Optimization of Dielectric Properties of Pongamia Pinnata Methyl Ester for Power Transformers Using Response Surface Methodology

In this present work, effort was taken to develop a response surface model based on response surface methodology (RSM) paired with Box-Behnken design (BBD). Investigations were carried out to optimize the transesterification of Pongamia Pinnata oil (PPO) under various process conditions such as time (60-180 min), temperature (60 degrees C-100 degrees C), and catalyst (1%-3%). The production of PPO methyl ester (PPOME) by the esterification process is carried out using the PPO and methanol (CH3OH) in a 1:6 molar ratio that is fixed as a constant. Here, the input variables are the process variables (independent) and the output variables are the response variables (dependent). The response variables are the breakdown voltage (BDV), kinematic viscosity (KV), and fire point (FRP). The effect of the process variables on the response variables is modeled using RSM paired BBD. The experimental sequence was designed to find the optimum composition of input parameters and output parameters. The associative effects of the input and output variables were designed as a 2-D contour plot and 3-D response surface plots, and the interactive effects were studied using the plots. After optimization, the optimum conditions of the input variables over the BDV, KV, and FRP were found to be the time of 142.07 min, the temperature of 81.52 degrees C, and the catalyst of 2.41%. The dielectric properties of PPOME were found to be 61.54 kV, 20.50 cSt, and 281.43 degrees C, which are in the vicinity of the laboratory experimental results. Those indicate that the treatment of PPO with the optimum quantity of the process variables gives an excellent dielectric response.

Automated summary

This study developed a response surface model for the transesterification of Pongamia Pinnata oil (PPO) using response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimization of process conditions led to the identification of the optimal composition of input parameters, resulting in excellent dielectric properties of PPO methyl ester (PPOME).