2012 IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy (PECon), 2-5 December 2012, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia
Degradation of Polymeric Power Cable due to Water
Treeing under AC and DC Stress
Y. Z. Arief, M. Shafanizam, Z. Adzis
UTM Institute of High Voltage & High Current
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
yzarief@fke.utm.my
Abstract—Water treeing is a well known phenomenon in
polymeric cables, where it plays an important role in insulation
ageing and degradation process of the material. Water treeing
had been investigated for three decades and the level of
investigation of water treeing field on electrical insulation has
grown considerably especially in polymeric power cable. One of
the polymeric insulation materials, named crosslink polyethylene
(XLPE) has been widely used as insulation material in power
cables. This project focuses more on analysis of insulation
parameters such as insulation resistance, tan δ (delta), power
factor, capacitance and return voltage profile in 1 kV aged XLPE
cable due to water trees under AC and DC stress. As a result,
water treeing affects the insulation degradation of polymeric
power cable and influences other insulation parameters such as
insulation resistance, tan δ, power factor, capacitance, and
voltage recovery profile. The value of insulation resistance and
capacitance decreased while the value of power factor and tan δ
increased after injection of 2 kV AC voltage, due to water treeing
for certain ageing time.
Keywords-water treeing; insulation resistance; tan δ, power
factor; capacitance; return voltage measurement.
I. INTRODUCTION
Polymeric materials (organic substance) are widely used as
insulators in electrical power system. Their performance is
easily affected by environmental conditions such as
temperature, humidity, chemical, radiation and partial
discharge (PD). Overloads, defects or weak spots in insulation
may lead to chemical breakdown of the insulation producing
thermal runaway, leading to decreased insulation resistance,
increased leakage current and failure. Water trees form and
convert to electrical trees and lead to ultimate failure. Water
migration into the insulation leads to water trees. Water trees
lead to decreased insulation resistance and very slight increase
in leakage current. Water trees lead to electrical trees which
produce PD and ultimate failure.
The degradation of polyethylene by the combined action
of water and electrical stress was first published in 1969 by
Miyashita. By the early 1970s this kind of degradation became
known as water treeing. A water tree is a bush or fan like
structure developing like an electrical tree, from points of
stress enhancement. Water trees cause a reduction in the
978-1-4673-5019-8/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
M. Z. H. Makmud
School of Science and Technology
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
mzhilmey@ums.edu.my
insulation's breakdown stress level which encourages
breakdown [1].
When these cables are operated in a wet environment they
can be electrochemically deteriorated by water treeing
phenomenon. The water tree is caused by contaminants or
voids in XLPE insulation and generally grows toward both the
conductor and insulation shields. There are many theories
about the generation mechanism of the water tree. Also, the
water tree retardation is still an important subject.
Polymeric insulation in power cables was introduced over
50 years ago. However, premature degradation of the HV
cables still remains a costly problem for the utility sector. A
major cause of this premature degradation can be attributed to
a phenomenon called water treeing in the cable insulation [2].
Water treeing is one of the major causes of premature
ageing and failure of extruded medium voltage of polymeric
cables which do not have water-impervious barriers. Besides
technological efforts, it has been a challenge up to now to
overcome such failures by improved insulating compound,
mainly on the basis of the chemically cross-linked low density
polyethylene (XLPE).
A fundamental interest of power utilities is to increase the
total reliability at a minimum cost by improved maintenance
routines. Diagnostic testing of installed XLPE power cables is
of high interest because of the large number of old cables in
service with high probability of failure caused by water tree
degradation [3].
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB); a power utility company in
Malaysia reported that during 1 September 2010 – 31 August
2011, statistically the failure of underground cable (medium
voltage, 6.6 kV) due to water tree/water ingress is about
16.5% which occurred in Selangor territory.
The objective of this study is to study the degradation of
polymeric power cable due to water treeing under AC and DC
voltage. The electrical insulation properties such as dissipation
factor (tan δ), insulation resistance, capacitance, and power
factor are conducted in order to investigate the degradation
phenomena which occurred in sample of aged polymeric
cables. Voltage return profile is also performed in this
research work in order to obtain better information on the
degraded samples.
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 2012 IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy (PECon), 2-5 December 2012, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia
II. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
A. Sample Preparation for ageing test
In this research work, a group of single core 1 kV
polymeric cable sample consist of 3 cables are immersed in a
container which is filled with tap water. The cable samples
consist of non-defect, moderate defect and severe defect,
respectively. Moderate defect sample has 3-punched holes with
a 1 inch-nail about 0.2 cm in depth for each hole. Severe defect
has 9-punched holes with same depth (0.2 cm) for each hole.
The samples are then connected to an AC voltage supply of 2
kV for 10, 20, and 40 hours. This is to simulate water ingress
into cable insulation in different types of situation during
service. Another group of polymeric cable samples with same
defect condition is provided for DC voltage supply.
Fig. 1 shows the construction of water treeing test of
polymeric cable sample. The photo of the construction is
shown in Fig. 2 and the complete experimental setup of water
treeing test is shown in Fig. 3.
Figure 1. Construction of sample for water treeing test
Figure 2. Actual picture of water treeing test
Polymeric Cable sample
HV Supply
Figure 3. Complete experimental setup of water treeing test
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B. Measuring Technique
Measurements are carried out to determine the insulation
resistance, capacitance dissipation factor (tan δ), power factor
and return voltage profile of the aged XLPE cables due to
water tree after 10, 20, and 40 hours injection of 2 kV AC and
DC voltage supply to the three types of cable sample which
are non defect, moderate defect, and severe defect cable
samples.
The measurements of capacitance, dissipation factor (tan
δ), and power factor were all performed at frequency 50 Hz
using a Tettex Instruments – Schering Bridge Model 2816 with
automatic guard potential regulator. All samples of cables
which are non defect, moderate defect and severe defect
condition cable are taken after certain ageing time of AC and
DC applied voltage. Before the test is performed, the room
temperature (ambient temperature) and pressure were
recorded. The dissipation factor (tan δ), power factor and
capacitance as a function of test voltage, (U) were measured
on several samples of the cables. To avoid termination and
flashover problems, the maximum applied voltage was in this
case limited to 2 kV.
Fig. 4 shows measurement set up for insulation resistance,
tan δ, power factor and capacitance performed in this research.
Figure 4. Measurement set up for single core XLPE cables
Tests were performed by injecting of U test voltage to the 3
sample of sample XLPE cables which are non defect,
moderate defect and severe defect condition cable which have
been aged by 2 kV AC voltage. Therefore three readings are
obtained in one set of measurement for one cable. Every set of
measurement was injected 3 times of U test voltage and final
reading form every measurement is obtained from average of
3 readings. The values of dissipation factor (tan δ), power
factor and capacitance readings are displayed on the Tettex
Instruments – Schering Bridge Model 2816 seven-segment
screen and printed as hard copy.
The measurements of voltage recovery profile were all
performed by using Tettex-5461 Recovery Voltage Meter.
Recovery voltage meter (RVM) determines the polarization
 2012 IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy (PECon), 2-5 December 2012, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia

