Comparison of DC XLPE Insulation Under Two Manufacturing Processes: From Electrical Tree to Molecular Weight Distribution

High-performance cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is currently employed in ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) cables, with the electrical tree being an important cause of DC cable breakdown. The comparison of XLPE samples under different manufacturing processes can provide a reference for the...

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Main Authors: Zhimin Yan, Bo Qiao, Wei Yang, Lei Zhang, Yanjie Le, Zhe Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11915
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author Zhimin Yan
Bo Qiao
Wei Yang
Lei Zhang
Yanjie Le
Zhe Zheng
author_facet Zhimin Yan
Bo Qiao
Wei Yang
Lei Zhang
Yanjie Le
Zhe Zheng
author_sort Zhimin Yan
collection DOAJ
description High-performance cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is currently employed in ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) cables, with the electrical tree being an important cause of DC cable breakdown. The comparison of XLPE samples under different manufacturing processes can provide a reference for the progress of cable production processes. This paper compares laboratory-prepared XLPE samples (DC-XLPE) with XLPE samples extracted from actual cables (Cable-XLPE) through electrical tree experiments, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The experimental findings indicate that the breakdown time of DC-XLPE increased by nearly 50% compared to Cable-XLPE, with slower electrical tree growth and lower average discharge magnitude observed. Overall, DC-XLPE exhibited superior resistance to DC electrical tree and partial discharge. XRD and GPC analyses revealed minimal differences in crystallinity and grain size between the two types, with the primary distinction being DC-XLPE’s notably higher molecular weight and more concentrated molecular weight distribution. The differences in physicochemical properties may be attributed to more precise and uniform temperature control during the crosslinking process in laboratory settings, as well as a higher removal rate of crosslinking byproducts, ultimately leading to enhanced resistance to electrical tree and partial discharge in DC-XLPE.
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spelling doaj-art-5d9306040dc04d95ac75386a8cf5ec352025-08-20T02:00:59ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-0114241191510.3390/app142411915Comparison of DC XLPE Insulation Under Two Manufacturing Processes: From Electrical Tree to Molecular Weight DistributionZhimin Yan0Bo Qiao1Wei Yang2Lei Zhang3Yanjie Le4Zhe Zheng5Beijing Institute of Smart Energy, Beijing 102200, ChinaBeijing Institute of Smart Energy, Beijing 102200, ChinaBeijing Institute of Smart Energy, Beijing 102200, ChinaZhoushan Power Supply Company of State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Company, Zhoushan 316000, ChinaZhoushan Power Supply Company of State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Company, Zhoushan 316000, ChinaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaHigh-performance cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is currently employed in ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) cables, with the electrical tree being an important cause of DC cable breakdown. The comparison of XLPE samples under different manufacturing processes can provide a reference for the progress of cable production processes. This paper compares laboratory-prepared XLPE samples (DC-XLPE) with XLPE samples extracted from actual cables (Cable-XLPE) through electrical tree experiments, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The experimental findings indicate that the breakdown time of DC-XLPE increased by nearly 50% compared to Cable-XLPE, with slower electrical tree growth and lower average discharge magnitude observed. Overall, DC-XLPE exhibited superior resistance to DC electrical tree and partial discharge. XRD and GPC analyses revealed minimal differences in crystallinity and grain size between the two types, with the primary distinction being DC-XLPE’s notably higher molecular weight and more concentrated molecular weight distribution. The differences in physicochemical properties may be attributed to more precise and uniform temperature control during the crosslinking process in laboratory settings, as well as a higher removal rate of crosslinking byproducts, ultimately leading to enhanced resistance to electrical tree and partial discharge in DC-XLPE.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11915HVDC cableXLPE insulationelectrical treepartial dischargephysicochemical properties
spellingShingle Zhimin Yan
Bo Qiao
Wei Yang
Lei Zhang
Yanjie Le
Zhe Zheng
Comparison of DC XLPE Insulation Under Two Manufacturing Processes: From Electrical Tree to Molecular Weight Distribution
Applied Sciences
HVDC cable
XLPE insulation
electrical tree
partial discharge
physicochemical properties
title Comparison of DC XLPE Insulation Under Two Manufacturing Processes: From Electrical Tree to Molecular Weight Distribution
title_full Comparison of DC XLPE Insulation Under Two Manufacturing Processes: From Electrical Tree to Molecular Weight Distribution
title_fullStr Comparison of DC XLPE Insulation Under Two Manufacturing Processes: From Electrical Tree to Molecular Weight Distribution
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of DC XLPE Insulation Under Two Manufacturing Processes: From Electrical Tree to Molecular Weight Distribution
title_short Comparison of DC XLPE Insulation Under Two Manufacturing Processes: From Electrical Tree to Molecular Weight Distribution
title_sort comparison of dc xlpe insulation under two manufacturing processes from electrical tree to molecular weight distribution
topic HVDC cable
XLPE insulation
electrical tree
partial discharge
physicochemical properties
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11915
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AT boqiao comparisonofdcxlpeinsulationundertwomanufacturingprocessesfromelectricaltreetomolecularweightdistribution
AT weiyang comparisonofdcxlpeinsulationundertwomanufacturingprocessesfromelectricaltreetomolecularweightdistribution
AT leizhang comparisonofdcxlpeinsulationundertwomanufacturingprocessesfromelectricaltreetomolecularweightdistribution
AT yanjiele comparisonofdcxlpeinsulationundertwomanufacturingprocessesfromelectricaltreetomolecularweightdistribution
AT zhezheng comparisonofdcxlpeinsulationundertwomanufacturingprocessesfromelectricaltreetomolecularweightdistribution