Polarisation Mechanisms and their Effect in Cable
Joints
T Joubert, J.J. Walker
Vaal University of Technology
Andries Potgieter Blvd, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
theresa@vut.ac.za, jerry@vut.ac.za
Abstract: With the introduction of cross linked polyethylene
(XLPE) insulated cables and the phasing out of paper insulated
(PILC) cables, the application of transition joints has become the
norm when existing PILC cables fail and a joint in the cable is
required. Heat shrink type cable joints using stress control tubes
and other insulation tubes make a complex capacitive geometry
and as a result of this the stress distribution is also complex. This
paper will investigate the testing of medium voltage (MV) cables
with very low frequencies (VLF) in the stress distribution
becoming more complex as the resistivities of the materials
dominate at low frequencies as well as the phenomena of longer
time constant polarisation and report on unusual discharge
activities in a number of heat shrink type transition joints.
I. INTRODUCTION
Ever since electricity was first transmitted via medium
voltage (MV) power cables, the insulation mediums and design
have developed and therefore the prime asset that utilities have
to operate and maintain constitutes MV power cable networks
[1]. During cable testing it is ideal if the same power
frequency can be applied as is done during normal cable
operating conditions [2]. To prevent unnecessary downtime of
medium voltage cable systems it is important to detect failing
cables early [3].
In many countries more than half of underground cable
networks still consist of paper-insulated cables with almost all
new cable installations being polymeric type [4]. Due to
network expansion and system upgrading some circuits have a
combination of both XLPE and PILC cable segments [5]. To
connect these old and new cable technologies a ‘transition
joint’ is used and is now increasingly applied at all voltage
levels [4]. Transition joints are used to connect different cable
insulation materials and constructions, screen designs,
conductor materials and cross sections for single core and three
core cables [4].
To cater for more effective and steadfast cable accessories in
medium voltage application, mechanical shear bolt connectors
are the preferred choice and more frequently used, and even
though these connectors have been successfully applied on
cable accessories for over a decade, it is still unsure what the
feedback will be over the long-run regarding the performance
of the shear bolt connectors [6]. The purpose of this paper is to
investigate the dielectric behaviour of this joint with reference
to polarisation processes in order to give information on the
cable system condition [3].
978-1-5386-5086-8/18/$31.00©2018 IEEE
II. CABLE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Condition assessment of power cables is an important task
to maintain and manage power networks [2]. In the past power
diagnostic tests were performed using DC. Testing XLPE
cables at DC causes premature failure because the charge that
is retained after the tests causes harmful over-voltages in the
power cable on switching back to normal operation power
frequency voltage [7]. As an alternative method the VLF test
was used in the place of 50Hz AC voltage testing [2]. The core
aim of 0.1Hz testing was to deal with the great capacitive load
the cables introduced and doing tests with 0.1Hz is now
integrated in most cable standards (SANS 10198, IEEE400,
IEC 6006-3) [8]. Some researchers are of the opinion that
0.1Hz testing will become the norm when testing cables
because normal operating conditions at 50Hz is similar to the
electrical stress at 0.1Hz sinusoidal wave form [8]. However,
other researchers are sceptical about the efficiency of using
VLF in practice and hence created disagreement in industry [9].
Partial discharge (PD) occurs in high voltage electrical
equipment like cables, in the form of a very small spark that
occurs due to a high electrical field and is the partial
breakdown of the insulation and also occur in cable dielectrics
[8]. Insulation is progressively damaged by PD and therefore
insulation must be designed to withstand PD [8]. A typical
tell-tale result that certain types of partial discharge is
occurring is a PD related residue in the form of white powder
present at the heavy discharge points [8].
III. CABLE ACCESSORIES
The cable joint is an accessory which makes the connection
between two or more insulated power cables to form a
continuous circuit. Cable accessories are more defect-prone
than cables and is therefore the weakest link in the distribution
line. Defects exist due to poor installation, in-service or
manufacturing processes. The aim of the jointer and the
manufacturer must be to obtain a joint with properties as good
as the original cable in both electrical and mechanical terms
[10]. In underground cable networks, the majority of the faults
are caused by joints that degraded and contribute to
approximately 50% to 80% of sudden failures [2]. This is
where PD diagnostics of XLPE cables can assist greatly since
damaged accessories can effortlessly be identified and located
using existing PD systems [8]. In most cases the PD is not
located within the cable insulation itself, but in joints and
terminations, most of the defects observed are located in the
accessories [11]. During a recent case study of heat shrink
type transition joints in cables that was originally tested with
VLF failed and upon investigation the presence of PD related
residues in the form of white powder was discovered in an
interface between two dielectric layers, as shown in Fig.1.
The model was defined as axi-simmetrical, only the upper part
of the cable was drawn lengthwise. Fig. 3 shows the insulator
materials as well as the contours where the stress and voltage
values were taken respectively at operating frequency of 50Hz,
a lower frequency of 10Hz and a very low frequency of 0.1Hz.

