Contribution to the use of palm kernel oil methyl esters as liquid bio-insulators in distribution transformers: Experimentation and simulation of heat transfer

• Published in: Results in engineering Vol. 22; p. 102316
• Main Authors: Kamhoua, Achille, Mengata Mengounou, Ghislain, Monkam, Louis, Moukengue Imano, Adolphe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Distribution transformer; Heat transfer; Palm kernel oil methyl esters; Temperature distribution; Thermal behavior; Temperature distribution; Palm kernel oil methyl esters; Distribution transformer; Heat transfer; Thermal behavior
• ISSN: 2590-1230; 2590-1230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.102316

This work examines the potential use of palm kernel oil methyl esters (PKOME) as liquid bio-insulators in distribution transformers. A mathematical model of heat transfer inside a transformer is developed and solved using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The results of the model are validated by experimental data, showing a temperature variation of 31–81.8 °C in the measurements and 31–82.5 °C in the simulation. This validation confirms the accuracy of the model in predicting the temperature distribution inside the PKOME-filled transformer, paving the way for their use in distribution transformers. •We are studying the effect of using palm kernel oil methyl esters (PKOME) on the cooling of a distribution transformer.•We propose a mathematical model of heat transfer inside the transformer to determine the temperature distribution and the velocity field.•Our mathematical model is used to simulate the temperature evolution of our filled bio-insulator in a transformer selected from a real range of distribution transformers.•The results obtained are compared with the standard setting limit values for oil temperature in distribution transformers.