Insulation aging diagnosis and defect location of crosslinked polyethylene cable in the distribution network based on radio frequency identification

With the expansion of power grid construction, the regulatory requirements of various equipment are increasing. Further, the safe and stable operation of the distribution network plays a crucial role in the entire power system. In particular, the cables in DNs are prone to aging during long-term operation due to various factors, such as electricity and heat. Therefore, the effective diagnosis of their operating status is necessary. Crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) is widely used as the main insulation material for cables in power systems. In this study, the microscale and macroscale performance of the molding process of XLPE cables were compared. Wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) technology was used to diagnose the aging and locate the defects of XLPE cables in the DN. The experiment noted the average insulation crosslinking degree of 88.93% and 87.98% for the suspension chain- and tower-type XLPE cables, respectively. The insulation-melting and crystallization temperatures of the suspension chain-type XLPE cable were approximately 110 degrees C and 92 degrees C, respectively, and the crystallinity was approximately 36.5%. The insulation-melting and crystallization temperatures of the tower-type XLPE cable were approximately 105 degrees C and 88 degrees C, respectively, and the crystallinity was approximately 34%. Using the wireless RFID technology, the precise positioning of the local aging and insulation damage defects in XLPE cables can be achieved. The error in locating the cable defects using the high-frequency phase spectrum of the cable was less than 0.5 m. Therefore, the study on the manufacture of XLPE cables has significant impact on the physical and chemical properties of their insulation layer. Further, the cable inspection using the wireless RFID technology provides a guarantee on the safe operation of the power system.