Abstract: Effects of different saturated hydrocarbons on electrical performance, oxidation stability, solubility property, gassing tendency and thermophysical property of transformer oil were studied. The results show that the electrical performance, thermal performance, gas tendency, oxidation stability and the sensitivity to antioxidant of paraffin and naphthenic hydrocarbons were similar, while the naphthenic hydrocarbons have much better solubility properties than that of paraffin and is the ideal components for transformer oil.

Key words: saturated hydrocarbon, paraffin, naphthenic hydrocarbon, inhibitors, transformer oil