Electrical properties of ester dielectric fluids from palm kernel oil

This paper presents characteristics of dielectric fluids prepared from chemical modification of palm kernel oil ester as an alternative to mineral oil for use in HV electric equipment such as transformers. The palm kernel oil-based alkyl ester dielectric fluids were synthesized from palm kernel oil through epoxidation and esterification reactions. The functional groups in the alkyl esters were identified using FTIR spectroscopy. The rationale for this processing and its effect on the physical properties, such as melting, are presented. The AC breakdown voltage, volume resistivity, relative complex permittivity, and tan δ of the esters were measured. The dielectric response results indicate that the relaxation processes correspond to ionic conduction and electrode polarization phenomena. The breakdown strength of the alkyl esters were found to have a significant improvement compared with the crude oil sample.