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Influence of irregularities within electric fields in high voltage cables

Conference Paper · October 2011

DOI: 10.1109/CEIDP.2011.6232765

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Sebastián Gutiérrez Juan Ignacio Sancho

Universidad de Navarra Universidad de Navarra
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 Influence of Irregularities within Electric Fields in
High Voltage Cables
S. Gutiérrez, I. Sancho, L. Fontán and M. Martínez-Iturralde
CEIT and Tecnun (University of Navarra)
Manuel de Lardizábal 15, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Phone: +34 943212800, Fax: (+34) 943 213076, E-mail: jsgutierrez@ceit.es

Abstract- This work studies the effect of protrusions and voids in

DC cables taking into account the effect of conductivity and field
distribution in DC cables. A 2D-FE model has been developed in
order to verify theoretical analysis, revealing good agreement
with analytical formulas.

Keywords – HVDC cables, protrusions, voids, DC electric field,

stress enhancement factor, voltage inception.

I. INTRODUCTION

Although the majority of the world’s electric transmission is

carried on AC systems, High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)
transmission has become more important in recent times,
fundamentally due to its higher power transmission capacity
over long distances. HVDC transmission provides an
attractive alternative for bulk power transfer in overhead lines,
submarine cables, and back-to-back installations [1][2].
However, it is well known that the field distribution in DC
cables is strongly influenced by the value of the electrical
conductivity of the dielectric material used, whose value is
highly dependent on temperature and electric field [3][4][5].
On the other hand, insulating solid materials in power cables
invariably contain a certain number of defects. Defects may be
formed during the manufacturing process but may also appear
during its installation or operation. The principal defects that
can appear in cables with extruded insulation are shown in
Figure 1. The most dangerous defects are protrusions, voids
and contaminants, as they can lead to electric stress
concentrations.
This paper studies the effect of protrusions and voids in
HVDC cables. The paper is structured as follows: section I
provides a review of the electric field distribution in AC and
DC cables. Section II studies the stress enhancement caused
by protrusions in DC cables. Section III studies the inception
voltage of PD in voids in HVDC cables depending on the
shape, size and position of the voids, section IV studies the
effect of protrusions and voids using a 2D-FE model and
finally, section V provides the conclusions of this work.
II. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AC AND DC CABLES
In AC cables, physical properties of insulation are
independent of the insulation temperature and electric stress.
Fig. 1. Different types of defects in the insulation of HV power cables
Therefore the electric field E(r) inside the insulation for a
cylindrical cable with a single core is easily calculated as:
V0
E (r ) = (1)
r ⋅ ln (re ri )
Where V0 is the voltage applied to the conductor, ri is the
inner radius of the insulation and re the external radius of the
insulation. However, field distribution in DC cables depends
strongly on the electrical conductivity σ of the insulation. The
electrical conductivity of most solid dielectrics is dependent
on temperature T and electric field E [3] [5]. Different semi-
empirical equations have been used in the literature [6]. Let us
assume the following one as published in [7]:
σ = σ 0 ⋅ exp(α ⋅ T ) ⋅ exp(γ ⋅ E )
(2)
Where σ0 is the electrical conductivity at ambient
temperature and α , γ are empirically determined constants of
each material. The following approximation can be done [8]:
exp(γ ⋅ E ) ≅ (E E0 )λ
(3)
Where λ is chosen as:
λ = E0 ⋅ γ
(4)
V0
E0 =
re − ri (5)
so that the approximation is as accurate as possible around E0.
 Then, the field distribution inside the insulation is [7] [8]:
β ⋅ r β −1
