Silica Gel Breather for Transformer

For providing long service life to the transformer different transformer accessories are fitted with it. These transformer accessories should also be included in our study for better understanding transformer operation and maintenance.

Silica Gel Breather for Transformer

Whenever electrical power transformer is loaded, the temperature of the insulating oil increases, consequently the volume of the oil is increased. As the volume of the oil is increased, the air, above the oil level in conservator, will come out. Again at low oil temperature the volume of the oil is decreased, which cause, the volume of the oil to be decreased which again causes air to enter into conservator tank. The natural air always consists of more or less moisture in it and this moisture can be mixed up with oil if it is allowed to be entered into the transformer. The air moisture should be resisted during entering the air into the transformer, because moisture is very harmful for transformer insulation. A silica gel breather is most commonly used as a means of filtering air from moisture. Silica gel breather for transformer is connected with conservator tank by means of breathing pipe.

Construction of silica gel breather

The breather for transformer is very simple in design aspect. it is nothing but a pot of silica gel, through which air passes during breathing of transformer. The silica gel is very good absorber of moisture. Freshly regenerated gel is very efficient, it may dry down air to a dew point of below − 40oC. A well maintained silica gel breather will generally operate with a dew point of − 35oC as long as a large enough quantity of gel has been used. The picture shows a silica gel breather for transformer.