Study of space-charge characteristics in polyethylene for power cable insulation by laser-induced pressure-pulse technique

By utilizing the laser induced pressure-pulse (LIPP) technique, the behavior of space charge in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) films in contact with metal or carbon-loaded semiconducting layers was studied quantitatively to clarify the space-charge characteristics in power cables. Negative heterospace charge near the anode and positive space charge in the bulk were observed in unoxidized LDPE under the fields above 120 kV/mm. The amount of negative space charge increased with applied field, while positive space charge in the bulk disappeared with increasing applied field. This indicates that electron injection and ionization are enhanced by applied field. Prominent negative homospace charge was formed near the cathode in oxidized LDPE, which indicates that oxidation enhanced electron injection. The depth of charge centroid from the cathode became larger with increasing temperature. This indicates that the effective electron mobility increases with temperature. Negative space charge also was formed in the bulk in XLPE films with metal electrodes, which indicates that crosslinking enhanced electron injection. XLPE films with a carbon-loaded semiconducting layer showed both negative and positive homospace charges near the semiconducting layers, which indicates that both electrons and holes were injected from the semiconducting layer.     

Space charge behavior in low-density polyethylene

The space charge distribution in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was measured with the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) method. We used three types of LDPE: LDPE-L and LDPE-H were prepared by the high pressure process, and m-LDPE was polymerized with a metallocene catalyst. Space charge in LDPE strongly depended upon the electrode material. Semiconductive electrodes enhanced carrier injection into LDPE and, as a result, space charge. The density, polymerization process, applied field, temperature and so on also affected the space charge behavior. This space charge behavior was compared with the results of dc current measurements     

空间电荷对低密度聚乙烯电气击穿特性的影响

为解决聚乙烯用作电线电缆绝缘材料时所受空间电荷问题的困扰,采用在低密度聚乙烯(low density po-lyethylene,LDPE)试品上施加直流预电压使其中积聚一定量的空间电荷,然后测量试品击穿强度的方法,研究了空间电荷对LDPE击穿特性的影响。结果表明,与未经过预电压处理的LDPE的击穿强度相比,在经过较低场强(50 kV/mm)预电压处理后,预电压与击穿电压极性相同时击穿强度提高了约9%,极性相异时击穿强度降低约14%;而经过较高场强(150 kV/mm)预电压处理后,预电压时LDPE中出现空间电荷包现象,预电压后同极性击穿强度提高约19%,而异极性击穿强度反而上升约16%。分析认为空间电荷包在LDPE中的运动导致了部分空间电荷的中和,使得空间电荷积聚量减少,同时LDPE中可能的缺陷得到了一定程度的老炼而使介质得到了均匀化,从而使LDPE的击穿强度得到了提高。     

DC conduction and electrical breakdown of MgO/LDPE nanocomposite

To understand basic electric properties of nano-sized magnesium oxide (MgO) / low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposite under DC voltage application, the volume resistivity, the space charge distribution and the breakdown strength were investigated. By the addition of nano-sized MgO filler, both the DC breakdown strength and the volume resistivity of LDPE increased. At the average DC electric field of about 85 kV/mm and more, a positive packet space charge was observed in LDPE without MgO nano-filler, whereas a little homogeneous space charge was observed in MgO/LDPE nanocomposite material at the front of electrode. From these results, it is confirmed that the addition of MgO nano-filler leads to the improvement of DC electrical insulating properties of LDPE.     

热老化前后LDPE/SiO2纳米复合材料空间电荷积聚分析

在实际运行中,直流场强和热环境都会对聚乙烯电缆内空间电荷积聚行为产生影响,过量的空间电荷会威胁其绝缘性能,虽然纳米复合材料具备抑制空间电荷的能力,但对于热老化后其空间电荷的积聚特性仍有待进一步研究。采用电声脉冲法对热老化前后不同浓度的低密度聚乙烯(LDPE)/二氧化硅(SiO_2)纳米复合材料内空间电荷的积聚行为进行分析。结果表明,热老化会降低电极注入势垒并产生随机分布的深陷阱和杂质,增加空间电荷积累。纳米SiO_2引入的大量界面区域会产生均匀分布的深陷阱,并形成界面反电场,从而抑制载流子的运输和注入,且纳米粒子可以提高材料稳定性,提升电极注入势垒并延缓热老化进程。相比于纯LDPE,LDPE/SiO_2材料在热老化前后都具有明显的抑制空间电荷的能力。     

