In this work, a streamer model has been developed in COMSOL Multiphysics software in order to test the pre-breakdown and breakdown behavior of natural ester oil FR3 and two natural ester-based nanofluids under positive Lightning Impulse Voltage (LI BDV) and compare to experimental results. The two nanofluids contain SiC nanoparticles in the two weight percentage ratios (0.004% w/w and 0.008% w/w) respectively. The simulation results are compared to experimental ones, conducted in accordance with the IEC 60897 standard. The comparison proves that the increase in nanoparticles’ concentration should lead to improvement of LI BDV, which is not verified from the experimental results, probably due to the influence of rapid agglomeration regarding the higher concentration, which cannot be taken into account in the numerical model.

simulation,transformer oil,insulating nanofluid,SiC nanoparticles,Lightning Impulse