Mechanism of increase of electrostatic charging tendency in insulating oil for oil‐immersed transformer

The mechanism of the increase in the electrostatic charging tendency (ECT) of insulating oil and causative compounds were investigated by accelerated deterioration tests with the addition of various compounds. Although the ECT of the insulating oil was almost constant when only sulfoxide compounds were added, a marked increase was observed when either hydrochloric acid or moisture, which was considered to be generated by the aging of insulating oil, was also added to oil containing sulfoxide compounds. It is assumed that the sulfonium ion, which is generated by the reaction between sulfoxide compounds and hydrogen ion, is the compound that directly contributes to the increase in the ECT. Hydrogen ions can be supplied from organic acids generated by the oxidation of hydrocarbons in aging insulating oil. It is considered that the increase in the ECT of insulating oil is caused by the generation of sulfoxides by the oxidation of sulfide, which are present in fresh oil (originating compounds), and the generation of sulfonium ions by a reaction between sulfoxide and hydrogen ions, which are formed during aging. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 176(4): 26–33, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21113