Experimental analyses and molecular simulation of the thermal aging of transformer insulation paper

Thermal aging of insulation paper occurs during transformer operation, with the water produced during aging accelerating the thermal aging process. Insulation paper aging largely determines the operational life of a transformer pressboard; accordingly, research pertaining to insulation paper enhancement is significant with respect to the functional safety of transformers. Within molecular research, particularly that focusing on molecular simulation, appropriate force field selection is paramount in order to acquire accurate results, in addition to appropriately reflecting cellulose thermal stability and associated degradation mechanisms. In the current study, two diverse cellulose models (water only; water, dicyandiamide, melamine and polyacrylamide) are developed and analyzed. Numerous model variables, including the diffusion coefficient of water and cellulose chain distance, are collated, in order to examine the effects of amines on the thermal stability of cellulose. Additionally, a novel insulation paper is formulated by combining traditional insulation paper with three diverse amines; an accelerated aging experiment is thus undertaken, comparing traditional and modified insulation paper samples at 110 °C, together with periodic assessment of both microwater content and the degree of polymerization (DP). Results indicate that during transformer operation, a higher degree of elasticity is associated with the modified insulation paper, thus significantly increasing its toughness and extensibility, in parallel with decreasing it brittleness. Results also show that the DP associated with cellulose comprising the modified insulation paper decreases at a reduced rate, with measured water content significantly less than that of traditional insulation paper. Simulation results are consistent with experimental findings. Therefore, it may be concluded that the thermal aging properties of cellulose significantly improve upon addition of dicyandiamide, melamine, and polyacrylamide as thermal stabilizers.