Breakdown Performance and Partial Discharge Development in Transformer Oil-Based Metal Carbide Nanofluids

In this work, the influence of semi-conductive SiC nanoparticles on the AC breakdown voltage and partial discharge development in natural ester oil FR3 is examined. Primarily, the dielectric constant and the electrical conductivity of the nanoparticles are measured following the broadband dielectric spectroscopy technique. The nanoparticles are added into the matrix following the ultrasonication process in three weight percentage ratios in order for their effect to be evaluated as a function of their concentration inside the base oil. The processing of the results reveals that the nanofluid containing SiC nanoparticles at 0.004% w/w demonstrates the highest AC dielectric strength improvement and shows the greatest resistance to the appearance of partial discharge activity. The mechanisms behind the aforementioned results are discussed in detail and confirmed by the broadband dielectric spectroscopy technique, which reveals that this particular nanofluid sample is characterized by lower dielectric constant and electrical conductivity than the one with double the weight percentage ratio.