Effect of Void on Temperature Distribution in XLPE Power Cables by COMSOL Multiphysics Simulation

The Cross-linked polyethylene cable (XLPE) is the most popular power cable in transmission and distribution. The electric cable has been working for many years. It has high importance on several factors and characteristics such as electrical, mechanical, temperature, humidity, void, and environmental stress, which could influence the cable insulation and contribute to the breakdown of the insulation. This paper major purpose is to evaluate and observe the effect of temperature distribution in the existence of void and without any void that has been located at the different locations within the cable insulation. The Finite Element Method (FEM) technique is utilized based on COMSOL Simulation software to check the temperature distribution behavior. First, the cable structure of 11kV XLPE was designed. Second, the cable structure and the void effect were introduced with different cable conductor, insulation, and semiconductor layers. Different parameter values, such as relative permittivity, thermal conductivity, and other parameter values, were inserted. Third, the simulation has been carried out with heat transfer in the solid module to determine the void effect. The result describes the temperature distribution effect within the cable insulation and the presence of the void placed in a different position.