Flow electrification in high power transformers: BTA effect on pressboard degraded by electrical discharges

The flow electrification process occurring at the oil-pressboard interface in high power transformers seems to cause electrical discharge incidents and may cause failures. The goal of this experimental study is to measure and to compare the streaming current obtained from unused pressboard, pressboard artificially degraded by electrical discharges, and pressboard obtained from a damaged power transformer. The influence of additive 1,2,3 Benzotriazole (BTA) in oil is also analyzed. The results show that flow electrification is greatly increased by the degraded pressboards compared with the new one. On the other hand, adding of BTA significantly reduces flow electrification.