I am delighted to share the progress and accomplishments achieved during my tenure as a DEIS Graduate Student Fellow. This fellowship has provided an invaluable opportunity to advance my doctoral research on enhancing power transformer reliability by investigating the combined effects of moisture dynamics and aging in insulation systems. I am deeply grateful to the DEIS Education Committee for their support and to my supervisors for their mentorship throughout this journey.
The primary objective of my project was to address the challenges posed by moisture and thermal aging in transformer insulation. These factors can significantly influence gas bubble formation, a phenomenon that compromises transformer performance and reliability. By developing a unique experimental setup, I was able to explore bubble formation in various insulation materials under different thermal and moisture conditions, yielding insights that contribute to safer and more reliable power transformers.
One of the standout findings from this research is the development of a customized setup to determine the Bubbling Inception Temperature (BIT). This setup enabled us to observe that Kraft paper (KP) impregnated with synthetic esters exhibited a higher BIT than when impregnated with mineral oil, indicating better thermal stability with esters. Conversely, aged and moist insulation paper displayed a lower BIT, underscoring the adverse effects of aging and moisture on insulation properties.
Presenting my work at the IEEE Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena (CEIDP) 2024.
These discoveries not only advance academic knowledge but also hold practical implications for the power transformer industry. The use of alternative insulation materials, such as thermally upgraded Kraft paper (TUK) and Aramid, alongside dielectric measurements for water content assessment, offers industry practitioners non-invasive ways to monitor insulation health. By mitigating the risks associated with gas bubble formation, these insights drive the industry toward more reliable and efficient operations.
Receiving the DEIS fellowship has been instrumental in both my academic growth and professional development, enhancing my credibility and enabling me to present this work at prestigious conferences. I presented some of my results at CEIDP 2024, organized at the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center in Auburn, Alabama. I can be seen in the figure at my poster station at CEIDP 2024.
I am deeply appreciative of the DEIS community for this fellowship, and I encourage other students and researchers to pursue similar opportunities that foster both technical excellence and professional growth.
Best regards,
Ghada Gmati