Some factors for the space charge formation in polyethylene

Information on space-charge behavior in thick insulated samples aids in understanding the dc characteristics of polymer-insulated dc cables. The pulsed electroacoustic method is used to investigate several space charge formation factors in 2 mm-thick polyethylene (PE). The following results were obtained. For measurement factors: (1) A polymeric semiconducting electrode provides a more accurate measurement than does a metal electrode as a result of better matching of acoustic impedance with PE. (2) Within a dc electrical stress range of several tens kV/mm, the space charge distributions under and after dc voltage application are almost the same; this is due to a comparatively long time of space-charge decay. (3) The space-charge distribution of a plate sample agrees with that of a cable sample having the same insulation thickness. For insulating material factors: (1) The amount of space charge in crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) is much larger than that in low-density PE (base of XLPE). The space charge of XLPE continues to increase even after dc voltage application (24 h); that of LDPE reaches equilibrium with a few hours. (2) The aforementioned space charge difference between XLPE and LDPE is assumed to be caused by ionic impurities in XLPE, not by the additives themselves (acetophenon and cumylalcohol as byproducts of cross linking and antioxidant).     

电极材料对低密度聚乙烯中空间电荷的影响

用电声脉冲法(PEA)测量了不同电极材料对低密度聚乙烯(LDPE)中空间电荷的影响。电极材料为常见的金属,如:铝、含铅黄铜、含锌黄铜和紫铜。实验发现不同电极材料均有空穴和电子注入;并且在实验条件下电极功函数越高越容易注入空穴,功函数越低越容易注入电子;铝(+)/紫铜(-)电极系统能有效减少聚乙烯中的空间电荷注入,进而抑制因空间电荷聚集引起的局部场强过高。     

A consideration of potentials of low‐density polyethylene using metallocene catalyst as insulator for power cable

We investigated the high‐field conduction, DC and impulse breakdown strength, space charge distribution, and tree inception voltage for three kinds of new low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) prepared using a metallocene catalyst (mLna, mLao, mLldao), linear LDPE prepared using a Ziegler catalyst (LLao), and LDPE prepared by a high‐pressure process (LDna). The dc and impulse breakdown strengths of LDPEs prepared using a metallocene catalyst were higher than those of LLao and LDna. The high‐field currents of LDPEs prepared using a metallocene catalyst were lower than those of LLao and LDna. A homo‐space charge was accumulated near the cathode in mLna. The tree inception voltage of mLna was higher than that of LDna. From these results, it is concluded that LDPE prepared using a metallocene catalyst has electrical insulating properties superior to the conventional LDPE and that the former has potential as a power cable insulator. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 139(4): 17–25, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.1164     

纳米MgO掺杂聚乙烯中空间电荷行为的研究

介绍了采用电声脉冲法测量纯低密度聚乙烯以及氧化镁／低密度聚乙烯（MgO／LDPE）纳米复合介质中的空间电荷,讨论了不同含量的MgO以及不同型号LDPE作为基础材料对复合介质内空间电荷分布的影响。实验结果表明：随着直流电场的增加,在纯聚乙烯中产生电荷注入现象,且随着加压时间的增加,注入的同极性电荷有向另一电极移动的趋势。少量的MgO可以有效抑制复合介质中的空间电荷注入,随着MgO含量的增加,对复合介质的空间电荷注入抑制效果逐渐减弱。     

Influence of BaTiO3 additive and electrode material onspace-charge formation in polyethylene. Evidence from thermal stepspace-charge measurements

The effects of 5% wt BaTiO₃ additive and of electrode material on space charge formation and electric field distribution in low density polyethylene (LDPE) were investigated using a thermal step technique. Space charge was formed at an average dc field of ~28 kV/mm and at 50°C. Results indicate that the addition of BaTiO₃ to LDPE has considerably reduced the remanent space charge and electric field and changed their distribution patterns in the doped material when compared with the plain material. It is also shown that the remanent space charge and electric field in plain LDPE are strongly dependent on the type of electrode material     

茂金属聚乙烯改善低密度聚乙烯的介电性能

针对高压、超高压直流塑料电缆中存在的空间电荷效应,大多数直流电力电缆常采用改性方法提高其介电性能,如空间电荷特性、体积电阻率和击穿强度等。常用的改性方法主要有添加剂、共混、接枝和二元共聚4种。共混技术较广泛用以改性聚乙烯电缆,提高其介电性能。因此用电声脉冲法(PEA)测量了MPE与LDPE共混试样中的空间电荷分布;用高阻计测量了共混物的体积电阻率,用阶梯电压测量了共混物的交流击穿场强。试验结果表明,1%MPE与LDPE共混能有效降低空间电荷效应,提高交流击穿场强7.9%,略降低体积电阻率。最后讨论了共混物的物质结构、电荷陷阱及介电性能间的关系。     

