AC breakdown characteristics of in-service aged XLPE distribution cables

AC breakdown tests were performed on field-aged XLPE distribution cables. For these measurements, a special test assembly consisting of air/distilled water terminations was developed. The tested cable specimens were examined for the occurrence of halos and water trees. The results suggest a correlation between the AC breakdown strength and operating stress. The incidence of halos is also found to be related to the AC breakdown strength, but no such relation appears to exist for the water tree length or density.<
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