E = V0
re β − ri β
Where:
η +λ
β=
λ +1
α ⋅ ∆T
η=
ln (re ri )
and ∆T is the temperature gradient in the insulation.
This formula is widely referenced in the bibliography. The
value of β is decisive in the behavior of the insulation. As in
the case of an AC cable, α=0, γ=0 and thus, β = 0, then E(r)
depends on r-1. However for DC cables, α≠0, γ≠0 and as a
result β > 0; then, for β = 1, the electric field turns out to be
independent of r, while for β > 1 E(r) becomes a power of r.
III. PROTRUSIONS AND FIELD ENHANCEMENT IN DC CABLES
Protrusions can appear in the semiconductive shields, giving
local enhancement electrical stress that induces treeing or
electrical degradation, and eventually even early breakdown.
Electrical field enhancement depends on the shape and size of
the protrusion, and is characterised by means of the stress
enhancement factor, defined as a dimensionless parameter, as:
Π = Emax Eavg
Where Emax is the maximum electric stress due to the
protrusion and Eavg is the average electric stress in the
insulation. This factor has been reported considering two basic
shapes: ellipsoidal [9] and hyperboloidal protrusions [10].
In AC cables (β =0) the point of maximum electric field is
placed on the conductor surface r = ri:
V0
Emax = Π ⋅
ri ⋅ ln (re ri )
However, in DC cables for values of β >1 the critical part of
the insulator is placed on the cable sheath (r = re). Then:
β ⋅ re β −1
Emax = Π ⋅ V0
re β − ri β
The best case of β = 1 provides a uniform field distribution
through all the insulation. In this case, protrusions have the
same effect on the conductor surface and on the cable sheath.
In this case and applying Mason formulation for Π [10]:
2 ⋅ (re − ri ) V 2 ⋅ V0
Emax = ⋅ 0 =
 4 ⋅ (re − ri )  re − ri  4 ⋅ (re − ri ) 
r ⋅ ln1 +  r ⋅ ln1 +
 r   r 
(6)
(7)
(8)
Fig. 2. Emax values obtained (Eq. 12) on a hyperboloidal protrusion with a tip
radius r in a cable with β=1, α = 0.05ºC-1 and different values of re-ri.
This situation (β=1) can be obtained by the condition:
α ⋅ ∆T
η= =1
ln(re ri ) (13)
α ⋅ ∆T = ln(re ri )
(14)
This condition is only possible with small values of α and
low temperature gradient. For a DC cable with α = 0.05ºC-1
and ri = 15.1 mm, re = 39.1 mm, the temperature gradient
obtained from (14) is 19º. Figure 2 shows the Emax value from
Eq. 12 on a hyperboloidal protrusion with a tip radius r in a
(9)
DC cable (β=1). In this case, the insulation thickness has a less
influence in the value of the field distribution E.
IV. PARTIAL DISCHARGE IN VOIDS IN DC CABLES
Voids can be described as pockets filled with low-pressure
gases. Due to its low permittivity they are electrically weak.
Consequently, voids can lead to the ionization of gases and
occurrence of partial discharges within them, causing erosion
and local damage in the insulation. The maximum applicable
(10)
voltage in a cable without partial discharges is called inception
voltage. The value of Vinception has been analysed for AC cables
by Nosseir [11] and Malik [12].
The breakdown strength value in gaseous cavities has been
empirically calculated by Hall [13] and adjusted by Malik [12]
with the Paschen’s curve, according to the expression:
(11)
Eg B
= A+ (15)
P (P ⋅ L )C
Where, A, B and C are constants, P is the pressure inside the
void and L is the length of the cavity. The electric field inside
the void is calculated using the relationship between the
electric field in a dielectric medium and a cavity [14]:
(12)
β ⋅ r β −1
 Evoid = K ⋅ Edielectric = K ⋅ V0
r β − rβ (16)
ext i
 Where, K is a dependent constant on the relative permittivity
of the dielectric and the shape of the void.
When the electric field inside the void provided by (16) equals
the breakdown strength of (15), the voltage V0 reaches the
value Vinception:
β ⋅ r β −1  B 
K ⋅ Vinception β β
= P ⋅  A + 
 (17)
re − ri  (P ⋅ L )C 

And then, the Vinception value is obtained as:

P⋅r  B  reβ i − riβ i
Vinception = ⋅  A + ⋅
 β ⋅ r βi (18)
K  (P ⋅ L )C  i

Where:
Vinception
λi = ⋅γ Fig. 3. Vinception values for cylindrical cavities achieved with (18) and different
re − ri (19) temperature gradient.

