Better ways to control transformer heat

Hexagonal boron nitride particles (h-BN) are similar to graphene, a nanomaterial that is making headlines for its unusual and useful properties.

By adding them to standard oils, scientists at Rice University have found they can control transformer heat loss to a much higher extent than has previously been possible.

For instance, oil with just 0.01% h-BN content is 9% more effective at losing transformer heat than a standard version of the same oil.

Take the h-BN concentration up to 0.1% by weight, and the increase in efficiency is a massive 80%.

"Even with a very low amount of material, we can enhance the fluids without compromising the electrically insulating properties," says Jaime Taha-Tijerina, a graduate student working on the project.

Oil is already an important way to control transformers' internal elements, cooling the windings inside.

The electrical insulation offered by oil also helps by ensuring no short circuits or voltage leaks can occur between the different coils that are present inside each transformer.