Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
  • H01B3/00—Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties
  • H01B3/18—Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances
  • H01B3/30—Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes
  • H01B3/44—Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes vinyl resins; acrylic resins
  • H01B3/441—Insulators or insulating bodies characterised by the insulating materials; Selection of materials for their insulating or dielectric properties mainly consisting of organic substances plastics; resins; waxes vinyl resins; acrylic resins from alkenes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cable for high voltage direct current transmission, and to the insulating composition used therein.
• the present invention relates to a cable for high voltage direct current transmission, suitable for either terrestrial or submarine installations, comprising a conductor and an extruded insulating layer consisting of a polymer composition comprising a polyethylene and at least one unsaturated fatty acid.
• the present invention also relates to an insulating composition comprising a polyethylene and at least one unsaturated fatty acid.
• high voltage denotes a voltage in excess of 35 kV.
• cables commonly known in the art are electrically insulated by taping with an insulating material, generally paper or paper-polypropylene-paper multi-layer laminates, which is then thoroughly impregnated with a mixture having high electrical resistivity and high viscosity, generally a hydrocarbon oil to which a viscosity-increasing agent has been added.
• the cable additionally comprises a further semiconducting layer and a metal screen, generally made from lead, which in turn is surrounded by at least one metal armouring structure and by one or more protective sheaths of plastic material.
• Mass impregnated cables although characterized by high reliability in operation even with very high voltages (in excess of 150 kV) have certain drawbacks, principally related to the migration of insulating fluid within the cable.
• the cable when in use the cable is subjected, owing to variations in the intensity of the current carried, to- thermal cycles which cause migrations of the fluid in the radial direction.
• the viscosity of the insulating fluid decreases and the fluid is subjected to a thermal expansion greater than that of all the other elements of the cable. This results in a migration of the fluid from the insulating layer towards the exterior, and consequently an increase of the pressure exerted on the metal screen which is deformed in the radial direction.
• the impregnating fluid contracts, while the metal screen, being constituted by a plastic material (usually lead) , . remains permanently deformed.
• a decrease of the pressure within the cable is caused, and this leads to the formation of micro-cavities in the insulating layer, with a consequent risk of electrical discharges and therefore of perforation of the insulation.
• the risk of perforation increases with an increase in the thickness of the insulating layer, and therefore with an increase in the maximum voltage for which the cable has been designed.
• Another solution for high voltage direct current transmission consists in the use of fluid oil cables, in which the insulation is provided by a pressurized oil with low viscosity and high electrical resistivity which is (under hydrostatic head) .
• this solution is highly effective in preventing the formation of micro-cavities in the cable insulation, it has various drawbacks, mainly related to the complexity of construction and, in particular, it imposes a limitation on the maximum permissible length of the cable. This limitation on the maximum length is a major drawback, particularly in the case of use in submarine installations, where the lengths required are usually very great.
• the accumulation of the space charges is a slow process: however, the problem is accentuated if the direct current transported by the cable is reversed (in other words, if there is a reversal of polarity) .
• a capacitive field is superimposed on the overall electrical field and the value of the maximum gradient can be localized within the insulating material.
• a prolonged degassing treatment which can be carried out, for example, by subjecting the insulating material based on a cross-linked polymer to high temperatures and/or to a high vacuum for a long period, can be used to obtain an insulating material capable of limiting the accumulation of the space charges when the cable is subjected to polarity reversal.
• the said degassing treatment reduces the formation of the space charges as a result of the removal of the decomposition products of the cross- linking agent (for example, dicu yl peroxide, which decomposes to form acetophenone and cu yl alcohol) from the insulating material.
• the cross- linking agent for example, dicu yl peroxide, which decomposes to form acetophenone and cu yl alcohol
• Japanese patent application ' JP-A- 210610 describes a cross-linked polyethylene, modified by grafting maleic anhydride in a quantity of between 0.02% and 0.5% by weight, which would be usable as an insulating material for cables for direct current transmission, since it would be capable of trapping the space charges and thus reducing their accumulation.
• Japanese patent application JP 10/283851 describes a cable for direct current transmission with improved dielectric strength in the presence of polarity reversals or following the applications of electrical pulses, in which the insulating layer consists of a polymeric composition comprising a cross-linked polyolefin containing (i) a dicarboxylic acid anhydride and (ii) at least one monomer containing a polar group (chosen from at least one carbonyl, nitrile or nitro group) .
• Patent application EP 0 463 402 describes an ethylene (co) polymer containing polar groups chosen from ketone, nitrile and nitro groups in quantities ranging from 20 ppm to 8000 ppm, the said polar groups having a dipole moment of more than 0.8 debye .
• the said (co) polymer would be usable as an insulating material for high-voltage cables having an improved dielectric strength.
• Patent application WO 99/405589 relates to a cable for direct current transmission in which the insulating layer consists of cross-linked polyethylene comprising polar groups obtained by pre- treatment of the polyethylene with molecular oxygen before extrusion.
• Patent application WO 99/44207 relates to a cable for direct current transmission in which the insulating layer consists of a polymeric composition based on cross-linked polyethylene modified by polar groups.
• the said polar groups having the general formula:
• polar groups are dialkyl-aminopropyl- (met) acrylamide or (oligo) -ethyleneglycol-methacrylate .
• Japanese patent application JP 06/215645 describes a cable for high voltage direct current transmission with reduced accumulation of space charges.
• the insulating layer is made by hot cross- linking of a mixture of polyethylene, an organic peroxide having a half-life time of more than 5 hours at 130°C, and an acid chosen from itaconic acid and crotonic acid in a quantity of less than 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of polyethylene.
• Patent application WO 00/08655 relates to a cable for direct current transmission in which the insulating layer consists of a polymeric composition based on polyethylene to which an esterified
• (poly) glycerol having at least two free OH groups is added.
• the Applicant has now found that it is possible to decrease the local accumulation of space charges in the insulating layer of a cable for high voltage direct current transmission by using as the insulating layer a polymeric composition comprising a polyethylene and at least one unsaturated fatty acid.
• the unsaturated fatty acid is highly compatible with polyethylene and easily dispersible in it: consequently, the cable insulated in this way is capable of providing better electrical performances when used for high voltage direct current transmission, particularly in the presence of polarity reversals.
• the present invention therefore relates to a cable for high voltage direct current transmission, comprising at least one conductor and at least one extruded insulating layer consisting of a polymeric composition comprising a polyethylene and at least one unsaturated fatty acid.
• the present invention relates to an insulating composition comprising a polyethylene and at least one unsaturated fatty acid.
• the present invention relates to a method for reducing the accumulation of space charges in an electrical cable for high voltage direct current transmission, comprising at least one conductor and at least one extruded insulating layer consisting of a polymeric composition comprising a polyethylene, characterized in that at least one unsaturated fatty acid is added to said polymeric composition.
• the polyethylene (PE) is a homopolymer of ethylene or a copolymer of ethylene with at least one ⁇ -olefin having a density in the range from 0.860 g/cm 3 to 0.970 g/cm 3 , and preferably from 0.865 g/cm 3 to 0.940 g/cm 3 .
• the ⁇ -olefin can be chosen, for example, from: propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 4-methyl-l- pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-dodecene, and the like. Of these, 1-butene, 1-hexene and 1-octene are preferred.
• the polyethylene is chosen from the following: high-density polyethylene (HDPE) having a density of at least 0.940 g/cm 3 , preferably a density in the range from 0.940 g/cm 3 to 0.960 g/cm 3 ; medium- density polyethylene (MDPE) having a density in the range from 0.926 g/cm 3 to 0.940 g/cm 3 ; low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density in the range from 0.910 g/cm 3 to 0.926 g/cm 3 .
• HDPE high-density polyethylene
• MDPE medium- density polyethylene
• MDPE low-density polyethylene
• LLDPE linear low-density polyethylene
• the unsaturated fatty acid has from 10 to 26, preferably from 14 to 22, carbon atoms . /
• unsaturated fatty acids which can be used according to the present invention are: myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, gadoleic acid, erucic acid, ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, and the like, or mixtures thereof. Oleic acid is particularly preferred.
• the unsaturated fatty acids usable according to the present invention can be used in mixtures with saturated fatty acids.
• saturated fatty acids which may be present in the mixture are: lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, and the like, or mixtures thereof.
• the insulating composition which can be used according to the present invention is not cross- linked, or, preferably, is cross-linked.
• radicals by thermal decomposition of a radical initiator usually an organic peroxide such as dicumyl peroxide, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, 2, 5-dimethyl-2, 5-di (t-butyl peroxy) hexane, or di-t-butyl peroxide, which is made to be absorbed by the polyethylene before extrusion or injected directly into the extruder.
• a radical initiator usually an organic peroxide such as dicumyl peroxide, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, 2, 5-dimethyl-2, 5-di (t-butyl peroxy) hexane, or di-t-butyl peroxide, which is made to be absorbed by the polyethylene before extrusion or injected directly into the extruder.
• the quantity of radical initiator used is generally in the range from 0.1 to 5 parts per 100 parts by weight of the composition.