η + λi
βi = (20)
These irregular geometries are difficult to model using
λi + 1 analytical methods. In such cases, numerical solutions can be
obtained without simplifying assumptions using Finite
Equation (18) gives the value of Vinception depending on the Elements (FE) method [15]. Therefore, a 2D FE model with a
position r at which the void is placed. This equation is complete section of a single core cable of copper has been
solvable only numerically, since βi is a function of Vinception. developed in order to simulate the effect of these irregularities.
However, numerical solution is easily obtained, since the Dimensions of the cable are ri = 23.2mm, re = 42.4mm, and
influence of Vinception on the value of βi is small even for large electrical properties are εr = 3.5, σ0 = 1x10-16 Ω-1m-1, α =
voids. Furthermore, for values of βi ≥ 1 the highest electric 0.1ºC-1 and γ = 0.03 mm/kV. Finally, thermal conductivity of
field is located in re, so the voids located in this position the insulation is 0.1018 W/m·K and applied voltage is 15 kV.
provide the minimum value of Vinception, which is: The FE model takes into account the charge accumulation
inside the cable insulation, due to the non-uniform electrical
P ⋅ re  B  reβ i − riβ i conductivity within the insulation [16]. For the complete FE
Vinception = ⋅  A + ⋅
 β ⋅ r βi (21)
K (P ⋅ L )C solution of electric field inside the insulation from a certain
  i e
applied DC voltage and temperature gradient in the insulation,
the scheme described in Figure 4 is used.
Moreover, Vinception is inversely proportional to K, so that
cylindrical voids with a higher value of K provide a smaller Once the DC simulation is done, the presence of an elliptical
value of Vinception. Furthermore, for a value βi=0, (18) equals protrusion or cylindrical void in the external part of the
the analytical expression given by Malik. In addition to this, a insulation is considered, in order to compute the electric field
value of βi=1 would provide greater values of Vinception due to in these defects. In the case of protrusions, different protrusion
the uniform field distribution. In this case, the value of sharpness has been considered changing the ratio between
Vinception is given by: axes 2H/a, H being the height and a the width of the
protrusion (Figure 5).
P  B 
Vinception =
K
⋅  A +
( L )C  (
 ⋅ re − ri ) (22)
 P ⋅ 

The value βi =1 can be achieved by (14).

Figure 3 shows theoretical values of Vinception obtained from

(21) in a insulated cable with cylindrical voids with ri=23.2
mm, re=42.4 mm, εr=3.5, σ0=1x10-16 Ω-1m-1, α=0.1ºC-1 and
γ=0.03 mm/kV. For high-temperature gradients the value of
Vinception in the cable is lower in DC compared to AC.

V. SIMULATIONS

Usually, protrusions and voids have non-symmetrical Fig. 4. Simulation scheme for obtaining the field distribution in DC cables
geometries.
 In DC cables protrusions have more influence in the sheath of
the cable and a small value of β has to be taken into account.
Regarding the effect of voids in DC cables, a theoretical
equation for Vinception is formulated, and also a small value of β
is suggested to avoid partial discharges.
Finally, theoretical values have been verified using a 2D FE
model simulation.
Fig. 5. Effect of voids and protrusions inside the cable insulation
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The stress enhancement factor is obtained from these The authors would like to thank General Cable Company and
simulations for internal and external protrusions with β =1 (∆T CDTI (Center for the Development of Industrial Technology)
= 6º) and β=2.45 (∆T=15º). Obtained results are shown in for their support throughout this research.
Table 1. It should be noticed that the stress enhancement
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Fig. 6. Vinception values obtained with (18) for different values of temperature
and cylindrical voids.

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