Performance characteristics of XLPE versus EPR as insulation forhigh voltage cables

The physical and electrical properties of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) and ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) are compared in the context of their use in transmission class cables. Results indicate that the 138-kV XLPE cable has AC withstand/breakdown strength at least 25% higher than the 150-kV EPR cable. The XLPE cable exhibits about 70% higher impulse strength than the EPR cable. The loss factor of the XLPE cable is at least 20 times lower than that of EPR cable. Thus with XLPE cables, the yearly energy savings can be on the order of 15 MWh/cct. km for a 69-kV system, 52 MWh/cct. km for a 138-kV system and 127 MHh/cct. km for a 230-kV system     

The improved voltage life characteristics of EHV XLPE cables

Although many researchers have investigated voltage life characteristics of XLPE cables, the voltage life curve of XLPE insulation has not been made clear because of large deviations in the obtained data. Moreover, the voltage life curve of a XLPE cable, which is significantly affected by defect size and shape, cannot be applied to another cable having different defects. The authors obtained an intrinsic stress life curve of XLPE which included no defects. The intrinsic stress life curve demonstrates the existence of a threshold stress, which causes no degradation in the insulation. The application of the intrinsic stress life curve makes possible to estimate the voltage life curve of any cable with known defects. A method for calculating the defect size that would not initiate any degradation in XLPE insulation under a given electrical stress is proposed     

Electrical aging of extruded dielectric cables: review of existingtheories and data

Despite the huge amount of data on so-called electrical aging of extruded HV cables, the fundamental phenomena responsible for it or evolving with aging time, are still far from well understood. It is therefore not surprising why it is so difficult to predict reliable cable lifetimes in service from accelerated aging experiments in the laboratory. The objective of this paper is to review critically the existing theories of electrical aging of solid dielectric materials. A relatively large number of models and theories exist but none of the most often used is known to yield reliable life predictions. One conclusion is that there is a need for a more comprehensive model of electrical aging of extruded dielectric cables. In order to develop this model, an extensive review of existing literature data was undertaken. This paper summarizes the data collected from more than 200 papers on aging of PE, XLPE and EPR cables. It appears that cable breakdown strength should not be plotted on log field vs. log time graphs to yield long-time (i.e. low-field) values, since results obtained over a long time period do not obey an inverse power law. In fact, high-field results are better described by an exponential relation between time and field. The models of Simoni, Montanari and Crine seem to give the best fit to experimental results obtained under a wide variety of experimental conditions. It is also shown that the lower field limit for the exponential regime with XLPE cable is in the 8 to 15 kV/mm range, which corresponds to the onset of strong charge injection. The influence of environment, insulation nature and morphology, and testing temperature are discussed     

The behavior of water in XLPE and EPR cables and its influence onthe electric characteristics of insulation

This paper presents the latest results of continuous investigations of cable insulations degradation of crosslinked polyethylene (XPLE) and ethylene-propylene with rubber based formulation (EPR) when subjected to electric stress and heating in the presence of water or water vapour. The paper deals with water absorption and diffusion in two kinds of crosslinked polyethylene insulation-dry-cured and steam-cured, and steam-cured EPR insulation. The aim of this investigation is to present the results of the influence of changing of water or water vapour pressure in the conductors of XLPE and EPR cables in different service conditions on the electric characteristics of XLPE and EPR insulations-breakdown voltage (AC BDV), dissipation factor (tan δ) and rata of partial discharge (RPD). In this paper, RPD is defined as, the maximum electrical field when the beginning partial discharge in the cable insulation and partial discharge were measured in accordance with the IEC standard. This paper also shows the relation between AC BDV and water content, and AC BDV and tan δ in XLPE and EPR insulations. In this testing the tap water was put in the cable conductors and the ends were properly closed by terminal boxes. The results indicate that the combined effects of water or water vapour, pressure, moisture, electric field and temperature will greatly accelerate deterioration of XLPE and EPR insulations     

