Study on the dielectric characteristics of DC XLPE cables

The DC characteristics of XLPE (crosslinked polyethylene) power cables were investigated. Cables with an insulation thickness of 2.5 mm, 9 mm, and 13 mm using either XLPE or conductive-inorganic-filled XLPE (XL-A) were manufactured, and four kinds of breakdown tests (DC, polarity reversal, impulse, and superposing opposite polarity impulse on DC prestress) were performed. A 250 kV, XL-A cable (20 mm thickness) was designed and manufactured using the results. The test results show that the XL-A cable possesses much better DC breakdown characteristics than the XLPE cable and is adequate for use in DC cables.<
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