Is the transformer oil purification device safe?

Safety Analysis of Transformer Oil Purification Devices

Transformer oil purification devices are safe under normal operation and maintenance, but due to the involvement of high temperature, vacuum, electrical equipment and flammable oil products, safety regulations must still be strictly followed. The following are key safety factors and protective measures:

Main safety risks

| Risk type | Possible causes | Potential hazards |

|--------------------|-------------|-------------|

| High temperature burns | Oil heated to 50~70℃ | Personnel contact burns |

| Vacuum system leakage | Seal failure, pipeline rupture | Air ingress leading to oil oxidation, or vacuum pump damage |

| Electrical fire/explosion | Static electricity accumulation, short circuit or overload | Ignition of oil vapor or faulty gas (H₂, CH₄, etc.) |

| Oil leakage pollution | Loose pipeline, valve failure | Environmental pollution or slip accidents |

| Mechanical injury | Moving parts (pumps, fans) | Risk of personnel pinching or entrapment |

Safety protection measures

(1) Equipment design safety

- Explosion-proof design:

- Use explosion-proof motors and Ex-certified electrical components in areas where flammable gases may accumulate (such as vacuum tanks).

- Configure flammable gas detection alarms (monitor H₂, CH₄, etc.).

- Temperature control:

- The heater is equipped with over-temperature protection (automatic power off to prevent oil temperature > 70°C).

- Vacuum safety:

- The vacuum tank is equipped with a vacuum valve (to prevent deformation caused by excessive negative pressure).

- Use a two-stage vacuum pump (to prevent oil vapor from entering the pump body).

(2) Operation safety specifications

- Grounding and anti-static:

- The equipment must be reliably grounded to prevent static sparks from igniting oil vapor.

- Slow pressure increase/decompression:

- Before starting the vacuum system, slowly evacuate the vacuum to prevent the oil from boiling violently.

- No open flames:

- Smoking, welding and other open flame operations are strictly prohibited at the work site.

(3) Personnel protection

- Protective equipment:

- Operators must wear oil-resistant gloves, goggles, and anti-static clothing.

- Training requirements:

- Be familiar with the equipment emergency stop button, fire extinguisher location and emergency plan.

(4) Environmental safety

- Oil leakage treatment:

- Equipped with oil-absorbent cotton and leak-proof trays to clean up leaked oil in time.

- Waste oil recovery:

- Waste oil and adsorbents should be disposed of by hazardous waste regulations to avoid environmental pollution.

Common safety hazards and solutions

| Problem | Cause | Solution |

|-------------------|----------------------|

| Insufficient vacuum | Aging seal ring, pipeline leakage | Check sealing, ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ O-ring |

| Oil temperature is too high | Heater out of control | Calibrate thermostat, activate backup cooling system |

| Filter element is clogged | Excessive pollutants | Monitor pressure difference, ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ filter element in time |

| Abnormal noise | Pump bearing wear | Shutdown for inspection, lubrication or replacement of parts |

International safety standards reference

- IEC 60422: Safety Guide for Maintenance and Handling of Transformer Oil.

- NFPA 70 (NEC): Explosion-proof requirements for electrical equipment.

- OSHA 1910.119: Code for the handling of hazardous chemicals (applicable to flammable oil products).

⚠ If the operation is not standardized (such as over-temperature operation, neglect of grounding), it may cause fire or explosion risks!

Recommendation: Choose brand equipment with automatic protection functions (over-temperature, over-voltage, leakage protection), and establish a regular safety inspection system.