Application of Surface Modified XLPE Nanocomposites for Electrical Insulation of High Voltage Cables- Partial Discharge Study

This paper presents the experimental results of PD test using IEC 60270 standard for 0-27.5 kV range with the PD characteristics of XLPE nanocomposites for un-modified, agglomerated and Octylsilane modified silica nanofillers using nano 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 wt %. The unmodified and agglomerated nanocomposites show the lowest PD activity at nano 5 wt %. The surface modification of nanofiller helps to reduce the PD formation marginally due to improved nanofiller dispersion. Octylsilane surface modified XLPE/silica nano 3 wt % exhibits the lowest PD activity. To prove the further suitability of Octylsilane surface modified nanocomposites over unmodified and agglomerated nanocomposites, the discharge inception voltage (DIV) and breakdown voltage (BDV) have also been measured using IEC 60270 standard. The hypothetical theory has been proposed to explain the role of nanofillers in reducing PD activity and increasing DIV as well as BDV.