Nano-structured photovoltaic cell design for high conversion efficiency by optimizing various parameters
- Authors: Shelat, Niraj , Das, Narottam , Khan, Masud , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2019 29th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference; Momi Bay, Fiji; 26th-29th November 2019
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper investigates the effect of different types of nano-grating structures embossed on top of the substrate of solar photovoltaic (PV) cell for high conversion efficiency. The simulation results for light reflection are obtained by using Opti-wave finite difference time-domain (Opti-FDTD) software. These nano-grating structures have different shapes, such as triangular, trapezoidal, pillar and parabolic. These nano-grating profiles work as a multilayer anti-reflective coating for GaAs solar cells and reduce the light reflection from the surface of the panel and increase the light trapping capacity inside the solar cell. These structures allow the gradual change in refractive index and provide a high transmission and less reflection of light that confirms excellent anti-reflective coating and increased light trapping capacity inside the cell substrate. For this simulation, different periodic shaped arrangements were made to obtain the higher conversion efficiency, the factors considered while develop the design are the aspect ratio (AR), thickness of the nano-grating structure and duty cycles. The simulation result shows that the light reflection loss in pillar shaped nano-grating structures having 150 nm of height and a 50% period (i.e., duty cycle) is ~0.5% only, which is the lowest reflection loss obtained, when compared with the triangular and trapezoidal shaped nano-grating structures, it is approximately 38% more efficient in trapping the incident light.
- Description: This research is supported by the School of Engineering and Technology, Melbourne, Victoria; Centre for Intelligent Systems, Brisbane, QLD, Central Queensland University, Australia.
Analysis of IEC 61850 for a Reliable Communication System between Substations
- Authors: Yang, Xin , Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2013 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2013; Hobart, Australia; 29th September-3rd October 2013 p. 1-6
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: IEC 61850 Standard was introduced to address the challenge presented by existence of the multiple protocols in substation communications, which include many proprietary protocols; and to address the challenge introduced by legacy complicated substation from both cost and complicity. In this paper, the simulation results of different types of IEC 61850 network system configurations using OPNET Modeler simulation software were presented and the influence on data rate and delay characteristics of these system configurations were evaluated. The simulated results confirm that the ring configured system suitable for higher loading characteristics and higher system reliability.
Impact of buckling deformation on the FRA signature of power transformer
- Authors: Amini, Arman , Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2013 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2013; Hobart, Australia; 29th September-3rd October 2013 p. 1-4
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Power transformer is an important asset within the electrical power system network. Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) has been developing in popularity in recent years as a tool to detect mechanical deformation of power transformers winding. Since the FRA has been relying on graphical analysis, it calls for an expert person to analyze the results to detect the type of the fault and its location. There are no reliable guidelines for FRA signature in the event that a failure occurs in service and the impact can be far reaching. The concept of FRA has been successfully used as a diagnostic technique to detect the winding deformation, core and clamping structure for the power transformers. This paper investigated the impact of the forced and free winding buckling based on the variation of the electrical parameters to show how these faults vary the FRA signature.
Modeling of multi-junction photovoltaic cell using MATLAB/Simulink to improve the conversion efficiency
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Wongsodihardjo, Hendy , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Renewable Energy Vol. 74, no. (2015), p. 917-924
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper focuses on modeling of multi-junction solar cell (MJSC) to improve the conversion efficiency using MATLAB/Simulink software. The multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) cell is investigated to obtain its maximum performance compare to the conventional silicon PV cell. MATLAB/Simulink modeled results show that tandem cell can provide almost 3-times maximum power compared to the conventional PV cells. Maximum power point tracker (MPPT) has also been performed to improve the conversion efficiency of the PV systems. The MPPT is able to assist the PV cells to attain more power efficiently and deliver electricity to the grid.
Performance monitoring of a PMU in a microgrid environment based on IEC 61850-90-5
- Authors: Kumar, Shantanu , Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2016 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2016; Brisbane, Australia; 25th-28th September 2016 p. 1-5
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- Description: Reliable protection, communication and control are the key features of a digital protection scheme in a utility substation. Microgrid is an alternative solution of installing long Transmission & Distribution lines could be cost prohibitive. There are number of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) which could find applications in controlling and monitoring of power network in a Microgrid set up and one such device is Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU). It is a microprocessor based intelligent device which gathers high-resolution data, checks the power quality and records disturbances. However, few issues that remains to be addressed such as, interoperability in a multi-vendor equipment and coordination between individual control systems in an integrated scheme. In this paper, an Operational Network Technology (OPNET) software model of a PMU has been designed and tested for its performance in a Microgrid environment based on IEC 61850-90-5 standard.
