DIRECT CURRENT OIL-FILLED CABLE

Abstract: A direct current oil-filled cable whose productivity is improved, whose cost is low and whose size is small. The main conductor is made of PPLP. Then, one to ten layers of kraft paper are wound on the inner side and/or outer side of the PPLP main conductor of the direct current oil-filled cable.

Description: The present invention relates to a direct current (hereinafter abbreviated to DC) oil-filled self contained (hereinafter abbreviated to OF) cable used as a long power cable, particularly a long distance submarine power cable, for large electric power transmission. Heretofore, oil immersed solid power cables, or mass-impregnated non-draining (MIND) cables and OF cables have been adaptable as DC cables. In the case of DC OF cables, kraft paper with high impermeability which is excellent in breakdown strength is often used, because such dielectric characteristics as permittivity or dielectric tangent are, unlike alternating current (hereinafter abbreviated to AC) cables, not significant to DC cables. They are otherwise not much different from AC cables in basic structure. A cable as stated in the preamble of claim 1 is known from GB-A-1185474. DC Cables must have (1) sufficient DC withstanding characteristics, (2) sufficient withstanding characteristics against such abnormal voltages as lightening surge etc. and (3) sufficient withstanding characteristics against polarity reversal, and moreover satisfy the required carrying capacity. DC stress distribution in insulation is determined by the ρ-characteristic of the insulation. This ρ-characteristic in turn varies with temperature and stress. It undergoes a complex change, as the temperature distribution in the insulation changes. As far as the conventional DC cables in use with the kraft paper insulation are concerned, the DC stress distribution determined by the aforementioned ρ characteristic is not the prominent factor of design, but these cables have been designed on a basis of impulse design as with AC cables, more particularly, on a basis of the electric stress which will develop when an impulse with opposite polarity superposed onto DC is applied on the conductor. For discussions on DC cables for large electric power transmission, not only impulse strength as in AC cables but withstand-voltage strength to DC as well are required. In this case, evaluating the necessary thickness of insulation would generally result in a large thickness, detracting from ensuring the required transmission capacity. As a countermeasure, the conductor resistance may be reduced by increasing the conductor size, to cut down its current loss, thereby ensuring the transmission capacity. But this approach would involve productivity reduction, cable size increase, cost rise and other various problems. The present invention consists in an oil-filled direct current cable comprising a conductor, a main insulation around the conductor comprising a composite tape (hereinafter referred to as PPLP) formed by laminating a low dielectric loss plastics film and kraft paper, characterised in that the cable also includes a paper winding comprising: (a) winding layers of 1 to 10 sheets of kraft paper arranged between the conductor and said main insulation and around the outside of said main insulation or (b) a winding layer of 3 to 5 sheets of carbon paper arranged inside and/or outside said main insulation. The required ρ-grading can be obtained by combining the composite tape with another or other PPLP(s) differing in plastic film ratio (hereinafter referred to as "PP ratio"), as required, as well as combining the composite tape with the paper winding. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an insulation configuration of a DC OF cable embodying this invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an insulation configuration of another DC OF cable embodying this invention; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an insulation configuration of still another DC OF cable embodying this invention; and FIG. 4 is a DC characteristic comparison between PPLP and conventional kraft paper. The PPLP commonly applied to AC cables is a composite insulation formed by integrally laminating low dielectric loss polyolefinic film, for example, polypropylene film (designated as PP) and kraft paper(s), one that gives low dielectric loss as well as high dielectric strength and which has superior impulse characteristic to kraft paper. The DC characteristic of this PPLP is confirmed to be very excellent, as