The 19th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, Pilsen, Czech Republic, August, 23 – 28, 2015

A STUDY ON THERMAL AGEING OF PAPER OIL INSULATION IN

MODEL TRANSFORMERS IN PRESENCE OF DBDS AND IRGAMET 39
1 2*
S. Daisy Flora and J. Sundara Rajan
1
VTU Research Centre, Central Power Research Institute, Bangalore, India 560 080
2
R&D Management Division, Central Power Research Institute, Bangalore, India 560 080
*Email: sundar@cpri.in

Abstract: This study reports the results of thermal ageing of paper oil insulation of
transformers. Laboratory model transformer windings were thermally aged in mineral oil
containing different concentrations of DBDS at 125 ºC for different durations and the
variation in results of frequency domain spectroscopy and insulation resistance are
discussed. The effect of thermal ageing of paper oil insulation at 125 ºC in presence of
both DBDS and Irgamet 39 are also discussed and compared.

1 INTRODUCTION and possible remedies for mitigation of copper

corrosion in transformers.
Assessment of health of power transformer
insulation is very important since its reliability is
In spite of considerable work being carried out to
important to the society and the power utility and it
understand the effects of corrosive sulphur in
is also closely related to techno-economic growth
mineral oil, mechanisms of copper sulphide
of any nation. However, the life of the transformer
formation, influence of oxygen, temperature,
is limited by the deterioration of paper oil
additives and electrical fields with reference to
insulation. During service life of transformer, paper
copper sulphide formation are not fully understood
oil insulation undergoes serious deterioration as it
so far [5]. Though the number of transformer
is vulnerable to moisture, oxygen, electrical and
failures due to formation of copper sulphide is on
thermal stresses [1]. It is identified that insulation
the decrease, it is possible that this problem may
failure is one of the major causes of transformer
resurface again. Hence there is a need to continue
failure and power utilities all-round the world are
the research work in this area since many
making all possible efforts to increase the service
transformers have been passivated in last few
life of transformers by maintaining their health by
years and many units are in service though they
carefully planned maintenance procedures and
contain corrosive oils.
practices and by use of proper diagnostics and
remaining life assessment methods [1-2].
Many studies have reported that Dibenzyl
disulphide (DBDS) which is added to mineral oil to
In recent years, both power and converter
improve oxidation stability, has a tendency to form
transformers have been facing challenges due to
Cu2S at elevated temperatures [4]. Several
poor quality of transformer mineral oil and it is
mitigation techniques for removal of corrosive
recognized that presence of corrosive sulphur in oil
sulphur from the oil are reported in literature. One
is a serious threat to the life of present day
of the methods adopted by utilities to prevent
transformers [3]. These sulphur compounds
copper corrosion due to corrosive sulphur is the
present in oil react with copper conductors to form
addition of metal passivators. The most widely
copper sulphide (Cu2S) which reside on the
used passivator is a triazole based passivator,
surface of conductors and are gradually transferred
Irgamet 39. This prevents sulphur attacks on
to the surface of paper layers. The electro-
copper by forming a protective coating on the
chemical interactions in oil are influenced by higher
copper conductor. However, the long-term stability
temperatures and low oxygen concentration [4].
and effectiveness of DBDS and metal passivator
Copper sulphide formed is semi-conducting in
(Irgamet 39) is still not fully understood [4].
nature and slowly starts diffusing into the inner
layers of paper. The diffusion of Cu2S results in
In view of the importance of preventive
increased dielectric loss, thermal instability,
maintenance of in-service power transformers, it is
distortion of electric field and finally dielectric
very essential to understand the dielectric
breakdown of turn to turn insulation. This ultimately
leads to failure of transformers [3]. Thus the behaviour of paper oil insulation when formation
problem of copper sulphide in transformer and progressive diffusion of copper sulphide in
insulation paper layers takes place. This study
insulation has become an issue of concern and it is
attempts to understand the dielectric behaviour of
very essential to resolve the concerns of
paper oil insulation of model transformer windings
transformer industry by sustained Research and
in the presence of DBDS and Irgamet 39 in
Developmental activities. This problem has been
experienced by many utilities across the world and transformer oil under thermal ageing. The results
