Evaluation of Silicone Fluid for Replacement of PCB Coolants in Railway Industry

Details

• Creators:
  Walsh, E. J. ; Voytik, D. E.
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Research and Development
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Coolants
  • Environmental impacts
  • Flammability
  • Toxicity
  • Cleansers
  • Dielectric properties
  • Electric locomotives
  • Polymers
  • Transformers
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-TSC-FRA-79-10 ; FRA/ORD-79/37
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Federal Railroad Administration
• NTL Classification:
  AGR-INFRASTRUCTURE-Railroads ; NTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-RAIL TRANSPORTATION ; AGR-IMPACTS-Environment ; NTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Rail Energy and Environment
• Description:
  Electrical performance evaluations were made on a railway transformer which was retrofilled with 50 cs polydimethylsiloxane. Comparisons of the data from the PCB-filled transformer retrofilled with the silicone oil indicated no reduction in operating performance. Analyses of the various flushing cycles and of the final silicone fluid showed that the most efficient flush method was to circulate solvent in the completely filled unit, followed by solvent removal and a subsequent silicone fill. Residual levels of PCB's were found to be stabilized at 3.47% two weeks after retrofilling. Investigations were carried out to determine possible temperature changes which could occur with a silicone retrofilled transformer. A maximum rise of 2.7 degrees C was observed with this type of retrofill. This small increase in temperature for a forced air cooled transformer could have a minimal effect on transformer performance.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DOT-TSC-1294
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10331/dot_10331_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.37 MB]
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:2ecfcad19921423ba374ec9415254bafe3048bcd7b88ac6e82e139ac6e151be5