GERMANY -- Siemens has selected MIDEL's rapeseed-based ester fluid for a power transformer manufactured for the German transmission system operator TransnetBW.
In 2019 TransnetBW tasked Siemens with supplying a power transformer with natural ester fluid and robust cold-start capability. A supplemental requirement was for the natural ester fluid to be made from European-grown crops.
The manufacturer independently acknowledged the superior cold-weather performance of rapeseed ester fluid with its pour point of -31°C. This critical performance factor made it necessary to upgrade to a rapeseed-based ester.
Siemens selected the ester fluid manufactured by MIDEL from rapeseed crops in central Europe. The transformer for TransnetBW used over 100 tons of MIDEL fluid.
The ester fluid manufactured by MIDEL has a high fire point (K class fluid >300°C) and is biodegradable. Its superior performance over soya natural ester fluid at lower temperatures was a critical factor for the customer, enabling the transformer to withstand a cold start after any period of outage.