it has led to in-depth investigations into the causes of Frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS) and
insulation resistance measurement are used to
discuss the changes in dielectric properties of
thermally aged paper oil insulation.
2 FREQUENCY DOMAIN SPECTROSCOPY
Measurement of dielectric response
frequency/time domain is becoming popular as a
diagnostic tool for moisture assessment of paper
oil insulation systems [1-2]. Frequency Domain
Spectroscopy is basically the measurement of
dissipation factor (tan δ) over a frequency range of
0.0001 Hz to 1 kHz and this will provide valuable
information about the condition of insulation. This
method is useful because it supplements the
results obtained from other conventional dielectric
methods and is additionally useful
understanding of dielectric polarization
mechanisms occurring in paper oil insulation when
there is increase in moisture in paper and oil
conductivity [2].
To assess the condition of insulation accurately,
the measurement should be carried out over a
wide frequency range and particularly the values of
tan δ at the low frequency region are more
important since they are most sensitive to moisture
in paper. In addition to measurement of tan δ and
capacitance, it is possible to measure the real and
imaginary part of complex permittivity (ε’, ε”) using
this method.
The value of tan δ as a function of frequency is the
indicator of health of paper oil insulation and over
the frequency range of 1 kHz down to 10 Hz, it is
dominated by the condition of paper insulation.
Dissolved conductive aging by-products and acids
increase the oil conductivity and the frequency
response shows a steep slope from 1 to 0.01 Hz.
With further decrease in frequency from 0.01 Hz to
0.005, tan δ is influenced by transformer insulation
geometry. If the frequency further decreases below
0.005 Hz, tan δ values are highly sensitive to
conductive components like moisture and ageing
by-products in the paper [2].
In the present study, analysis of results of FDS on
laboratory model transformer windings is reported
for different conditions of thermal ageing of paper
oil insulation. Further, the effect of Dibenzyl
disulphide on FDS spectra of paper oil insulation is
studied. DBDS is expected to improve the
oxidation stability of mineral oil, but its higher
concentration may result in formation of Cu2S
under certain conditions such as higher
temperatures and oxygen content. The effect of
Irgamet 39 and DBDS on the dielectric behaviour
of paper oil insulation is also explained.
In presence of moisture, it would become difficult
to differentiate between the effects of Cu2S and
moisture as they both result in increased tan δ
values. Some of these aspects are considered in
the present investigation.
3 EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
In this study, a laboratory model transformer
winding was used and its photograph is shown in
Figure 1. The model transformer winding was
in impregnated with mineral oil and then subjected to
thermal ageing at 125 ºC for different ageing
durations.
in
Figure 1: Photograph of laboratory model of
transformer winding
The following oil samples were selected for
understanding the role of DBDS and Irgamet 39:
Sample 1: Pure and virgin Transformer oil
Sample 2: Transformer oil + 200 ppm of DBDS
Sample 3: Transformer oil + 300 ppm of DBDS
Sample 4: Transformer oil + 200 ppm of DBDS +
100 ppm of Irgamet 39
The paper covered winding and mineral oil were
separately dried as per conventional methods. The
winding samples were impregnated with mineral oil
using vacuum impregnation method. DBDS and
Irgamet 39 were added after impregnation.
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1 Thermal ageing of paper oil insulation
The variation of tan δ as a function of frequency in
case of clean paper oil insulation is shown in
Figure 2. The results of FDS before ageing, after
362 hours and 538 hours of ageing are also shown
in Figure 2. From Figure 2, it is observed that there
is a significant decrease in tan δ values as the
paper oil insulation is subjected to 362 hours of
ageing. Thus, the thermal ageing at 125 ºC
appears to remove the moisture which could have
accumulated during sample preparation or
otherwise. There is also a slight increase in tan δ
values at the low frequency region after thermal
ageing for 538 hours. The variations of real and
imaginary part of capacitance (C’, C”) in clean
paper oil insulation for unaged and aged conditions
are shown in Figure 3 and 4 respectively. The
trend observed in variation of real capacitance is
similar for ageing period of 362 hours and 538
hours. The values of C’ and C” are higher for
unaged sample and this may be due to wet
condition of insulation.
 Before Ageing 362 hours 200ppm DBDS
538 hours 10
300 ppm DBDS
10 200 ppm DBDS + Irg

