Study of dielectric properties of a potential RBD palm oil and RBD soybean oil mixture as insulating liquid in transformer

Abstract

This paper reported the experimental result of dielectric properties of Refined, Bleached and Deodorized Palm Oil (RBDPO) combined with 0-50% of Refined, Bleached and Deodorized Soybean Oil (RBDSO). The dielectric strength and relative permittivity of RBDPO/RBDSO was higher compared to mineral oil at all ranges of ratios and temperatures which indicated a positive sign for its possible use as insulating liquid in a transformer. All ratios of the RBDPO/RBDSO mixture also demonstrated lower dissipation factor compared to mineral oil at 40°C, 70°C and 90°C. Apart from that, the kinematic viscosity for the oil mixtures shown exceeded the IEC 60296 as well as the mineral oil results. 70%RBDPO/30%RBDSO mixture ratio was chosen as the best mixing percentage after comparison was made with the mineral oil and IEC 60296 standard where the mixture accumulated the most satisfactory of dielectric properties hence making it as the potential candidate for palm and soybean-based transformer oil.