Next generation insulating liquids prepared by the international working group of IEEE DEIS technical vommittee on liquid dielectrics

The IEEE technical committee on liquid dielectrics (TC-LD) activities mostly include study of aging phenomena, condition monitoring, and diagnostic testing of dielectric liquids. Notably, the emphasis is laid on the environmental and sustainability factors of the dielectric liquids. The TC-LD acts in promoting research on biodegradable insulating fluids, vis-à-vis existing literature on mineral insulating fluids for applications in oil-filled electrical apparatus. Thus, to prepare the global transformer technology for the next generation, a working group is planned within the scope and framework of the TC-LD. This working group aims to understand and summarize the intrinsic nature, behavioral aspects, and challenges in using ester liquids for liquid-filled high-voltage apparatuses. The objective of fine-tuning the ester liquids as high-performance insulating liquids with enhanced workability remains the focus of the working group. The present article presents the contemporary situation prevailing with the application of ester liquids in high-voltage transformers. The key concerns to improve the workability of ester liquids are discussed. The present article may be helpful to engineers and researchers interested in alternative insulation technologies, insulation engineers, and transformer owners.