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.     

Development of a new type insulation diagnostic method for hot-lineXLPE cables

The authors developed an insulation diagnostic system that makes automatic measurements of the dielectric dissipation factor and DC component in a hot-line XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) insulated power cable and makes an overall judgement of cable insulation deterioration. This system was tested on XLPE cables in hot-line conditions, the criteria for judgement of insulation deterioration were established based on the results of measurements     

The Canadian Electrical Association: a leader in cable research

The history and cable research efforts of the Canadian Electrical Association (CEA) are reviewed. Since the inception of the first cable research project in 1977, the CEA and its cosponsors have funded 409 research programs. Research topics have included detectors for underground faults, water tree inhibitors, cable identification methods, ageing of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables, rural underground distribution, the effects of switching surges on cable ageing, ampacity of power cable, maximum temperature operation, and final breakdown mechanism of XLPE cables. Current cable research projects are listed     

电缆绝缘屏蔽在终端浸渍剂中的变性

在解剖一个 110 k V交联电缆的故障终端中 ,发现长时间与终端浸渍剂直接接触的交联电缆的绝缘屏蔽发生了严重变性。验证试验表明交联电缆的绝缘屏蔽材料与常用终端浸渍剂的相溶性能很差 ,长时间接触会导致绝缘屏蔽材料的物理机械性能和电导率发生很大变化。在设计、制造和安装交联电缆终端时 ,应该注意电缆的绝缘屏蔽与终端浸渍剂的隔绝。     

Evaluation of jacket materials and configurations and effect ofmoisture absorbing materials on preventing water tree growth in powercables

Polymer insulated medium voltage cables have experienced premature failures in-service, due in large part to water treeing. Research has shown that the initiation sites of these water trees are often located where there are stress enhancements at the insulation/semiconducting shield interface and where water soluble contaminants permeate into the insulation. Material suppliers, cable manufacturers and users have introduced improved materials and cable designs as well as processing, manufacturing, transport, storage, and installation techniques that minimize contamination. Despite these advancements, gradual contamination can still occur due to the diffusion of ground water into the insulation. In fact, certain contaminants that are carried through the semiconductor/insulation shield interfaces tend to promote water tree growth. Manufacturers are now beginning to recognise this problem and have suggested the use of moisture resistant cables with jackets made of PVC, polyethylene or metal/polymer laminates along with underjacket water absorbing materials. This paper discusses the effectiveness of different jackets and materials and presents data on the effectiveness of water absorbing materials in delaying water permeation into the insulation. A simple and efficient cable-cell technique was developed which monitored the effectiveness of complete cable designs, by measuring the long-term water permeation resistance of short lengths of distribution class cables     

Influence of the shield grounding system on choice of section

The choice of the ground circuit of a shield that gets rid of capacity losses is becoming especially urgent to increase the transmission capacity of lines with cross-linked polyethylene insulation. Ground systems of shields of the single-phase high-voltage power cables are studied. A mathematical model to select the section of the electric conductor for single-wire power cables for a voltage of 6–500 kV is suggested which takes into account the connection circuit of the shield permits allows one to determine the capacity losses and induced voltage on the shield. The method of selection of energy-efficient grounding systems of the shield of the three-phase group is found on the basis of the mathematical model. A selection criterion is suggested determining the relative rate of return of the “open” ground system with no currents in the shields over against the “closed” system in the shields of which parasitic currents flow.     

从缺陷影响看高压XLPE电缆绝缘减薄的必要性

传统观念认为增厚的绝缘可以提高高压XLPE电缆的安全裕度与运行可靠性,但近年来大量的理论研究与实际运行结果都对这个观点提出了质疑。为此,利用极不均匀电场中的应力集中理论以及固体电介质的弱点击穿理论,研究了绝缘与半导电屏蔽层交界面上的凸起引起的应力集中以及绝缘本体存在的杂质、微孔等缺陷导致的弱点击穿现象。结果表明,绝缘的增厚对减小凸起处电场强度的作用不大,反而降低了电缆绝缘的最小击穿电场强度,并大大增加了成本,导致了电缆在制造、运输、敷设中的一系列问题。采用高性能原材料、改进生产加工工艺才是提高电缆性能行之有效的根本措施。     

EPRI report-characterization of cable insulation materials bydynamic mechanical spectroscopy

A project that is part of a broad effort to apply nonelectrical diagnostics to the study of aging-induced changes in solid dielectric cables is described. The technique of dynamic mechanical spectroscopy is explained. The goal of the work described was to determine whether aging in high-molecular-weight polyethylene (HMWPE) or crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated distribution cable insulation could be detected by solid-state rheological measurements. Insulation from seven HMWPE and five XLPE cables were studied. The results and their interpretation are summarized. They suggest that a more detailed study of a number of service-aged and laboratory aged XLPE's, tree-resistant XLPEs, and EPR would be highly beneficial     

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.     

