The impact of layout and concentration of defects on the electromechanical constraints in the MV cables insulation

Abstract

The problem of the dense presence of voids in the solid insulation of cables remains a concern for researchers in terms of diagnosis and maintenance. The focus of this paper is to investigate the influence of both the layout and density of microcavities on the electrical and electromechanical constraints in the XLPE insulation of MV cables using numerical simulation. The simulation is based on the resolution of Laplace’s equation by the finite element method (FEM) using MATLAB. The electrostatic pressure and the elongation of the microcavities are estimated. This elongation leads to the formation of microchannels and then develops due to partial discharges to arborescence and in the end, the cable becomes out of service. This process takes a long time, so we use simulations to deepen the understanding of this phenomenon in a very short time. The electromechanical constraints are determined for different layouts and densities of microcavities.