XLPE Vs EPR in HV Cables PDF
XLPE Vs EPR in HV Cables PDF
XLPE Vs EPR in HV Cables PDF
Introduction
Two dielectrics, namely X L P E and EPR, are
n any underground high voltage transmission net- the choices for insulation in high voi'tage
I work, system reliability arising from long-life and
trouble-free cable performance is of extreme impor-
tance to electrical utilities and other industrial users.
extruded cables rated to 230 k V
The key electrical properties of the two are
Power outages caused by premature cable failures can investigated.
result not only in severe economic losses such as high
repair costs and loss of revenue, but also in customer
dissatisfaction, negative publicity and litigation.
In reviewing the history of the development of fault data are available for medium voltage L nder-
power cables, it can be seen that conventional, oil-im- ground distribution cables. Since the insulating com-
pregnated paper cables have served the power industry pounds used in medium voltage cables are generally
well, accumulating a service record of almost 80 years the same or very similar to the ones used in high voltage
with proven reliability. Although they are reliable, oil- cables , it is considered appropriate to include these
impregnated paper cables suffer from high dielectric fault data for engineering information. Fig. 1shows the
losses, high operating costs and the potential for con- failure rate data for 20 kV cables from 1980 to 1936 [l].
tamination of the environment. As a result of these As can be seen, EPR is not superior to XLPE in terms of
concerns, extruded dielectric power cables have gained cable performance reliability. This contradicts (Iaims
in popularity among utilities and are claiming an in- made by EPR cable and material suppliers that EPR is
creasingly greater market share in the transmission superior to XLPE as insulation for underground distri-
voltage class cable business, especially in Europe and bution cables [2,3,4].
Japan.
Today, two dielectrics, namely XLPE (crosslinked I 61
polyethylene) and EPR (ethylene propylene rubber) are
the choices for insulation in high voltage extruded cables
rated up to 230 kV. The relative merits for using XLPE
over EPR (or vice versa) in transmission class cables will
be reviewed and discussed in terms of electrical per-
formance, system requirements and economic viability.
The investigation focused on the key electrical proper-
ties of the two insulations with emphasis on the ac and 1 1 1 / I n
impulse strengths and the dielectric loss properties. 1-
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the literature, EPR has been in commercial use in high I
10 Discussion
140 132
r--
120 1
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100 5U
s: 80
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6
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5
0.1
f 60 m
5
40 0.01
20
/ I I I I 1 I t
n 0.00:
I 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 3 0 1 ~ 0
138kV XLPE 138kV XLPE 150kV EPR
(Una .d) (AgW Temperature,"C
I M l n Requirements U S t e p s to Breakdown
Fig. 4. Dissipation Factor vs Temperature of XLPE 8: EPR
Fig. 3. Impulse Strength at 130" C Conductor Temperature Cables
:I
8
L 0.2
0.1 -
i l
138 kV), most often cable engineers assume that the
dielectric losses are insignificant because they are only
a small fraction of the conductor losses, thus justiflring
the use of EPR cables. In Table 111, an attempt has been
made to show that the dielectric losses can be significant
in 69 - 138 kV EPR cables, representing 3-470 of the
138 kV XLPE conductor losses for a 69 kV system and 9-13% for a
138kV system. Thus, with XLPE cable, the yearly entirgy
savings can be in the order of 15 MWh/cct.km for a 69
kV system and 52 Mwh/cct.km for a 138 kV system.
Fig. 5. Dissipation Factor us Stress of XLPE & EPR Cables Another disadvantage arising from the use of EPR
cable is the large variability of dissipation factor from one
production length to another. For instance, Parvopassu et
confirm the superiority of XLPE over EPR insulation.
al. [6] reported dissipation factor variation ranging from
The results for the 138 kV XLPE cable manufactured by
0.27% to 0.40% for the production lengths of 150 kV EPR
the MDCV process far exceed the AEIC CS7-87 require-
cable, even when tested at ambient temperature.
ments. It should be noted that the AEIC specification is
considered to be the most stringent industry standard
in North America, if not the world. The positive ac and Conclusions
impulse results indicate that the present AEIC design
stress level of 6 kV/mm for a 138 kV XLPE cable can be The 138 kV XLPE cable displayed ac u-ith-
extended to 9 kV/mm, which is comparable to that of stand/breakdown strength at least 25% hgher than the
oil-impregnated paper cables. 150 kV EPR cable.
Table I11
Conductor Losses vs. Dielectric Losses of XLPE and EPR Aluminum-Sheathed Cables
69 kV Cables i
I
Cond. Size Copper
Conductor
Ampacity'
(Duct)
I Cond. Losses
per Cct.
Diel. Losses (kW/cct.km) Diel. Loss as 1'' of Cond. L'XS
Resistance
(kcmil)2 (Ohm/km) (Amps) (kW/km) EPR XLPE EPR
1000 0.3542 ' 830 73.2 185 0.09 3 0
1 1500 0.02358 1000 70.7 2.21 0.11 3 0
2000 0.01768 1120 66.5 2.46 0.12 4 0
~
2500 0.01430 1370 ~~~
80.5 2.68 0.13 3 0
3000 i 0.01191 1470 77.2 2.88 0.14 4 0