The ability of Chromolaena odorata propagated by stem cuttings and grown for six weeks in the greenhouse to thrive in soil containing different concentrations of PCB congeners found in Aroclor and transformer oil, and to possibly remediate such soil was studied under greenhouse conditions. Chromolaena odorata plants were transplanted into soil containing 100, 200, and 500 ppm of Aroclor and transformer oil (T/O) in 1L pots. The experiments were watered daily at 70% moisture field capacity. Parameters such as mature leaves per plant, shoot length, leaf colour as well as the root length at harvest were measured. C. odorata growth was negatively affected by T/O in terms of shoot length and leaf numbers, but no growth inhibition was shown by Aroclor. At the end of six weeks of growth, Plants size was increased by 1.4 and 0.46%, but decreased at -1.0% in T/O, while increases of 45.9, 39.4 and 40.0% were observed in Aroclor treatments. Mean total PCB recoveries were 6.40, 11.7, and 55.8μg in plants tissues at Aroclor treated samples resulting in a percentage reduction of PCB from the soil to 2.10, 1.50, and 1.10 at 100, 200, and 500mg/kg Aroclor treatments respectively. There was no PCB recovery from plants in transformer oil treatments as a result of its inhibition to growth. Root uptake was found to be the probable means of remediation of PCB-contaminated soil by C. odorata, this was perhaps aided by microbes. This study has provided evidence on the ability of C. odorata to remediate PCB contaminated soil. However, the use of C. odorata for phytoremediation of PCB contaminated soil under field condition is therefore advised. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Science)

Abstract. Transformer explosions caused by dielectric failure account for over 50% of the disasters. The aim of this thesis is to examine, compare and outline the differences, in function, as dielectric insulators, vegetables oil has, with respect to the mineral oil used in high-power transformers. We will first consider the vegetable oil which has less dielectric capabilities than the mineral oil used in power transformers. Later in the experiments, we will focus mainly to examine the breakdown voltage property, as we try to alter some properties of the respective oils used. Considering the fact that vegetable oil has low viscosity, with its chemical compounds constituting less molecular masses compared to mineral oil, we endorse, from our experimental findings, that mineral oil is indeed worthy and reasonable to be used as a dielectric in high power transformers. In this write-up, we have considered eleven transformer oil properties. In the experiment proper, we considered only the acidity, whose concentration in the transformer oil increases with aging if the transformer, moisture, and a ‘suitable’ impurity like NaOH(aq). At first glance, one would be tempted to think, as we were, that since the increase in acid content of the oil deteriorates its dielectric performance, an increase in alkaline content of the transformer oil, would increase its dielectric ability; reversing the acid effect. But as we see in the results from our experiments, this is false. We think that the visible degradation of the insulating property of the oil, with the introduction of NaOH(aq), is because it acts as an impurity to suitable dielectric function. From the experiments, the heating procedures resulted in the production of toxic gases. This indicated the actual loss of chemical structure and significant breakage of chemical bonds. The resulting chemical composition of the oil does not produce the same dielectric properties as the initial oil sample. Also, here has been considerable inconsistency in the addition of NaOH(aq) or HCl(aq) to both oils. We only added HCl(aq), before every measurement, in two of the experiments. The other experiments were either with moisture, or a single addition of 2cm3 of either HCl(aq) or NaOH(aq) before heating; after which several measurements were taken, at specific intervals, as the mixture cools. We did so, in the latter, in which we had only one addition of a 2cm3 chemical, because in real life, given the short time frame of the experiment, the total amount of acid in the oil has a negligible change. So, in a functioning heated transformer, within a short time frame, there is actually deterioration in oil insulation properties

This work deals with the classification and diagnosis of electrical insulating liquids. Furthermore, the theoretical part describes the mathematical and physical principles of these liquids. The automated workplace was compiled with development environment VEE Pro for measurement of viskosity and control thermostat medingen and modifiable components for measuring complex permittivity in the frequency range. In the experimental part was carried out measurements of selected material parameters, investigated the effect of difficult conditions and made the mathematical evaluation of physical phenomena.

<p>U doktorskoj disertaciji je realizovano ispitivanje revitalizacije, parametara sagorevanja i emisije otpadnih transformatorskih i motornih ulja, kao i njihovih dizel me&scaron;avina. Dobijeni eksperimentalni rezultati ukazuju da se nakon revitalizacionog tretmana značajno pobolj&scaron;avaju izolaciona svojstva transformatorskog ulja, &scaron;to je veoma važno za bezbedan rad transformatora, za&scaron;titu životne i radne sredine. Pored toga, rezultati eksperimentalnog ispitivanja procesa sagorevanja ukazuju da se otpadna transformatorska i motorna ulja i njihove me&scaron;avine sa dizelom mogu koristiti kao gorivo u generatorima toplote male snage i u raznim granama procesne industrije, te mogu smanjiti probleme u vezi sa za&scaron;titom životne sredine.</p> / <p>The doctoral thesis cover the testing of revitalization, combustion parameters and emissions of waste transformer and motor oils, as well as their diesel mixtures. The experimental results obtained indicate that after the revitalization treatment, the insulating properties of the transformer oil are significantly improved, which is very important for the safe operation of transformer, environmental protection and work environment. In addition, the results of an experimental test of the combustion process indicate that waste transformer and motor oils and their mixtures with diesel can be used as fuel in low power heat generators and in various branches of the process industry, and can reduce environmental issues.</p>

This master thesis investigates a redesign for a maintenance tube, used for both sampling and draining transformer oil from a tap changer compartment. With the current design, one can do one or the other of sampling and draining. The effect of this on a transformer site during maintenance means that personnel must bring extra equipment to do the maintenance routine. Along with the extra equipment, it also involves climbing the transformer an extra time to place the equipment for draining. The project aims to address several issues in the context of the product. Redesigning the product to reduce maintenance time, and therefore downtime and electrical outages. Reducing the number of times that the transformer housing needs to be climbed in order to perform maintenance work. This with the purpose of improving working environment for maintenance personnel. With the new design of the maintenance tube, draining and sampling can be done with the same pipe without the need for extra equipment. This is through a mechanism in the tube which allows the personnel to choose whether to drain oil from the bottom of the container or to take oil samples from an area in the tap-changer housing which gives more accurate results. The function of the mechanism can be described in the same way as a pen, where if you push the button, a tube will extract itself and close of the sampling inlets, enabling draining from the bottom. Push the button again and the same tube will retract, allowing you to take samples from the appropriate area again. The new design also adheres to the dimensional requirements needed for the design to fulfil the additional functions the tube has. The project results in a design which would not only fill requirements of functions but also preserves some of the previous parts along with their interfaces. This means that the new design could be installed on current versions of tap-changer models when the next service interval is due.

This master‘s thesis deals with measurement of liquid dielectric materials (insulators). Above all, it is the different kinds of clean and drinking water, but also transformer oils. There was done theoretical information retrieval about the given topic in this project and on the basis of theory there were realized the relevant measurements of selected properties of liquid dielectric, such as permittivity, capacitance, loss number, conductivity, but also temperature dependence of these parameters. The measurements were realized with the help of product manufactured at the faculty FEKT VUT and with the help of measuring system AGILENT 16452A. The measured results were evaluated, graphically processed and compared.