Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the electric grid. By enhancing thermal conductivity within power transformers, they may increase their lifespan by doubling or even tripling it. This research is particularly timely given the aging state of transformers and the growing stress placed on the grid due to renewable energy sources and extreme weather events.

The study, led by associate professor Vaibhav Bahadur from UT Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering, introduces a new class of nanomaterials by infusing cellulose-based paper with high thermal conductivity particles. This engineered paper can significantly reduce hotspot temperatures inside transformers, prolonging their life.

Using the Stampede2 supercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), Bahadur's team simulated the performance of the new material in transformers. They found that the enhanced thermal conductivity could reduce internal temperatures by 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, effectively doubling or tripling transformer life.

Collaborators from the University of Maryland and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory helped fabricate the engineered paper using nanoparticles of boron nitride. The team at UT Austin built a 3D model to simulate the impact of the new material on an actual grid transformer, verifying their predictions against real-world tests.

The implications of this research are significant for the future of the electric grid. New transformers could be built with the improved paper, while existing transformers could potentially be retrofitted during maintenance. The next phase of the research involves testing a small-scale prototype with the new material to study its performance in a real operating environment.

Source: techxplore.com