The use of biomaterials for industrial applications has increased significantly. Carbon footprints rationalization and food vs. fuel dilemma have been debated and made considerable progress towards a wider acceptance at various levels.

Open innovation contributes meaningfully with regards to: 1) softer, milder temperature biochemical processing which includes preconditioning, reactions, purification, zero waste, 2) raw materials and grain/seed selection of “just-as-needed” quality to start with, 3) fallow land exploitation rationalization, 4) usable agri-waste, 5) traceable land use, 6) water consumption minoration vs. agronomical food-related practice, 7) partial detachment from international seasonal trading [1] of agricultural commodities…

A practical principal object of this exploratory research work is to help alleviate some paradigms regarding new engineered biofluids as to their practical evidenced suitability to medium-extreme conditions.

An additional objective is to demonstrate that simulating side by side semi-extreme conditions and cold start-up operation not only can be done, but can uniquely be demonstrated and might be a premiere to even more stringent testing involving engineered biofluids, this within a smart on-line interactive operation prospective. Liquid filled electrical devices serve here has a relevant example.

Other objects will naturally derive from different elements appearing throughout the body of the study.

Keeping in mind that this study is intended as exploratory, indicative and of educational value mainly, and, does not replace the need for users to make their own compatibility tests using their own equipment and materials; still seeking appropriate professional support as per their best judgment.

Alternative energies [2] , Figure 1, as well as traditional electrical supplies and energy usage patterns are promoting innovation in the field of electricity production, its transmission, its transformation and its distribution.

Dielectric fluids compositions are commonly used in electrical devices, particularly in transformers. These liquids have the aim to isolate the various conductive

elements of the device and to limit the heating of the device during its operation, in order to minimize, or maintain at higher power, the size of the device and to increase the useful lifetime of it.

Much of the currently known dielectric liquid compositions are compositions comprising essentially hydrocarbons from specific cuts of crude oils. These compositions based on petroleum derivatives generally have a low ignition temperature (and therefore a significant flammability) and are also most often characterized by low biodegradability, if not a relative toxicity.

These liquids are now found to be relatively unsatisfactory for insulation of electrical devices. Indeed, especially when used in electrical transformers when large amounts of heat may be generated, these fluids present significant flammable risks. In addition, in case of breakage of the envelope of the electrical device, liquid-based petroleum derivatives are likely to cause significant pollution (soil, rivers, ground water...).

Therefore, to replace the dielectric fluids containing petroleum derivatives, one has sought to use compounds with interesting dielectric performances, which are nontoxic and biodegradable, and the synthesis of which is the cheapest possible. In this context, one has proposed including natural plant oils or animal waste fats as potential candidates, since some of them present some interesting insulation properties.

However, it has been found that natural plant oils cannot be used, in a certain number of cases, as such as dielectric fluids in electrical devices, for example, transformers. Indeed, they have certain disadvantages, including high viscosity (especially at low temperatures) associated with a high pour point, and in general, they also may exhibit an important tendency to oxidation pending on their source, refining or handling in general.

To improve the characteristics of vegetable oils it has been proposed to modify these oils, by adding antioxidants, antifreeze, or viscosity improvers. However, these additives are also generally non-biodegradable or toxic, they also sometime prove to be damaging to electrical devices in which they are used.

Attempts have been made to change the triglycerides (esters of glycerol and fatty acids) present in natural vegetable oils, in order to modify the properties of such vegetable oils without losing their biodegradability. In this regard, various attempts have been made to convert these esters of glycerol in esters of other alcohols.

This can be qualified as engineering of biofluids, such as WO 2004/108871 [3] which discloses liquid compositions that are based on modified oleic canola oil, or other matters with functionally equivalent fatty acid profiles, and are used as insulating liquids and heat transfer liquids, and electrical devices containing said liquid compositions. In this art, the liquid composition is based on a mixture of natural triglycerides and fatty acid esters of a branched alcohol for instance, said fatty acids usually derived from a vegetable oil, the mixture may optionally contain other esters.

Figure 2 is the molecular representation of one of the trans esterified components of the above patent [3] .

In the recent research work, a fair amount of attention has been given to estolides as having potential for purposes that can bear suitability to above applications. An estolide is a unique oligomeric fatty acid that contains secondary ester linkages on the alkyl backbone of the molecule. This is also an engineered biofluid.

