Brand new transformer oil stored in large plastic totes in the sun by mistake

[OffTap100]

Have approximately 500 gallons of new transformer oil, shipped as extra for a new transformer, that was mistakenly left in the sun for 1 year. ( Think mild California weather)

Need to top off one older transformer after leak is fixed. Old transformer is conservator style.

In your opinion,would running the oil thru our normal moisture filter press be sufficient? Or would sending a sample out to be tested for high moisture be prudent?

DBV test seems like it would be too small a sample.

Other option is to us oil from a sealed drum of Shell Diala HFX, that has been stored for about 10 years, part covered in shade, part canvas covered in open sun.

Neither good options, but also not an emergency. Looking for opinions from anyone with similar experiences.

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[Compositepro]

Drying the oil should be sufficient. Also, transfer the oil to new steel drums. The main danger you face is an oil spill due to embrittlement of the plastic container.

 

[Palletjack]

Yep, get it out of those plastic drums.
The sun doesn’t hurt the oil. It sits in a big drum in the sun for years anyway when you think about it.
It doesn’t need to sit outside in the weather though. I found four drums last year that I know were full of new oil about 10 years ago at a remote substation behind some transformers.
Gave the drums (full) to a buddy of mine that has a waste oil furnace. He drained the tanks, got mostly water. Maybe 10 gallons of oil out of (4) 55 gallon drums.
Sun eats the seals and water gets in.

 

[waross]

Drums should always be stored with a spacer under one side, think 2" x4", so that rain water may run off away from the bungs.
Sitting flat on a warm day when it starts to rain, and the rain cools the drum.
The air above the contents contracts and sucks the rain water past the seal.
The seals are crap, even on a fairly new drum.
Ten years of heat cool cycles and I am not surprised that most of the oil displaced by water.


Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Palletjack]

I have four full drums that we keep on hand. They are in our dry storage transformer room, stored in racks on their side.
These four were to be used for a project and weren’t for whatever reason. I actually had an employee call me and ask why the drums were in this station.

Had no clue they were there...

 

[thermionic1]

Since you have time and the cost of an oil quality & DGA sample is relatively inexpensive, it's always a good idea to cover ones behind. Using the oil press / filter never hurts either.

 

[OffTap100]

Thanks for all the comments.
Decided we are going to use the Diala HFX oil we found in 4 sealed, steel drums, that have never seen the sun or rain/snow. The oil is about 9 years old..but we still are going to put it thru a few moisture/filter press passes, before we add it to the transformer.

Going to push also to get all those left over new oil totes moved..and ultimately purchase a large steel tank to transfer it. As always, adding a " permanent" oil containment structure has it's EPA challenges.


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[Palletjack]

A permanent steel tank is what a transformer is basically. If your going to store oil in that large a container and the oil you have now is 9 years old, you really need to think about another way. Ideally the oil should be heated and pressurized to keep the tank from “breathing” in moisture for the next however long your keeping it stored.
Like a transformer..

I keep two-four 55 gallon drums just because we have it. No other reason.
There is a transformer maintenance company in our state that uses virgin oil and reprocessed oil daily. They also sell oil and deliver it in drums if I need it.
We know when we need oil. It’s not like you find out today and it has to be added the next day.

 

[OffTap100]

Palletjack
The large amount of oil in the plastic totes is for a job that has been delayed. We pumped the rest of the oil shipped with the transformer ( 3000 gallons each) back into thew transformers and applied a nitro blanket.

T left over oil is the extra..for the fins's etc..

I actually pushed to get this oil shipped back to the transformer manufacturer...but was shot down.

The oil in the barrels IS the oil that has just been around.


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[prc]

1) Correct way of storing oil (whether in steel drums or plastic totes) is indoor, horizontally with the two bungs in 3-9 o'clock positions. This is done to keep oil above the bungs during storage so that there will be no chance for moisture entry through bungs - a real danger.
2) First step is visual inspection to make sure no breakage or excessive rusting of steel drums.
3) Compatibility or miscibility to be checked. What is the make/ grade of oil in the existing transformer and the two spare oils available. Are they same?
4) If(3)is ok,use a water detecting paste ( eg Aquadis water finding paste) to find any water in drums or tote. Put the drums in vertical position for some time. Water will settle at bottom. Use a long metal rod with cotton tape (soaked with green color paste) at the end . If there is free water, the color will change in to pink.
5) If water is there, transfer oil in to an oil tank and drain away free water from bottom of tank. Circulate the oil in the tank through filter machine (oil temp 40 C ) Check BDV and water content of oil sample.
6) Finally top up through filter machine.

 

[Parchie]

To add:
If BDV is lower than 30kV, have the oil dried/filtered again until it passes the 30 kV breakdown voltage. Make it a point to mark all the transformer oil drums properly (eg. Date stored, BDV, supplier, etc.)

 

[unclebob]

Just do a water content test and a complete ASTM test on a sample (dielectric strength, color, interfacial tension, acidity). This will give you a good idea of the quality of the fluid.