Nynas recently launched a game-changing product – its second bio-based oil – within the power transformer space. NYTRO® BIO 300X is designed to meet the increased environmental awareness and rising pressure on electricity networks.
The electricity network of today is faced with two main challenges. On the one hand the classical model of generation and distribution is evolving with the rapid adoption of renewables and “prosumers”. This is placing a higher strain on existing equipment in the form of more frequent load swings and overloading. On the other hand, the energy sector as a whole is under increased scrutiny regarding environmental impact. Within the power transformer space Nynas has recently launched a game-changing product ideally suited to help with these challenges.
NYTRO BIO 300X is a renewable hydrocarbon-based insulating fluid with outstanding performance and which is also readily biodegradable. This product meets and exceeds the IEC 60296 specification and also has best-in-class cooling properties.
NYTRO BIO 300X will provide enhanced cooling in a transformer leading to reduced winding temperatures, this is thanks to ultra-low viscosity. The temperature of a transformer and particularly its windings are critical parameters and temperature reduction (thanks to improved convective cooling) provides several opportunities including:
• Overloading capability
• Size and weight reduction
• Better distributed heat during load swings
• Cooling system optimisation
• Load loss reduction
• Operating temperature range flexibility
• Longer transformer life
NYTRO BIO 300X is readily biodegradable when tested to the criteria in OECD 301 – it also has a bio-based carbon content (tested to ASTM D6866) of more than 99 %. A key technical achievement with this novel insulating fluid is that it achieves the above whilst having outstanding oxidation stability – and therefore no special handling is required, and it is fully suited to free-breathing transformers. In addition, the maintenance and monitoring is fully in line with practices used for inhibited mineral insulating oils.
Perhaps the single most important aspect of NYTRO BIO 300X is that little to no design adaptions (on the power transformer) are required due to the very similar chemistry shared between mineral insulating oils and it. This means that customers can benefit from the biodegradability and enhanced cooling with very little hassle. This is contrasted against the situation with ester based insulating fluids which have very different physio-chemical properties and usually require significant design adaptations.
The ideal application areas of NYTRO BIO 300X are offshore transformers, mobile transformers, sensitive environments, weight & size constrained projects as well as with renewable generation.
Carl Wolmarans is Technical Advisor, Electrical Industry at Nynas. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and has previously worked for the utility Eskom. Carl joined Nynas in 2015.
NYTRO BIO 300X will lead to a lower winding, hotspot and oil temperature due to enhanced convective cooling.
Short overview of key properties.
