Nanoparticles enhance the electrical insulation and thermal properties of vegetable oil, and such improvements are desirable for its application as an alternative to traditional insulating oil for power transformers. However, the traditional method of insulating nanofluids typically achieves high electrical insulation but low thermal conductivity. This work reports an environmentally friendly vegetable oil using exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) showing high thermal conductivity and high electrical insulation. Stable nanofluids were prepared by liquid exfoliation of h-BN in isopropyl alcohol. With 0.1 vol.% of the nano-oil, the AC breakdown voltage increased by 18% at 25°C and 15% at 90°C. Both the positive and negative lightning impulse breakdown voltages of the nano-oil were also enhanced compared with those of the pure oil. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of the nano-oil increased by 11.9% at 25°C and 14% at 90°C. Given its high thermal conductivity, the nano-oil exhibited faster heating and cooling effects than the pure oil. Nano-oils with an electric field (either DC or AC) displayed a faster thermal response than that without an electric field. The reason is that h-BN is oriented under the electric field and formed a thermal network to increase the heat transfer.

The eco-friendly vegetable liquid is increasingly used because of the growing demand for environmentally friendly dielectric liquid. A vegetable liquid/fullerene nanofluid was fabricated via ultrasonic processing with good dispersion of the fullerene nanoparticles. It was observed that a small amount of fullerene (~100 mg/L) can significantly improve the electrical properties of vegetable insulating liquid (dissipation factor decreased by 20.1%, volume resistivity increased by 23.3%, and Alternating Current (AC) dielectric breakdown strength increased by 8.6%). Meanwhile, the trace amount of fullerene is also able to improve the electrical performances (i.e., dissipation factor and electrical resistivity) of the vegetable nanofluid under harsh conditions of long-term thermal aging compared with the blank contrast. The reduced acid values (25%) and dissolved decomposition gases (58.2% for hydrogen) in the aged vegetable nanofluid indicate the inhibition of molecule decomposition of vegetable liquid with fullerene. The improved electrical performances and thermal resistance of the vegetable nanofluid contribute to the electron affinity of fullerene proved by calculation of electron density distribution on the surface. The thermogravimetric analysis of the nanofluid under different atmospheres interprets that the oxygen absorbed inevitably in the fullerene contributes to the performance deterioration of the nanofluids during the initial aging. This work provides a potential method towards eco-friendly dielectric liquid with great electrical performances for harsh environments.

Nanoparticles enhance the positive and negative lightning breakdown voltages of vegetable insulating oils due to a reduced streamer velocity. Pre-breakdown streamers in vegetable oil based h-BN and Fe₃O₄ nanofluids were observed using the shadowgraph method under a lightning impulse voltage. The propagation of streamers until their stopping length is analyzed using shadowgraph images for the different nanofluids. The results suggest that these nanofluids present a higher breakdown voltage per unit length compared with pure oil. Secondary reverse streamers are observed to appear at the dissipation stage of the streamer. In particular, the secondary reverse streamer of the nanofluids appeared earlier and seemed to be shorter than that of pure oil under positive impulse voltages. The underlying mechanism was analyzed using space charge theory.

Electrical equipment is always subjected to various of operating conduction and voltage waves which cause insulation failure on the surface of pressboard (PB). In this paper, pre-breakdown streamers of surface discharge on the interface of PB in vegetable oil based Fe₃O₄ nanofluids (NFs) were observed by the shadowgraph method under lightning impulse voltage. The images indicate that streamers of NFs impregnated PB show more branches than that of pure oil impregnated PB. The stopping length of streamers propagation is calculated by shadowgraph images for NFs and pure oil. Results suggest that the stopping length of NFs impregnated PB is shorter under the same extra voltage. Secondary reverse streamer is generated at the dissipation process by the reverse electric field, which is caused by residual space charge imparted by primary streamer. Results indicate that the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles have reduced the length of secondary reverse streamer. The positive and negative lightning breakdown voltage of Fe₃O₄ NFs impregnated PB is increased by 24% and 12% at 50mm gap, respectively. In addition, nanoparticles have effectively changed the electric field distribution resulting in the alleviation of streamer concentrated along the parallel direction of PB, and increased the lightning impulse breakdown voltage.