Breakdown characteristics of mineral oil based magnetic nanofluids

Nanofluids were prepared by adding magnetic nanoparticles to enhance the dielectric accomplishment of transformer oil. Breakdown voltages are tested under AC and lightning impulse stresses of all the prepared fluids in accordance to IEC standards. The test outcomes showed that the suspension of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) to the carrier oil may upgrade the mean AC breakdown performance 1.14 times of that for base oil. Moreover, the mean lightning impulse breakdown voltages of nanofluids were also improved than that of base transformer oil and were 1.36 times as compared to base oil. A possible mechanism of conductive nanoaprticles was also used to explain the difference among nanofluids and base oil.