High performance communication redundancy in a digital substation based on IEC 62439-3 with a station bus configuration
- Authors: Kumar, Shantanu , Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 25th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2015; Wollongong, Australia; 27th-30th September 2015 p. 1-5
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- Reviewed:
- Description: High speed communication is critical in a digital substation from protection, control and automation perspectives. Although International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC) 61850 standard has proven to be a reliable guide for the substation automation and communication systems, yet it has few shortcomings in offering redundancies in the protection architecture, which has been addressed better in IEC 62439-3 standard encompassing Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) and High-Availability Seamless Redundancy (HSR). Due to single port failure, data losses and interoperability issues related to multi-vendor equipment, IEC working committee had to look beyond IEC 61850 standard. The enhanced features in a Doubly Attached Node components based on IEC 62439-3 provides redundancy in protection having two active frames circulating data packets in the ring. These frames send out copies in the ring and should one of the frame is lost, the other copy manages to reach the destination node via an alternate path, ensuring flawless data transfer at a significant faster speed using multi-vendor equipment and fault resilient circuits. The PRP and HSR topologies provides higher performance in a digitally protected substation and promise better future over the IEC 61850 standard due to its faster processing capabilities, increased availability and minimum delay in data packet transfer and wireless communication in the network. This paper exhibits the performance of PRP and HSR topologies focusing on the redundancy achievement within the network and at the end nodes of a station bus ring architecture, based on IEC 62439-3.
Design and analysis of nano-structured gratings for conversion efficiency improvement in GaAs solar cells
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Energies Vol. 9, no. 9 (2016), p. 1-13
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- Description: This paper presents the design and analysis of nano-structured gratings to improve the conversion efficiency in GaAs solar cells by reducing the light reflection losses. A finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulation tool is used to design and simulate the light reflection losses of the subwavelength grating (SWG) structure in GaAs solar cells. The SWG structures perform as an excellent alternative antireflective (AR) coating due to their capacity to reduce the reflection losses in GaAs solar cells. It allows the gradual change in the refractive index that confirms an excellent AR and the light trapping properties, when compared with the planar thin film structures. The nano-rod structure performs as a single layer AR coating, whereas the triangular (i.e., conical or perfect cone) and parabolic (i.e., trapezoidal/truncated cone) shaped nano-grating structures perform as a multilayer AR coating. The simulation results confirm that the reflection loss of triangular-shaped nano-grating structures having a 300-nm grating height and a 830-nm period is about 2%, which is about 28% less than the flat type substrates. It also found that the intermediate (i.e., trapezoidal and parabolic)-shaped structures, the light reflection loss is lower than the rectangular shaped nano-grating structure, but higher than the triangular shaped nano-grating structure. This analysis confirmed that the triangular shaped nano-gratings are an excellent alternative AR coating for conversion efficiency improvement in GaAs solar cells.
Analysis of power system communication architectures between substations using IEC 61850
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 5th Brunei International Conference on Engineering and Technology, BICET 2014; Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam; 1st-3rd November 2014 Vol. 2014, p. 1-6
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Interoperability among multi-vendor substations automation devices, is now achievable due to the introduction of IEC 61850 standard, which allows power system communication between substations. This standard does not mandatorily demands for redundancy in any type of substation neither does it mentions a specific type of substation design application. Ethernet based communication protocols for substation automation systems (SASs) are specified in IEC 61850 standard. The standards include Ethernet based process-level connections between switchyards and control rooms. However, their in-service performance is not well known. Moreover, IEC 61850 demands for a communication topology which is zero point failure proof and provides worthy data transmission rates, without pursuing any delays. In order to achieve these norms, Ethernet architectures must be modelled and analysed in detail. The performance of individual architecture must be analysed in terms of their reliability, availability and efficiency of data transfer. This paper presents the reliability and availability using the reliability block diagrams, along with OPNET network real-time simulations, which shows the efficiency of individual architecture along with comparing and synthesizing the most effective communication topology for the SASs.
