TRANSFORMER MAINTENANCE

Avoiding Streaming Electrification

Streaming Electrification (SE) and Electrostatic Charging Tendency (ECT) are phenomena that have been studied for several decades. It is vital that both are minimized because SE can lead to discharges harmful to both installations and people. Transformer oil quality, in terms of its ECT, is one of several key factors affecting SE levels.

Streaming Electrification arises when electrostatic tension builds up as a result of oil moving in the channels of the transformer and becoming positively charged in opposition to the negatively charged fixed structures.