Effect of Thermal Overload on the Voltage Breakdown Strength of Service-Aged URD Cables

Present industry specifications allow thermoset insulated polymeric cables to be subjected to emergency conductor temperatures of up to 130°C. The effect of the high temperatures on cable integrity has been questioned. This study shows that cyclic, long-term or fast-rise application of 130°C to service-aged, water treed underground residential distribution (URD), crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cables, result in an increase in dielectric strength. Contrary to what happens in new cables, an increase in temperature from ambient to 130°C also results in an increase in voltage breakdown strength. It appears that at high temperature, moisture and some remnant by-products of the crosslinking reaction such as volatiles, diffuse from the insulation, contributing to the higher levels of dielectric strength. It is shown that thermoplastic insulation shields on XLPE service-aged cables are adversely affected by emergency temperatures.     

Thermoluminescence in XLPE cable insulation

Crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) has been employed in underground transmission and distribution cables because of its excellent electrical and mechanical properties, such as low permittivity and dielectric loss, high degree of toughness, and good flexibility. An underground power cable operates at temperatures above ambient and the polymeric insulation is usually crosslinked to provide mechanical strength to withstand the high temperatures. Chemical crosslinking is commonly employed; however, chemical crosslinking creates byproducts such as acetophenone, α-methylene styrene, and cumyl alcohol. The general practice is to decrease the concentration of the volatile crosslinking byproducts from the newly manufactured transmission class cables before they are commissioned into service. The concentration of the byproducts is decreased by treating the cables at a high temperature in a vacuum oven. At present, to determine the residual concentration of the byproducts, the treatment has to be stopped, a sample of the polymer has to be cut from the treated cable and the byproducts have to be extracted for several hours from the polymer before they can be analyzed. This paper describes a novel, non-destructive optical method for determining the concentration of the byproducts in XLPE prior to cable installation. The method involves in situ detection and measurement of thermoluminescence emitted by the crosslinking byproducts during the pretreatment of the cable, It is shown that the measurement of the intensity of thermoluminescence provides a direct indication of the concentration of the byproducts and that it is more sensitive than mass spectrometry     

The influence of defects on the short-term breakdowncharacteristics and long-term dc performance of LDPE insulation

Extruded polyethylene is used as the bulk insulation for ac HV cables because of its high electric resistivity and breakdown strength. Although the material at present has limited use in dc power cables, it is used extensively in submarine optical communication cable systems. This paper reports on the study of the short-term characteristics and long-term performance of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) insulation under dc electric stress. The results are presented in which controlled defects as found in practical systems (voids, metallic and non-metallic particles) were introduced into well-characterized polymer material so that their influence on electrical strength and breakdown mechanisms could be determined. Samples were compression-molded under laboratory conditions and subjected to ramp-to-failure and electrical aging tests at various stresses. Weibull statistics are used to analyze the results. Examination of electrically aged samples indicates an oxidation degradation around the defects due to stress enhancement. From the failed samples a value of n in the inverse power model was estimated. The residual life of aged samples was also examined     

Influence of internal mechanical stress and strain on electricalperformance of polyethylene electrical treeing resistance

Crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) insulations used in HV cables are not only subjected to electrical and thermal stresses, but also exposed to mechanical stresses, whether residual internal stresses created during the cooling process of the fabrication, external forces when cables are bent during installation or thermomechanical stresses caused by differential thermal expansion between the conductor and the polymeric material. In order to investigate the possible influence of mechanical stresses on dielectric properties of polyethylene, measurements were conducted on pin-plane XLPE and LDPE samples with various magnitudes of residual mechanical stresses around the embedded electrode. The time to inception, the growing rate and the shape of the electrical trees under different voltages are reported in this paper. Specimens with the highest values of residual stresses were found to have the shortest inception times and the longest trees after one hour of aging under different voltages. When the mechanical stress was allowed to relax, the treeing resistance was measured to be significantly improved     

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.     

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...     