spectra of oil paper high voltage insulation, especially for

power transformer. For the necessary measurement series, an
instrument was developed which carries out all measurement
automatically and displays the result in numerical or graphic
form. The Tettex-5461 Recovery Voltage Meter is portable
microprocessor-controlled measurement system which is
particularly suitable for in situ operation. With this method,
peak recovery voltage can be represented as a function of time
constants determined from a series of charge and discharge
measurement.
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION Electrical Ageing (h)

Fig. 5 shows the value of insulation resistance of cable Figure 6. Insulation resistance of cable samples under DC voltage
sample under AC voltage supply for 0, 10, and 20 h electrical However, for specimens under DC stress (Fig. 6), the
ageing, respectively. It is clearly shown that insulation insulation resistance values of non defect cable sample is
resistance significantly decreased after 10 and 20 h of lower than the moderate ones. It is hypothesized that the
electrical ageing. Fig. 6 shows the measurement results for DC ageing processes have already occurred in non defect cable
stress. This insulation resistance were decreased because the sample. The cables samples used in this research works were
effect of water treeing that had absorbed into the cable. Water used cables that have undergone several tests before this
migration into the insulation leads to water trees. Water trees research work.
lead to decreased insulation resistance and very slight increase Figs. 7 to 10 show the measurement results for dissipation
in leakage current. Water trees do not directly produce failure. factor (tan δ) and power of cable samples under AC and DC
Water trees lead to electrical trees which produce partial ellectrical stress, respectively.
discharge and ultimate failure. Water trees lead the leakage
current to increase due to the weakening insulation resistance.
From the Fig. 5, the severe defect condition cable specimen
has the lowest value of insulation resistance after 10 and 20
hours of electrical ageing in comparison to non defect and
moderate specimens. The insulation resistance in non defect
cable specimen decreased only slightly compared to severe
cable type and moderate specimens. That is due to the
migration of water into the insulation in non defect specimen
is small compared to severe defect and moderate defect
condition specimens which have more water migration into
their insulation and this will cause the insulation resistance in
their cable to decrease and slightly increases the value of
Electrical Ageing (h)
leakage current. Insulation resistance in severe defect cable
decreases the most because the defect from the cable leads to Figure 7. Tan δ of cable samples under AC voltage.
more water migrating into their insulation. So the more severe
is the defect in the cable will enable more water to migrate
into the insulation and further decrease the insulation
resistance.

