LESS FLAMMABLE INSULATING FLUIDS

The National Electric Code has officially designated these synthetic liquids as less flammable.

1. Askarels
2. Silicone
3. RTemp
4. Wecosol R113 and others

These fluids should be maintained and tested on the same frequency as used for insulating oil.

The liquid sample for conducting the tests should be taken from the BOTTOM of transformer tank for
silicone and RTemp, and from the TOP of the tank for askarel.

The test limits for acidity, intrafacial tension, dielectric breakdown voltage, power factor and color for
service-aged less flammable fluids are given in Table.4.9.

INSULATING LIQUID SAMPLING PROCEDURES

All sampling of electrical insulating fluids should conform to the method described in ASTM D923,
“Standard Test Method for Sampling Electrical Insulating Liquids.”

General Rule:

bottom of tank – sg<1

top of tank – sg>1

1. Glass bottles are recommended as containers for sample because they can be easily inspected
for cleanliness. The glass may be either cork or glass stoppered or fitted with screwcaps having
cork or aluminum liners.
2. 1-qt cans with screwcaps have been found satisfactory containers for shipping samples.
3. Containers should be rinsed with stoddard solvent, trichlorotrifluoroethane or other cleaning
agents that completely dissolves the liquid residue, dried, and washed in strong soapsuds.
4. Then they should be thoroughly rinsed with water, dried in an oven at about 105℃ for several
hours, and removed from the oven.
5. As the bottles cool, they should be sealed by dipping the necks in wax, and then stored for
future use.
6. These bottles should be opened only when the bottle temperature and the ambient
temperature are the same or nearly so.
SAMPLING OIL FROM TRANSFORMERS

1. At least 2qt of oil should be taken as a sample for dielectric, acidity, and intrafacial tension (IFT)
tests. Allow space at the top of the container for expansion. If two 1-qt bottles are used for a
sample, label the bottles “1 of 2” and “2 of 2”.
2. Samples from outside apparatus should be taken on clear days when the humidity is normal and
the oil is at least as warm or warmer than the surrounding air. Cold oil may condense enough
moisture from a humid atmosphere to seriously affect its insulating properties. Therefore, this
precaution must be observed in sampling spare transformers.
3. Samples should never be drawn in rain or when the relative humidity of the atmosphere
exceeds 70%.
4. Guard against wind and dust.
5. When taking samples from an opening, such as a valve, clean the valve thoroughly and allow
enough liquid to run out (about 1qt) to remove any moisture or foreign material.
6. In a sealed transformer, which has a vacuum, be sure to vent the transformer before drawing
the sample.
7. Place the sample in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator overnight. If the sample is cloudy
when viewed the next day, it contains free water. Since free water is undesirable, take another
sample to determine whether water is in oil or was in the sample container.

SAMPLING OIL FROM DRUMS OR SHIPPING CONTAINERS

The oil from the drum should remain undisturbed for several hours before drawing the sample.

1. A glass of Pyrex thief is recommended for sampling because it can be inspected easily for
cleanliness. A glass tube approximately 36 in. long, 1 in. in diameter, and tapered at both ends is
recommended for the sampling thief.
2. The thief should be cleaned before and after sampling in the same manner as for cleaning
sample containers. When not being used, the thief should be corked at both ends.
3. Discard the first full thief of oil.
4. Draw the sample in the following manner:
4.1 With the top end covered with the thumb, lower the tube to within approximately 1/8 in.
from the bottom of the drum.
4.2 Remove the thumb from the top opening until the thief is filled with oil.
4.3 Replace the thumb over the top of the thief and remove thief full of oil to the sample
container. Release thumb to permit oil to run into the container.
TAKING OIL SAMPLES FOR GAS-IN-OIL ANALYSIS

This procedure has been developed to maintain uniformity of all oil samples taken in the field for a
laboratory gas-in-oil analysis. Special stainless-steel containers are used for collecting samples of oil for
gas-in-oil analysis using the gas chromatograph. Gas chromatography is a common type of
chromatography used in analytical chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can be
vaporized without decomposition. These stainless-steel containers are not to be used for any other
purpose and should be kept clean to eliminate all contaminants and purged with dry air for shipment to
the field.

1. Use a can to catch overflow oil from the stainless-steel container.

2. Obtain two lengths of Tygon clear plastic tubing and attach one to each end of the stainless-
steel container. Make certain that the tubing between transformer and container is as short as
possible.
3. Attach the tubing from one end of the stainless-steel container to the sample valve cock on the
transformer.
4. Hold the stainless-steel container in a vertical position with the length of tubing on the outlet
end in the can to catch the overflow oil.
5. Open the sampling valve on the transformer.
6. Open valve on the inlet side of the container.
7. Open valve on the outlet side of the container and allow the stainless-steel container to fill and
overflow into can. At least 1 pint should overflow to assure removal of all bubbles in the
sampling system.
8. Close top valve (outlet side) first to ensure a contamination-free sample.
9. Close bottom valve (inlet side) and then close sampling valve on the transformer.
10. Do not wrap any kind of tape around valves or nozzles of the stainless-steel container.
11. Forward the sample to the laboratory.