空间电荷与直流电导联合测试技术用于纳米MgO抑制XLPE中空间电荷的研究

粒径70nm的MgO以不同浓度与交联聚乙烯(XLPE)共混制成聚合物纳米复合介质。采用自主研发的四电极系统同时测量复合介质的高场电导特性和空间电荷分布。通过强场电导实验发现,在室温下,XLPE及纳米MgO/XLPE复合介质的电导机理不是单纯的空间电荷限制电流(SCLC)。此外,添加纳米MgO可以明显地提高空间电荷的注入阈值,并且在低于空间电荷注入阈值的电场下,复合介质的电导电流密度随纳米MgO浓度的增加,先减小后增大。最后从空间电荷的实验数据验证了纳米MgO能有效抑制XLPE中空间电荷,并进一步定性地认为纳米Mgo的添加提高了电子注入的电场强度阈值。     

Insulation characterization in multistress conditions byaccelerated life tests: An application to XLPE and EPR for high voltagecables

This paper focuses on accelerated testing procedures that can be applied to XLPE and EPR for high voltage cables and that are aimed to achieve the thermo-electrical endurance characterization of insulation. Several methods and techniques for single and combined thermo-electrical stress are illustrated; indices for the evaluation of electrical, thermal, and multi-stress endurance are reported and their derivation is shown. Indications on the feasibility of the design-stress inference from tests on laboratory specimens also are given. Experimental results mainly refer to cable models, but data relevant to full-sized cables, as well as to simple, flat specimens, are also considered     

Generation and Dissipation of Negative Heterocharges in XLPE and EPR

Charge generation in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) under dc stress are influenced strongly by inclusions. The inclusions influencing charge generation are cross-linking byproducts, antioxidants, and moisture. These inclusions particularly influence the generation of negative heterocharges observed near positive electrodes, which produce high electric stress regions in XLPE cable insulation under dc voltage. Because a high electric field might cause dielectric breakdown of high-voltage equipment, it is important to minimize negative heterocharge accumulation. Consequently, the authors performed experiments to clarify the negative heterocharge generation mechanism in XLPE and EPR. The authors first studied the influence of cross-linking byproduct and moisture on negative heterocharge generation to clarify the mechanism. The authors next performed experiments to elucidate the effect of antioxidants on heterocharge generation, which revealed that the negative heterocharge is generated in XLPE insulation containing sulfur-containing phenolic antioxidant, or sulfur-type antioxidant. This heterocharge is presumed to be created by the combined effect of the antioxidant and acetophenone. Furthermore, the authors studied the dissipation of negative heterocharges in XLPE and EPR, clarifying that the dissipation of negative heterocharges in EPR is much faster than that in XLPE. This paper presents results of these studies.     

Evaluation of service aged 35 kV TR-XLPE URD cables

This paper provides information on the aging of URD power cable insulated with a tree-retardant crosslinked polyethylene (TR-XLPE) compound, installed in a typical utility environment, Numerous evaluations were performed on samples of power cables aged up to 7 years in-service. AC and impulse voltage breakdown data are compared with data for similar 35 kV ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) and crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cables removed from the same utility system. The data show that, to date, the rate of degradation of TR-XLPE cables is less than that of the EPR and XLPE insulated cables. Extrapolation of the data, assuming the same rate, indicates TR-XLPE cable will have the longest life     

交联聚乙烯电力电缆的介电损耗机理(英文)

基于电介质物理学经典理论及其在聚合物绝缘材料上的最新发展,阐述绝缘材料的介质损耗机理以及交联聚乙烯电力电缆介电损耗的最新研究进展。通过大量的试验研究,结合等效电路法和微观理论分析,发现了交联聚乙烯电力电缆绝缘系统中在不同频率时起主要作用的3种不同类型的介电损耗,且这些介电损耗共同造成了50 Hz频率电力电缆系统的介电损耗。这一新发现可以帮助电缆制造商提高生产技术,有助于电气工程师更好地了解电力电缆绝缘系统,从而可能减少电力电缆的介电损耗和增加其寿命。     

From LDPE to XLPE: investigating the change of electrical properties. Part I. space charge, conduction and lifetime

This paper discusses the results of space charge, conduction current and electrical lifetime measurements performed on widely-used materials for electrical insulation, that is, low density polyethylene (LDPE) and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). Space charge accumulation profiles were compared in LDPE, low density polyethylene plus antioxidant (LDPE+AO) and XLPE, with consideration of thermal treatment effects in LDPE and XLPE. Significant variation (decrease) of accumulated space charge and apparent mobility, as well as slight decrease of conduction current, can be seen going from LDPE to LDPE+AO and XLPE, which may be associated with formation of deeper trap levels (or an increase of their density). On the contrary, electrical life under AC voltage does not show significant differences from LDPE to XLPE. This latter result underlines that life under high AC electrical stress is mostly determined by defects (weak points) rather than material characteristics associated with charge injection and transport.     

实际XPLE电缆模型下升压速度对电树枝生长特性的影响

电树枝化是影响交联聚乙烯(XLPE)电力电缆运行安全与寿命的技术瓶颈。笔者采用金属针缺陷模拟电缆中集中的电场应力,研究了在工频交流电压下(50 Hz),不同实验起始升压速度(0.1 kV/s,1 kV/s)对XLPE电缆中电树枝生长特性的影响。结果表明,在高的升压速度下电树枝起始快,同时电树枝形态会由纯枝状变为稠密枝状,分形维变大。     

Long - Term Behavior of XLPE Insulated Cable Models

A test cycle with electrical, thermal and combined stresses has been performed on models of XLPE insulated: cables in order to characterize this type of cable from the viewpoint of endurance to combined stresses. For this purpose the method of Combined Analysis of experimental data has been used, thus permitting the goal to be reached in less than two years. The experimenrtal methods and theoretical procedures are illustrated in the paper and the results shown by means of the three basic graphs for combined stresses. The material Under test has shown good endurance : values; of electrical and thermal threshold high enough to provide a reference for operating stresses. Some values for the stresses applicable in service are suggested.     

交联聚乙烯热老化与绝缘性能的关联关系

为研究交联聚乙烯（cross-linked polyethylene,XLPE）绝缘材料的热分解活化能、电气特性和力学特性随热老化程度变化的规律,对交流电力电缆绝缘用XLPE材料在110 ℃下开展加速热老化实验。采用热失重（thermogravimtric analyzer, TGA）测试手段,对XLPE在20~600 ℃的热分解行为进行研究;采用交流击穿测试、宽频介电谱测试及体积电阻率测试,研究老化后XLPE试样的电气特性;采用拉伸实验测试,研究老化后XLPE试样的力学特性。结果表明：热老化使得XLPE的交联结构和结晶状态被破坏,XLPE活化能呈减小趋势。由于氧化反应快速进行,使得XLPE分子链发生断裂,交联结构变弱,导致XLPE绝缘材料严重劣化,其活化能、击穿强度、体积电阻率、弹性模量和断裂伸长率随老化时间增长呈下降趋势,而介电常数、介电损耗和电导率呈增加趋势。     

XPLE电树枝生长过程中局部放电SHF信号特性研究

交联聚乙烯(XLPE)电缆中电树枝的生长伴随局部放电(PD)的产生,二者间存在一定关联。XLPE材料绝缘强度较高,其中发生的PD在超高频(SHF,3～30 GHz)频段的信号幅值相对较高。文中采用基于针-板电极结构和XLPE绝缘材料的试样,在不同温度和电压下对电树枝生长过程中的形态和PD的SHF信号进行同步检测,分析了电压与温度条件对二者的影响,并研究了二者间的特征关系。研究表明XLPE中电树枝的长与宽和温度与电压呈正相关,电压较低时对分形维数较低,较高时分形维数无明显变化。SHF信号幅值也与温度和电压呈正相关关系,电压较高时,信号幅值呈现先增大再减小至平缓趋势,频率在电压较低时信号有一定程度下降。电树枝生长情况和SHF信号的幅值呈正相关关系,且当电树枝生长速度较快时,SHF信号的频率也会升高。     

