The inertaire transformer

A. H. Maude: Transformer oil, in common with most liquids dissolves the gases of the atmosphere to some slight extent. Though the quantity of oxygen which can be held in solution by transformer oil is very slight when expressed in weight units and insufficient to produce any appreciable quantity of oxidation products, it would nevertheless, be sufficient to destroy the effectiveness of the inert atmosphere of the Inertaire transformer should any large part of it diffuse from the oil into this atmosphere. It is well known that any gas thus held in solution will readily diffuse out into an atmosphere of some other gas until a certain equilibrium depending on the partial pressures and solubilities of the gases present is reached.