EE4193- Laboratory Practice VII

HIGH VOLTAGE CABLES

Semester 8

Instructed by: Dr.Rasara samarasinghe

Name : W.E.P.S Ediriweera
Group Members: Index No. : 120138A
W.E.P.S Ediriweera 120138A Group :G8
R.M.A.P Rajakaruna 120501G Field : Electrical Engineering
R.A.K.G Ranasinghe 120512P Date of Perform. : 20/01/2017
K.S Priyanayana 120498B Date of Submission : 27/01/2017
THEORY
Consider a coaxial cable

Figure 1:Cross section of a modelled Coaxial cable

Electric field of a point between the conductor and outer insulator, assuming one-meter length.
𝑄
E=2𝜋𝜀𝑟.1 ;r is the distance from the center of the conductor

Relating to E, potential difference is given by

𝑏 𝑄
V=∫𝑎 𝑑𝑟
2𝜋𝜖𝑟
𝑄 𝑏
=2𝜋𝜖 . ln 𝑎

Capacitance is given by c=Q/v

2𝜋𝜀
= 𝑏
ln
𝑎

Electric field intensity E at a point A due to an small 𝛿𝑥 length of straight uniformly charged wire is
given by

δE δEy
θ A
δEx
r
a

θ
x δx

q l δx
δE =
4πεr 2

lq dx
Then we can write δEx = 4πεr2 cos(θ)

Now considering the total length of the wire

∞
q l cos(θ)dx
Ex = ∫
−∞ 4πεr 2
∞
𝑥
= ∫ 𝑞1 . 3 𝑑𝑥
−∞ 4𝜋𝜖(𝑎2 + 2
𝑥 )2
 Ex=0

The vertical component can be written as,

lq dx
δEy = 4πεr2
sin(θ)
∞ ql sin(θ)dx
Ey = ∫−∞ 4πεr2
lq
Ey = 2πϵa

That means that in a single core cable, electric field is distributed radially outward.
Simulation data and Discussion

Coaxial Cable

Cable data: Diameter of the conductor :1.2 mm

Outer diameter of the cable :2.4 mm
Thickness of outer layer :0.2 mm
Length of the cable :25 mm
Excitation of the Inner : -1138V
Excitation of the Outer : 1138V

Vector plot obtained

Capacitance values obtained

 2πε0 2 × π × 8.8542 × 10−12
Capacitace per meter = = = 1.0891 × 10−10 F/m
b 1
ln (a ) ln ( )
0.6
The capacitance given by the simulation for the coaxial cable =2.7316×10-12 F per 25 mm
=1.09264 ×10-10 F/m
We can see that both capacitance results obtained from calculation and from Maxwell software are almost
similar. The error is 3.54 ×10-13

In this model, a negative voltage is applied to the inner conductor and a positive voltage with
same magnitude is applied to the outer. Making a Gaussian surface it can be shown that there is no
field outside the outer. In simulated result we can see electric field vectors are pointing radially
outward from the conductor and there is not field outside the outer.so theoretical explanation is
validated by simulation results of the vector plot.

Single Core XLPE Cable

185 mm2 Single Core XLPE Cables is selected
Cable Data: Diameter of the Al conductor :16.1mm
Thickness of XLPE insulation :22 mm
Outer radius :32.05 mm
Thickness of polyethylene sheath :2 mm
Length of the cable :25mm

Vector plot obtained

Capacitance values obtained

The capacitance given by the simulation for the coaxial cable =2.5351×10-12 F per 25 mm
=0.101404 uF/km
The capacitance value in data sheet =0.107 uF/Km
2πεr ε0 2 × π × 2.4 × 8.8542 × 10−12
Capacitace per meter = = F/m = 0.10136 uF/km
b 30.05
ln ( a ) ln ( )
8.05
Capacitance given by simulation and the calculation are almost equal. And capacitance value in data
sheet is differed by a value about 5.596 × 10-12 / main reason for that is we have neglected few layer of
the cable making the cable small in diameter. Actual diameter of the cable is 74 mm. But in our model
it is 64.1mm.
When we look at the vector plot, we can see electric field is distributed radially without
making a tangential component, proving our previous theory.

Three Core XLPE Cable

95 mm2 three Core XLPE Cables in Steel Pipe is selected.
Cable Data: Diameter of the cu conductor :11.5mm
Thickness of XLPE insulation :14 mm
Diameter of polyethylene sheath :48 mm
Thickness of flat steel wire armour :4.58 mm
Thickness of steel pipe :5 mm
Thickness of polyethylene covering :5 mm
Length of the cable :25mm
Core excitation Voltage :132 KV
 Individual Polyethylene sheath excitation voltage :0 KV

Vector plot obtained

Capacitance values obtained

(2.7165 + 2.7152 + 2.7148) × 10−12

Average Capacitance per core = F per 25 mm
3
= 0.10862 μF/km
The capacitance value in data sheet=0.114 uF/Km
Capacitance values given by data sheet and by the simulation are almost equal with an error of
5.38×10-9 /km. This may due to the neglected layers of the cable for ease of drawing. Also thickness of
outer polyethylene covering and steel pipe are decided by me as those were not specified in the
datasheet.
All the individual sheath’s potential are all zero and thus the stress lines
between the cores and sheaths would be now radial. We can see it from the plot I obtained. But if I
earth only the covering, due to the resultant electric stress, electric field lines will not be radial to the
individual cores. Consequently, the electric stress is not radial, and tangential com