24SPACE CHARGE MEASUREMENTS IN XLPE INSULATION UNDER 50Hz A.C. ELECTRIC STRESS.pdf

68 SPACE CHARGE MEASUREMENTS IN XLPE INSULATION UNDER 50Hz A.C. ELECTRIC STRESS Y. F. F. Ho, G. Chen, A. E. Davies, R. N. Hampton, S. Hobdell, S.G. Swinglet-*,S. Sutton*, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON UK, BICCGENERAL UK CABLES LIMITED, THE NATIONAL GRID COMPANY PLC, UK Abstract Space charge is believed to play an important role in The present paper reports on aspects of an on-going electrical ageing of polymeric insulation, particularly investigation into the measurement of space charge in where electric tree initiation is the dominant cause of XLPE insulation under 50 Hz ac stress using the laser premature failure of the material. However, space induced pressure pulse (LIPP) technique. Some charge trapping and dynamics under ac operating important features of the method are described: point conditions are not filly understood. This paper reports on wave control of the laser; and use of correction on an on-going investigation into the measurement of factors to offset variations in laser power and due to space charge in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) ablation of the target material. Emphasis has also been insulation subjected to 50Hz ac electric stress. placed on establishing a simple method for analysing data without resorting to a complex mathematical This paper describes the main features of the laser treatise. Some preliminary results of the space charge induced pressure pulse (LIPP) method used for the ac