Partial discharge residue

(white substance)

Figure 3. The different layers in the transition joint and the

Figure 1. Partial discharge in interface between stress- and contours for the measurements are indicated
insulation tube of a heat shrink transition type joint
The conductivities and the permittivities of the materials
It was mentioned that the presence of this white powdery remained constant for all frequency values and electric fields.
residue is an indication of partial discharge at the heavy Each simulation was performed according to SANS 10198-13.
discharge points. The popularity of VLF testing improved as The specifications of the insulation materials used for the
another method for testing objects demanded great reactive simulation and the voltage (U0) used are as listed in Table 1.
power such as power cables. Conversely, there is still a lack of TABLE I
consistent findings of partial discharge structures with the MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF SIMULATED TRANSITION JOINT
application of VLF voltage excitation. This paper will Insulation Stress XLPE Void filling
compare between testing at normal power frequency of 50Hz Tube Tube Tape
and at VLF [12]. A simulation of the particular heat shrink Permittivity  5 25 2.5 5
type transition joint was done with QuickfieldTM Finite Conductivity  1.00E-11 2.00E-9 1.00E-14 1.00E-6
Testing Voltage for 11kV cable (rms)
Element Analysis software.
VLF (0.1Hz) 19kV
10Hz and 50Hz 13kV
IV. SIMULATION OF A CABLE SYSTEM USING QUICKFIELDTM FEA
The study involved a model of a usual MV (medium voltage) V. RESULTS OF THE SIMULATION
cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulated cable and a heat
shrink transition type joint simulated by means of Ouickfield A. CONTOUR 1
TM
Finite Element Analysis Software. Fig. 2 shows an example
of the geometric model of the transition joint.

Figure 2. Geometric model of the transition joint

The same model, number of nodes and grid size was used
individually for the multi-layer simulations at different
frequencies. The exact scale and dimensions of the model was
not applied and are therefore only an estimation of the Figure 4. Voltages at Contour 1 at different frequencies
thicknesses of the insulation material in a 95 mm2, 11 kV cable.
 Figure 5. Stresses at Contour 1 at different frequencies Figure 9. Stresses at Contour 3 at different frequencies

B. Contour 2 D. Contour 4

Figure 6. Voltages at Contour 2 at different frequencies

Figure 10. Voltages at Contour 4 at different frequencies

Figure 7. Stresses at Contour 2 at different frequencies

Figure 11. Stresses at Contour 4 at different frequencies
E. Contour 5
C. Contour 3

Figure 12. Voltages at Contour 5 at different frequencies

Figure 8. Voltages at Contour 3 at different frequencies

Figure 13. Stresses at Contour 5 at different frequencies
VI. DISCUSSION
From the five contours at the different frequencies it can be
seen that the voltages and stresses for 10Hz and 50Hz
respectively was mainly the same but did however differ for
0.1Hz. VLF tests stress different components of a multi-layer
insulation system compared to 50Hz testing. The voltage
distribution across the insulation with VLF applied is larger
than with the 50Hz voltage application. The layers of a multi-
layer insulation form interfaces where charge accumulation
occurs due to differences in electrical properties. This is called
interfacial polarisation. Space charges then accumulate at the
interfaces causing dielectric losses [14]. Applying direct
voltage to a dielectric for an adequate time period and then
removing it will cause deterioration of polarisation to zero, this
it is not instantaneous but the dipoles will take a finite time to
return to a random distribution from a field oriented alignment.
The build-up of polarisation after the quick application of a
direct voltage will take a finite time interval before a maximum
polarisation value is reached and this occurrence is called
dielectric relaxation [14]. In heterogeneous polymers the
relaxation time for interfacial polarisation can take as long as a
few seconds [13]. It can also be seen that at lower frequencies
the stress and voltage distribution is a function of the insulation
resistivity [9,13]. Results of the simulation at 0.1Hz sinusoidal
voltage demonstrates that even though these low frequencies
are used the charge distribution is reliant on both the
permittivity and the conductivity of the materials [14]. With
power frequency voltages the permittivity values of the
materials determine the stress and voltage distribution [9,13].
In AC the polarity change will cause the charge alignment of
the polymer to be shifting back and forth and the frequency
will control the rate of realignment. When reviewing
polarisation phenomena to frequency it is significant to recall
that it is also time dependent. Insulation materials operating
under AC demonstrate that there will be dielectric relaxation
within the insulating molecules for the duration of each cycle
because of the movement under the changing field and the rate
of change is determined by the relaxation time. This
occurrences will have an effect on permittivity and dielectric
losses [14]. As the supply voltage frequency reduces and at a
specific frequency the effect of the conductivity becomes more
dominant and the interfacial relaxation has a great effect on the
charge distribution. The volume resistivity of the materials
starts playing a role at a frequency of about 10Hz [14].
VII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A joint in a cable network forms a complex multi-layer
insulation system. Only the resistivity properties of the cable
system is tested with a DC application and for the permittivity
properties of the components to be stressed the cable system is
energised with alternating current AC 50Hz. New
technologies in testing voltage sources enable testing the
permittivity properties of the cable system and simulate the
same stresses as in service with AC system conditions [1]. To
avoid cable system failures and correctly make informed
remaining-life decisions regarding potential replacement of
condemned or aged MV power cables, different methods of
testing must be applied. More research is needed on the
viability of VLF testing at 0.1Hz to represent cable systems
under operating conditions and to determine the relevance of
sinusoidal voltages below 10Hz and specifically 0.1Hz.
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