Silica Gel Breather for Transformer

All power transformers have a conservator part, which holds the insulating oil for the transformer. The purpose of the insulation oil is to safeguard all parts of the transformer from current surges. The oil runs through the length and breadth of the transformer. When the current through the transformer increases, the heat dissipated is more. The increased heat gets into the insulating oil, reducing its density and increasing the volume. Thus the air from the insulating oil gets trapped in the conservator top section. When the temperature decreases, the volume is increased, and the trapped air flows back into the insulation oil. The presence of moisture in the air causes the oil to be impure, and the impure insulation oil may damage the insulation parts, which will result in dangerous current leaks from the transformer. Silica gel breathers are employed in transformers to avoid such situations. The crystals act as an adsorbent and adsorb the moisture content from the oil into its pores.