Estolides have typically been synthesized by the homopolymerization of castor oil fatty acids (Modak et al., JAOCS 42:428 (1965)). Castor oil (Ricinus communis), a “catamaran-like, flexible, symmetrical and balanced, molecular edifice”, Figure 2, is a suitable dielectric for capacitors. Air conditioner capacitor, castor oil capacitor cbb65, are available commercially from Ghorit™ under that reference. Castor oil, unrefined, may have toxic attributes.

The terminal non linear feature of the above esters brings several benefits that are outlined by the proposed “new” testing. Its monounsaturation enhances the oxidation stability of the formulation when compared to the non trans esterified oils containing di and tri unsaturated entities such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid and esters thereof [3] .

Indeed, transesterification, co-transesterification, inter-esterification are means to achieve such hybridized compositions and resulting engineered biofluids.

Esters of fatty acid composition subject to bio-engineering are generally based on esters of fatty acids of vegetable origin, plants in general, or wood treatment

derivates, such as tall oil, or algae or microalgae or animal fat or derived from sugars and sophorolipids. These fatty acids are usually derived from one or more of these raw materials.

Furthermore, the preservation of the integrity and properties of the oil and ester components, which have a beneficial, or at least a non-detrimental effect, on retention properties, such as oxidation resistance, is achieved via particularly well-tailored low temperature, short reaction time innovative processes.

Particular sensitive chemical families are for example the tocopherols and the sterols, naturally occurring in the selected components of the ingredients used to make the dielectric formulations. Those are natural antioxidants, which anti-antioxidation activity is very specific with regards to the composition of their various molecular families and their grouping.

Processing innovation are indeed evolving with softer biochemical approaches such as per Rebouillat et al.’s patent WO2013052956, which process concept is schematically represented below on Figure 3. Such softer processes look at carrying out the manufacturing of dielectric formulations directly from the seeds/grains. Such initiative also partly materialized in the field of biofuels as per WO2009/013349 patent application. Additionally, protecting the materials during processing such as during grease manufacturing is illustrated in WO2010/ 124118 patent application, using micro-waves technology for example.

A particular advantage of the micro-waves, MW, is that they heat the product from within and at a lower temperature such that the product qualities are maintained, even after heating. The dielectric formulation of interest in this work appeared especially suitable to optimize that effect, thus leading to a higher yield in a shorter time laps.

As general guidance and Table 1 below, reactions, in the preferred media, occurring in hours take place in less than minutes with an improved yield, and a 10x reduction of non-productive side reactions.

Both referenced processes of WO2009/013349 and WO2010/124118 have been invented to produce significantly different products, respectively biofuels and greases [4] , which specifications are far apart from the requirements of the desired formulations of dielectric fluids capable of heat absorption.

New and softer chemical and biochemical processes and unit operations are worth keeping in mind, i.e.:

・ Millifluidic and microfluidic processing.

・ Super Critical CO₂―SC CO₂

・ Water and alternative solvents extractions

・ Centrifugal Molecular Distillation

・ Reverse Osmosis

・ Molecular Diffusion Processing

・ Molecular Separation

・ Cryogenic Fractioning

・ Dry―Solvent Free―Fractioning

・ Ultra-high Vacuum Distillation

・ Enzyme Engineering and Cocktailing for On-time specific Catalysis [4] [5]

・ Nanoporous Membrane Separation

・ Ultra, Micro, Nano Filtration

・ With “Bigger Data and Learning Machine” Process Approaches

Overall [2] [3] , “Vegetable Oil Liquid Dielectric Transformers” and “Application of Vegetable Oil-Based Fluids as Transformer Oil” provide suitable, historical

*1.75 KW microwave input; **HOBO = High Oleic Bean Oil.

and contemporaneous, basics and backgrounds to understand the type of materials involved in the experimental part of this work; and to figure out adjacency with the above contextual trends and happenings.

The Figure 4 below was somehow the preliminary study’s key finding [6] that made the following exploratory work a captivating challenge that HQ-IREQ institution chose to take from & with the principal author’s suggestion, leadership and organizational support. All data and experimental features remain under the control of HQ-IREQ which declines all responsibility for “use” and interpretation.

It is interesting to note that among evaluated esters, Engineered Biofluid B exhibits the lowest viscosity values. This condition is necessary to achieve a high transfer capacity. Therefore, worth the cold static and dynamic tests.

In the following, we present the results of our studies [6] comparing the thermal performance of two different oils, a standard commercial mineral oil and an oil prototype B supplied by DuPont™/Valagro. Beside the laboratory evaluation, the thermal properties of the oil type B in a transformer was evaluated.

These tests were conducted with distribution transformer under a protocol further described below.

Due to the availability of two instrumented distribution transformers, it was decided to concentrate our efforts on the study of the oil thermal behavior in these distribution transformers.

The overall objective is to compare the thermal behaviour of a distribution transformer filled with prototype B against a commercial reference mineral oil at room temperature and at a fairly low temperature (−20˚C).

In a similar context, back in 2015 [8] , B. Cloet et al., at CG Power Systems Belgium and OWI-lab, conclude their “Cold start of a 5.5MVA offshore transformer” study with the following proposal for future work:

- “Measurement of the winding temperature with several optical fibers installed inside the windings.”

The present study just preceded the above and conclusive remark.

Their proposal is further justified by the patent work of S. Rebouillat, WO2010111698, on transformer insulation paper, impregnated with biofluid compositions, exposed to microwave/electromagnetic fields; whereby oil and impregnated cellulose paper are subject to these favorable field exposures.

LV (Low Voltage) and HV (High Voltage) windings and oil localized thermal measurements may help characterizing those effects.

The winding temperature measurement is calculated from winding resistance measurement according to the procedure described in IEEE C57.12.90-2010. The formula used for temperature calculation, knowing the winding resistance follows:

Rs = Rm ( Ts + Tk ) / ( Tm + Tk ) (1)

where:

Rs is the resistance at desired temperature Ts (Ω)

Rm is the measured resistance (Ω)

Ts is the desired reference temperature (˚C)

Tm is the temperature at which resistance was measured (˚C)

Tk is 234.5˚C (copper) or 225˚C (aluminum)

An average temperature of each winding was obtained by winding resistance measurement. During the winding resistance measurement, the power is shut off and the temperature decreases slowly. To evaluate the decrease in temperature of each winding, we use the average temperature winding deduced from the average temperature of all the thermocouples located in each winding. The average temperature difference is added to the temperature obtained from the winding resistance measurement.

The set-up reliability and the repeatability and reproducibility of the experimental protocol are long established given the maintenance consistency and use of, the climate chamber and the electrical equipment. Regarding the current work any inconsistency detection and “reproducibility and repeatability” aspects are secured by the running of 2 different temperature campaigns, 30 sensor live recording at 6 different positions (windings, oil and RT). The recordings and machine graphs instead of re-computerized figures help to visualize and attest to this.

Engineered Biofluids are paving the way to industrially and specifically produced and tailored functional fluids; e.g. heat and dielectric, high purity traceable media, for the electrical and electronic industries.

Along these lines, a number of processing, “evolutionary and conceivably revolutionary”, advancements could be made associated with pioneering process technologies, for instance:

・ Millifluidic and microfluidic processing―Super Critical CO₂, i.e. SC CO₂―Water and alternative Solvents extractions―Centrifugal Molecular Distillation―Reverse Osmosis―Molecular Diffusion Processing―Molecular Separation―Cryogenic Fractioning―Dry-Solvent-Free Fractioning―Ultra-high Vacuum Distillation―Enzyme Engineering and Cocktailing for On-time Catalysis―Nanoporous Membrane Separation―Ultra, Micro, Nano Filtration―On-line analytical monitoring, tracing and Smart operation.

And as well, advanced material formulations and blends, like biosourced-polymers, nanocellulose, carbon and aramids in various forms―pulps, micro and nano-pulps [9] [10] [11] [12] ―which can enhance system performance with better energy and fossil fuel conservation and sustainability, lower weight-performance ratio, and greater durability.

Those technologies and associated testing can support environmental, technological and societal awareness; helping to revert some trends being climate changes, fossil fuel preservation and other planetary challenges to maintain the overall and localized fundamental equilibriums. In other words, a “balanced” “ecotropism” in the sense of preserving these overall and localized fundamental equilibriums and harmonious interactions thereof.

