Aging of cellulose at transformer service temperatures. Part 1: Influence of type of oil and air on the degree of polymerization of pressboard, dissolved gases, and furanic compounds in oil

A power transformer is expected to operate up to 40 years. With current cost-benefit calculations, the user is forced to perform maintenance that will bring a further extension of transformer life. The maintenance can only be based on on-site and off-site monitoring with extended analytical and electrical tests, which can define the service condition of the transformer and predict its further life expectancy. The life of a transformer is mainly dependent on the life of its solid insulation, and the life-limit is determined by the thermal degradation of the winding paper. The Kraft paper decreases in tensile strength with the progress of aging and, at some point, can no longer withstand the short circuit stresses. The monitoring of the complex permittivity of transformer oils, as a function of frequency and temperature, may provide information concerning the state of the insulation. In this article, we show the influence of air and oil type on the aging of pressboard under the influence of a considerable amount of moisture. The rate of the degree of polymerization, the development of furanic compounds, as well as the gas-in-oil analysis in comparison with the aging of the pure oil under the same conditions have been investigated.     

诊断变压器绝缘状态及老化的PDC技术的研究

介绍了诊断变压器绝缘状态老化的极化电流/去极化电流法,并列举了实例.     

变压器老化评估的极化去极化电流分析法

比较了各种变压器绝缘老化评估方法,介绍了一种新的变压器老化评估的方法--极化去极化电流法.     

A testing device for rolling–sliding behavior in harsh environments: the twin-disk cryotribometer

Understanding the mechanical behavior of angular contact ball bearing contacts in extremely harsh environments has led to the development of specialized apparatus. This device simulates the rolling–sliding behavior of elliptical contacts where the dynamic and kinematic conditions are perfectly controlled. Such a device facilitates several types of analyses: that of mechanically induced surface damage, that of transfer film, that of characterizing surface treatments and surface coatings, and that of thermal phenomena at the contact. Moreover the testing device allows the experimental confirmation of theoretical models developed for determining bearing lifetimes. First we shall describe the testing device end afterwards we shall present results for each type of analysis mentioned above.     

Targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors with Magnetic Carbon Nanotubes: The Case of the A3 Adenosine Receptor

The A₃ adenosine receptor (AR) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) overexpressed in the membrane of specific cancer cells. Thus, the development of nanosystems targeting this receptor could be a strategy to both treat and diagnose cancer. Iron-filled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an optimal platform for theranostic purposes, and the use of a magnetic field can be exploited for cancer magnetic cell sorting and thermal therapy. In this work, we have conjugated an A₃AR ligand on the surface of iron-filled CNTs with the aim of targeting cells overexpressing A₃ARs. In particular, two conjugates bearing PEG linkers of different length were designed. A docking analysis of A₃AR showed that neither CNT nor linker interferes with ligand binding to the receptor; this was confirmed by in vitro preliminary radioligand competition assays on A₃AR. Encouraged by this result, magnetic cell sorting was applied to a mixture of cells overexpressing or not the A₃AR in which our compound displayed indiscriminate binding to all cells. Despite this, it is the first time that a GPCR ligand has been anchored to a magnetic nanosystem, thus it opens the door to new applications for cancer treatment.     

Insight into the Interactions between Novel Coumarin Derivatives and Human A3 Adenosine Receptors

A study focused on the discovery of new chemical entities based on the 3‐arylcoumarin scaffold was performed with the aim of finding new adenosine receptor (AR) ligands. Thirteen synthesized compounds were evaluated by radioligand binding (A₁, A_2A, and A₃) and adenylyl cyclase activity (A_2B) assays in order to study their affinity for the four human AR (hAR) subtypes. Seven of the studied compounds proved to be selective A₃AR ligands, with 3‐(4′‐methylphenyl)‐8‐(2‐oxopropoxy)coumarin ( 12 ) being the most potent (K_i=634 nM ). None of the compounds showed affinity for the A_2B receptor, while four compounds were found to be nonselective AR ligands for the other three subtypes. Docking simulations were carried out to identify the hypothetical binding mode and to rationalize the interaction of these types of coumarin derivatives with the binding site of the three ARs to which binding was observed. The results allowed us to conclude that the 3‐arylcoumarin scaffold composes a novel and promising class of A₃AR ligands. ADME properties were also calculated, with the results suggesting that these compounds are promising leads for the identification of new drug candidates.     

Aging of cellulose at transformer service temperatures. Part 2. Influence of moisture and temperature on degree of polymerization and formation of furanic compounds in free-breathing systems

This paper examines the influence of moisture and temperature on the degree of polymerization (DP) and furanic compounds. At normal service temperatures, the average moisture content in the solid insulation of transformers has a much stronger influence on the development of furanic compounds and degradation of the insulation than temperature itself. The influence of the initial moisture in the solid insulation on aging under normal transformer service temperatures of 75, 85, and 95 /spl deg/C has been investigated experimentally. Wet transformers have usually higher levels of furans, inferior oil properties, and lower DP values of paper than dry ones under similar service conditions. The development of furan concentration and moisture content are very important aging indicators for the evaluation and life assessment of transformer in service. Further work is necessary to combine these important aging characteristics into a valuable tool for the assessment of a large aging transformer population.