LAUSR

The amounts of flammable gases formed in some transformer oils during the long-term storage (1000 hours) at 110 ± 3°C in closed containers (limited access to atmospheric oxygen) were determined qualitatively and quantitatively by gas chromatography technique. The comparative experimental results showed that when two types of mineral oils, one synthetic oil and two types of vegetable oils are in simultaneously contact with copper and insulating paper, the total amount of flammable gases formed by thermal aging is about 40 times higher in the mineral oils than in the ester based oils. It has also been established that the electrical-use copper foil catalyses the formation processes of the flammable gases, the maximum effect being for the mineral oils (an increase of 8 times of ethane and 25 times for methane gases). It has further been observed that the contact with the insulating paper during the thermal treatment of the ester based oils does not influence the formation of flammable gases, compared with the mineral oils where the amount of the formed gases is doubled.