Software implementation of two seamless redundant topologies in a digital protection system based on IEC 62439-3
- Authors: Kumar, Shantanu , Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2016 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2016; Brisbane, Australia; 25th-28th September 2016 p. 1-5
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Substations are the junctions of any transmission and distribution network in utilities. They carry bulk power to the customers using transmission network involving high voltage (HV) apparatus. Protection of HV equipment during a fault is the primary concern of an operator. Advancement in design and manufacturing of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) and IEC 61850 are finding increased application in utilities from automation and communication perspective, which addresses few shortcomings that couldn't be resolved in a conventional system. However there are few challenges in the digital scheme such as end to end delays in the packet transfer and interoperability of devices. Utilities are able to perceive these benefits by leveraging on IEC 62439-3 which has two important topologies i.e. Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) and High-availability Seamless Redundancy (HSR). It offers seamless redundancy in digital protection network without compromising the availability and downtime cost. In this paper, an Optimized Network Engineering Tool (OPNET) is used to simulate and compare the performance of these topologies with respect to delay time.
- Description: Proceedings of the 2016 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2016
Power transformer winding fault analysis using transfer function
- Authors: Kalpana, Patel , Das, Narottam , Abu Siada, Ahmed , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2013 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2013; Hobart, Australia; 29th September-3rd October 2013 p. 1-3
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Condition monitoring of power transformers is essential to maintain the reliability of electricity grid. Frequency response analysis (FRA) is a useful tool for the detection of incipient mechanical faults within power transformers. There are various methods of evaluating the frequency spectrum for fault classification and quantification. This paper presents a useful method to detect and to identify various winding faults of a power transformer based on its FRA signature. Simulation results show that location of resonance frequencies which are the key parameters in identifying various winding deformations are uniquely altered due to different faults.
Conversion efficiency improvement in GaAs solar cells
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Large Scale Renewable Power Generation : Advances in Technologies for Generation, Transmission and Storage (part of the Green Energy and Technology book series) Chapter 3 p. 53-75
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The finite-difference time domain (FDTD) tool is used to simulate the reflection losses of subwavelength grating (SWG) structure in GaAs solar cells. The SWG structures act as an excellent alternative antireflective (AR) coating due to its capacity to reduce the reflection losses in GaAs solar cells. The SWG structures allow the gradual change in refractive index that confirms an excellent AR coating and light trapping properties, when compared with the planar thin film structures. The nanorod (nano-grating) structure acts as a single layer AR coating, whereas the triangular (conical or perfect cone) and parabolic (i.e., trapezoidal or truncated cone) shaped nano-grating structures act as a multilayer AR coating. The simulation results show that the reflection loss of triangular (conical or perfect cone) shaped nano-grating structure having a 300 nm grating height and an 830 nm period is ~2 %, which is about 28 % less than that of flat type substrates. The simulated results show that the light reflection of a rectangular shaped grating structure is ~30 %, however, the light reflection becomes ~2 % for a triangular (conical or perfect cone) shaped nano-grating structure, because the refractive index changes gradually in several steps and reduces the reflection losses. It is also noticed that the intermediate structures (trapezoidal and parabolic shaped), the light reflection loss is lower than the rectangular shaped nano-grating structure but higher than the triangular shaped nano-grating structure. The simulated results confirm that the reduction of light reflection losses in GaAs solar cell will increase the conversion efficiency. Therefore, this analysis confirmed that the triangular (i.e., perfect cone or conical) shaped nano-grating structures are an excellent alternative AR coating for the improvement of conversion efficiency in GaAs solar cells.
Performance evaluation of data transmission in a single and double bus network within the utility substation based on IEC 61850
- Authors: Kumar, Shantanu , Das, Narottam , Muigai, John , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2014 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting; National Harbor, United States; 27th-31st July 2014 Vol. 2014, p. 1-5
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Communication between intelligent electronic devices (IED's) is an important feature of a utility substation automation system based on IEC 61850. Time critical information related to fault and overcurrent, under frequency messages for substation automation system (SAS) and the use of IED's from multiple vendors, has opened up issues related to a reliable protection system within the high voltage substation. Early detection of the delay in data transmission over a Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) network is an important step towards identification of problems associated with the dynamic protection system. It is observed that non critical messages adds up the queuing time and delays in the delivery of the messages which could be an issue in the reliable operation of a protection system. In this paper an Optimized Network Engineering Tool (OPNET) model is created, tested and analysed for a single and double bus configuration in detail for the delay encountered in data transfer within a typical zone substation. In order to understand the delay in transmission of packets, a 132/22kV zone substation model is analysed and results are discussed based on GOOSE communication in an IEC 61850 environment. Further, the delay in communication is compared and analysed between a single and double bus system of a 132/22kV substation to determine the best alternative technique available from protection point of view in a SAS network.
