Effect of nanoparticles on charge transport in nanofluid-impregnated pressboard

Transformer pressboard impregnated in mineral oil modified by nanoparticles (nanofluid) exhibits substantially higher AC and DC breakdown voltage than that of the pure oil-impregnated pressboard (OP). Charge transport and decay characteristics of both pressboards were measured by pulse electroacoustic technique. It reveals that nanofluid-impregnated pressboard (NP) has a more uniform internal electric field and a higher charge decay rate compared to OP, which is caused by an increase of shallow trap density in NP related to the difference of internal structures, based on the test results of thermally stimulated current and Fourier transformed infra-red spectroscopy.