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Microscopy Study of Inception Sites of Vented Water Trees in a HV XLPE Cable Aged in Salt Water

Abstract

Scanning electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) were used for qualitative and quantitative trace element analysis of inception sites of vented water-trees in a modern HV XLPE cable aged in salt water. The aim of this paper is to examine different methodologies based on SEM/EDX to identify localized high concentrations of ions responsible for the initiation and growth of vented water trees. Long vented water trees were observed initiated at the insulation and conductor screens with lengths larger than 600μm after 4 months of ageing at 500 Hz. The initial results presented in this paper indicate that measurements at the sample sub-surface only, are likely not sufficient to reliably detect the ions causing vented water treeing. The FIB - milling technique showed to be a promising technique.

Category

Academic chapter

Language

English

Author(s)

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Energy Research / Elkraftteknologi
  • Nexans Norway AS

Year

2021

Publisher

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Book

2021 IEEE Electrical Insulation Conference - EIC

ISBN

9781665415644

Page(s)

218 - 221

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository