Parameter Analysis of Power Cable due to Presence of Void

The presence of void in a cable causes intensification of the electric field stress due to differences in the dielectric constant between air and surrounding cable insulation. The occurrence of the cavity not only affects the electric field inside the cavity but also distort the surrounding field. Evaluation of maximum void stress is essential in order to determine the severity of partial discharges and the probability of breakdown in cable insulation. The cross-section of XLPE cable has been modeled in COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate the effect of void. It is observed that a void nearer to the conductor results in the highest electric stress whose magnitude decreases with an increase in the thickness. Further, the shape of the void influences the maximum stress- for example, spherical void is having higher maximum electric stress than the one produced by elliptical void.