CONTACT POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE AS A MEASURE OF POWER CABLE POLYMER INSULATION AGING

Abstract

The paper shows dynamics of changing contact potential difference in power cables with cross-linked polyethylene insulation in the initial state and after additional thermal-radiation aging. The cable metal elements grounding is proposed to do before measurements in order to reduce the degree of surface charges action. It is experimentally revealed that the contact potential difference is a sensitive indicator of polymer insulation aging (oxidation) processes.

Keywords

• contact potential difference
• power cables
• thermal-radiation aging
• surface charges
• polymer insulation oxidation