Morphological and dielectric changes of XLPE insulation due to thermal aging

Transmission power cables are heated by conductor current. The morphology of the XLPE insulation may be changed by thermal aging. Disk-shaped insulating materials with semiconductive electrodes were used to understand this thermal effect against the dielectric breakdown strengths. The disk specimens were aged at 80 and 100°C before the breakdown strength measurements. These results showed that the dielectric breakdown strengths were improved with aging time. Analytical investigation of the insulating materials indicated that there were morphological changes such as increases of the lamella thickness and the spherulite diameter and decrease of the averaged lamella angle through heating. Cable specimens aged thermally with the same condition as the risk specimens also were observed with similar morphological changes in the insulation. Therefore it is concluded that the promotion of the crystallization by thermal aging is effective in improving the breakdown strength of the XLPE insulation unless it causes extreme deterioration.     

The performance of power cables with fully synthetic tapedinsulation

The testing of oriented polyethylene tape with an embossed surface design for use as oil-impregnated insulation for flexible power cables is described. The development was carried out with small samples in the form of sheets, small cylindrical samples about 1 m long, and long cables either 15 m or 100 m long. Tests with these experimental configurations included investigating: (1) breakdown stress and statistics of breakdown; (2) dielectric loss measurements; (3) design of screens; (4) design of splices; (5) mechanical problems of taping and installing cables; and (6) oil impregnation and type of oil. The results point the way to the next development steps. These are: (1) development of thinner embossed tapes to exploit the potential of the high dielectric strength inherent in synthetic taped insulation; (2) development of accessories such as splices and terminations; and (3) complete system design to avoid a dramatic increase in dielectric loss caused by oil contamination. If the integrity of the insulation homogeneity can be maintained, it appears the high voltage breakdown stresses will be adequate to permit economical operation     

高压XLPE绝缘电力电缆若干性能的试验及分析

通过有关试验验证与分析,提出了高压交联聚乙烯(XLPE)绝缘电力电缆的交联均匀性、交联副产物释放和屏蔽层与绝缘交界面光滑圆整性控制及其改善措施。     

化学交联三层共挤相邻规格导体换规不停车生产技术的浅析

交联聚乙烯中、高压电力电缆绝缘挤制多采用三层共挤连续交联型机组。这种型式的交联机组在挤制绝缘线芯(包括导体屏蔽、绝缘和绝缘屏蔽)时,每次变换导体规格就必须停机并更换挤出模具,这样就会将交联管内60~80 m长的绝缘线芯报废,而开机后又会浪费约150 m长绝缘线芯,浪费惊人。采用相邻规格导体不停机换模具而连续生产,这可以大大降低材料和能源的浪费,提高生产率,降低产品成本。     

The Performance of Strippable and Bonded Screened Medium-Voltage XLPE-Insulated Cables Under Long-Term Accelerated Aging

XLPE high-voltage underground cables are being extensively used in Arabian Gulf countries. Most of these cables are being manufactured locally. Although XLPE has excellent dielectric characteristics, extensive premature failures have been reported by the local power utilities. The main causes of such premature failures are related to manufacturing defects and insulation degradation mainly caused by water treeing phenomena. In this research work, five types of 15-kV, XLPE-insulated cables were subjected to accelerated aging under simultaneous electrical, thermal, and environmental stresses for periods of 60, 120, and 180 days. After each aging period, partial-discharge (PD), mechanical properties, ac dielectric strength and the extent of degradation due to water treeing of these cables were measured. The results show that PD and mechanical properties show just little variations whereas the ac-retained dielectric strength decreases rapidly in the first 60 days after which the rate of its decrease retards. Correlations are established between the retained dielectric strength and the lengths of the longest water trees. Pros and cons of the insulating materials that are used as well as the role of strippable and bonded semiconducting screens are also discussed     

Experimental enhancement for dielectric strength of polyethylene insulation materials using cost-fewer nanoparticles

The use of nanocomposite polymers as electrical insulating materials has been growing rapidly in recent decades. The base polyethylene properties have been developed by adding small amounts of different fillers to the polyethylene material. It is economically to get polymer development by using cost-fewer nanoparticles; therefore, polyethylene dielectric properties are trapped by presence cost-fewer nanofillers like clay and fumed silica which are importance in development manufacture of power cables products. Dielectric strength is a vital pointer for quality of insulation materials of electrical power applications; hence, experimental measurements have been investigated on ac high voltage breakdown of new cost-fewer polyethylene nanocomposites materials. All experimental results of the new polyethylene nanocomposites have been compared with conventional polyethylene insulation materials; therefore, it has been specified the influence types and their concentrations of cost-fewer nanofillers on dielectric strength of polyethylene nanocomposite insulation materials.     

