Transformer Oil Vacuum Filtration With Self-Regulated Foam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil filtration systems for high-voltage transformers face challenges in controlling oil levels and foam formation in vacuum chambers, requiring complex monitoring and control systems due to pressure variations, which can lead to vacuum pump damage.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a first pumping unit with a fixed flow rate upstream of the vacuum housing and a second pumping unit with a higher flow rate downstream, maintaining the vacuum housing empty and simplifying control by regulating oil levels without sensors, combined with a pressure-regulating device to manage foam formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum chamber is used for oil filtration, then water and dissolved gases are removed from the oil, but foam formation occurs which can damage the vacuum pump
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful foam formation from the vacuum chamber by using a separate degassing chamber downstream. The vacuum chamber is dedicated solely to filtration while the degassing chamber handles foam removal, preventing foam damage to the vacuum pump.
Solution Approach 2:
A second pump is introduced as an intermediary between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum pump. This second pump creates a separate degassing chamber that acts as a buffer, allowing foam to be safely processed away from the vacuum pump while maintaining vacuum conditions in the filtration chamber.
2Ease of operation
If oil level is controlled in vacuum chamber, then foam formation is managed, but complex monitoring and control systems are required due to pressure variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the pressure difference created by the vacuum itself to automatically control oil level. The oil level in the vacuum chamber is self-regulated by the pressure equilibrium between the vacuum chamber and atmospheric pressure, eliminating the need for complex sensors and control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the vacuum chamber from the degassing chamber, allowing each chamber to operate independently with simple control mechanisms. The vacuum chamber maintains constant oil level through pressure equilibrium while the degassing chamber handles variable foam conditions.
3Reliability
If second pump provides higher flow rate than first pump, then vacuum housing remains empty preventing foam damage, but pumping power increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second pump acts as an intermediary that protects the vacuum pump by handling the foam-containing oil flow separately. The higher flow rate of the second pump is justified by the protection it provides to the vacuum pump, preventing costly damage and downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand protection by routing foam-containing oil through the second pump's degassing chamber before it could reach the vacuum pump. This preventive measure eliminates the risk of foam damage to the vacuum pump.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively controls oil levels and reduces foam formation, eliminating the need for complex regulation systems and preventing vacuum pump damage, ensuring efficient and reliable oil purification.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum-generating means which is connected to the vacuum housing via a pumping tube and is adapted to pump a gas filled portion of said vacuum housing
Implementation Method 2
a first pumping unit which is arranged upstream of the vacuum housing, where the first pumping unit is adapted to provide a flow of contaminated oil in a direction from the system inlet to an inlet of the vacuum housing at a fixed pumping flow rate
Implementation Method 3
a second pumping unit which is arranged downstream of the vacuum housing, where the second pumping unit is adapted to provide a flow of purified oil in a direction from an outlet of the vacuum housing to the system outlet at a pumping flow rate, and said second pumping unit is adapted to provide a flow at a higher pumping flow rate than the pumping flow rate provided by said first pumping unit
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to an oil filtration system for purifying oil present in a reservoir, the system comprising a system inlet for receiving an inlet flow of contaminated oil from said reservoir, a system outlet for releasing an outlet flow of purified oil to said reservoir, a vacuum housing which is in fluid communication with the system inlet and the system outlet, where the vacuum housing comprises an oil filter arranged in-side said housing, which oil filter is adapted to receive the contaminated oil and to release filtered oil, a first pumping unit which is arranged upstream of the vacuum housing, where the first pumping unit is adapted to provide a flow of contaminated oil in a direction from the system inlet to an inlet of the vacuum housing at a fixed pumping flow rate, a second pumping unit which is arranged downstream of the vacuum housing, where the second pumping unit is adapted to provide a flow of purified oil in a direction from an outlet of the vacuum housing to the system outlet at a pumping flow rate, a vacuum-generating means which is connected to the vacuum housing via a pumping tube and is adapted to pump a gas filled portion of said vacuum housing, where the pumping flow rate of said second pumping unit is higher than the pumping flow rate of said first pumping unit. The present invention further relates to a transformer including an oil filtration system.