temperature rise. The deteriorative cooling effect is attributed to the hindered natural and thermomagnetic convection due to the high ferrofluid magnetization and strong magnetic interaction of the ferrofluid with the magnetic field near the transformer core.