Development and application of high voltage and extra-high voltage XLPE power cable system in China

The development of 110 kV and 220 kV XLPE cables and their accessories in China are presented. High voltage XLPE cable is the preferred choice for transmission line used in power grid renovation and construction in China. The principle of design and quality control in manufacture (especially for contaminants and voids in insulation, voids and protrusion in the interface between insulation and semiconductive layer and insulation shrinkage related to cross linking process) of XLPE insulation is described. Also described are the selection of applicable accessories for XLPE cables and the design philosophy of rubber stress cone for prefabricated accessories. Finally, further development of 110 kV and 220 kV XLPE cables and their accessories as well as development and application of 500 kV XLPE cable system in China are envisaged.