Professional Documents
Culture Documents
04080885
04080885
REVIEW
R. M. Eichhorn
Union Carbide Technical Center
Bound Brook, New Jersey
ABSTRACT
A summary of previously published technical data
is presented with commentary. The purpose is to
offer reliable information for use in material
selection and cable design in a form which is con-
venient for reference and use. Since the value of
this summary depends upon the quality of the data
presented, the most objective sources have been
selected. The primary source is the report of EPRI
supported work carried out at the IREQ laboratory
in Canada [1]. A few results of work by the author
are used to fill in for completeness, to facilitate
understanding, or when a disagreement exists between
other sources [2].
1.2
0
XLP~~~E900Cv
IA.1 'U Cf 0.9~ a.
~~~~~~~~~*01601.
XLPE
1.0
EPR
I9IC 0.8
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 120
PRESSURE (M Pa) 0
x
4.4. Compressibility
It was stated earlier that all organic materials .S
expand more than metals or minerals when heated; 40
Figs. 1 and 2 showed that XLPE expands 12.5 or 15%
while EPR expands from 5 to 9% between the tempera-
tures of 20 and 1300C. Between 20 and 900C the dif-
ference between the materials is about 2% or less. If
cables are not designed to accommodate this expansion
it can destroy them because the force of thermal ex-1
40 80 120
pansion is almost irresistible. 0
The force required to prevent thermal expansion TEMPERATURE (*C)
equals the product of the expansion coefficient av,
the temperature change AT, and the bulk modulus of Fig. 10: Hardness [Ref. 1, data replotted]
elasticity at the higher temperature MT. That is
F =MTctp AT. (2)
4
12
ZXlLPE\
LPE 180 0 ~~~~~~~~~~02
N-HV ER EPR (52% FILLER) 2
62 ~~0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Z 0.5
TIME (MONTHS)
4
z § GY/, t///N \ 1 Fig. 12: Retention of 100% modulus after 135°C aging
2 BS 2782:301 D [36].
0
20 40 60 80 100 120 140
TEMPERATURE (C) 0
Fig. 11: Bearing Stiffness [Ref. 1, data replotted] 3 OV XLPE 20
IK oHV
HV XLPE
The "Bearing Strength" shown in Fig. 11 and measured
by ASTM D-953B (69) is a property similar to deforma- 2
tion. It measures the stress required to ',
distortion over a form like a mandrel, or produce 4%
a rigid con- a.
a
ductor, in compression; in other words, how much force
is required to flatten the insulation. z
Fg 3
eeto f>tmt esD teg
after 1350C aging BS 2782:301 D [36].
4.6. Retention of' echanicaZ Properties (Aging)
It has been shown that the short-time mechanical 4.7.
properties of XLPE are quite sensitive to temperature Moisture Penetration
and that above 90 or 100°C EPR has a higher modulus
and a greater deformation resistance. However, it was Fig. 14 shows the effect of fillers on the moisture
also shown in 1973 [36], see Figs. 12 and 13, that vapor permeability of PE and compares the rates
properly stabilized XLPE resisted thermal degradation which moisture passes through unfilled XLPE and aat
better and retained its mechanical properties filled, black EPR compound which was commercially
well after aging at 135°C in air. The data very used in 1975. There is no organic material which is
were measured at 250C after the thermal agingplotted
periods
impermeable to moisture, and the only commonly used
high polymer less permeable than polyethylene is poly-
were completed. The EPR tests were terminated by vinylidene chloride (SARAN). Further moisture data
embrittlement as indicated by the asterisks on the is presented in Tables 3 and 4 [39]. It has also
Figures. Since them, the properties of EPR have been been
reported that EPR absorbs about 1% moisture by weight
improved, as shown in Table 1, but comparable aging after two weeks immersion in 80°C water. Upon
data have not been found. from the water the EPR was observed to dry out removal
much
more rapidly than it had been infused with moisture.
476 IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation Vol. EI-16 No.6, December 1981
140
120
im80
60 EP
LZ40
uv XLPE
s
80 P
>
20 -
W, 40
10
20
6-
4
04 12 20 28 36 44 52 60 68
DY
0-2 0-4 0-6 0-8 1.0 1-2 1*4 1-6
MESO
E
E Pi
40
200
O 50 ~~~~~~~100
Fig. 16: Variation in ac breakdowun strength 7withz1 s s | s I
temperature [Ref. 1, p. 4-36]. 050 100
TEMPERATURE (°C )
The effect of water on ac breakdown strength is Fig. 18: Impulse strength vs temperature [Ref. 1~
shown in Fig. 17. This result is similar to the p. 4-39].
general degradation of electrical properties which
occurs with the absorption of water. Note that after
68 days continuous immersion in 70°C water, XLPE has
decreased more but still has a higher breakdown vol-
tage than the dry EPR. The moisture studies reported
in [40] show that the breakdown strength of EPR de-
creases still further when it returns to dryness.
