Simulation Study on Plugged Joint for 10kV Cable

The installation of existing cable joint is a time-consuming process and greatly affected by implement condition. This paper proposes a design of plugged joint for 10kV cable to simplify associated installation. First, we measure the dielectric performance, thermal performance and mechanical performance for basic insulation materials of joint, including epoxy resin and silicon rubber, and characterize the relationships of those parameters with temperature and frequency. Second, based on the tested results, a finite element model for plugged joint has been established, and the electric field strength as well as the temperature distribution is obtained according to electro-thermal coupling calculation. The results show that the maximum field strength (1.32x106V/m) and temperature (79°C) appear in the vicinity of the interface between cable conductor cross-section and joint, verifying the validation of such a design. Moreover, the voltage endurance, partial discharge (PD) and temperature rise tests have been carried out experimentally on this fabricated joint, which coincides with the simulation model. Ultimately, we propose a new design of intelligent monitoring system based on plugged joint, which is expected to help to obtain real-time state of cable and cable joint. Generally, our findings may provide a guidance for a possible solution to update the current joint technology for 10kV cable.