Photovoltaic cell modeling for maximum power point tracking using MATLAB/Simulink to improve the conversion efficiency
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Wongsodihardjo, Hendy , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2013 IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, PES 2013; Vancouver, Canada; 21st-25th July 2013 p. 1-5
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper focuses on the behavior of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) on photovoltaic (PV) cell systems using MATLAB/Simulink software. The PV cells can offer better simulation results when a double-exponential type, i.e., double-diode model is used. The reason, it is more accurate with the real testing condition even though the efficiency is a bit less. This confirms that theoretical single-diode model still require more improvements. In addition, multijunction solar cell also investigated to obtain its maximum performance compared with the conventional silicon PV cell. The obtained results show that the tandem (or multijunction) cell can provide almost 3-times maximum power compared to the conventional PV cell. Therefore, the multijunction/ tandem PV cells can produce higher power throughout the sunny day due to the higher MPPT capacity. Furthermore, perturb and observe method seems to be very useful because of its simplicity despite the unresolved algorithm for different methods, such as constant voltage tracking technique.
Performance evaluation of two interconnected high voltage utility substations using PRP topology based on IEC 62439-3
- Authors: Kumar, Shantanu , Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Relation: 2017 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2017; Melbourne, Australia; 19th-22nd November 2017 Vol. 2017, p. 1-5
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: In a modern power system network having multiple interconnected High Voltage (HV) substations, communication amongst Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) becomes an important feature in an automation system. Time critical information, such as feeder faults, overcurrent, under frequency messages between multiple geographically isolated substations have opened up number of issues related to reliability in protection, automation and control. There are problems related to latency, data loss and transfer of Sampled Value (SV) packets transmitted to these inter-connected substations on radio wireless and Ethernet mode linked up in a Wide Area Network (WAN) configuration. Few other key area of concerns in a digital protection scheme are packet losses, errors in packet arrival at destination, latency in transmission, End to End delay in packet transfer due to flooding of the network, out of sequence packet arrival etc. Error prone packets could seriously compromise the protection scheme and endanger the safety of primary plant assets in a transmission substation. This paper investigates performance of SV packet transmission between two interconnected substations]. Practical simulations were performed to evaluate the performance of SV packets in a laboratory set up to assess the performance of digital protection scheme based on Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) topology involving digital equipment such as Merger Units (MUs), switches, IEDs and Redundant boxes (Red box), etc.
Impact of conducting materials on furan-spectral correlation of transformer oil
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Abu-Siada, Ahmed , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2013 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2013; Hobart, Australia; 29th September-3rd October 2013 p. 1-4
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper investigates the impact of conducting materials on the correlation of furan concentration in transformer oil and its spectral response characteristics. The presence of furan derivatives in aged-transformer oil has been one of the key indicators for solid dielectric deterioration. Identification and quantification of furan derivatives are currently performed using high performance liquid chromatography or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry based on ASTM D5837 standard. Although these techniques are well established, they need an expert personal to conduct the test and to analyse its results. Moreover, the test is relatively expensive and the analysis of oil sample may take days as most utilities sending transformer oil samples to external laboratories to be tested. Recently, it has been proven that furan concentration in transformer oil has a strong correlation to the oil spectral response. This paper is to validate this finding and to investigate the impact of conducting materials within transformer oil on this correlation. In this context, extensive experimental tests are conducted to assess the impact of various concentration of conducting materials (e.g., copper dust) dissolved in transformer oil samples of different furan contents on its absorption and transmission spectra. The measured experimental results show that, the impact of such small amount ofdissolved conducting materials on the oil spectral response is minimal.
