Development of high voltage XLPE power cable system in China

The development of 110 kV and 220 kV XLPE insulated cables and their accessories in China is presented. High voltage XLPE power cable is the preferred choice for cable transmission line applicable to power grid transformation and building in China. This paper describes the principle of XLPE cable insulation design, determination of insulation thickness, quality control requirements of insulation, especially for contaminants, voids, protrusions and interfaces between insulation and semiconductive screens, insulation shrinkage related to the cross linking process, assessment of water impermeable barrier of high voltage XLPE cables as well as the selection of applicable accessories attached to XLPE cables and the design philosophy of rubber stress cone for prefabricated accessories. The application of high voltage XLPE cable system in extra large cities, namely in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou is presented.