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U.S. Department of Energy
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Effect of dc testing on extruded crosslinked polyethylene insulated cables. Phase 2, Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:148693
 [1]
  1. Detroit Edison Co., MI (United States)
In order to investigate the effect of dc testing on crosslinked polyethylene insulated cables, a research project was initiated under the auspices of Electric Power Research Institute. The results of the laboratory aging on full-size cable samples has been reported in EPRI Report TR101245. This report covers (a) dc testing on cables subjected to accelerated aging under controlled temperature conditions from a different EPRI project (RP2713-02) performed at BICC-Marshall Laboratories (Reynolds CPI), and (b) service-aged XLPE insulated cables from five utilities. Most work was performed with spliced cables, as described in the Phase 1 report. Results confirm earlier findings that dc testing has a deleterious effect on an aged crosslinked polyethylene insulated cable. Data suggest an inflection point in the aging time -- ac breakdown relationship (corresponding to an ac dielectric strength of approximately 300 V/mil), beyond which time this effect becomes more predominant dc voltage application at a voltage stress of 228 V/mil does not appear to detect the bad portion of the cable. However, the cable subjected to dc testing fails earlier upon further ac aging. Recommendations have been made to operating utility companies not to perform dc testing on a crosslinked polyethylene insulated cables after they have been energized in service.
Research Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Detroit Edison Co., MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
OSTI ID:
148693
Report Number(s):
EPRI-TR--101245-V2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English