Advantages of XLPE insulated cables over PVC insulated cables

Physical & Electrical Properties 1) Cable dimensions get reduced with XLPE insulation as compared to PVC insulated cables 2) As XLPE is lighter than PVC, overall cable weight also reduces, which makes the cable more handy. 3) Operating temperature of XLPE insulated cables is 90 C and that of PVC is 70 C 4) Short circuit temperature for XLPE insulated cables is 250 C and that of PVC is 160 C 5) Emergency temperature rating for XLPE insulated cable is 130 C and that of PVC is 105 C 6) Insulation resistance of XLPE insulated cable is 100 times more than PVC insulated cables 7) Volume resistivity of XLPE is 1 x 10^14 ohm-cm & that of PVC is 1 x 10^12 ohm-cm 8) Therefore current rating of XLPE insulated cable is more compared to PVC insulated cables. 9) In turn XLPE cable carries more power. 10) Better resistance to surge currents. 11) Suitable for installation at sub zero temperatures, whereas standard PVC compound can't be installed even at low temperature less than 5 C. 12) Resistant to vibration, impact etc.- no hazard of hot deformation. Chemical Properties 1) XLPE bing thermosetting material, only virgin material is used. 2) XLPE is better resistant to Chemicals and corrosive gases etc. compared to PVC 3) It is also resistant to Hydrocarbons 4) XLPE being lighter than water, it resist water better than PVC. 5) XLPE being cross-linked have better mechanical properties. 6) XLPE is unfilled material more Pure and PVC is filled material, with additives.
Comparative chart shown below for Electrical Properties of XLPE Vs PVC insulated cables XLPE Insulated Multi-core Cables PVC Insulated Multi-core Cables Area Voltage Drop Current rating Short circuit rating Voltage Drop Current Rating Short circuit rating In Air In Air mm mV/A/m mV/A/m Amps Amps kA(rms) mV/A/m mV/A/m Amps Amps kA(rms) Al Cu Al Cu Al Cu Al Cu Al Cu Al Cu 2.5 -16.37 -36 -0.36 -15.36 -24 -0.29 4 16.46 10.19 30 48 0.38 0.57 15.42 9.56 23 30 0.30 0.46 6 10.24 6.81 39 62 0.56 0.86 9.60 6.39 30 39 0.46 0.70 10 6.84 4.04 53 84 0.94 1.43 6.41 3.80 40 52 0.76 1.16 16 4.19 2.55 84 111 1.50 2.29 3.99 2.39 51 66 1.22 1.86 25 2.67 1.61 107 144 2.35 3.58 2.50 1.51 70 90 1.90 2.90 35 1.93 1.17 131 178 3.29 5.01 1.81 1.10 86 110 2.66 4.06 50 1.43 0.87 158 215 4.70 7.15 1.34 0.82 105 135 3.80 5.80 70 0.99 0.61 200 269 6.58 10.01 0.93 0.57 130 165 5.32 8.12 95 0.72 0.45 246 333 8.93 13.6 0.68 0.42 155 200 7.22 11.0 120 0.58 0.36 235 385 11.3 17.2 0.54 0.34 180 230 9.12 13.9 150 0.48 0.30 269 439 14.1 21.5 0.45 0.29 205 265 11.4 17.4 185 0.39 0.25 308 507 17.4 26.5 0.37 0.25 240 305 14.1 21.5 240 0.31 0.21 364 598 22.6 34.3 0.29 0.21 280 355 18.2 27.8 300 0.26 0.19 409 682 28.2 42.9 0.25 0.18 315 400 22.8 34.8 400 0.21 0.16 470 785 37.6 57.2 0.21 0.16 375 455 30.4 46.4 500 0.19 0.15 533 890 47.0 71.5 0.18 0.15 425 516 38.0 58.0 These all advantages of XLPE results in longer cable life.