Evaluation of organic peroxide decomposition byproducts from incompletely crosslinked high voltage power cables

Abstract

In modern power cable design, crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) is a major choice of insulation compound for distribution and transmission cables. Crosslinking will lead to enhance both dimensional stability at elevated temperatures and physical integrity under high electrical stress of the compounds for HV and EHV power cables. Thermal decomposition of organic peroxides from cable compounds in cable fabrication process will retain some of decomposition byproducts within the compounds, which increase dielectric loss and generate voids as cable defects. The productivity for the high quality power cable manufacturing depends on optimization of production rates from extrusion, thermal treatments for crosslinking and cooling, and degassing. In this study, it is investigated about distribution of various types of decomposition byproducts levels in XLPE insulation in high voltage cables under the incomplete crosslinking condition from the continuous vulcanization (CV) process. It is correlated for mechanical and crosslinking properties of the insulation. This can help to design practical byproducts degassing procedure for high quality power cables.