Insulating Oil Testing
Insulating oil in electrical power apparatus serves two primary roles, as an insulator and a coolant. As an insulating liquid, oil’s most important property is a high dielectric strength and as a cooling liquid, a low viscosity is paramount. The principal nemeses of insulating oil are oxidation, contamination (particularly moisture, which tends to lower the dielectric properties of insulating oil), and excessive temperature. These enemies are managed through design, regimented installation processes and prudent operation of the oil-filled power apparatus. At all stages of a power asset’s life, testing must be conducted to evaluate the condition of the insulating oil. In fact, for some assets, it can be argued that the oil is tested more frequently than any other component.
