An Experimental Study and Statistical Analysis on Enhanced AC Breakdown Strength of CdS and Alumina based Nanofluids

The search for significantly efficient nanotechnology-based insulating nanofluids (NFs) for transformers to improve dielectric strength and thermal stability is essential. In this study, CdS (10 nm) and Al2O3 (30 nm) nanoparticles (NPs) based nanofluids have been prepared utilizing synthetic ester insulating oil (MIDEL-7131) as bare fluid. The results prove that the mean AC Breakdown Voltage (AC BDV) of both NFs increases by increasing the doping concentration of NPs to a certain extent and then decreases with further increasing the doping concentration. However, AC BDV values of NFs at all doping concentrations remained higher than that of bare fluid, and optimum AC BDV of SE/CdS is acquired at a doping concentration of 0.3 g/L, whereas the maximum AC BDV of SE/Al2O3 appears at a doping concentration of 0.2 g/L. The SE/CdS and SE/Alumina nanofluids exhibit an enhancement of 32.6% and 34.8%, respectively. Finally, the AC breakdown voltage and increment percentage compared to bare fluid at 1%, 10%, and 50% breakdown probabilities for NFs at all doping concentrations were studied from Weibull probability distribution curves.