Transformers play a critical role in the distribution of energy, but the aging infrastructure, especially with distribution transformers, is creating concerns about reliability.
As the demand for energy grows, research aims to change the game.
A novel material system for transformers can double its thermal life. This breakthrough has just been published by Y. Xu, T. Soori, Q. Zhang, J.Y. Zhu, J. K. Nelson, L. Hu, Professor Vaibhav Bahadur, Research Professor Emeritus Robert Hebner, "Boron Nitride Enhanced Electric Insulation Paper for Extending Transformer Thermal Life", Materials & Design. Read the full paper here.
Vaibhav Bahadur (VB) is an Associate Professor and Carl J. Eckhardt Fellow in Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin. His research interests are in the areas of thermal-fluids sciences, materials chemistry, machine learning and micro-nanofabrication. His group conducts fundamental and applied research in these areas with applications in energy-water systems, carbon capture and sequestration, hydrogen and thermal management.
