Study of Siloxane Injection Technology on XLPE Cables for Water Tree Aging

Abstract

This paper introduces one siloxane rejuvenation fluid used to rejuvenate aged XLPE cables and also studies the effects and the mechanism of the rejuvenation. Accelerated aging experiment was performed to obtain water tree aged samples. Inject the rejuvenation siloxane fluid into the aged cable samples with a pressure injection system. By comparing the dielectric loss factor and the breakdown voltage level of the samples before and after rejuvenation, inferred that the insulation level of the cable samples after rejuvenation is close to or higher than that of new cables. Additionally, through microscope, organic compounds created by chemical reaction were observed to fill the micro voids and eliminate the moisture in the XLPE layer of the samples. Finally, the electric field was simulated by Finite Element Method (FEM). Based on the results, it's further confirmed that the siloxane rejuvenation fluid can significantly enhance the aged cable insulation.