Condition assessment of cable insulation systems in operatingnuclear power plants

Four crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) and ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) insulated cables were subjected to accelerated thermal, radiation, and sequential radiation and thermal exposure to simulate 20, 30, and 40 yr in-service environments in Ontario Hydro Nuclear Plants. Two sets of samples were evaluated. The first set contained 15 cm cable specimens in tubular form with the conductors removed, while the second set was made up of 4.3 m cable samples wound on mandrels. The cable samples were sequentially irradiated and thermally aged and subjected to an additional accident radiation exposure followed by a simulated loss of coolant accident (LOCA)/main steam line break (MSLB) steam test. During the steam test, samples were energized and their electrical characteristics continuously monitored. The material performance of the insulation was assessed using the 15 cm specimens during the various stages of aging exposure by conventional elongation measurement and by the use of micro-specimens with differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), oxidation induction time (OIT) and infrared carbonyl absorption techniques. The results from these samples were compared with the electrical performance of the cable samples wound on mandrels that had been subjected to the LOCA/MSLB steam test. The test results indicate that with the use of micro-specimens meaningful changes were obtained until the elongation values of the samples were reduced to 50% absolute. Electrical test data obtained for XLPE and EPR during the steam tests indicate that 50% absolute elongation values provide sufficient margin to withstand additional accident radiation, and to function electrically during design basis events     

交联聚乙烯热老化与绝缘性能的关联关系

为研究交联聚乙烯（cross-linked polyethylene,XLPE）绝缘材料的热分解活化能、电气特性和力学特性随热老化程度变化的规律,对交流电力电缆绝缘用XLPE材料在110 ℃下开展加速热老化实验。采用热失重（thermogravimtric analyzer, TGA）测试手段,对XLPE在20~600 ℃的热分解行为进行研究;采用交流击穿测试、宽频介电谱测试及体积电阻率测试,研究老化后XLPE试样的电气特性;采用拉伸实验测试,研究老化后XLPE试样的力学特性。结果表明：热老化使得XLPE的交联结构和结晶状态被破坏,XLPE活化能呈减小趋势。由于氧化反应快速进行,使得XLPE分子链发生断裂,交联结构变弱,导致XLPE绝缘材料严重劣化,其活化能、击穿强度、体积电阻率、弹性模量和断裂伸长率随老化时间增长呈下降趋势,而介电常数、介电损耗和电导率呈增加趋势。     

拉伸对电缆接头双层介质中空间电荷的影响

为了研制冷收缩预制式电缆接头并改善其介电性能,研究了拉伸对乙丙橡胶和交联聚乙烯所组成的双层介质中空间电荷的影响。将不同拉伸状态下的乙丙橡胶试样分别和交联聚乙烯试样组成双层介质试样,测量了不同双层介质在加压和短路后的空间电荷分布。实验结果表明,从空间电荷的角度看,一定的拉伸有利于减少聚合物中空间电荷量;分析了实验现象和机理以及在电缆中的应用价值。     

A contribution to the study of aging of XLPE insulated cables

The electrical, thermal, and multiple-stress (thermal and electrical) aging of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cable models has been investigated in order to get information on aging effects and mechanisms. After endurance tests, XLPE cable models have been subjected to chemical, physical, electrical, and microstructural characterization. Thermal aging results reveal that bulk degradation occurs in the cables at temperatures higher than the melting point. Multiple-stress aging data emphasize a synergistic effect of electric field and temperature. Significant microstructural changes detected in the cables aged under multiple stress are evidence of this effect and can partly explain the time behavior of the electric strength