Identification of space charge in cable insulation: a new approach using molecular simulation

Abstract

Electrical breakdown in high voltage cable insulation is correlated with the presence of a space charge. Beside experimental characterisation, physical and phenomenological modelling, an alternative approach is proposed, based on recent developments in computational chemistry, which can give information on each individual trap. The paper shows a way to relate the results from molecular simulation by ab-initio methods to some macroscopic features. First results show the trapping behaviour associated to different defects in the insulation.