Investigation on architectures for power system communications between substations using IEC 61850
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Modi, Hitesh , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 24th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014; Perth, Australia; 28th September-1st October 2014 p. 1-6
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper investigates the communication network architectures for power systems between substations using IEC 61850. Optimized Network Engineering Tools (OPNET) is used for the simulations. The simulation results show the performance of individual architectures power system communications (PSC) for substation automation systems (SASs). Nowadays, interoperability among multi-vendor substations automation devices is achievable using IEC 61850 standard which allows the PSC between substations. Ethernet based communication protocols for the SASs are specified in IEC 61850 standard. These standards include Ethernet based process-level connections between switchyards and control rooms. However, their in-service performance is not well known yet. The IEC 61850 demands for a communication topology which is zero point failure proof and provides worthy data transmission rates, without pursuing any delays. In order to achieve these norms, Ethernet architectures are modeled and analyzed in detail. The performance of individual architecture also analyzed in terms of their reliability, availability and efficiency of data transfer. The hybrid, star-ring and redundant ring network architectures are the most efficient in terms of data transmission, delay times, reliability and availability between the SASs for data transmission.
Performance analysis of substation automation systems architecture based on IEC 61850
- Authors: Kumar, Shantanu , Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 24th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2014; Perth, Australia; 28th September-1st October 2014 p. 1-6
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Digital Communications amongst multi-vendor intelligent electronic devices (IED's) is an important feature of a substation automation system (SAS). Measuring the propagation delays and assessing the interoperability performance of IED's in an Ethernet architecture play a critical role in the protection of important substation assets. Early detection of the loss of data packets in a star connected Ethernet architecture is an important step towards identification of delay in message transfer issue. This identification of the problem could lead to reliable operation of protection system and better understanding of the issues of interoperability which may improve the protection system from safety and availability point of view. This paper focuses on a star connected architecture using Optimized Network Engineering Tool (OPNET) software for a 132/22kV zone substation. It shares a practical case for measuring delay time in exchanging Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) messages amongst the IED's.
Analysis of incident light angles on nan-grating structure for minimizing reflection losses in GaAs solar cells
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Charoenpitaks, Korawat , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
- Relation: 2013 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2013; Hobart, Australia; 29th September-3rd October 2013 p. 1-6
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Subwavelength grating (SWG) structures make an excellent alternative antireflective (AR) coating due to its capacity to reduce the reflection losses in GaAs solar cells. The SWG structures allow the gradual change in refractive index that confirms an excellent AR coating and the light trapping properties when compare with planar thin film structures. Finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method is used to simulate the reflection losses of the SWG structure in GaAs solar cells. The FDTD simulation results show that the slightly change of incident angle affect the reflection losses of all nano-grating structure. The simulation results also confirmed that the reflection loss of nano-grating structure maintained optimum within ~±5° of incident angle tolerance for the grating height over 300-nm for minimizing the reflection losses in GaAs solar cells.
A preliminary study on conversion efficiency improvement of a multi-junction PV cell with MPPT
- Authors: Das, Narottam , Wongsodihardjo, Hendy , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Smart Power Systems and Renewable Energy System Integration (part of the Studies in Systems, Decision and Control book series) Chapter 4 p. 49-73
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This chapter presents a preliminary study conducted to improve photovoltaic (PV) cell conversion efficiency using MATLAB/Simulink platform. The study uses multi-junction solar cell and investigates the maximum performance compared with a conventional silicon PV cell. Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) is applied to assess the conversion efficiency of the PV system. Study integrates thermoelectric generator (TEG) with PV modules because the PV cells work by converting high frequency irradiation where as a TEG has the ability to convert wasted low frequency heat to the electricity. The combination delivers more power and contributes to enhance the conversion efficiency of a PV system. The simulation results show that a tandem cell can provide a considerable higher power with a conventional PV cell operation.
Effect of conducting materials on UV-Vis spectral response characteristics
- Authors: Abu Bakar, Norazhar , Abu-Siada, Ahmed , Das, Narottam , Islam, Syed
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Vol. 1, no. 3 (2013), p. 81-86
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Spectroscopic analysis is recently being employed to measure furan concentration in transformer oil. Light absorbance and spectral bandwidth are used as indicators to estimate furan concentration level in transformer oil. However, the possibility of dust and other conducting materials that might exist in transformer oil sample need to be considered as it may influence the spectroscopic performance. In this paper, series of tests are carried out to investigate the impact of dust on the transformer oil spectral response characteristics. Oil sample with various furan concentrations along with certain amount of copper powder are examined. Experimental results show that the spectral response characteristics only affected by dust at the beginning of mix process. However, the characteristic returns to the original one within a few minutes.