Evolution in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Vol. 2 No.
2 (2021) 502-508
© Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Publisher’s Office
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e-ISSN : 2756-8458
Study of 220kV 3 Core XLPE Submarine Cable
using COMSOL Multiphysics
Lee Wen Yi1, Muhammad Saufi Kamarudin1*
1
Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering,
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, 86400, MALAYSIA
*Corresponding Author Designation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30880/eeee.2021.02.02.060
Received 04 July 2021; Accepted 07 September 2021; Available online 30 October 2021
Abstract: This paper presents a study and analysis of the electrical properties and
electrical stress of a 220kV 3core XLPE insulated submarine cable. The model of
electric cable is developed using COMSOL Multiphysics FEA software to simulate
and determine the electrical properties such as capacitance, inductance, resistance,
and power losses across the electric cable. The simulation model shows accurate
results in capacitance compared to the analytical model. Inductance and resistance of
cable greatly depend on the material and construction of the cable. Among all power
losses, phase losses contribute the most due to skin effect and heat dissipation.
Electrical stress data is determined as well through the plot of electric field
distribution across the XLPE insulator. The plot shows an exponential decrease across
the XLPE insulator with an initial maximum of 6.75MV/m electric field strength.
Insulating medium must be selected with low permittivity constant to lower down the
electric stress within the insulation layer.
Keywords: Submarine Cable, XLPE Insulator, COMSOL Multiphysics
1. Introduction
High voltage engineering is implemented in the transmission and distribution system to deliver
power supply to end user efficiently over a long distance. In underground transmission system,
submarine cable is used to transmit power underwater for application such as offshore windfarm
harvesting, grid interconnection purposes and offshore oil and gas platform [1]-[4].
Design and construction of submarine cable consists of a series of complex procedures and requires
specialized consideration. [5-7] It must be constructed to withstand sufficient mechanical and electrical
strength in reference to IEC 60287 series of standards [8]-[13]. Electrical strength and stress of an
electric cable is studied through the electrical properties of the transmission line. Hence, it is necessary
to determine the electrical properties exhibited by the cable under the service rating of transmission.
This study is intended to simulate and analyze the electrical properties of an 220kV 3core XLPE
insulated submarine cable by using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software tool. Electric field
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
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Lee Wen Yi et al., Evolution in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Vol. 2 No. 2 (2021) 502-508
distribution across the XLPE insulation layer is obtained in subsequence to figure out the electrical
stress within the cable. In the simulation model setup, a 2D submarine cable model is developed with
assumption that all 3 phases are operating at stable condition with balanced load.
2. Simulation Techniques for Electrical Properties and Field Measurement in Cable
Simulation on the 220kV submarine cable is conducted by using COMSOL Multiphysics as a tool
of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software.
2.1 Cable Modelling
In the initial setup of the study, the geometric parameters are fed into the software in accordance to
the technical specifications provided by ABB electric cable manufacturer, with reference on IEC 60287
series of standards. The chosen 220kV cable specification is provided in Table 1 as follows.
Table 1: Technical Data for 220kV Cable Specifications [14]
Based on the cable specifications in Table 1, the geometric parameters are fed into the software
setting to setup the object geometry of the cable model. The flowcharts on the modelling process are
shown in Figure 1 and 2, which displays the geometry built and material assigned process.
Figure 1: Block diagram of geometry built Figure 2: Block diagram of material assigned
The process of cable modelling is considered complete after the meshing of the model, as shown in
Figure 3.
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Figure 3: Complete modelling of submarine cable model
2.2 Solver Setting
The physic solvers used in the study to figure out the electrical properties of cable are Electric
Current (ec) and Magnetic Field (mf). Electric Current (ec) solver is applied to study the electric field
across the cable. In subsequent, capacitance per phase of the electric cable is simulated as the result
finding. On the other hand, Magnetic Field (mf) solver is applied to simulate the inductance and
resistance across the cable. Power losses are obtained as well by simulating the losses across conductor,
screen, and armor.
3. Electrical Properties and Field Measurement in Cable
The simulated result comprises of the electrical properties and electric field data across the electric
cable. In the findings of electrical properties, capacitance, inductance, resistance, and power losses in
the cable is discussed and compared through analytical model. The finding of electric field data is
plotted and analyzed using a cut plot of electric field strength across the XLPE insulation layer in one
of the phase conductors.
3.1 Capacitance
From Figure 4, capacitance per phase obtained from simulation is 0.050882uF/km whereas the
result found using analytical model is 0.13897uF/km. This shows that the analytical model developed
using capacitance of coaxial cable is not accurate and not suitable for the case of 3 core cable.
Figure 4: Result of capacitance per phase
3.2 Inductance
Simulated result of inductance per phase is shown in Figure 5, which is 0.43949mH/km. The
analytical model developed for coaxial cable is irrelevant to be used for comparison against simulated
result as magnitude of inductance depends on material properties and geometry of the cable
construction.
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Figure 5: Result of inductance per phase
3.3 Resistance
The result of resistance obtained from simulation consists of DC resistance and AC resistance as
shown in Figure 6. DC resistance refers to the purely resistive component whereas AC resistance refers
to the impedance of the cable, which is the combination product of resistance and reactance. Based on
the simulated result, resistance is obtained at 33.557mohm/km while impedance is 45.934 mohm/km.
The difference between the two value is contributed by the capacitive and inductive reactance.
Figure 6: Result of AC and DC resistance
3.4 Power Losses
Phase losses, screen losses and armor losses are the power loss induced within the cable as results
of magnetic field induction and heat dissipation. Figure 7 displays and compares the phase losses, screen
losses and armor losses.
Figure 7: Results of phase losses, screen losses and armor losses
Phase losses recorded the highest losses at 43.19W/m while screen losses and armor losses are
obtained as 15.553W/m and 0.37189W/m respectively. Power losses at phase conductor as a fact of
skin effect and heat dissipation. High current flow along the phase conductor causes significant power
losses during transmission. Screen losses and armor losses are the product of proximity effect where
eddy current is induced in the screen and armor conductor due to the alternating magnetic field in
adjacent.
3.5 Electric Field on Cable
A case study is setup to identify the electric field strength across the XLPE insulation layer among
one of the 3 core submarine cable. A line cut is introduced across the XLPE insulation layer as shown
in Figure 8, while the electric field strength across the line cut is plotted in Figure 9.
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b
a Emax
Figure 8: Plot of electric field norm
This is Emax (Maximum Electric Field),
as shown in Figure 3.5
Figure 9: Electric field cut plot
Electric field exist only in the dielectric insulation layer, but not in the conductor and screen which
exhibits metallic properties. Electrons can move freely across metallic conductor; no net charge will be
formed across them. The result plot shows an exponential decrease across the XLPE insulator, with an
initial maximum of 6.75MV/m electric field strength. Strength of electric field depends on the dielectric
properties of the insulating medium. Higher permittivity level will lead to higher maximum electric
field strength. Hence, it is wise to select insulating material with low dielectric constant to lower down
the electric stress across the insulating medium.
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4. Conclusion
In comparison of the simulation model developed from coaxial cable, capacitance obtained through
analytical model is far more accurate. Resistance and inductance greatly depend on the material
properties and construction of the cable conductor. Among the power losses across phases, screen and
armor of cable, phase loss is the highest due to skin effect and heat dissipation whereas screen and
armor losses occurs as results of proximity effect. Electric field strength across the XLPE insulator
decreases exponentially from a maximum of 6.75MV/m. In future, studies can be done further to
analyze the mechanical strength of the electric cable and simulate under varying case scenario of
temperature and pressure.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti
Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia for its support.
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