Natural ester dielectric fluid. PCBs were traditionally used as fluid insulators in transformers and were eventually banned due to their high toxicity. PCBs were then replaced with petroleum-based mineral oil. Unfortunately, mineral oil is highly flammable and has a low affinity for water. Additionally, other insulator materials within transformers are made of cellulose. Thus, water inside the transformers was mostly absorbed by the cellulose-based insulator materials, catalyzing their degradation and reducing the lifetime of the transformers. FR3® is a vegetable-oil-based dielectric fluid that is less flammable and less toxic. FR3® is cost-effective, more resilient, higher-performing, safer, and environmentally better than alternative options. The lifetime of transformers becomes at least 5 times longer as this fluid prevents the degradation of the cellulose-based insulator. This new fluid can also reduce the size of transformers. It also reduces the transformer's carbon footprint by over 98%.
EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge: 2013 Designing Greener Chemicals Award
