By SDMyers Staff

SDMyers is proud to be an Authorized Service Partner with Cargill, the manufacturer of FR3 transformer dielectric fluid. Not only do we provide this fluid from the only manufacturer of FR3, but we also follow the best industry practices and manufacturer’s procedures. This partnering of knowledge secures the greatest results for you and your equipment.

But what, exactly, are the benefits of using natural esters?

We have worked with natural ester liquids in our laboratory for years. There are some differences when we consider the testing, analysis, and field service, but the core purpose of natural esters—which include FR3—is the same as mineral oil. Both natural esters and mineral oil share the following:

• Provide dielectric strength
• Provide heat transfer
• Protect the solid insulation (the paper)
• Allow laboratory testing to take place, which can give an indication of the condition inside the equipment, and therefore act as a diagnostic tool.

FR3 is derived from seed oils with the addition of performance-enhancing additives. It is a renewable, biobased natural ester dielectric coolant and insulating liquid designed specifically for transformers, where its unique fire safety, environmental, electrical, and chemical properties are advantageous.

There are several advantages to FR3. It is biodegradable. FR3 fluid does not contain any petroleum, halogens, silicones, or corrosive sulfur. Environmentally, it quickly biodegrades in the environment. It is non-toxic to aquatic life and is non-toxic in oral toxicity tests.

FR3 is classified as a “less flammable” fluid with a Fire Point of ≥300°C versus ~160°C for mineral oil. This is the highest ignition resistance of any high fire point dielectric fluid available. This means that even if an undetectable and catastrophic failure occurs, a fire is unlikely to start.

It has been seen that FR3 can hold more moisture without causing harm to the beneficial properties of the insulation, also helping to reduce the moisture in the paper insulation of the transformer, especially in a retrofill situation, and that FR3 will chemically strengthen the paper insulation, giving the paper the ability to operate at higher temperatures and/or have longer life.

SDMyers can fill new transformers with FR3 or perform retrofills on existing transformers – replacing their original fluid (such as mineral oil) with FR3. We can perform fluid dehydration and degassing, processing the FR3 through heat and vacuum to lower the FR3’s moisture and dissolved gas content. Liquid compatibility is an important consideration when looking to move from one liquid to another, so let's have a chat so you can take advantage of FR3's inherent benefits.

There are some limitations to the application of FR3, which are beyond the scope of this article. For more information, contact a Transformer Specialist at SDMyers or find more resources here.

SDMyers has been a pioneer in transformer maintenance and service for 50+ years, a span that includes over 500,000 serviced transformers, one billion gallons of dielectric fluid processed, and millions of test results both nationally and globally. SDMyers is a pioneer in the transformer reliability field, constantly investing in research and development to solve complex and high-stakes maintenance problems for thousands of businesses, organizations, and municipalities.

January 27, 2022