Examination of the utilisation of oil palm empty fruit bunches as insulating paper in transformers

Abstract

Empty oil palm fruit bunches (EFB) are an abundant solid waste in the palm oil industry and are often considered as waste with no added value. However, EFB contains cellulose fibers that can be utilized for various applications, including as insulation material in transformers. EFB-based insulation offers potential as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional wood-based insulating paper. This study analyzes the utilization of EFB as a raw material for making transformer insulation paper. Characterization of physical and thermal properties was carried out using scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results show that EFB-based insulating paper has homogeneous fiber morphology with adequate thermal properties. Electrochemical studies revealed that EFB paper has an electric field strength value of 37.61 kV/mm, which is lower than Kraft insulating paper that reaches 47.19 kV/mm. Nonetheless, manufacturing process improvements to EFB can improve its quality and make it a competitive alternative for transformer insulation.