Effect of moisture on the electric field and breakdown voltage of XLPE cable interconnectors

Dampness in the joint is a common defect of power cables, and the influence of moisture on the performance of the intermediate joint is very important. The electric field distribution of the joint is analyzed by simulation, and the XLPE sample is used as an experimental object to test the breakdown voltage under different damp levels. Simulation results show that in the composite interface outside the main insulation, the electric field at the water film is only 20%–60% of normal. However, the electric field around the water film generally increases, and as the degree of moisture increases, the electric field distortion becomes more serious, which is prone to inducing breakdown accidents. The electric field around the water film outside the conductor has no obvious distortion and will not directly induce accidents. Through the breakdown voltage experiment of the damp XLPE sample, it is found that the average breakdown voltage is 85%–94% of normal, and it decreases with the increase of moisture. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results. The results can be used to guide the cause analysis of cable intermediate joint accidents.