(19) |
 |
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(11) |
EP 0 147 860 A3 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) |
Date of publication A3: |
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07.08.1985 Bulletin 1985/32 |
(43) |
Date of publication A2: |
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10.07.1985 Bulletin 1985/28 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 27.12.1984 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE |
(30) |
Priority: |
28.12.1983 US 566306 27.11.1984 US 675278
|
(71) |
Applicant: UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION |
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() |
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(72) |
Inventor: |
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- Atwood, Gilbert Richard
()
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|
(54) |
Method for replacing PCB-containing coolants in electrical induction apparatus with
substantially PCB-free dielectric coolants |
(57) Method for replacing a coolant containing PCB in electrical induction apparatus
having a tank containing the PCB-containing coolant and an electrical winding and
porous solid cellulosic electrical insulation immersed in the PCB-containing coolant
with" a substantially PCB-free permanent coolant to convert said electrical apparatus
into one in which the rate of efution of PCB into the PCB-free coolant is below the
maximum allowable rate of elution into the coolant of an electrical apparatus rated
as non-PCB, the porous electrical insulation being impregnated with said PCB-containing
coolant. The method comprises the steps of: (a) draining the PCB-containing coolant
from said tank to remove a major portion of the PCB-containing coolant contained by
it; (b) filling the tank with an interim dielectric cooling liquid that is (i) miscible
with PCB, (ii) sufficiently low in viscosity to circulate within said tank and penetrate
the interstices of the porous solid electrical insulation, and (iii) capable of being
readily separated from said PCB; (c) electrically operating the electrical induction
apparatus for a period sufficient to elute PCB contained in the PCB-containing coolant
impregnated in the porous insulation therefrom into the interim dielectric cooling
liquid; (d) thereafter draining the interim dielectric cooling liquid containing the
eluted PCB from the tank; (e) repeating the cycle of steps (b), (c) and (d), when
the rate of elution of PCB into the interim dielectric cooling liquid exceeds 0.55
ppm of PCB per day based on the weight of the permanent dielectric coolant, a sufficient
number of times until the rate of elution of PCB into the interim dielectric cooling
liquid does not exceed the rate of 50 ppm PCB based on the weight of the permanent
coolant after 90 days of electrical operation; and (f) filling the tank with a substantially
PCB-free permanent coolant selected from the group consisting of high boiling, high
viscosity, silicone oils, synthetic ester fluids, poly-alpha-olefin oils and hydrocarbon
oils.
