Research on the gas generation characteristics of power cables when heated

Abstract

Abstract Power cable fires evolve through several stages. Initially, the fire’s early phase is characterized by an anomalous temperature in the outer sheath without considerable smoke generation. It progresses to a smoldering stage with significant smoke production, leading eventually to open flames, which persist until extinguished. Fault-induced high temperatures initiate the breakdown of chemical bonds in the polymer materials composing the cable’s outer sheath, resulting in specific pyrolysis gases that bear the cable’s temperature information. Investigating the heating and gas production properties of the cable can enhance our understanding of the gas phase characteristics at the onset of fires. This paper presents an experimental platform comprising a power cable overheating fault simulation device and chemical analysis instruments. It examines the gas production traits and sources in power cables under fault-induced, high-temperature conditions based on gas chromatography and infrared spectrum data.