Tan δ
Tan δ

1
0.1
0.1

0.01
0.001
0.001 0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Frequency (Hz)
Frequency (Hz)
Figure 5: Variation of tan δ with frequency in
Figure 2: Variation of tan δ with frequency in thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
clean paper oil insulation before ageing and DBDS and Irgamet 39 which was aged at 125
after ageing at 125 ºC for 362 hours and 538 °C for 80 hours
hours
On the other hand, higher tan δ values are
observed in oil containing 200 ppm of DBDS. In
Before Ageing 362 hours case of oil containing 200 ppm of DBDS and 100
1.E-09
538 hours ppm of Irgamet 39, FDS characteristic lies in
C' (F)

between the other two cases (200 ppm and 300

ppm of DBDS). The variations of real and
1.E-10 imaginary part of capacitance (C’, C”) in thermally
aged paper oil insulation in presence of DBDS and
Irgamet 39 for 80 hours at 125 °C are shown in
1.E-11 Figure 6 and 7 respectively. The variation in C’ and
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 C” are almost same for 300 ppm of DBDS and 200
Frequency (Hz) ppm of DBDS with 100 ppm of Irgamet. Higher
Figure 3: Variation of C’ with frequency in values of capacitance are observed in oil
clean paper oil insulation before ageing and containing 200 ppm of DBDS.
after ageing at 125 ºC for 362 hours and 538
1.E-09 200 ppm DBDS
hours
300 ppm DBDS
200 ppm DBDS + Irg
Before Ageing 362 hours
1.E-08
538 hours 1.E-10
C' (F)

1.E-10
C" (F)

1.E-11
1.E-12 0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Frequency (Hz)
Figure 6: Variation of C’ with frequency in
1.E-14
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
Frequency (Hz) DBDS and Irgamet 39 which was aged for 80
Figure 4: Variation of C” with frequency in hours at 125 °C
clean paper oil insulation before ageing and
after ageing at 125 ºC for 362 hours and 538
hours 200 ppm DBDS
1.E-08 300 ppm DBDS
200 ppm DBDS + Irg
The effect of thermal ageing of model transformer
in oil containing 200 and 300 ppm of DBDS and 1.E-10
C" (F)

200 ppm of DBDS with 100 ppm of Irgamet 39 at

125 ºC for 80 hours is shown in Figure 5. The 1.E-12
frequency response of unaged samples containing
different concentrations of DBDS and Irgamet 39 1.E-14
are not presented here because only subtle 0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
changes are seen as compared to unaged clean Frequency (Hz)
paper oil insulation. It is interesting to note that the Figure 7: Variation of C” with frequency in
lower values of tan δ correspond to oil with 300 thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
ppm of DBDS for ageing duration of 80 hours at DBDS and Irgamet 39 which was aged for 80
125 ºC. This may be because of effective moisture hours at 125 °C
elimination at higher concentration of DBDS.
The results of FDS measurement of thermally aged
paper oil insulation at 125 ºC for 362 hours are
shown in Figure 8. The decreasing trend in tan δ is
similar to the ageing phenomena for 80 hours
except for the marginal decrease in the tan δ. This
is true for oil containing 300 ppm of DBDS and 200
ppm of DBDS with 100 ppm of Irgamet 39. There is
a considerable decrease in tan δ values in case of
200 ppm of DBDS alone.
200 ppm DBDS
10 300 ppm DBDS
200 ppm DBDS +Irg
Tan δ
Figure 11 shows the variation of tan δ with
frequency for thermally aged paper oil insulation at
125 ºC for 538 hours in presence of DBDS and
Irgamet 39. As seen from Figure 11, there is a
slight decrease in tan δ at lower frequency region
and a considerable decrease in tan δ is observed
at the middle and high frequency region in case of
oil containing 200 ppm of DBDS. On the other
hand, there is no significant change in case of 200
ppm of DBDS with 100 ppm of Irgamet 39 and in
300 ppm of DBDS. Figure 12 and 13 show the
variations of real and imaginary part of capacitance
(C’, C”) and there are no major changes observed
in these values when compared to 362 hours of

. 0.1 ageing.
200 ppm DBDS
10 300 ppm DBDS
200 ppm DBDS+ Irg
0.001
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000