• the temperature of extrusion of the material which forms the insulating layer is kept below the decomposition temperature of the peroxide used.
• the temperature of the extruder is kept at approximately 130°C to prevent pre-crosslinking of the insulating material, and the cross-linking process is carried out at a temperature in the range from 180°C to 280°C.
• the cross-linking process is carried out at a temperature in the range from 180°C to 280°C.
• at least part of the unsaturated fatty acid is grafted onto the polyethylene. It should be noted that the presence of unsaturated fatty acid not grafted onto the polyethylene, by contrast with other graftable monomers whose ungrafted excess is usually eliminated by degassing, does not adversely affect the final performance of the cable.
• the addition of the unsaturated fatty acid can be carried out either by its absorption on polyethylene granules or powder before the extrusion or, preferably, by its injection and mixing with the melted polyethylene during the extrusion.
• the quantity of fatty acid present in the insulating composition is generally in the range from 0.01% to 0.5%, preferably from 0.05% to 0.3%, said quantity being expressed as the content by weight of -COOH groups with respect to the overall weight of the polymeric composition.
• the insulating composition described above can optionally comprise an efficacious quantity of one or more conventional additives, such as antioxidants, processing adjuvants, lubricants, pigments, water- tree retardants, voltage stabilizers, antiscorching agents, and the like.
• antioxidants such as antioxidants, processing adjuvants, lubricants, pigments, water- tree retardants, voltage stabilizers, antiscorching agents, and the like.
• Antioxidants generally useful for this purpose
• the attached Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the cable according to the present invention, and, in particular, shows in a perspective view a section of cable with portions partially removed to show its structure .
• the cable 1 comprises, in sequence from the centre to the exterior: a conductor 2, an inner semiconducting layer 3, an insulating layer 4, an outer semiconducting layer 5, a metal screen 6, and an outer sheath 7.
• the conductor 2 generally consists of metal wires, preferably made from copper or aluminium, stranded together by conventional methods.
• PE non-cross-linked polyethylene
• the cable can also be provided with an outer protective structure (not shown in Figure 1) whose principal function is to mechanically protect the cable against impact and/or compression.
• This protective structure can be, for example, a metal armour or a layer of expanded polymeric material as described in patent application WO 98/52197.
• Figure 1 shows only one possible embodiment of a cable according to the present invention: clearly, modifications known in the art can be made to this embodiment without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.
• the cable according to the present invention can be made according to known techniques for the deposition of layers of thermoplastic material, for example by means of extrusion.
• the extrusion is carried out in a single pass, for example by means of a "tandem" technique, in which individual extruders arranged in series are used, or by co-extrusion by means of a multiple extrusion head.
• the temperature was then raised to 50°C and the mixture was kept at this temperature, with stirring, for three hours, until the oleic acid had been completely absorbed.
• the moulding conditions were as follows: - press dimensions: 20 x 20 cm; pressure: 170 bar; quantity of material: 4.5 g; thermoforming temperature: 130°C; duration of thermoforming: 5 mins.; - cross-linking temperature: 180°C; duration of cross-linking: 30 mins.; cooling time: 30 mins.
• the films produced as described above had dimensions of 20 x 20 cm and a thickness of approximately 120 ⁇ m.
• Test specimens having dimensions of 7 x 7 cm were cut from the aforesaid films and were subjected to an electrical ageing test in the presence of polarity reversal: the results are shown in Table 1.
• test specimens with the same polyethylene without the addition of oleic acid were produced as stated above.
• test specimens were placed between two steel electrodes having a Rogowski profiles.
• the electrodes were immersed in a silicone oil in order to prevent external discharges during the test, and a direct current electrical field of 20 kV with positive polarity was applied. After 1 hour, the polarity was reversed, and the test was continued in this way for 6 hours.
• the test was repeated with the electrical field increased to 25 kV and with the polarity reversed every hour, for 6 hours, as described above.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
• Organic Insulating Materials (AREA)
• Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
• Communication Cables (AREA)
• Superconductors And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)
• Cable Accessories (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Citations (4)

• 2001
  • 2001-07-12 EP EP01969378A patent/EP1314168B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-07-12 AU AU2001289650A patent/AU2001289650B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-07-12 BR BRPI0112896-5A patent/BR0112896B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-07-12 AT AT01969378T patent/ATE319168T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-07-12 WO PCT/EP2001/008084 patent/WO2002011154A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-07-12 CA CA002417877A patent/CA2417877C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-07-12 ES ES01969378T patent/ES2259673T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-07-12 AU AU8965001A patent/AU8965001A/xx active Pending
  • 2001-07-12 DE DE60117580T patent/DE60117580T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (4)

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