直流XLPE电缆绝缘中空间电荷的抑制方法综述

交联聚乙烯(XLPE)因其优异的介电、理化性能而被广泛应用于电缆绝缘领域。在电缆的服役过程中,电缆绝缘内部会积聚空间电荷,严重时可引发电场畸变,导致电缆击穿事故发生。对于直流XLPE电缆,空间电荷的积聚及影响更加不容忽视。针对直流XLPE电缆绝缘中产生的空间电荷积聚效应,目前学界主要采用共混改性、聚合物链段接枝极性基团、纳米掺杂改性及制备高纯净绝缘料等方法来进行控制,改性后的直流XLPE电缆绝缘对空间电荷产生的抑制效果均有所提升。文中首先对上述直流XLPE电缆绝缘中空间电荷的抑制方法进行综述,介绍其抑制原理以及相应的抑制效果,然后对比总结不同抑制空间电荷方法的优缺点,最后对未来直流XLPE电缆绝缘中空间电荷抑制方法的研究发展作出展望。     

The world's first use of 500 kV XLPE insulated aluminium sheathedpower cables at the Shimogo and Imaichi power stations

The world's first practical applications of 500 kV XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) cables took place in 1988 at the Shimogo power station of the Electric Power Development Co. Ltd., and the Imaichi power station of the Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc.. Research and development work on the cables had been conducted since 1982. Efforts were concentrated on quality control to remove contaminants from the insulation and to extrude the very thick-walled insulation without any defects. Insulation performance tests, including long-term aging, confirmed that the 500 kV XLPE cables and the terminations were highly reliable with superior initial and long-term performance. The installation was completed successfully, and the cables are now in satisfactory operation at both power stations. The cable routes, design of the cable and termination, cable manufacture, results of the insulation performance tests, installation work, and site test are discussed     

Innovative approaches in domestic cable engineering

The basic directions are considered for scientific and technological progress in domestic cable engineering based on innovative approaches. These approaches include the development and organization of the production of medium- and high-voltage cables with cross-linked polyethylene insulation and a switch based on studies conducted on the widespread use of highly fire-proof cables. In particular, attention is focused on the developments in the line of optical cables, specifically for the cables of broadband access systems. Information is given on the prospects of using the superconductivity phenomenon in cable engineering.     

Development of a method of partial discharge detection inextra-high voltage cross-linked polyethylene insulated cable lines

Deterioration in the insulation performance of extra-high voltage XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) cables is believed to be attributable to the deterioration caused by partial discharges. After using an XLPE cable to investigate the behavior of partial discharges under various adverse conditions, the authors succeeded in developing a highly sensitive novel method of measuring partial discharge in XLPE cable lines. Partial discharges in a 275 kV XLPE cable live line have been measured using this method. As a result, a detection sensitivity of 1 pC has been achieved     

Cable insulation density profile determined from ultrasonicvelocity measurements

Density results obtained on the same cable sample with a column and from ultrasonic measurements are reported. A calibration curve relating ultrasonic velocity and cable insulation density is given for PE and crosslinked PE (XLPE) cables. The limits and advantages of deducing density profiles of cable insulation using a focused, ultrasound beam rather than the more time-consuming column measurements are discussed     

基于振荡波局部放电检测的电力电缆绝缘老化状态评价与故障定位

随着我国社会发展进步,电缆线路的铺设速度愈发加快.交联聚乙烯电缆凭借其优良的运行性能,在国内广泛铺设,但囿于复杂的运行环境,电缆常因此受到不同程度的绝缘老化.目前,在高压交联电缆线路现场试验和状态检测中,阻尼振荡波电压下的局部放电实验还未有重大突破,缺乏相关的实验数据.文中介绍了振荡波局部放电实验的原理及其实验装置,并对通过对比分析三条绝缘老化程度差异明显、在电缆接头与终端分别出现绝缘缺陷的电力电缆,得到了绝缘老化程度与电缆局部放电参数(放电起始电压、放电电量等)之间的相对关系.凭借局部放电定位的手段,进行了电缆绝缘老化故障的位置分析,并证明了阻尼振荡波电压下的局部放电实验的优良性与适用性.     

高压XLPE电力电缆绝缘老化状态评价研究进展

高压交联聚乙烯（XLPE）电力电缆的绝缘老化状态关系到供电可靠性,故电缆绝缘老化状态检测及评价方法的研究意义重大。对于高压电缆的绝缘老化状态检测及评价,国内外已有相关研究成果,文中总结了目前常用的高压电缆绝缘状态离线、在线检测及评价方法。离线检测手段准确性高,但不适于对在役电缆进行大面积取样检测;在线监测的环境干扰因素太多,存在的干扰会对监测结果产生影响,有一定检测局限性,且缺乏大量的实验数据支撑;而对于电缆绝缘老化状态评价方法,尚未有广泛认可的评价标准和体系。文中在总结概述现有方法的基础上,提出了目前电缆老化绝缘状态综合评价方法存在的难点及未来电缆绝缘老化评价研究可提升的方向。     

Technological progress in high-voltage XLPE power cables in Japan.I

The author reviews technological progress in the design and production of cross-linked polyethylene cable and discusses the present status of the products taking advantage of this technology. A brief historical background is given. The methods for determining or choosing cable characteristics, such as insulation thickness, service life, and cable quality, are discussed. Progress in production technology is discussed, covering improvements in polyethylene, three-layer common extrusion, dry curing, and smoothing of the semiconductive shield layers     

Condition assessment and failure modes of solid dielectric cablesin perspective

Older solid dielectric cables are now approaching the end of their life and failing. Consequently there has been a sustained effort for the development of techniques to assess the remaining life of in-service cables for the purpose of establishing replacement criteria. Because of the generally accepted belief that the failure mode is due to the aging of the insulation, these techniques have mainly focused on measuring changes in the electrical properties of the insulation. However, it has been determined that there are other failure modes associated with loss of the protective function of the jacketing material leading to corrosion and breaks in the metallic shields and poor contact between semiconductor and metallic shield, causing arcing damage and eventual failure of the cable. This failure mode is more prevalent in cables operated in a harsh chemical environment. This paper presents the results of a research program aimed at developing a test protocol that is based on evaluating the condition of all the cable components and not just the insulation. The tests were designed to evaluate the condition of jacket, extent of corrosion of the metallic shield, and degree of degradation of the cable insulation. The results are discussed in terms of correlations between the field measurement parameters and the condition of the cable, and prioritization criteria for cable replacement