Application of a novel polypropylene to the insulation of an electric power cable

Cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) has been widely adopted as insulating material for high‐voltage power cables up to 500 kV. Further improvement of electrical and thermal properties on insulating material is required in order to increase cable operation efficiency. Therefore, the development of novel insulating material possessing high thermal properties will be necessary. Recent progress of catalysis technology contributes to obtain new polymeric materials which may be applied to electrical insulation. The authors investigated the basic properties of newly developed stereoregular syndiotactic polypropylene (s‐PP) which is synthesized with homogeneous metallocene catalyst. Though recycling of cross‐linked polymers such as conventionally used XLPE may be difficult because of their poor heat deformation, the s‐PP which is not cross‐linked must be suitable for recycling. A series of experiments on its physical and electrical properties gave the following results.

• (1) s‐PP has sufficient flexibility compared with isotactic polypropylene (i‐PP ).
• (2) Both AC and lightning impulse breakdown strength of s‐PP in spite of no cross‐linking are superior to those of XLPE in the temperature range from 25 to 90 °C.
• (3) Degradation by copper of s‐PP is less than that of i‐PP.
• (4) s‐PP/VLDPE blend shows sufficient brittleness temperature for use.

These results suggested that s‐PP should serve as insulating material for power cables at higher‐temperature operation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 146(1): 18–26, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002//eej.10210     

Investigation of Water Tree Degradation in Dry‐Cured and Extruded Three‐Layer (E‐E Type) 6.6‐kV Removed XLPE Cables

Dry‐cured and extruded three‐layer (E‐E type) 6.6‐kV cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables were introduced into electric power systems more than 30 years ago, but they do not experience failures because of water tree degradation. Also, the degradation index of water treeing for these cables has not been established. Therefore, investigating results of residual breakdown voltage and water tree degradation of these cables will help us plan for cable replacement and determine water tree degradation diagnosis scheduling, and will be fundamental data for cable lifetime evaluation. In this study, the authors measured the ac breakdown voltages of dry‐cured and E‐E type 6.6‐kV XLPE cables removed after 18 to 25 years of operation and observed the water trees in their XLPE insulation. As a result, it was observed that breakdown voltages were larger than the maximum operating voltage (6.9 kV) and the ac voltage for the dielectric withstanding test (10.3 kV). Water trees were mainly bow‐tie water trees and their maximum length was approximately 1 mm. Although the number of measured cables was limited, the lifetime of this type of cable was estimated to be approximately 40 years, even experiencing water immersion.     

Comparative laboratory evaluation of TR-XLPE and XLPE cables with Super-smooth conductor shields

This paper provides data on four commercial tree retardant crosslinked polyethylene (TR-XLPE) and one cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated 15 kV cables supplied by three manufacturers. The cables have "super-smooth" conductor shields and "extra-clean" insulation and insulation shields. AC and impulse voltage breakdown and selected other characterization data are presented for cables that were aged immersed in room temperature water (15-30/spl deg/C) up to 24 months of a planned 48 months aging program. The five cables have high ac voltage breakdown strength, three of the TR-XLPE cables, actually increased in breakdown strength during aging. The one TR-XLPE cable that had the lowest ac voltage breakdown had vented trees at the insulation shield and high dissipation factor, which the other cables did not have. The impulse voltage breakdown strength of all cables decreased during aging; the cable with the lowest ac voltage breakdown also has the lowest impulse voltage breakdown. The dissimilar performance of the TR-XLPE cables and the excellent performance of the XLPE cable indicates evaluations at longer times are required to differentiate between modern TR-XLPE and XLPE insulated cables.     

Insulating materials evaluation for Cold Dielectric superconducting cables

The realisation of the so-called "cold dielectric" cable, where the insulation is kept at a cryogenic temperature, entails the choice of an optimised insulation system, with properties that are the best compromise between physical-electrical characteristics and design requirements. To this purpose, a specific study was planned to qualify different materials. On the basis of literature results, mostly carried out at liquid helium temperature, polypropylene laminate (PPL), paper, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fiber and ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) were chosen as potential candidates for the final use in liquid nitrogen. Electrical properties of materials were evaluated and compared by means of different models. Flat and cylindrical models were used to characterise the intrinsic properties of materials and determine the impact of the technological processes, respectively. Short term and long term tests were carried out at liquid nitrogen temperature and at different absolute pressures for the evaluation of electrical endurance. As far as short term tests are concerned, AC and lightning impulse (LI) breakdown step tests were performed. Long term tests were carried out under AC field; furthermore, power factor and partial discharge measurements were made to evaluate the impregnation process. The results of the whole testing procedure indicate that PPL shows the best behaviour for the application at cryogenic temperature in a superconducting cable.     

