Insulating and Heat Transfer Oil Management

Heat Transfer and Transformer oil management forms an integral part of the suit of services offered by Clean Oil Services Pty Ltd. Management of transformer oils is critical to the long term operation of all oil cooled transformers. Build up of moisture and gases can have a devastating effect on the life and operation of the transformer; in fact if left unchecked, can cause the transformer to explode with dire consequences.

Clean Oil Services offer PCB testing, Dissolved Gas analysis and oil condition monitoring for insulating oils, with a recommendation that these tests are carried out at a minimum of every 12 months and preferably 6 monthly. This allows for accurate determination and monitoring of the gas trends to detect problems before they become apparent and cause expensive unscheduled transformer shutdown.

Prior to testing of any transformer oil, proof of PCB content must be provided or PCB test carried out with levels proven to be below the levels approved by the appropriate regulatory authority. Treatment cannot proceed until these tests have been proven.

In the event of a failed DGA (Dissolved Gas Analysis) or high moisture result, Clean Oil Services have the equipment and provide the service to dehydrate and degas the suspect oil without total removal from the transformer.

Our Lubemaster OS1200 provides flow rate of up to 8,400 litres per hour and will dehydrate to 6ppm whereas our smaller OS600 will give flow rates at 4,200 litres per hour. Both units use centrifuge technology coupled with Vacuum dehydration to provide the optimum return in oil condition. Our unique oil return system prevents gas build up entering the transformer by degassing the return oil by vacuum gas extraction.

The large heater on the Lubemaster ensures that the windings are heated throughout the operation, enabling movement of oil within the coils so as to cause the entrapped gases to be released.

In cases where the insulating fluid has been contaminated with carbon from arcing of tapchangers, or elevated Acid Numbers have been detected, Lubemaster has an optional Fullers Earth attachment which will provide the optimum in insulating oil treatment and in almost all cases will restore the oil to pristine condition.

Lubemaster has been proven to take dielectric strength from 22Kv to 72Kv over a 12 hour filter period on a 22,000 ltr transformer.

With Lubemaster treatment and Fullers Earth, there is rarely a need to dispose of transformer oil – there are very few situations where it is not fully recoverable to very close to new condition.

Clean Oil Services have Lubemaster units available for hire and will custom build equipment for specific applications at a customer’s request. Please contact us for further information.