The immediacy and the pedagogical benefits of the above, should help to draw the forms and contours of the intellectual challenges ahead and should motivate future illustrative works that would remove paradigms and encourage entrepreneurial risk taking, agility and speed.

The exploratory and orientation, practical work, outlines the following learning and foreseeable approaches [6] :

The measurements performed on instrumented distribution transformers filled with a reference mineral oil and an Engineered Biofluid-B―show comparable temperature rise. Thermal behavior of B at −20˚C would allow the use of this oil at −20˚C at least for a 0 - 1 PU cold load pick up without any problem of thermal runaway.

Let’s mention for calibration purpose that the cold load pick-up at HQ-IREQ involves a 0 to 2.2 PU for 4 H (4 hours) followed by 1.8 PU for 3 H at 0˚C.

Additional work on instrumented transformers and/or new transformers with Engineered Biofluids needs to be further considered given these promising exploratory results derived from these rather unique illustrative sets of runs.

Such a “smart” adaptively driven experimentation could serve to the betterment of “smart” network/grid designs, their requirement definition and fine tuning. Development of learning machines to that effect, would advantageously replace the older generation of programmable modules; assuming at least the same or better risk management can be put in place.

The following further practical work could be explored:

・ Behavior at lower temperature −30˚C, −40˚C.

・ Test with different cold load pick up patterns and temperatures.

・ Comparison of the Engineered Biofluid B and refined 100% vegetable oils.

・ Testing on different types of bio based oil sourcing.

And to end with a colorful illustration, let’s reflect on the enzymatic engineering and cocktailing illustration in Figure 9, which adds a New Lock-an-Key Dimension to Softer Greener Chem-Bio Approaches.

The authors thank:

・ Antoine Piccirilli: Valagro™/Biosynthis™/Olvea™, “Oléo” Scientist/World Sommité in the field. Gratefulness for elevated discussions on the “spirit” of oils and other not less important matters. A “friend above all”.

・ Benoit Steffenino: DuPont™ Fellow technologist, a favorite “ex-student” that you never “abandon”. His pictorial skills bring concepts to an entertaining journey.

・ France Rochette: DuPont™, gate keeper in business relevance analysis with a distinguished and highly balanced technology/business collaborative mindset. Her people-approach magical fluency made a difference.

・ Guillaume Bray: ERDF™/Enedis™, Directeur de Cabinet et Communication; diplomacy and enthusiasm, his nature, make a significant impact on implementation steps.

・ Imre Horvath: DuPont™/Solvay™, “most demanded” business strategist; his rationality and implementation talents are key drivers to meet such a milestone. A “jealously sought-after Master”.

・ Julien Magne: Valagro™/Biosynthis™, extraordinary skilled Chem-Biotech engineer, a pioneer of the integrated processing of oils from raw agri-materials.

・ Louis Gastonguay, Jocelyn Jalbert, Marta Cea de Ruano: IREQ™/ Hydro-Québec™, a talented research and communication team, who made the full story an open innovation dreamed “épopée”.

・ Lou Honary: Iowa University™, World Authority, VGO expert; gratitude for his early support in the field and WW openness.

・ Michael E. Lyons: TCD™, Dublin, for his ability to make electrochemistry an art and a science pertinent to industrial mindsets and innovation thereafter; “Paving the Way to the Integration of Smart Nanostructures I and II” [13] [14] generated with S. Rebouillat significant open and innovative exchanges.

This article is primarily for educational purposes. Selected cases are strictly illustrative. Neither the authors nor the illustrator assumes any liability for any errors or oversights, for how this article or its contents are utilized or interpreted or for any consequences resulting directly or indirectly from the usage of it.

This information is for general knowledge. For critical applications, requirements should be checked with the suppliers. For additional guidance, legal or any other, seek advice from the appropriate qualified professionals; this study can by no means substitute for legal, technical and managerial expert advice.

The opinions expressed by the writers in this article do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the companies the authors are employed by.

Rebouillat, S. and Noirhomme, B. (2018) Open-Innovation in the Electrical and Electronic Industries: Engineered Bio-Fluid Compositions Are Paving the Way, and Testing Therewith. Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology, 9, 189-209. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbnb.2018.92011