The role of degassing in XLPE power cable manufacture

In cable manufacturing, degassing is an important process because it contributes greatly to the quality of power cables by improving the certainty in electrical testing and improving the dielectric properties. To ensure that the degassing process delivers the expected benefits, it is important to measure and model the process by which the crosslinking byproducts are desorbed from the cable polymers. Weight loss and HPLC are proven to be the most effective and practical measurement techniques. Diffusion data derived from such measurements can, with finite element manufacturing (FEM), be conveniently used to make predictions concerning the time needed for degassing on a range of cable sizes and constructions. Improved efficiencies within the degassing process lead directly to either improved throughput or improved electrical performance.