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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Space charge measurement in dc cable materials

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5779887
;  [1]
  1. National Inst. of Standards and Technology (IMSE), Gaithersburg, MD (USA). Polymers Div.

This project was designed to determine the amounts and distributions of space charge in dc-stressed polymer materials commonly used as insulation in solid, extruded polymer-insulated, high voltage, transmission and distribution, power cables. The purpose of the work is to inform insulation and cable makers about special requirements that dc stress places on insulation properties in such cables. The work included: (1) development of a short-pulse laser and rapid data acquisition and processing techniques, and measurement of space charge distributions in polymer films, (2) development of impulse breakdown equipment and measurement of breakdown strengths of polymer films, and (3) development of theoretical models to account for the space charge behavior observed in the polymer films. Polyethylenes and ionomers used in this work all showed significant amounts of negative space charge distributed nearly uniformly throughout films that had been charged with a constant high voltage to steady-state current conditions. The work showed that the space charge in polyethylene cable insulation could not be diminished by blending polyethylene with ionomers, as was concluded in earlier research. 25 figs., 8 tabs.

Research Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA); National Inst. of Standards and Technology (IMSE), Gaithersburg, MD (USA). Polymers Div.
Sponsoring Organization:
EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5779887
Report Number(s):
EPRI-EL-7301
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English