Life evaluation of insulation paper used in transformer by determining the activation energy.

Mechanical strength of insulation paper was the key factor for the life of large oil-immersed transformer. To more accurately assess the life of the insulation paper, the aging mechanisms of transformer insulation paper were analysed and a new method using the activation energy was proposed to access the paper's life. Then the life prediction model was defined. Accelerated aging tests of transformer oil-paper insulation samples were executed under different temperatures. According to the test results, the parameters of life prediction model were found out. So, the life of insulation paper under the working condition could be calculated. In the end, an example of insulation paper life evaluation was given to illustrate the effectiveness of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]