Identification of a chemical indicator of the rupture of 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose in an oil-impregnated insulating paper system

In this study, headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been used to assess the volatile by-products generated by the ageing of oil-impregnated paper insulation of power transformers. Sealed-glass ampoules were used to age under oxidative conditions 0.5-g specimens of insulating paper in 9 mL of inhibited mineral oil in a temperature range of 60–120 °C and moisture of 0.5, 1 and 2% (w/w). A linear relationship between one of the oil-soluble degradation by-products, i.e. methanol, and the number of ruptured 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose, regardless of the type of paper (ordinary Kraft or thermally-upgraded (TU) Kraft paper), was established for the first time in this field. Ageing at 130 °C of model compounds of the Kraft paper constituents (α-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) and two cellulosic breakdown by-products (D-(+)-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose) confirmed that the α-cellulose degradation was mostly responsible for the presence of this molecule in the system. Furthermore, additional 130 °C-tests with six different papers and pressboard samples under a tight control of initial moisture indicated that at least one molecule of methanol is formed for each rupture of 1,4-β-glucosidic bond of the molecular chains. Stability tests showed that the ageing indicator is stable under the oxygen and temperature conditions of open-breathing transformers. The presence of methanol was detected in 94% of oil samples collected from over than 900 in-service pieces of equipment, confirming the potential for this application. Lastly, the tests have shown that oil-oxidation by-products and TU-nitrogenous agents modify the methanol partitioning coefficients in the paper/oil/air system, which makes their study essential over a range of field conditions encountered by power transformers. Results are presented and discussed in comparison with 2-furfuraldehyde, which is the current reference in the domain.     

The effective ionization coefficients and electron drift velocities in gas mixtures of CF3I with N2 and CO2 obtained from Boltzmann equation analysis

The electron swarm parameters including the density-normalized effective ionization coefficients(α-η)/N and the electron drift velocities V e are calculated for a gas mixture of CF3I with N2 and CO2 by solving the Boltzmann equation in the condition of a steady-state Townsend(SST) experiment.The overall density-reduced electric field strength is from 100 Td to 1000 Td(1 Td = 10-17V·cm2),while the CF3I content k in the gas mixture can be varied over the range from 0% to 100%.From the variation of(αη)/N with the CF3I mixture ratio k,the limiting field strength(E/N) lim for each CF3I concentration is derived.It is found that for the mixtures with 70% CF3I,the values of(E/N) lim are essentially the same as that for pure SF 6.Additionally,the global warming potential(GWP) and the liquefaction temperature of the gas mixtures are also taken into account to evaluate the possibility of application in the gas insulation of power equipment.     

A free boundary problem related to thermal insulation

We study a free boundary problem arising from the theory of thermal insulation. The outstanding feature of this set optimization problem is that the boundary of the set being optimized is not a level surface of a harmonic function, but rather a hypersurface along which a harmonic function satisfies a Robin condition. We show that minimal sets exist, satisfy uniform density estimates, and, under some geometric conditions, have “locally flat” boundaries.     

HL-2M 真空室保温层设计及安装

基于 HL-2M 真空室烘烤保温要求，通过有限元分析和原型件实验确定采用陶瓷纤维与纳米级微孔材 料组合作为 HL-2M 真空室保温材料。在 30℃时，保温层的导热系数小于 0.027W⋅m⁻¹·℃⁻¹；300℃时，导热系数 小于 0.038W⋅m⁻¹·℃⁻¹。在保温层厚度 25mm、热面温度 300℃且达到稳态时，冷面可控制在 85℃以下，线圈侧的 温度低于 60℃，整体热损失小于 12kW，满足 HL-2M 真空室烘烤需求。      

Thermogravimetric analysis of cellulose insulation and determination of activation energy of its thermo‐oxidation using non‐isothermal,model‐free methods

The aim of the work was to determine the effect of heating rate on initial decomposition temperature and phases of thermal decomposition of cellulose insulation. The activation energy of thermo‐oxidation of insulation was also determined. Individual samples were heated in the air flow in the thermal range of 100°C to 500°C at rates from 1.9°C min^?1 to 20.1°C min^?1. The initial temperatures of thermal decomposition ranged from 220°C to 320°C, depending on the heating rate. Three regions of thermal decomposition were observed. The maximum rates of mass loss were measured at the temperatures between 288°C and 362°C. The activation energies, which achieved average values between 75 and 80.7 kJ mol^?1, were calculated from the obtained results by non‐isothermal, model‐free methods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flexible,fatigue resistant,and heat-insulated nanofiber-assembled polyimide aerogels with multifunctionality

Ultralight flexible polymers enable promising application in many fields but are often hindered by low reusability with fatigue failure, weak mechanical stability and low temperature resistance. Here, superelastic polyimide nanofiber aerogels (PNFAs) with high hydrophobicity have been prepared by utilizing the polyamic acid (PAA) nanofibers to construct a continuous and isotropic fibrous architecture. “Fiber-bonding” effect is designed to endow the PNFAs with the structure-derived superelasticity. The results demonstrate that the PNFAs possess ultralight densities (9.7–19.1 mg cm⁻³), excellent absorption capacity (58 times for n-hexane), broad working-temperature range, high resilience after 1000 fatigue cycles at 60% strain, and outstanding thermal insulation performance. Analysis of 50 absorption-harvesting cycle tests reveals that these highly hydrophobic PNFAs possess an ultrahigh reusability. The compressed PNFAs return to their original shape after they are distilled to recover the absorbed pollutants. These PNFAs with high absorption capacity and robust mechanical stability are promising to be applied in a variety of industrial and environmental applications.     

Fabrication of flame-retardant and smoke-suppressant isocyanate-based polyimide foam modified by silica aerogel thermal insulation and flame protection layers

Because of containing urea groups, flame resistance and smoke releasing behaviors of isocyanate-based polyimide foam (IBPIF) produced using free foaming technology require further improvement. In this work, silica aerogel layers were incorporated into cells of IBPIF through an in situ growth process of silica sol (SS). Compared with silica aerogel particles directly mixed into the foaming slurry, the silica aerogel layers that firmly attached to the pores and surfaces of cells not only provided exceptional thermal insulation and flame protection, but also kept original cellular structure. With increase in ratio of SS mass to IBPIF volume, silica aerogel incorporation dosage was gradually increased. Accompanied by flame resistance was obviously improved and smoke releasing behavior was effectively suppressed. Those were indicated by the improved limiting oxygen index (LOI), decreased heat release rate (HRR), peak of HRR, and specific optical density of smoke (Ds) in trials with pilot flames. Compared with pure IBPIF, when the ratio reached to 5/15 g/cm³, it resulted in LOI increasing from 22.0% to 33.0%, peak of HRR, total smoke production (TSP), and maximum value of Ds decreasing from 174 to 72 kW/m², 1.11 to 0.37 m²/m², 45.90 to 17.45, respectively.     

发展在XLPE电缆绝缘内外侧的电树枝

以XLPE高压电力电缆内外侧绝缘中的电树枝特性为研究对象，通过分析电树枝引发与生长的统计实验规律和采用扫描电子显微镜分析发现，由于不同结晶状态的影响，电缆绝缘内外侧的电树枝特性存在很大的差异.引发于绝缘内侧电树枝引发时间短、生长速度快、电树枝形状具有多样性；起始于绝缘外侧的电树枝不仅引发时间长、生长速度极慢，而且电树枝形状(结构)比较单一.并对这两个位置电树枝的引发和生长机理进行了探讨. 关键词： 电树枝 结晶状态 统计规律 内侧和外侧绝缘层