478 IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation Vol. EI-16 No.6, December 1981
> 2.6 -
2.8
EPR Values for dissipation factor or tan6 from the same
8
laboratory
are shown in Fig. 20. The data shown for
t /iX77z/ZZZ s// S // ~ XLPE is somewhat unusual compared to that reported by
= 2A _l* ~///////_other sources. More typical data is shown in Fig. 21
24 which includes an old XLPE compound which used a stain-
ing antioxidant. Although that antioxidant was very
> 2.2 _ effective, the compound has not been manufactured for
many years. One effect of very high dielectric losses
lc 2.0 -
uJ
XLPE is to cause further temperature increase and even
higher losses. The effect on temperature is given as
-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[43]
1.8 - AT = TV2fc oCr p tan6 (3)
-2- -22$ | where the symbols have the same meanings and A is
cross-sectional area of insulation which has thickness
t. Some users calculate that dielectric losses in
- EPR 1llt ~ 69 kV EPR cables can run as high as 130 times those
in XLPE and can reduce the current carrying capacity
as much as 5% [36,37].
X103 ~ 0.014
z
0
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0.012-
0.010
l EPDM
-4~~~~~~~~~~~
W6
0.008
z
0
: 0.006
_
0
lo-5 s . @ . 8 . s . | . ^ . 2 0.004 -
0.01 '0028
.0024 E
XLPE3
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 0.0020\
TEMPERATURE ('C) 4~~~
_-
I.0016 'u0
Fig. 23: Dielectric Zoss index as a function of 0Z
temperature
U,
.0012
0008
As the amount of ethylene in the EPR copolymer or
EPDM terpolymer is increased the material becomes more
crystalline, more like PE and less like amorphous EPR. .0004 XLPE
The dielectric losses measured for three commercial
(high-ethylene) EPRs are shown in Fig. 22. This com-
promise toward improved electrical properties has other 0,
effects as well; other properties approach those of °0.1 1.0 10
FREQUENCY (kHz)
Fig. 24: Dissipation factor at 23°C vs frequxency
480 IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation Vol. EI-16 No.6, December 1981
113] L. E. Nielsen, "Thermal Conductivity of Particu- [32] Measurements made by E. I. du Pont de Nemours &
late-Filled Polymers," J. App. Poly. Sci., Vol. Company, Inc., Analytical and Physical Measure-
17, 3819 (1973). ments Services, Experimental Station, Wilmington,
Delaware (1980).
[14] D. W. Van Krevelin, Properties of Polymers,
Elsevier, New York (1972). [33] R. J. Roark, Formulas for Stress and Strain, 4th
Edition, McGraw Hill, New York (1965) p. 298.
[15] R. A. V. Raff, J. B. Allison, Polyethylene,
Interscience, New York (1956). [34] ASTM Standard D-2837.
[16] D. J. H. Sandiford, A. H. Willbourn, Chapter 8 [35] CRC Handbook of Materials Science, Vol. II,
in Polythene ed. by A. Renfrew, P. Morgan. CRC Press, Cleveland, Ohio, (1975) p. 287.
Interscience, New York (1960).
[36] A. B. Paterson, "Practical Advantages of Cross-
[17] Measurements by Thermatest Department, Dynatech Linked Polyethylene for Power' Cable," Elect.
Corporation, Cambridge, Mass. (1975). Rev., Vol. 23, 280 (1973).
[18] ASTM C177-76, Part 18 of Annual Standards (1980). [37] A. S. Mickley, "A User Looks at Rubber Insulated
Cables, 15 kV and Above," a paper presented at
[19] Measurements by Thermatest Department, Dynatech ACS Rubber Division meeting in Philadelphia,
Corporation, Cambridge, Mass. (1975). Penna., October 17, 1974.
[20] R. P. Sheldon, K. Lane, "Thermal Conductivities [38] J. Artbauer, J. Griac, "Some Factors Preventing
of Polymers. II--Polyethylene," Polymer, Vol. 6, the Attainment of Intrinsic Electric Strength in
205 (1965). Polymeric Insulations," IEEE Trans. on Elec.
Insul. EI-5, No. 4, 104 (1970).
[21] L. M. Sloman "Comparing XLPE and EPR for Cable
Insulation," Electrical Times, Feb. 13, 1976. [39] J. A. Barrie, Chapter 8 "Water in Polymlers," in
Diffusion in Polymers, Editors J. Crank, G. S.
[22] Processing of Thermoplastic Materials, Ed. by Park, Academic Press, London and New York (1968).
E. C. Bernhardt, Reinhold Publishing Corp., N.Y.
(1959) p. 599. '[40] R. D. Naybour, "The Influence of Water on the
Electric Strength of an Ethylene-Propylene Insu-
[23] M. A. Martin, Jr., Georgia Power Company, Research lation," IEEE Trans. on Elec. Insul. Vol. EI-13,
Laboratory, private communication (part of data No. 1, S9 (1978).
to be published).
~~~~~[41] L. Simoni, G. Pattini, "A New Research Into the
[24] P. Graneau, "Thermal Failure of High Vtoltage Voltage Endurance of Solid Dielectrics," IEEE
Solid Dielectric Cables," Paper A76 037-2 pre- Trans. on Elec Insul. Vol. El-10, No. 1, 17 (197S).
sented at IEEE Power Engineering Society 1976
Winter Meeting, New York, N.Y .
482 IEEE Transactions on Electrical Insulation Vol. EI-16 No.6, December 1981