DC and AC Breakdown Analysis of Neem Ester/ SiO2 Nanofluid for High Voltage Insulation

This work investigated the effect of SiO
2
nanoparticles on methyl ester from Neem oil, a non-food grade oil. The neem oil ester was synthesized via a transesterification process. The Neem oil methyl ester nanofluid was prepared by dispersing SiO
2
nanoparticles into the Neem oil ester oil in a different concentration ranging from 0.1 to 0.7wt. % in 0.1 steps. The DC and AC breakdown voltage tests were performed on the prepared nanofluid samples. Weibull statistical tool was used to study the characteristic breakdown of the prepared nanofluid samples. The result shows that the loading of SiO
2
nanoparticles produced fluid with improved breakdown properties with optimum performance obtained at 0.5wt. % loading. These results displayed the potential of Neem oil ester/SiO
2
nanofluid to serve as a suitable substitute to mineral oil as insulating oil for oil-filled power transformers.