Historical evolution of organic and insulating liquids: From whale oil to mineral and vegetable oil
This column explores the technical and historical reasons behind the preference for mineral oils over vegetable oils, analyzing early research findings and practical considerations.
by M. Grisaru
Vegetable oils, although recognized early for their insulating potential, were largely dismissed as transformer-insulating liquids during the formative years of electrical engineering. This column explores the technical and historical reasons behind the preference for mineral oils over vegetable oils, analyzing early research findings and practical considerations. Key aspects such as oxidation stability, moisture absorption, low-temperature performance, gas absorption, and material consistency are examined alongside the technological limitations of the early 20th century. The timeline of the appearance and disappearance of various animal, vegetable and mineral oils is also detailed. A brief, non-chemist explanation of the molecular structure differences between esters and mineral oils is also provided.
#biodegradability#dielectric properties#dire safety#historical evolution#insulating liquids#liquids#mineral oil#moisture absorption#natural esters#oxidation stability#synthetic esters#transformer oil#vegetable oil
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