- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
I received the following question at work. Can anyone provide any information?
Conservator tanks with bladders
- Thread starter charlie b
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GeorgeB
ElectroHydraulics engineer (retired)
- Location
- Greenville SC
- Occupation
- Retired
I'm a hydraulics guy with extensive experience with "hydro-pneumatic" accumulators, frequently with a bladder using nitrogen on the pneumatic side, petroleum or glycol on the hydraulic side. At low pressures (under 10 bar or 300 psi in my industry), bladder life in excess of 20 years is normal. In my 35 years of industry experience, I've never seen a failure at these pressures.
That's assuming compatible materials. I've seen idiots use a water heater surge tank for a low pressure hydraulic accumulator; it failed in days. Bladder was incompatible with petroleum fluid.
Nitrogen (well, most any gas) will dissolve in most any liquid to some extent. The blanket only is at a low pressure and gas dissolving is minimal, and in the closed system, will reach equilibrium. The advantage of the bladder is that a loss of oil (as in maintenance) would not result in a loss of nitrogen.
But, in a closed system, I see little need for oil maintenance; dehydration and filtration after breakdown from internal arcing are theoretically possible, but if the system remains closed, water SHOULD never get introduced. I expect utility scale transformers utilize oil testing.
That's assuming compatible materials. I've seen idiots use a water heater surge tank for a low pressure hydraulic accumulator; it failed in days. Bladder was incompatible with petroleum fluid.
Nitrogen (well, most any gas) will dissolve in most any liquid to some extent. The blanket only is at a low pressure and gas dissolving is minimal, and in the closed system, will reach equilibrium. The advantage of the bladder is that a loss of oil (as in maintenance) would not result in a loss of nitrogen.
But, in a closed system, I see little need for oil maintenance; dehydration and filtration after breakdown from internal arcing are theoretically possible, but if the system remains closed, water SHOULD never get introduced. I expect utility scale transformers utilize oil testing.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
I would bet if it does not come with an alarm of some sort, it could be fitted.
I am not a huge fan of nitrogen blanketing systems for much of anything having run across a few that failed in other applications.
Substation transformers with regular inspection and maintenance maybe it is not a big issue one way or the other.
I am not a huge fan of nitrogen blanketing systems for much of anything having run across a few that failed in other applications.
Substation transformers with regular inspection and maintenance maybe it is not a big issue one way or the other.
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