shown in FIG. 4. As a measure for improvement in the DC characteristic of kraft paper, increasing its impermeability is mentioned. PPLP has such an impermeability as is equivalent to infinity. Since as the PP ratio in PPLP grows larger, its impulse and DC characteristics are enhanced, it becomes possible to form an optimal ρ-distribution (ρ-grading) through the optimization of the ρ-distribution and stress in each part of the insulation by combining appropriate PPLP layer(s) which are composed of PPLP with different PP ratios. Application examples are as follows: The measure is not always one in view of conductor size and cable load (transmission current). The DC stress is high on the conductor side at normal temperature, but it is high on the sheath side at high temperatures. On this account, a PPLP having high dielectric strength such as one with an approx. 60% PP ratio is arranged on the conductor side and the sheath side where stress is high and a PPLP with an approx. 40% PP ratio is arranged intermediate therebetween. In the case where evenly averaged stress is optimal, PPLP with an approx. 40% PP ratio are arranged on the conductor side and the sheath side and PPLP with an approx. 60% PP ratio intermediate therebetween. As hereinabove described, where the DC stress distribution is concerned, stress is high on the conductor side at normal temperature but on the sheath side at high temperatures. Generally, as for the strength of an insulation, the thinner the insulating tape, the higher its withstand-voltage strength. Accordingly, by arranging thin insulating tapes on the conductor side and the sheath side, it is possible to respond to the stress distribution peculiar to DC cables as above mentioned and design a cable capable of withstanding AC surge. Next, as for impulse characteristic of PPLP, as shown in Table 1, PPLP gives rather large polarity difference between (+) and (-). This can be considered to stem from the PP film contained in PPLP. Item PPLP DC Cellulose paper Thickness (µm) 125 125 Film ratio (%) approx. 50 - ε 2.8 4.0 tanδ (%) 0.08 0.33 ρ o (Ω·cm) 4×10 19 6×10 18 α (1/°C) 0.07 0.10 β (mm/kV) 0.11 0.045 Breakdown strength (kV/mm) AC 53(80) 44 Imp+ 114(140) 115 Imp- 156(209) DC+ 149(211) 134 DC- 136(232) As a result of assiduous research, we discovered a very useful fact that when a few sheets of kraft paper are arranged on the (+) polarity side of PPLP, improvement will be effected in the direction of diminishing polarity difference. Further, improvement was found to be achieved by arranging there 3 - 5 sheets of carbon paper with about 10 3 - 10 6 Ω·cm. It was found out as a result of evaluations pursued on a variety of configurations that use of 3 or more sheets, or preferably 7 - 10 sheets, of approx. 100 µm kraft paper with a 1000 Gurley sec or higher of impermeability and 3 - 5 sheets of carbon paper of about 10 3 - 10 6 Ω·cm is recommended and that a configuration of conductor - carbon paper(s) - kraft paper(s) - PPLP(s) - kraft paper(s) - carbon paper(s) - metal sheath is generally most preferable for DC OF cables. However, use of still more sheets of carbon paper and kraft paper will result in thicker insulation, raising problems in insurance of permissible current and economy. Therefore, still larger number of sheets should be avoided. Further, in connection with the countermeasure against (+) polarity impulse problem, since the stress on the conductor side grows severer with increasing conductor size (for example, to 600 mm 2 or larger) and insulation thickness (for example, to 10 mm or larger), a configuration of conductor - carbon paper(s) - kraft paper(s) - PPLP(s) - metal sheath, that is, the aforementioned configuration with kraft paper(s) and/or carbon paper(s) omitted on the sheath side where less stress is involved, is also practical. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 presents a cross-sectional view of a concrete example of the insulation configuration of a DC OF cable of this invention. Referring to this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a cable conductor having an oil passage in its interior; 2, a usual internal shielding layer formed by winding the conductor with about 1 - 2 sheets of carbon paper; 3, a layer of 1 - 10 sheets of kraft paper wound thereabout; 4, a PPLP insulation layer having, for example, a PPLP with an about 60% PP ratio wound on the cable conductor side 43 and the sheath side 41 and another PPLP with an about 40% PP ratio wound at an intermediate portion 42 therebetween, thereby providing a ρ grading. Numeral 5 designates 1 - 10 sheets of kraft paper wound on the outside of the PPLP insulation layer 4, to form its layer thereon, and 6 stands for a usual external shielding layer formed on the last mentioned layer by winding it with about 1 - 2 sheets of carbon paper. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another concrete example of the insulation configuration of the DC OF cable of this invention. Referring to this figure, the same numbers represent the same parts. In this concrete example, in place of the usual internal shielding layer on the conductor 1, 3 - 5 sheets of carbon paper are wound thereabout to arrange a carbon paper winding layer 7; then a PPLP insulation layer 4 on which a ρ-grading similar to that of FIG. 1 is applied is provided thereon and further, a usual external shielding layer 6 is provided on top thereof. In this instance, in place of the external shielding layer 6, 3 - 5 sheets of carbon paper may be wound thereabout to arrange a carbon paper winding layer. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of still another insulation configuration of the DC OF cable of this invention. In this figure, the same numerals identical to those in FIGs. 1 and 2 represent the same parts. In this concrete example, on a cable conductor 1, 3 - 5 sheets of carbon paper are wound to form a carbon paper winding layer 7; 1 - 10 sheets of kraft paper are wound thereabout to arrange a kraft paper winding layer 3; and then a PPLP insulation layer 4 on which a ρ-grading is applied just as hereinabove described is provided thereon. On top of it, 1 - 10 sheets of kraft paper are wound to arrange a kraft paper winding layer 5 and further 3 - 5 sheets of carbon paper are wound thereabout to arrange a carbon paper winding layer 8. In this instance, in place of the carbon paper winding layer 8, for example, 1 - 2 sheets of carbon paper may be wound therearound to provide an external shielding layer. EFFECT OF THE INVENTION : When large capacity transmission cables adapted for use at ± 500 kV and 2800 A are designed using a DC OF cable of this invention as shown in FIG. 3 and a prior art DC OF cable configured with use of kraft paper, they are compared as in Table 2. Table 2 indicates that in the former, the cable outer diameter and weight can be reduced, conductor size decreased, cable cost reduced, and moreover, installation work expense can be retrenched. Accordingly, its effects are quite enormous, when it is utilized as long distance submarine power cables for large electric power transmission. Item Unit Prior art paper PPLP Size mm 2 3500 3000 Insulation thickness mm 25 20 Outer Diameter mm 182 166 Weight kg/m 101 86 Cost % 100 98

Claims: An oil-filled (OF) direct current (DC) cable comprising a conductor (1), a main insulation (4) around the conductor comprising a composite tape formed by laminating a low dielectric loss plastics film and kraft paper, characterised in that the cable also includes a paper winding comprising: (a) winding layers (3, 5) of 1 to 10 sheets of kraft paper arranged between the conductor and said main insulation and around the outside of said main insulation or (b) a winding layer of 3 to 5 sheets (7, 8) of carbon paper arranged inside and/or outside said main insulation. A DC cable according to claim 1 wherein said paper winding comprises both said 1 to 10 sheets (3, 5) of kraft paper (a) and said 3 to 5 sheets (7, 8) of carbon paper (b). A DC cable according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the main insulation (4) comprises radially outer and inner portions (41, 43) having a polypropylene film content represented by a PP ratio of approximately 60% and an intermediate portion (42), radially between said inner and outer portions, having a polypropylene film content represented by a PP ratio of approximately 40%. A DC cable according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the main insulation (4) comprises radially inner and outer portions (42, 43) having a polypropylene film content of approximately 40% and an intermediate portion, radially between said inner and outer portions, having a polypropylene film content of approximately 60%.

Inventors: HATA RYOSUKE, HIROSE MASAYUKI, NAKAURA YOSHITERU, HATA, RYOSUKE, HIROSE, MASAYUKI, NAKAURA, YOSHITERU, HATA, RYOSUKE, OSAKA WORKS, SUMITOMO ELEC. IND., HIROSE, MASAYUKI, OSAKA WORKS, SUMITOMO ELEC. IND, NAKAURA, YOSHITERU, OSAKA WORKS, SUMITOMO EL.IND.
Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01B9
IPC codes: H01B7, H01B9