高温超导电缆及其低温绝缘研究现状

概述了世界上高温超导电缆的研究历史和现状,介绍了高温超导电缆本体的基本结构及绝缘要求,分析了高温超导电缆主绝缘的结构及存在的问题。针对高温超导电缆中使用的液氮和几种低温固体绝缘材料,分别介绍了其在低温环境下介电性能的相关研究进展。总结发现：液氮的击穿场强受到气泡和电极材料的影响;液氮下绝缘材料的直流击穿场强高于交流击穿场强;聚酰亚胺在液氮下的交直流击穿场强高于聚丙烯层压纸;低温会抑制环氧树脂中电树枝的生长。     

Recyclable insulation material for HVDC cables in Global Energy Interconnection

With the development of modern power systems, especially that of the global energy internet, high-voltage, direct current(HVDC) cable power transmission will play an important role in the future. The key problem of HVDC cable power transmission is the need for novel cable insulation materials that have high performance, recyclability, and higher working temperature to replace traditional crosslinked polyethylene. This paper investigates the thermal and electrical properties of polypropylene(PP)/Al2 O3 nanocomposites as a potential recyclable HVDC cable insulation material. The developed nanocomposites exhibit excellent thermal and electrical properties with the introduction of Al2 O3 nanoparticles. Particularly, the space charge accumulation is greatly suppressed.     

Impulse breakdown superposed on ac voltage in XLPE cable insulation

This paper discusses tree inception and breakdown voltage characteristics of XLPE cable insulation subjected to impulse voltages superimposed on ac voltage. The tree initiation tests were performed on laboratory-molded specimens equipped with needle electrodes, whereas the breakdown tests were conducted on a full-sized cable. The impulse tree initiation stress was found to be dependent on the magnitude of the pre-applied ac stress and the relative polarities of the impulse and the ac peak at the instant of their superposition. Although the impulse polarity has an effect on the tree inception, the general behavior is that the tree inception stress always decreases with an increase of the pre-applied ac stress. This phenomenon is discussed in terms of the space charge effect and the influence of the impulse voltage application itself. The impulse strength of a full-sized cable insulation was found to be independent of the pre-applied ac stress as long as that stress did not exceed the operating stress of a 500 kV cable insulation. However, subjecting cable insulation to higher ac stresses before impulse application caused a reduction of its breakdown strength as compared with the insulation without ac prestressing     

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     

500kV XLPE电缆绝缘中树枝化现象的述评

介绍日本开发 5 0 0 k V XL PE电力电缆时研究树枝化现象的形成 ,评述 XL PE电缆形成电树和水树与场强的相关性、树枝引发场强和长期寿命特性的研究结果 ,说明由此确定 5 0 0 k V XL PE电力电缆的绝缘设计。     

High‐field electrical properties of new LDPE films prepared using metallocene catalyst

Now low‐density polyethylene (M‐LDPE) prepared using metallocene catalyst has narrower composition distribution and molecular weight distributions than linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) using Ziegler catalyst. The authors compared the electrical insulating properties of M‐LDPE films and conventional LLDPE films. The high‐field current of M‐LDPE was found to be lower than that of LLDPE. The difference in current increased with the decrease of temperature. The high‐field current was much reduced in M‐LDPE with a low melting point. The impulse breakdown strength of M‐LDPE increased with the decrease of temperature. The insulating properties of M‐LDPE with a low melting point were improved at 30 °C. These results were explained by the fact that M‐LDPE with a low melting point includes more low‐molecular‐weight components. We also discuss the effects of antioxidant on the electrical properties of M‐LDPE. We compared the electrical conduction and breakdown strength of undoped M‐LDPE and antioxidant‐doped M‐LDPE. Differences in their electrical properties were minor. It was found that the excellent properties of M‐LDPE do not depend on the effects of antioxidant. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 130(2): 1–9, 2000     

