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Abstract
The full form of XLPE is cross linked polyethylene. It has become the universally preferred insulation for power cables, both
for distribution and transmission system applications. This type of insulation system provides cost efficiency in operations
as well as lower environmental and maintenance requirements when compared to older conventional methods.In this
paper, to understand the insulation recovery phenomenon of water-tree cables when an applied voltage is removed, the
insulation recovery mechanism of the water tree cable is analyzed. Depending on the geometric size by micro observations
of water-tree slices, a water tree model is constructed for electric field simulation, which includes a series of water-filled
micro voids and interconnected channels. According to analysis of the electric field force and the mechanical properties
of water tree region, the force generated by the elastic deformation of the molecular chains results in the shrinking of the
channels. The breakdown strength of impulse voltage of all cables decreased during aging; the cable with the least ac voltage breakdown also has the lowest impulse voltage breakdown. Today XLPE is rapidly becoming the preferred insulation
system for even the highest transmission voltages. This preference is due to the high reliability, low dielectric losses, and
low environmental impact that can be achieved with XLPE. In recent developments in cable production, materials and
material handling techniques have together resulted in greater improvement in electrical performance.
Keywords: Adiabatic Short Circuit Current, Ageing, Cable Insulation, Insulation, Quality, Testing, Water Trees, XLPE
Cable
1. Introduction
Electrical insulation materials are employed over the
metallic conductors of underground cables at all voltage
ratings. Polymeric materials are employed as the insulation, but the nature of the polymer may vary with the
voltage class. Cross linked polyethylene XLPE cables are
the most popular medium voltage underground cables.
The full form of XLPE is cross linked polyethylene.
Polyethylene cables possess a linear molecular structure
and molecules of polyethylene not chemically bonded
as shown in Figure 1. The molecules are easily deformed
at high temperature, while XLPE molecules bonded in a
three dimensional network as shown in Figure 2, have
strong resistance to deformation even at high temperature.
XLPE cables are produced from polyethylene under
high pressure with organic peroxides as additives.
2.3Characteristics and
Advantages of XLPE Cables
129
130
4. Cables Evaluated
4.1 Process of XLPE Cables
Although it has been verified that XLPE cables can be
applied with a conductor temperature of 130C for emergency overload conditions, it must be understood that
the erecting and laying conditions necessary to allow for
those temperatures must be accurately carried out and
controlled during installation in order to restrict thermo
mechanical problems10. To be realistic, emergency conditions should be confined to 110C at conductor with the
balance of 20C premeditated as a safety margin to cope
with some concerns in the laying conditions. Subsequent
to the constant use of XLPE for medium and high voltages
for many years in the past, it has extensive field test results
which evidently witness that XLPE insulated cables are of
excellent quality particularly in respect of:
I = x IAD
1n
I AD = KS
(1)
qf + b
qi + b
t
(2)
Where,
IAD = short-circuit current calculated on an adiabatic
basis (A)
= factor to allow for heat loss into the adjacent
components. For adiabatic calculations = 1
S = nominal cross-sectional area (mm2)
() = () + j()
(3)
131
K = Ent
(4)
where, K= constant
E = constant voltage mess for cable breakdown in
time t
n = voltage endurance coefficient
t = time duration
Since the test is performed at different voltage stresses
for constant periods, except for the final step which may
be shorter, equation (2) can be expressed as:
(5)
5. Methodology
The following methodologies were used for characterization
of the samples.
132
(6)
(7)
(8)
133
6. Discussions
6.1 Water Tree Model
Generally, an ellipsoid or half ellipsoid could be modeled as
a main body of water tree20,21. The water tree bodys model
is an ellipsoid with a major axis of 0.5 mm and a minor
axis of 0.2 mm in Figure 17a. The water tree body can be
considered a series of water-filled micro voids and interconnected channels. The connecting channels between
voids were found to be around >1 m in diameter at the
foot of a water tree, whereas the channels throughout the
rest of the tree are around 10100 nm in diameter19. The
length and width of the channel is usually different for
different models of water tree. The sizes of channels can
be also different in different parts of a water tree. The difference of channels size in different water tree models can
affect the magnitude of electric field intensity. However,
the difference has not significant effect on the variation
trend of tan. According to observed results, the water
filled micro voids can be several microns in radius, and
the channels are several to tens of microns in length and
several microns in width. A simplified water tree model
is constructed in Figure 17b. The water-filled voids are
connected by plenty of channels with a length of 10 m
and a width of 2 m to form the string of pearls.
134
Figure 17. The water tree model in a cable for electric field
calculation.
g(S/m)
80
5.86 106
XLPE
2.3
1 1017
Channel open
16
1 107
1 1010
2.7
1 1011
2.3
1 1017
Semiconductor layer
100
2 103
Needle electrode
9.33 106
7. Conclusions
XLPE compounds have proven to be the most robust
solution for the manufacture of reliable HV & EHV cables.
The cable requirements depend both upon the electrical
stress and the volume of insulation. The increased requirements that come from higher stresses and smaller cables
may be accommodated by increased cable quality, particularly in terms of the cleanliness of the insulation. By
introduction of semiconducting layer as a sensitive internal
PD sensor, the essential task of HV cable life management
will be feasible by monitoring its insulation through PD
detection. So the system with XLPE insulation provides
more efficient in operation and maintenance requirements when compared to conventional paper insulation
systems. When water enters in high voltage cable the
water trees passes through the insulation by micro cracks
penetrate to the core. The growth of water trees disturbs
the electric field distribution in cable. The mechanism is
local degradation of material which becomes conductive
and changes the electric field distribution in the insulation. Cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) has become the
globally preferred insulation for power cables, both for
distribution and transmission system applications.
8. References
1. Steiner JP. Digital measurement of partial discharge. [PhD
thesis]. Purdue University, School of Electrical Engineering,
West Lafayette, Ind., USA; 1988.
2. Blackburn TR., Phung BT, James RE, Taylor P. On-line monitoring and assessment of power cable insulation condition
using partial discharges. 7th Int. Energy, Transmission
and Distribution Conference. Adelaide, Australia; 2003,
pp. 123134.
3. Steiner JP, Reynolds PH, Weeks WL. Estimating the location
of partial discharges in cables. IEEE Trans. Electr. Insul.
1992; 27:4459.
4. Tian Y, Lewin PL, Davies AE, Sutton SJ, Swingler SG. Partial
discharge detection in cables using VHF capacitive couplers. IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul. 2003; 10:343353.
5. Boggs SA. Failure mechanisms of shielded power cable
related to high ground shield resistance andror insulation
135