GOLDEN BROOK VEGETABLE OIL AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MINERAL OILS AND LIQUID DIELECTRICS

Mr. Samuel Lee

Dielectric properties measurements showed that coconut oil, produced by the Pomeroon Oil Mill, is mildly polar since it possesses a steady dielectric constant value of 3.39 and a loss angle 0.050 to 2.880 for the frequency bandwidth 1.0 kHz to 100.0 kHz. Other physical
properties testing have revealed that it also possesses a relative density – 0.922 and refractive index – 1.462 that is comparable to that of mineral oils and liquid dielectrics. Chemical properties testing have shown that it possesses a relatively low Iodine Value – 0.736 Wijs, which suggests that its fatty acid content makes it suitable for use under strong electro-
magnetic fields if employed as a cooling medium in distribution transformers. Yet the oil is
subject to further testing, which is currently ongoing, to determine its other technical
properties such as dielectric strength, viscosity and thermal capacity before any conclusion can be drawn on its practicality as a dielectric and alternative to mineral oils.