纳米改性聚丙烯复合绝缘材料性能研究Ⅰ——在交流电场下的击穿特性

聚丙烯作为一种复合绝缘材料目前已广泛应用于射频电容器及电力电缆等设备中。聚丙烯混合天然纳米黏土颗粒后可作为一种纳米复合绝缘材料应用于实际工程中。本文旨在通过实验及理论的研究获取该复合绝缘材料的电气性能,为其应用提供技术支持。首先搭建了一套用于测试材料电气击穿特性的综合实验平台,接着分别在2种不同的加压方式下测量得到了混合不同重量比例(0%、2%和6%)纳米黏土颗粒的聚丙烯绝缘薄膜的电流密度及击穿场强值。研究结果表明:1)混合纳米颗粒的聚丙烯其击穿场强要明显高于未经纳米黏土添加的试品;2)复合绝缘材料电流密度与电场强度之间呈现非线性的函数关系,并有饱和趋势。随着电场强度的增加,复合绝缘材料的相对介电常数也发生着变化。在本文的实验样品范围内,纳米黏土颗粒的添加比重为2%时对于材料电气性能的提升较为明显。本文的研究成果可为聚丙烯复合绝缘材料的应用提供参考。     

Dielectric insulation characteristics ofliquid-nitrogen-impregnated laminated paper-insulated cable

The electrical characteristics and insulation design strength of liquid-nitrogen-impregnated synthetic insulation were considered. The impregnation of liquid nitrogen into insulation paper can be monitored by measuring the electrostatic capacitance of the cable. ∈ tan δ, an index of the dielectric loss, was 0.31% for cellulose paper and 0.18% for semisynthetic paper, polypropylene laminated semisynthetic paper, and biaxially oriented polypropylene laminated paper. It was found that the decline of the thickness dependence of the breakdown strength of the liquid-nitrogen-impregnated insulating cable was steeper than that of the oil-filled cables. It is possible to design the insulation strength of the 66 kV cable to be 10 kV/mm     

茂金属聚乙烯改性低密度聚乙烯介电性能与机械强度

为提高聚乙烯电缆料的击穿强度和机械性能,将少量茂金属聚乙烯(MPE)与普通低密度聚乙烯(LDPE)共混,用电声脉冲法(PEA)测量直流预压短路后的残余空间电荷量;详细研究了共混物的体积电阻率、直流击穿强度、直流预压反极性击穿电压和机械强度.实验结果表明:当MPE含量为1wt%时,能有效提高共混物的击穿强度和机械强度,但同时降低了体积电阻率和材料韧性,而且聚乙烯的介电性能和机械强度与其结晶形态密切相关.     

Effect of water on aging of XLPE cable insulation

Cables as elements of power distribution system have great influence on its reliable service and overall planning requirements. During last years, crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) cables have been more and more used in power systems. This paper presents the results of an investigation of changing of (XLPE) cables insulation breakdown stress (AC BDS) due to water absorption. The paper deals with AC BDS of the following kinds of XLPE cable insulations: steam and dry cured with water tree retardant crosslinked polyethylene (TR-XLPE) and non-tree retardant crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE). During tests, the tap water was injected into, (1) conductor with cable ends closed; (2) into cable conductor with ends opened; and (3) into metallic screen with cable ends opened. The presence of water in XLPE cables was subjected to electrical stress and heating. AC BDS tests were performed as a function of aging time and water content in the cable insulation at different aging temperatures. Also, in this investigation, tests with the changing of AC BDS in the radial direction of unaged and aged XLPE cable insulations were carried out.     

高压交流电缆用交联聚乙烯绝缘料性能对比实验研究

中国高电压等级交流电缆用交联聚乙烯(XPLE)绝缘料研发较晚,目前国产220 kV电压等级绝缘料暂未获得工程应用.以3种国内外高压电缆XLPE绝缘料为研究对象,对比分析绝缘料热压试样的工频击穿场强、介电常数、介质损耗正切、熔融和结晶性能、拉伸强度、断裂伸长率、微观形貌和交联度等参数.实验测试结果表明:国产XLPE绝缘料...     

