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. Thecooling and insulating properties of the fluids used in them are able to influence the performance of transform-ers drastically. The acceleration of Titanium Oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in thermal and dielectric propertiessuggests promising advantages as a fashionable ingredient for the enhancement in characteristics of oil-basefluids to provide new-generation transformer oils. This study involves the production of TiO2nanoparticlesthrough the sol-gel method. The synthesized TiO2nanoparticles have been characterized using XRD andSEM analysis. The produced nanoparticles are introduced into base fluids using two-step process. Thetransformer oil is selected as base fluid, to investigate the thermophysical and dielectric properties at differentconcentrations typically 0.35, 0.45, and 0.55 wt.% of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles with averageparticle diameter 37 nm. Additionally, assessments are performed on the thermal conductivity, density, anddielectric values of transformer oil. The improvement of 36.84% at 2.5 mm and 36.36% at 4 mm electrodegap, respectively, in Breakdown Voltage (BDV) was identified when using TiO2concentration at 0.45 wt%concentration. The maximum thermal conductivity enhancement shown at 0.55 wt% is 23.41%.