Different configurations of spacer cable system under multiple stress tests

Spacer cable system has been widely used in Brazil in low polluted areas such as rural and urban areas. However, Brazilian national standards do not recommend installing spacer cable systems in medium and high polluted areas due to the accelerated aging of the electrical equipment and accessories. In this paper is presented the evaluation of alternatives for the use of spacer cable system in these areas by using new materials on the interface between the covered conductor and the spacer. Other components evaluated were porcelain and polymeric insulators. Besides the standard configuration, different materials were applied on the interface between the cable and the spacer: semiconducting tubes on the cable, autofusion semiconducting tape on the cable and semiconducting tape on the spacer. These materials were submitted to multiple stress tests and its performance were evaluated by visual inspections and leakage current measurements.