Condition assessment of 12- and 24-kV XLPE cables installed during the 80s. Results from a joint Norwegian/Swedish research project

This paper reports the results from the condition assessment of 12- and 24-kV cross-linked polyethylene (XPLE) cables using a technique based on dielectric spectroscopy initially developed at KTH in Sweden. The work aims to examine whether the method could detect water tree degradation for the second generation medium voltage (MV) cables with long, but not bridging, water trees. While the overall cable condition was better than expected for second generation XPLE cables, water trees were found in most of the selected cables. The diagnostic method based on the measurement of the dielectric response could only detect water tree degradation in the examined second generation cables when the water trees bridged the insulation wall. Condition assessment above service stress may, in some cases, be required to detect bridging water trees. The results indicate that there is a correlation between the voltage level and the breakdown voltage of the cable. This can be used as a diagnostic criterion for this group of cables.     

高压直流电缆用纳米复合聚乙烯的研究

高压直流电缆运行中的温度梯度效应导致电缆外绝缘层场强严重畸变,降低了绝缘的电气强度和使用寿命。通过添加1%纳米填料制备复合低密度聚乙烯(LDPE)绝缘材料,能有效消弱温度梯度场对LDPE绝缘中场强的畸变特性。同时,添加1%的纳米填料,不但未改变LDPE的直流击穿强度,且体积电阻率略有增加。     

钛酸铜钙-氮化硼掺杂EPDM复合介质的电学和力学性能研究

非线性电导材料的应用是解决高压直流电缆附件内部电场集中问题的一种有效方案.因此,通过掺杂钛酸铜钙(calcium copper titanate,CCTO)纳米填料对三元乙丙橡胶(ethylene-propylene-diene monomer,EPDM)进行改性,在较低的掺杂体积分数(2％CCTO)下,复合介质展现出...     

Effects of inorganic fillers on withstanding short‐time breakdown and long‐time electrical aging of epoxy composites

Inorganic fillers were added to epoxy resin for preparing micro and nano filler/epoxy composite, and then the breakdown strengths, depths of erosion caused by partial discharge, and electrical tree experiments of composites were investigated. It was found that the loading of micro fillers usually decreases the short‐time breakdown strength (breakdown under a continuously rising voltage) of the composites. On the contrary, it increases the ability to withstand long‐time electrical aging (erosion or breakdown caused by electrical tree under a discontinuously rising voltage or constant voltage) of the composites. The effect of inorganic fillers in suppressing the electrical tree or erosion channel propagation in the composite is different during the process of withstanding short‐time breakdown and long‐time electrical aging. Defects are introduced during the mixing of fillers and epoxy resin, which play a role to decrease the short‐time breakdown strength and accelerate long‐time electrical aging. It is concluded that micro and nano inorganic fillers can suppress the electrical tree channel propagation and erosion caused by partial discharge, whereas defects play the opposite role in composites. Two opposite effects of inorganic fillers and defects exist simultaneously during the process of electrical aging and breakdown; whereas inorganic fillers play a primary role in long‐time electrical aging, defects play a primary role in short‐time breakdown.     

提升纳米复合电介质击穿强度的理论与方法

聚合物复合电介质材料在电工领域有着广泛的应用。在电力设备运行过程中,电介质材料在温度、电(磁)场、机械力以及环境的作用下会发生击穿现象,造成电力设备失效以及由此引起的损失。因此,提升复合电介质的击穿强度一直是电工领域的重要问题。纳米复合电介质代表未来电力设备绝缘的发展方向。该文首先简述聚合物电介质的基本击穿理论,并总结提升纳米复合电介质击穿强度的基本策略及原理。接着,聚焦纳米粒子对电荷产生、输运以及电场分布的作用,总结几种提高纳米复合电介质击穿强度的方法,包括纳米粒子的表面工程、调控纳米粒子的维度和排列、制备多层结构的复合电介质、制备核壳结构纳米粒子复合介质,以及利用金属纳米颗粒的纳米效应。最后,对提升纳米复合电介质击穿强度未来的研究方向进行展望。