Space charge evolution in XLPE cable insulation under high electric fields

Abstract

The authors improved the conventional pulse electro-acoustic method to measure the space charge evolution in XLPE cable insulation with applying very high voltage. Using this technique, the space charge distribution was measured applying an electric field of over 1 MV/cm to 3-mm thick XLPE cable insulation. Under high fields, positive charge packets appeared intermittently in the vicinity of the anode and moved towards the cathode. This behavior is supposed to be affected by the change in temperature and material composition. This report deals with the results of space charge measurement at different temperatures, as well as with different material compositions.