Advances in CFD Assessment of Thermal-Hydraulic Performance of Transformer Cooling Oils: A Review
Keywords:
CFD, transformer cooling, mineral oil, natural ester, synthetic ester, nanofluids, thermal-hydraulic performance, optimization.Abstract
The thermal-hydraulic performance of transformer cooling oils is critical for ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and longevity of power transformers. This review explores recent advances (2020–2025) in the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze and optimize transformer cooling systems using traditional mineral oils and alternative fluids such as natural esters, synthetic esters, and nanofluids. Mineral oils, while widely used, pose environmental and fire safety risks, prompting a shift toward biodegradable, fire-resistant esters and nanofluid-enhanced oils. CFD has emerged as a vital tool for simulating complex fluid flow and heat transfer phenomena within transformer systems, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming experiments. Recent studies employed advanced modeling techniques, including conjugate heat transfer, turbulence models, and multiphase flows, validated through experimental data and thermal benchmarking. CFD has not only facilitated the comparative analysis of cooling fluids but also guided the design of more efficient cooling structures and innovative cooling techniques. Optimization strategies, such as genetic algorithms and response surface methodology, further enhanced performance by minimizing hotspot temperatures and improving flow distribution. This review underscores CFD’s crucial role in the development of safer, environmentally friendly, and high-performance transformer cooling solutions.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Sorte, S., Salgado, A., Monteiro, A. F., Ventura, D., Martins, N., & Oliveira, M. S. (2025). Advancing Power Transformer Cooling: The Role of Fluids and Nanofluids—A Comprehensive Review. Materials, 18(5), 923. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18050923
Janic, Z., Gavrilov, N., & Roketinec, I. (2023). Influence of cooling management to transformer efficiency and ageing. Energies, 16(12), 4626. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124626
Chandran, L. R., Babu, G. A., Nair, M. G., & Ilango, K. (2021). A review on status monitoring techniques of transformer and a case study on loss of life calculation of distribution transformers. Materials Today: Proceedings, 46, 4659-4666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.10.290
Hussain, M., Mir, F. A., & Ansari, M. A. (2022). Nanofluid transformer oil for cooling and insulating applications: A brief review. Applied Surface Science Advances, 8, 100223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsadv.2022.100223
Raj, R. A., Samikannu, R., Yahya, A., & Mosalaosi, M. (2020). Comparison of ageing characteristics of superior insulating fluids with mineral oil for power transformer application. IEEE Access, 8, 141111-141122. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3012988
Suhaimi, N. S., Ishak, M. T., Rahman, A. R., Din, M. F. M., Abidin, M. Z., & Khairi, A. K. (2022). A review on palm oil-based nanofluids as a future resource for green transformer insulation system. IEEE Access, 10, 103563-103586. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3209416
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Vishwanath Sharma
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
IJOSCIENCE follows an Open Journal Access policy. Authors retain the copyright of the original work and grant the rights of publication to the publisher with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY License that allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. Authors are permitted to post their work in institutional repositories, social media or other platforms.
Under the following terms:
-
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