Properties of Space Charge Distributions and Conduction Current in XLPE and LDPE under DC High Electric Field

Space charge behavior and conduction current in polyethylene under dc stress were investigated. One of the reasons for the different breakdown property in cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) from that in low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) may be based on the existence of cross‐linking by‐products in XLPE. Furthermore, a thermal history in cross‐linking process for XLPE may also cause of the difference. It is generally accepted that the existence of the cross‐linking by‐products increase the conduction current in XLPE under dc stress. It is also said that an anneal treatment in air atmosphere may affect to the electrical properties under dc stress. Therefore, we investigated the effect of the cross‐linking by‐products and the anneal treatment on space charge behavior and conduction current in polyethylene under dc stress. In our research, it is thought that the increasing dissipation power in XLPE is the cause of the breakdown in it under dc stress. Therefore, to calculate the dissipation power in the bulk of test sample, we measured the space charge distribution and the external circuit current simultaneously. Based on the results, we discussed the reason of the difference of the space charge properties in XLPE and LDPE focusing on the cross‐linking by‐products and the oxidation of the test samples.     

Space charge behavior in low density polyethylene at pre-breakdown

It has been known that the electrical breakdown of insulating materials is strongly affected by the formation of space charge in the bulk of the materials. Many researchers have attempted to study the relationship between the space charge and the breakdown; however, it has not been clarified yet. Although the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) method has been widely used to observe space charge profiles, previous works have not shown clear evidence of the influence of the space charge on the breakdown. Therefore, we have developed a new PEA system with an interval of 0.5 ms to observe the space charge distribution continuously under the ultra-high electric field. Using this system, we observed the space charge dynamics in the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at and around the breakdown. We also investigated the dependence of the applied electric field on space charge behavior. From the results, it is found that the injected charge packet moved faster and deeper under a relatively lower electric field rather than that under a higher electric field. Furthermore, we found that the maximum electric field in each specimen was almost the same when the breakdown happened in a specimen.     

High repetition rate PEA system for in-situ space charge measurement during breakdown tests

In order to investigate transient space charge phenomena, it is essential that the space charge profile be observed at a high repetition rate. We have developed a new space charge measurement system using the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) method, which can measure the space charge profiles every 10 /spl mu/s. It employs the most recent digitising oscilloscope model and a semiconductor switch. The effect of prestressing on impulse breakdown voltage of a low-density polyethylene sheet was investigated by using the new system. Experimental results suggest that positive charge injection was dominant immediately before the breakdown, and charge injection during the prestressing causes distortion of the electric field near the electrode, and enhances the subsequent charge injection due to the impulse voltage.     

The role of BaTiO3 in modifying the dc breakdownstrength of LDPE

In the present paper, the effect of the addition of fine particles 1%wt BaTiO₃ to plain low-density polyethylene (LDPE) on the short-term dc breakdown strength of LDPE is investigated. The Weibull plots are used to analyze the breakdown test results. This indicates that the addition of BaTiO₃ to LDPE has reduced the short-term dc breakdown strength of the doped material by ~16% and increased the dispersion of the breakdown data. The results also indicate that the Weibull exponent b has been reduced significantly for the doped material. Earlier measurements on the effects of the incorporation of BaTiO₃ in LDPE on dc current transients and space charge formation in LDPE are presented and correlated with the present results. Results from a variety of measurements using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy are used in order to establish the effects of the incorporation of the additive in the polymer on its structure and morphology. The multiple role of BaTiO₃ additive in modifying the dc breakdown strength of LDPE is discussed in general terms of the existing breakdown theories in solid dielectrics. The combined effects of the additive on the different factors which influence the breakdown process in solids such as charge carrier mobility, charge carrier injection at the electrodes, space charge formation, polymer structure and morphology is explained and discussed. The present work introduces some novel elements in explaining breakdown processes in polymeric solid dielectrics by using an additive of known effects to provide an insight into the breakdown in LDPE. Moreover, an attempt is made to integrate results from different measurements using a multitude of techniques to yield a meaningful picture of the breakdown mechanism of LDPE     

