Analysis of partial discharge activity in high voltage XLPE insulation as a function of different void sizes and locations using the capacitance model

Abstract

Partial Discharge (PD) in power cables occur due to some air impurities in the insulation system, such air impurities lead to void across the insulating system and deterioration of the power cable over time. In this research paper, the PD activity within high voltage Cross-linked Polyethylene (XLPE) insulation was analyzed in the presence of various void sizes and locations using a modified version of the three-capacitance model. The simulation was carried out by designing a PD model in MATLAB, Simulink, in which a real-life scenario of PD was simulated that consider all void parameters. Three different positions of void were taken as samples for this research study near to the conductor, near to the middle of insulation and near to the outer sheath. The void sizes considered for this research study were ten different cavity sizes. Results showed that as location of void is closer to the conductor, PD amplitude gets higher.