Potential of Jatropha curcas oil as a dielectric fluid for power transformers

A dielectric liquid provides two main functions in power transformers: an insulant and a cooling medium. Mineral oil, largely due to its availability and low cost, has predominantly been used in power transformers for more than 100 years [1]-[3]. However, mainly due to its low biodegradability, a spill contaminating soil and water can be detrimental to the environment [4]. This shortcoming has prompted researchers to focus on safety, biodegradability, and renewability of dielectric fluids. The dielectric fluids based on vegetable oils (natural esters) are an innovative alternative since they have shown comparable, and sometimes better, dielectric, physical, and chemical properties to mineral insulating oils [5]-[8].