Space charge behavior in XLPE cable insulation under 0.2-1.2 MV/cmdc fields

This report deals with space charge behavior in PE (polyethylene) under dc fields. Direct observation of time-dependent space charge profiles in 3-mm thick XLPE (crosslinked low-density polyethylene) cable insulation under dc electric fields was performed using the pulsed electroacoustic method. Stable hetero charges were formed when the field was as low as 0.2 MV/cm, and intermittent generation of packet shaped space charges and their propagation through the insulation were observed when the field was as high as 0.7 MV/cm. These phenomena were reproduced in sheet specimens of XLPE and LDPE (low-density polyethylene). It was found that hetero charges resulted from heat treatment of the XLPE specimen containing antioxidant and acetophenone, which is one of the crosslinking by-products, suggesting dissociation of the antioxidant through solvation at high temperature by acetophenone. The packet charges were easily detected when acetophenone was diffused into the LDPE specimen. However, uniformity of acetophenone distribution prevented the packet charge generation. It is suggested on the basis of several experimental results that local ionization of impurities in the insulation through solvation by acetophenone takes place assisted by high field and leads to the packet charge generation. A numerical simulation was carried out based on the above model     

The effect of nano‐ZnO on corona aging and photo aging in low‐density polyethylene

In this paper, space charge distributions as well as dielectric properties, such as volume resistivity and AC breakdown strength, were studied in low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and its composite obtained by adding nano‐ZnO nanofiller, before and after photo‐oxidation or corona aging for several days. It was found that a small amount of ZnO nanoparticles could effectively improve both the photostabilization and corona stabilization of the LDPE matrix. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the specimens were investigated to reveal the change of the microstructures. The results showed that a weaker carbonyl absorption peak appeared in LDPE/ZnO nanocomposite than in LDPE. A proper explanation is given according to the photodegradation and corona degradation theory of polyethylene. The results also showed that there was a certain similarity between photo aging and corona aging. IEEJ Trans 2010 DOI: 10.1002/tee.20600     

Transient phenomena of current and field distortion due to dynamics of packet‐like charges in LDPE films

Simultaneous measurements of space charge and external current were carried out using a PEA measurement system with an electrometer on the back of a grounding electrode in order to clarify the physical situation of a huge packet of positive space charges in LDPE films. A large number of positive charges from a semiconducting anode were accumulated at the interface between LDPE and an Al‐cathode at a mean applied field of 1.5 MV/cm and then finally disappeared. The results of simultaneous measurements showed that the external current kept a relatively high value during charge accumulation and further increased when the charges disappeared. Both the charge dynamics and the external current were restricted by addition of a low‐molecular‐weight paraffin wax, indicating that carrier transport was influenced by the microstructure of the polymer. The dynamics of the residual charges after short‐circuiting is also discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 179(4): 10–17, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21256     

油纸绝缘介质的空间电荷积聚与消散特性

油纸材料的绝缘问题在换流变压器、直流套管、直流电缆等高压大型直流设备大量应用的情况下显得十分突出。为探讨高压直流设备绝缘的最主要问题—空间电荷效应,应用电声脉冲法(PEA)对油纸绝缘材料的空间电荷特性进行了研究。有关外加场强对油纸材料中空间电荷积聚情况的影响和在较高场强下油纸材料的击穿破坏与空间电荷关系的研究结果表明:①低场强下油纸材料中空间电荷以电离产生为主;而在较高场强下,先后在阴极和阳极产生了同极性载流子注入。②相对于聚乙烯而言,由于油纸材料的电导率较大,材料内的空间电荷在外加电场撤去后很快消散。③空间电荷的注入和运动会导致油纸材料的劣化和破坏。油纸材料中的空间电荷快速消散现象有利于直流设备在极性反转条件下的运行,为阐释油纸绝缘良好的长期性能提供了有重要意义的试验依据。     

Factors of hetero space charge generation in XLPE under dc electric field of 20 kV/mm

This report deals with the mechanism of space charge accumulation in cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) under dc electric field. Space charge was measured by the pulsed‐electroacoustic method with applying dc stress of 20 kV/mm. A large amount of hetero space charge accumulated in fresh XLPE samples. Factors influencing the space charge accumulation were analyzed in regard to cross‐linking by‐products and antioxidant. No space charge was seen when the fresh sample was degassed to remove cross‐linking by‐products. Introducing acetophenone, one of the cross‐linking by‐products, in a degassed sample produces no space charge, suggesting that acetophenone itself could not be the direct factor of space charge formation. However, heating this sample up to 150 °C results in formation of hetero space charges as in virgin samples. Hence, it is concluded that hetero space charges may be formed when impurities, such as an antioxidant, dissociate thermally with the help of acetophenone and that the dissociated products are attracted toward both electrodes under a dc field to form the hetero space charges. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 129(2): 13–21, 1999