Electrical Ageing (h)

Figure 8. Tan δ of cable samples under DC voltage.

Electrical Ageing (h)
Figure 5. Insulation resistance of cable samples under AC voltage

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 2012 IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy (PECon), 2-5 December 2012, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia
Electrical Ageing (h)
Figure 9. Power factor of cable samples under AC voltage.
Electrical Ageing (h)
Figure 10. Power factor of cable samples under DC voltage.
Figs. 7 and 8 shows the value of tan δ and power factor
increased after 10 and 20 hours of injection of 2 kV AC
voltage. This is due to the immersion in the water increasing
the value of both measurements. The water migrates into the
insulation leads to water trees. These water trees lead to
decreased of insulation resistance and slightly increase the
leakage current. As the leakage current increases, the value of
tan δ will increase. This follows the equation of dissipation
factor as stated in equation (1).
(1)
If the Ir (leakage current) is increased, the value of dissipation
factor (tan δ) or power factor will increase. If the value of
leakage current is decreased, the value of tan δ also decreased.
Fig. 11 is an electrical model representation of a cable. The
tangent of the angle δ is measured. This will indicate the level
of resistance in the insulation. By measuring Ir/Ic, we can
determine the quality of the cable insulation. In a perfect
cable, the angle would be nearly zero. An increasing angle
indicates an increase in the resistive current through the
insulation, meaning contamination. The greater the angle, the
worse is the cable. So, the increasing of value of tan δ and
power factor among 3 specimens of cable which are non
defect, moderate defect, and severe defect condition cable
shows that the cable are going fail.
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Figure 11. Relation of tan δ and leakage current in the cable.
If the pure capacitance without losses is considered, the
phasor diagram of an ideal capacitor and a capacitor with a
lossy dielectric are shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 12(a) shows that
there are no losses if a pure capacitor characteristic is
obtained. Because of this lossy dielectric characteristic, the
power losses will be introduced and heat from conductor is
one of the aging mechanisms [12, 13]. Introduction of heat
(thermal) in conductor, accelerates aging of insulator and can
cause deteriorated capacitance strength. Nevertheless, in real
situation, the lossy component in capacitor (insulation) will be
present and should be considered because that component can
weaken capacitor strength.
Figure 12. Capacitor phasor diagram [12, 13].
The value of tan δ and power factor for aged cable sample
with AC voltage of severe defect cable is higher compared to
the non defect and moderate defect cable. That is because the
hole in severe defect cable will provide paths of water to
migrate into the insulation and leads to decreased insulation
resistance and slightly increasing leakage current. Therefore,
the value of tan δ and power factor in severe defect is larger
than those moderate defect and non defect ones. This shows
that severe defect is more destructive followed by moderate
defect and non defect cable.
For tan δ and power factor of sample cable under DC stress
(Figs 8 and 10), the values of non defect cable type were
higher than those severe and moderate ones. These results also
meet the earlier hypothesis about the condition of non defect
cables sample that had already undergone degradation process.
Figs. 13 and 14 show the measurement results for
capacitance of cable samples under AC and DC voltage
supply, respectively.
 2012 IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy (PECon), 2-5 December 2012, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia

insulating material such as XLPE, the magnitude of the

leakage current vector is much smaller than the magnitude of
the capacitance current vector, thus producing very small loss
angle δ [9,10]. The values of capacitance in severe defect
condition cable specimens has decreases more compared to
the non defect cable and moderate defect one. The more
severe defect-hole in the defect cable affects the value of
capacitance to decrease and this shows that severe defect cable
become more destructive compared with the non defect cable
and moderate one. For the same reasons, voids, contaminants
and protrusions in XLPE insulator cables are defects that
Electrical Ageing (h)
greatly affect the insulating properties of those cables [11]. Let
us consider the following equation.
Figure 13. Capacitance measurement results f cable samples under AC
voltage. (3)

