Electrical Engineering ⇒ Topic : Conservator and Breather

Conservator and Breather

Conservator. The oil should not be allowed to come in contact with atmospheric air as it may take up moisture which may spoil its insulating properties. Also air may cause acidity and sludging of oil. To prevent this, many transformers are provided with conservators. The function of a conservator  is to take it p contraction and expansion of oil without allowing it to come in contact with outside air. The conservator consists of an air tight metal-drum fixed above the level of the top of the tank and connected with it by a pipe. The main tank is completely filled with oil when cold. The conservator is partially filled with oil. So the oil surface in contact with air is greatly reduced.The sludge thus formed remains in the conservator itself and does not go to the main tank.

Breather. When the temperature changes, the oil expands or contracts and there is a displacement of air. When the transformer cools, the oil level goes down, and air is drawn in. This is known as breathing. The air, coming in, is passed through an apparatus called breather for the Purpose of extracting moisture. The breather consists of a small vessel which contains a drying agent like silica gel crystal impregnated with cobalt crystal.