Hiroshi Yamanouchi

Development of 500-kV XLPE cables and accessories for long distance underground transmission line-Part I: insulation design of cables

This paper discusses the results of a basic study for the development of 500 kV XLPE power cables. The authors have established that the factors that decide the performance of todays XLPE cables are impurities in the insulator and protrusions on the semiconductive layer, and that the insulation performance of XLPE power cables is determined by the size of these defects. In model tests of XLPE power cables, the minimum insulation breakdown stress of cables was determined, to set the design values for 500 kV XLPE cable. As a result, it was found that it is possible to design cables having an insulation thickness of 25 mm. >

Development of 500-kV XLPE cables and accessories for long distance underground transmission line. III. Electrical properties of 500-kV cables

500-kV XLPE-insulated cable with an insulation thickness of 27 mm has been developed for long-distance transmission lines. Basic studies on 500-kV XLPE cable have shown that contaminants in the insulation may be the factor determining electrical performance. This hypothesis is justified by the good correlation obtained between statistical estimations of the size of the largest contaminant in the insulation and the electrical characteristics of full-sized cables. Voltage-withstand and long-term tests have confirmed the design values for minimum breakdown stress, for AC and impulse voltage, and for the degradation coefficients.

Study on the dielectric characteristics of DC XLPE cables

The DC characteristics of XLPE (crosslinked polyethylene) power cables were investigated. Cables with an insulation thickness of 2.5 mm, 9 mm, and 13 mm using either XLPE or conductive-inorganic-filled XLPE (XL-A) were manufactured, and four kinds of breakdown tests (DC, polarity reversal, impulse, and superposing opposite polarity impulse on DC prestress) were performed. A 250 kV, XL-A cable (20 mm thickness) was designed and manufactured using the results. The test results show that the XL-A cable possesses much better DC breakdown characteristics than the XLPE cable and is adequate for use in DC cables. >