Advances in TR-XLPE insulation

Abstract

TR-XLPE is widely accepted within North America as the MV power cable insulation material of choice due to its superior long-life performance and excellent value. Since the introduction of TR-XLPE in 1982, evolutionary and sometimes revolutionary improvements have been made by both the compound producer and cable manufacturer leading to enhanced cable performance and greater value to the power industry. For example, determined efforts by both compound producers and cable manufacturers over the past 20 years have led to dramatic improvements in compound and cable cleanliness and interface quality through advancements in contamination detection, compound production process, additive and resin quality, materials handling as well as in the cable manufacturing process with the advent of true-triple extrusion and dry cure crosslinking. These improvements have resulted in longer life cables based on accelerated wet electrical cable tests and as evidenced in actual field life. Most recently, TR-XLPE compound technology advances have resulted in a material that is easier for the cable manufacturer to process and somewhat easier for utilities to handle. Specific benefits of the recent advances include improved compound extrusion processability via enhanced scorch retardance and easier semicon strippability from the TR-XLPE, while maintaining the superior electrical performance that the industry has come to expect from TR-XLPE.