Synthesis and experimental study of TiO2 nanofluids for transformer applications

Transformers are essential in an electrical power system, and their efficiency and reliability are vital. The cooling and insulating properties of the fluids used in them are able to influence the performance of transformers drastically. The acceleration of Titanium Oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in thermal and dielectric properties suggests promising advantages as a fashionable ingredient for the enhancement in characteristics of oil-base fluids to provide new-generation transformer oils. This study involves the production of TiO2 nanoparticles through the sol-gel method. The synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles have been characterized using XRD and SEM analysis. The produced nanoparticles are introduced into base fluids using two-step process. The transformer oil is selected as base fluid, to investigate the thermophysical and dielectric properties at different concentrations typically 0.35, 0.45, and 0.55 wt.% of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles with average particle diameter 37nm. Additionally, assessments are performed on the thermal conductivity, density, and dielectric values of transformer oil. The improvement of 36.84% at 2.5mm and 36.36% at 4mm electrode gap, respectively, in Breakdown Voltage (BDV) was identified when using TiO2 concentration at 0.45 wt% concentration. The maximum thermal conductivity enhancement shown at 0.55 wt% is 23.41%.