Tan δ
Frequency (Hz) 0.1
Figure 8: Variation of tan δ with frequency in
thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
DBDS and Irgamet 39 for 362 hours of ageing 0.001
at 125 °C 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Frequency (Hz)
Figure 9 and 10 show the variations of real and
imaginary part of capacitance (C’, C”) in thermally Figure 11: Variation of tan δ with frequency in
aged paper oil insulation in presence of DBDS and thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
Irgamet 39 for 80 hours at 125 °C respectively. DBDS and Irgamet 39 which was aged at 125
There is only a marginal decrease in the values of °C for 538 hours
C’ and C” for ageing period of 362 hours when
compared to 80 hours of ageing. 1.E-09
200 ppm DBDS
300 ppm DBDS
1.E-09 200 ppm DBDS 200 ppm DBDS + Irg
300 ppm DBDS
C' (F)

200 ppm DBDS + Irg 1.E-10

C' (F)

1.E-10

1.E-11
1.E-11 0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 Frequency (Hz)
Frequency (Hz)
. Figure 12: Variation of C’ with frequency in
Figure 9: Variation of C’ with frequency in
thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
DBDS and Irgamet 39 for 538 hours of ageing at
DBDS and Irgamet 39 for 362 hours of ageing
125 °C
at 125 °C

1.E-08 200 ppm DBDS

1.E-08 200 ppm DBDS
300 ppm DBDS
300 ppm DBDS 200 ppm DBDS + Irg
200 ppm DBDS + Irg 1.E-10
1.E-10
C" (F)
C" (F)

1.E-12 1.E-12

1.E-14 1.E-14
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
Figure 10: Variation of C” with frequency in Figure 13: Variation of C” with frequency in
thermally aged paper oil insulation containing thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
DBDS and Irgamet 39 for 362 hours of ageing DBDS and Irgamet 39 for 538 hours of ageing at
at 125 °C 125 °C
The results of thermal ageing of model transformer 4.2 Comparison of moisture in paper and
windings at 125 °C for 822 hours of ageing in mineral oil conductivity
presence of DBDS and Irgamet 39 are shown in
The mineral oil conductivity and moisture in paper
Figure 14.
have been computed from FDS. Table 1 presents
the values of mineral oil conductivity and moisture
200ppm DBDS in paper for thermally aged paper oil insulation in
10
300 ppm DBDS
200ppm DBDS+Irg absence of DBDS and Irgamet 39. It can be seen
1 that conductivity of oil which was initially 1.6 pS/m
Tan δ

0.1 is reduced to 0.01 pS/m after 362 hours of thermal

ageing and it increases to 1.2 pS/m after 538
0.01 hours of ageing, whereas the moisture in paper
decreases from 5.2 % to 3.8 % after 362 hours of
0.001
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
ageing and further decreases to 2 % after 538
hours of ageing. There appears to be elimination of
Frequency (Hz)
moisture from both paper and mineral oil during the
Figure 14: Variation of tan δ with frequency in thermal ageing process.
thermally aged paper oil insulation containing
Table 1: Oil conductivity and Moisture
DBDS and Irgamet 39 which was aged at 125
content in paper for thermally aged paper oil
°C for 822 hours
insulation (Clean) for different ageing
Similar to the previous cases, the trend in tan δ durations at 125 °C
remains the same as shown in Figure 14. Figure
15 and 16 show the variations of real and Duration Oil conductivity Moisture
imaginary part of capacitance (C’, C”) and of Ageing (pS/m) in paper
(Hours) (%)
variations are almost same in all the three cases.
0 1.6 5.2
1.E-09
200 ppm DBDS 362 0.01 3.8
300 ppm DBDS
200 ppm DBDS + Irg 538 1.2 2.0
C' (F)

1.E-10
The values of oil conductivity and moisture in
paper for thermally aged paper oil insulation in
presence of DBDS and Irgamet 39 at 125 °C for
1.E-11 different ageing durations are shown in Table 2.
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Frequency (Hz) Table 2: Oil conductivity and Moisture content
Figure 15: Variation of C’ with frequency in in paper for thermally aged paper oil insulation
thermally aged paper oil insulation containing in presence of DBDS and Irgamet 39
DBDS and Irgamet 39 for 822 hours of ageing at
125 °C Oil Conductivity (pS/m)
Thermal ageing duration
(Hours)
200 ppm DBDS
1.E-08
300 ppm DBDS Sample 80 362 538 822
200 ppm DBDS+ Irg A 9.20 0.01 4.20 1.20
1.E-10 B 0.41 0.59 1.00 1.00
C" (F)

C 0.01 0.01 0.68 0.53

1.E-12

Moisture content in paper (%)

1.E-14 Thermal ageing duration
0.00010.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 (Hours)
Frequency (Hz) Sample 80 362 538 822
Figure 16: Variation of C” with frequency in A 3.6 4.0 1.9 1.6
thermally aged paper oil insulation containing B 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.5
DBDS and Irgamet 39 for 822 hours of ageing
C 3.0 3.2 1.6 1.7
at 125 °C
(Sample details: A: Oil + 200 ppm of DBDS;
B: Oil + 300 ppm of DBDS; C: Oil + 200 ppm
of DBDS with 100 ppm of Irgamet 39)
After ageing for 80 hours, a very low conductivity of
0.01 pS/m is observed in oil containing 200 ppm of
DBDS with 100 ppm of Irgamet 39, but moisture
content in paper is 3 % for the same case.
However, for the sample containing 300 ppm of
DBDS, the dry condition of paper oil insulation is
indicated by oil conductivity of 0.41 pS/m and 1 %
moisture in paper. Diffusion of moisture from paper
to oil appears to be negligible in presence of 300
ppm of DBDS. Higher conductivity of oil and
moisture in paper is observed in oil containing 200
ppm of DBDS. It is also seen from Table 2 that the
percentage of moisture in paper has slightly
increased in all three samples after ageing for 362
hours when compared to 80 hours of ageing. The
mineral oil conductivity remains unaffected and the
migration of moisture from paper to oil appears to
be very less at higher concentration of DBDS when
compared to the other two cases. It is observed
that the migration of moisture from paper to oil
continues to take place in case of 200 ppm of
DBDS unlike other two cases even after ageing for
538 hours.
After ageing for 822 hours, the low values of oil
conductivity and moisture in paper are observed in
all three cases and they represent the healthy
condition of paper oil insulation. In presence of 300
ppm of DBDS; 200 ppm of DBDS with 100 ppm of
Irgamet 39, moisture equilibrium is achieved at
much earlier compared to 200 ppm of DBDS alone.
4.3 Measurement of insulation resistance
The values of insulation resistance (IR) measured
at 500 V for one minute in thermally aged paper oil
insulation are presented in Table 3. It is observed
that insulation resistance increases as the duration
of thermal ageing increases in case of 200 ppm of
DBDS and 200 ppm of DBDS with 100 ppm of
Irgamet 39. But IR value decreases in case of 300
ppm of DBDS till 538 hours of ageing and starts
increasing thereafter.
Table 3: IR Measurement for different ageing
durations
One minute Insulation Resistance (TΩ) at
500 V
Thermal ageing duration
(Hours)
Sample 80 362 538 822
A 0.24 0.54 0.76 1.24
B 2.20 1.90 1.24 1.35
C 0.90 1.02 1.20 1.23
5 CONCLUSION
The important conclusions of this study are:
1. During thermal ageing of paper oil insulation, its
moisture dynamics is significantly affected by
temperature, duration of ageing and presence of
DBDS.
2. In presence of higher concentration of DBDS
(300 ppm of DBDS) in oil, moisture equilibrium is
reached within 80 hours of ageing. Further, the
moisture in paper is observed to be less in
presence of 300 ppm of DBDS compared to other
two cases. These results are consistent throughout
the period of thermal ageing.
3. The lower values of oil conductivity are
observed in case of oil containing 200 ppm of
DBDS with 100 ppm of Irgamet 39 irrespective of
duration of thermal ageing.
4. The migration of moisture from oil to paper and
vice versa is observed even in presence of 200
ppm of DBDS.
5. The results have indicated presence of copper
oxide (CuO) predominantly over Cu2S and hence
differences in results of FDS and C’, C” are not
significant.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank the authorities of
CPRI for permitting the publication of this work. The
first author is thankful to CPRI for the award of
Senior Research Fellowship and for permission to
register for Ph. D in Visvesvaraya Technological
University (VTU), Belgaum, India.
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