Fire safety in transformers – an oil Manufacturer's Perspective

The paper presents fire properties of an alternative transformer fluid, Biotransol HF, a natural ester. The properties of the new fluid are compared with conventional mineral oils. Time to ignition and self-extinguishing properties of the new fluid are shown to be far superior to a mineral oil. These properties, coupled with the fact that the new fluid has far higher explosion limit compared to a mineral oil, virtually makes explosion a very unlikely possibility within a transformer. A short video film was also shot to demonstrate the superior fire-safety behaviour of Biotransol HF vis-a-vis a conventional mineral oil.