The Growth Mechanism of Brush-type Electrical Tree in XLPE

Abstract

To study the mechanism of brush-type electrical tree growing in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), the electrical treeing experiments in XLPE samples were made. The whole process of electrical treeing from initiation to breakdown was recorded by the real-time microscopic observation system. The microstructures of electrical trees were observed by scanning electron microscope. The energy spectrum of the electrical tree channel was analyzed. The relationship between electrical trees growing characteristics and microstructure was analyzed by establishing simulation models of electrical trees at different stages during treeing. The research shows that the process of electrical treeing in XLPE can be divided into four stages, which are incubation, growth, stagnation and breakdown.