Previous in Forum: Rectifier Transformer   Next in Forum: Spacing Between132 kV Single Core Cables Laid in Cable Trench
Close

Comments Format:






Change Mode
Close

Subscribe to Discussion:

CR4 allows you to "subscribe" to a discussion
so that you can be notified of new comments to
the discussion via email.

Close

Rating Vote:







Add Vote
10 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
prometu
Associate

Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 25

Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/05/2011 8:35 PM

good day! i just want to inquire about the nature of silica gel on the breather of a power transformer. yes it absorbs moisture due to the "breathing" process of the transformer. the silicagel on the breather on one of our power transformers are filled with oil and that the silica gel are soaked in oil. can these affect the absorption of moisture during the breathing process?
Register to Reply
Pathfinder Tags: power transformer breather silica gel
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
2
electricalexpert65
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2061
Good Answers: 169
#1

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/05/2011 10:08 PM

I would suggest you to have a closer look at your transformer breather. It is not the silica gel portion that would be filled with oil. There would be an oil cup beneath the main container of the breather. This is to avoid dust entry (along with the air being "inhaled"), for, if the dust is conductive, it would cause insulation failure. This oil in the oil cup acts as a protective filter, to filter out any such dust. It should be ensured that this cup is always filled up with adequte oil & the oil is clean.

Just in case, as you say, if the silica gel portion is soakde in oil, it would definitely affect the breathing process itself, leave alone mosture absorption.
Register to Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Go to Next Good Answer
prometu
Associate

Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 25
#2
In reply to #1

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/05/2011 11:29 PM

thank you sir! indeed you are right that the bottom portion of the breather is filled with oil. i was wrong on describing that part. what i mean of the silica gel being soaked in oil is that during the "breathing" process, oil fills up the conservator and the excess oil goes out from it going throught the breather and this is the part where the silica gel is being soaked. but not for long..

so my question is that, after this, will the absorbing nature of silica gel be affected by the oil which washed off the silica gel?
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
electricalexpert65
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2061
Good Answers: 169
#4
In reply to #2

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/06/2011 1:06 AM

Oh! I did not anticipate this! If oil overflows from the conservator into the breather during the breathing process, it means that the conservator is over-full. Pl. drain some oil from the conservator. General practice is to fill only about 2/3rd of the conservator with oil, leaving the balance space for breathing.

And, yes! very definitely, the moisture absorbing property of the silica gel soaked in oil, would reduce very much. Pl. remove the oil soaked silica gel, wash it with a good quality solvent to remove the oil film, then dry the silica gel & then re-use it.
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
3
TonyS
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Resting under the Major Oak
Posts: 4347
Good Answers: 181
#3

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/05/2011 11:41 PM

If oil is venting from the conservator down the air breather it is obviously over full. Drain some off and replace the silica gell.

__________________
 The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.
Register to Reply Good Answer (Score 3)
No more Good Answers. Go to first "Almost" Good Answer
TonyS
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Resting under the Major Oak
Posts: 4347
Good Answers: 181
#5
In reply to #3

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/06/2011 1:31 PM

I should have added disconect and flush the breather pipe out with solvent to clear any oil residue. If not cleared it will work it's way down to the silica and contaminate it again.

__________________
 The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
No more "Almost" Good Answers.
Humayun A Chaudhry
Associate

Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 34
#6

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/07/2011 3:42 AM

Yes, you have to get rid of oil soaked Silica Gel, which cannot absorb the moisture any more. the oil level should not rise to the Silica gel level.
Register to Reply
aurizon
Guru
Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member United Kingdom - Big Ben - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Altair 8800 - New Member Canada - Member - New Member

Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3968
Good Answers: 120
#7
In reply to #6

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/07/2011 6:39 AM

the breathing will gradually saturate the silica gel = stops absorbing water, so it needs to be changed on a periodic basis.

Oil ruins the gel, so the breather should be made with a baffle/filter in the way so that oil drops are blocked.

__________________
 Per Ardua Ad Astra
Register to Reply
TeslaFan
Power-User

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 203
Good Answers: 6
#8

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/07/2011 1:57 PM

If that particular Silica Gel is a blue color indicating type use protective clothing when handling as it is doped with the moisture indicator cobalt(II) chloride, which is toxic and may be carcinogenic. Extending the life of the Silica Gel to avoid frequent change-outs can be accomplished with an H2O Transformer Breather Kit.

__________________
 Faith is not blind, it is supremely reasonable.
Register to Reply
prometu
Associate

Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 25
#9

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

04/07/2011 11:18 PM

thank you so much for your comments. i really appreciate it!
Register to Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
prometu
Associate

Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 25
#10

Re: Power Transformer Breather, Silica Gel

06/04/2011 7:14 AM

thank you so much for all your comments. it helped me a lot!
Register to Reply
Register to Reply
Have a Different Question?
10 comments

Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

aurizon (1); electricalexpert65 (2); Humayun A Chaudhry (1); prometu (3); TeslaFan (1); TonyS (2)

Previous in Forum: Rectifier Transformer   Next in Forum: Spacing Between132 kV Single Core Cables Laid in Cable Trench

Advertisement

Got Something to Say?
Ask a Question
Start a Discussion

Search this Forum
Electrical Engineering:
Go

CR4 Sections
Aerospace
BioMech & BioMed
Chemical & Material Science
Civil Engineering
Communications & Electronics
Education and Engineering Careers
Electrical Engineering
General Discussion
Instrumentation
Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
New Technologies & Research
Software & Programming
Sustainable Engineering
Transportation

Site Directories
Forum Directory
Blog Directory
User Group Directory
RSS Feeds

CR4 Rules of Conduct
CR4 FAQ
Site Glossary

Who's Online (122 right now)
Show Members
Advertisement