To evaluate the effect of using siloxane liquid to rejuvenate water tree defects in cross-linked polyethylene(XLPE)cables,we investigated the electrical properties and micro-structures of water-tree aged XLPE cables after siloxane liquid injection treatment.The water-tree aged samples were prepared by performing accelerated aging experiment using water-needle electrodes,and the siloxane liquid is injected into the aged cable through a pressurized injection system.Dielectric loss factors of the samples before and after the rejuvenation were compared.The water trees and the internal filler were observed using scanning electron microscope(SEM).Electrical properties of the reactants are measured.Electric field simulation is conducted to verify the rejuvenation effect by finite element method.The results show that the siloxane liquid diffused into the insulation layer in a short time and reacted with water in the water trees.The electrical properties of the formed organic filler are in accord with that of XLPE.Therefore,the action between siloxane and water can inhibit the growth of water trees and reduce electric field distortion of the water tree areas.As a result,insulation performance of the cable is enhanced.A 70 m long cable was aged and rejuvenated in laboratory and an on-site rejuvenation experiment was conducted,and in both cases the dielectric loss factor and leakage current halved after rejuvenation.
