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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to M. C. Lessard and B. Noirhomme from IREQ for valuable discussions on this concept. They would also like to thank A. Jolicoeur and P. Gervais from TransÉnergie for supporting the project from the beginning. Finally, a note of appreciation is extended to E. Grenier and M. Dontigny for the initial technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de recherche d’Hydro-Québec, 1800, boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, QC, Canada, J3X 1S1

    Jocelyn Jalbert, Roland Gilbert, Pierre Tétreault, Brigitte Morin & Denise Lessard-Déziel

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  1. Jocelyn Jalbert
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  2. Roland Gilbert
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  3. Pierre Tétreault
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  4. Brigitte Morin
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  5. Denise Lessard-Déziel
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Correspondence to Roland Gilbert.

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Jalbert, J., Gilbert, R., Tétreault, P. et al. Identification of a chemical indicator of the rupture of 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose in an oil-impregnated insulating paper system. Cellulose 14, 295–309 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-007-9124-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-007-9124-1

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