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。     

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。     

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。     

Characteristics of laminated tape insulation in high vacuum at cryogenic temperature

A composite insulation system of laminated tape and high vacuum is newly proposed for a superconducting bus-line cable operated at relatively low voltage. Its breakdown characteristics were investigated using model cable specimens with different kinds of laminated tapes such as semisynthetic paper, polypropylene film, and kraft paper of insulation thickness less than 1 mm. First, ±dc, ac, and —Imp breakdown stresses of the semisynthetic papers were investigated. +dc breakdown stress was 21.7 kV/mm for a specimen of insulation thickness 1 mm and −dc breakdown stress was 41.5 kB/mm, so that the remarkable polar effect was observed. ac breakdown stress was 18 kV/mm. Also, the ratio of −Imp breakdown stress was about 3. Furthermore, ac breakdown stresses of other tapes were investigated, but remarkable differences among their stresses were not observed. Most of the specimens were broken from the “butt gap” between tapes. To understand this cause, measurements of the partial discharge were carried out. It was found that the inception stress of partial discharge of butt gap located just on the conductor was about 20 kV/mm, not dependent on the kind of tape. This value is much lower than the breakdown stress of the same length of vacuum gap. Therefore, it is considered that the trigger of the breakdown of this insulation system is the surface discharge along the edge of the butt gap. © 1998 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 121(3): 20–26, 1997     

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.     

Electroluminescence due to impulse voltage in cable-grade XLPE

Underground power cables in service are inadvertently subjected to impulses generated by lightning and switching surges that are superimposed on the ac voltage at which they operate. HV transients caused by lightning and switching operations not only radiate large electromagnetic fields but also impose additional stresses on the insulation and could initiate deterioration which can continue under normal operating conditions. Electrical breakdown of HV cables is a local phenomenon and electrical aging at local sites in the polymeric insulation occurs by molecular dissociation of the polymer and formation of new chemical bonds. This process usually involves the electronically excited states of the molecules that give rise to radiative phenomena, such as electroluminescence (EL). Analysis of EL can help to clarify the degradation mechanisms that occur at points of electrical stress enhancement and lead to cable breakdown. The EL technique is several orders of magnitude more sensitive than the commonly employed partial discharge detection and can provide a better understanding of the various time dependent mechanisms such as space charge injection, trapping and decay that can lead to insulation failure. The characteristics of EL in crosslinked PE subjected to impulse voltage, are described in this paper. Impulses having the same polarities as the half cycles of the ac voltage on which they are superimposed give rise to the largest number of EL pulses. Also, more EL pulses are emitted when impulses are applied at the peaks of the positive and negative half cycles than at the zero crossing of the ac voltage. This suggests that the amount of charge injected and trapped into the polymer plays a crucial role for EL emission     

The basics of power cable

Insulated power cables can seem to be complicated. In fact, many cables are electrically sophisticated. To simplify we must understand the cable's components and the basics of conductor cables. These fundamentals apply to multiple conductor cables. There are two basic components in a low voltage cable, the conductor and the electrical insulation (dielectric). There are different types of conductors and insulations. Sometimes jackets or armoring are added. As voltage increases other components are added to handle higher electrical stresses. The purpose of this paper is to discuss each component, to help an engineer specify the type components required for specific applications     

Dielectric and viscoelastic properties of cross-linked polyethylene aged under multistressing conditions

Different measurements were performed in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) employed as insulating material in coaxial cables that were field-aged and laboratory-aged under multistressing conditions at room temperature. Samples were peeled from the XLPE cable insulation in three different positions: just below the external semiconductor layer (outer layer), in the middle (middle layer) and just above the internal semiconductor layer of the cable (inner layer). The imaginary part of the electric susceptibility showed three peaks that obey the Dissado-Hill model. For laboratory-aged XLPE samples peeled from the inner and from the middle positions the peak at very low frequency region increased while in samples from the outer position a quasi-DC conduction process was observed. In medium frequency range a broadening of the peak was observed for all samples. Viscoelastic properties determined through dynamic mechanical analysis suggested that the aging generates processes that promoted changes of the crystallinity and the cross-linking degrees of the polymer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements revealed an increase of oxidation products (esters), evidence of polar residues of the bow-tie tree and the presence of cross-linking by-products (acetophenone). Optical and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) measurements in aged samples revealed the existence of voids and bow-tie trees that were formed during aging in the middle region of the cable.