From tan δ analysis above, if the value of tan δ is gets high

Electrical Ageing (h)
Figure 14. Capacitance measurement results f cable samples under DC
voltage.
For aged cable samples under AC voltage supply, the
value of capacitance among the samples which are non defect,
moderate defect, and severe defect type were decreased after
10 hours and 20 hours of electrical ageing. The graph above
shows that capacitance values in XLPE insulator cable is
influenced by applied voltage 2 kV AC/DC stress and water
migration. Water trees and the test voltage decreases the value
of capacitance and this will make the sample cable which are
non defect, moderate defect and severe one become more
destructive and this will influence that water trees enhance the
degradation of polymeric power cable under AC/DC voltage.
This will be proved in the following equation.
and higher, at certain levels the cable system will be
breakdown. From previous researches, if tan δ is high, content
of moistures inside cable system also high and can cause water
treeing phenomena to occur [15,16,]. Therefore, if the value of
R is fixed and a capacitance value, C is decreased in certain
level (too small), moisture contents inside the cable system is
high, and because of this condition the dielectric strength of
cable insulation is becoming deteriorated.
However, for cable samples under DC voltage supply
(Fig. 14), it shows severe defect condition had a highest
capacitance value followed by moderate defect condition and
non defect condition. Over the ageing time, the value of
capacitance does not have a significant change, although the
degradation on insulation of the cables samples already
occurred due to water trees.
Figs. 15 and 16 show the measurement results for recovery
voltage of cable samples under AC and DC voltage supply,
respectively.

(2)

According to equation (1), if the value of leakage current is

Figure 15. Recovery voltage measurement results of cable samples under AC
increased, the value of tan delta also increased. An increasing voltage after 20h of electrical ageing.
angle indicates an increase in the resistive current through the
insulation, meaning contamination, and for a higher value of
tan delta, means that the cable is worse. The increasing value
of tan delta and leakage current (Ir) will influence the value of
capacitive current (Ic) to decrease. From equation (2), the
value of capacitance will decrease according to the decrease of
the value of capacitive (charging) current (Ic). For a good

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 2012 IEEE International Conference on Power and Energy (PECon), 2-5 December 2012, Kota Kinabalu Sabah, Malaysia
Figure 16. Recovery voltage measurement results of cable samples under DC
voltage after 40h of electrical ageing.
As can bee seen from Fig. 15, the time to reach the highest
peak of non defect cable is 50 second, while the time to reach
the highest peak for moderate defect and severe defect sample
cable are 2 second and 1 second, respectively. The time taken
to reach the highest peak for severe defect is the fastest
followed by the time to reach the highest peak in moderate
defect cable and non defect one. If the time to reach the
highest peak is too fast, the cable becomes more damaged.
Thus, it shows that severe defect is more destructive. The
return voltage profile results also give the similar pattern for
recovery voltage profile on moderate and severe defect
condition under DC stress as shown in Fig. 16. It shows that
with more degradation on insulation, the less time is taken
Tc(s) for the voltage to reach peak Ur.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Analysis for this project has been successfully done and the
results met the objectives. From this project, degradation of
polymeric power cable under AC and DC stress had been
influenced by water trees is studied. The decreasing value of
insulation resistance and capacitance shows that polymeric
power cable is becoming destructive due to water tree.
Furthermore, the polymeric power cables are worse if the
values of power factor and dissipation factor or tan delta
increase. This project has proven that water tree influences the
crosslink polyethylene (XLPE) cable to fail.
Throughout the analysis of degradation of polymeric
power cable due to water tree under AC stress, suggestions
have been made to improve the analysis results. In future
works, other analysis can be done such as the time for
applying the AC/DC voltage supply to the XLPE cable could
be increased for more ageing time to see the effect of water
treeing and perform the optical microscopy to visually confirm
water trees appearance.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank Malaysia Ministry of
Higher Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for
the use of facilities to complete this research project under
research university grant (RUG) with vot number
Q.J130000.2523.00H19. The authors would also like to thank
Mr. Muhamad Ihsan, Mr. Mohd Faiz, and Mr. Anuar K. for
their valuable advices, discussion, and help during completing
of this research work.
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