XLPE use and development of insulated cables, although only 30 years, but because of its good mechanical properties, easy installation and maintenance, excellent insulation properties, a large transmission capacity than the same cross-section paper insulation cables production processes simple and conducive to large-scale production and other advantages, with the continuous development of industrial materials and related industries, the XLPE insulated cable applications in the power system is used widely.

Currently, cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cables in the utility voltage transmission and distribution systems has reached 275 k V, and the test run had 500 kV crosslinked polyethylene insulated power cable. XLPE insulated power cable in developed countries, as early as the 1930s and 1940s have already put into operation in low pressure. 1 seen from Table 1 a, as the voltage increases, oil-paper insulation, PVC PVC insulated cable has an insulating sheet does not drip, and other varieties of butyl rubber insulation can not adapt, then polyethylene (PE), cross-linked polyethylene (of XLPE) insulating material is synthetic rubber 1U_ the second World war developed rapidly, and the faster, more and more high voltage level. After 1972, and the development of a 110 kV level above cross-linked polyethylene (of XLPE) cables and insulated high-pressure heat-shrink tubing.

Figure I 1 greaseproof paper and a developing XLPE cables

I- foreign oil paper insulated cables; 2- domestic oil paper insulated cables; 3- plastic insulated cables

FIG I I and FIG. 1-2 is a voltage level of the cable growth curve, seen from the drawing, in cross linked polyethylene insulated cable as represented by plastic insulated power cables fast development. As the history of Japan XLPE insulated cable voltage rating is: 1955 for the first time successfully developed; in 1961 reached 33 kV; 1962 reached 66 kV; 1965 reached 77 kV, 1969 years to the production of XL PE insulated cables of 110 kV.

FIG changes the maximum working voltage of FIG. 1 -2 XLPE cable

This rate represents a growth rate of polyethylene insulated cables cross-linking developed industrial countries, such as PE and XLPE insulated cables developments in various countries, as well as the development of Shenzhen shrink tube shown in Table 1-1. Japanese XLPE insulated cables are currently used in power cables accounted for the entire copper content of 85%, and 275 kV XLPE insulated cable has been put into operation, and has a nominal cross-section of developed resistance to 2 000 m of 500 kV crosslinked polyethylene ethylene cable. Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and other countries have been mass production of this type of cable. Sweden in 1965 for producing a crosslinked polyethylene cable, 1975, 12 kV XLPE Cable grade has accounted for 70%, 24-84 k V of XLPE insulated cable accounted for 100%, the low-pressure stage oil paper 1964 used with plastic cable, more than 15 kV XLPE and PE trial began insulated cables. German PVC insulated cables even use to 6-10 kV level, the UK does not use more than a trickle of oil-paper insulated cables, plastic cable is limited. In 1970 the countries in the 10-30 k V, the low voltage cable in the field, PE usage is 16%, XLPE usage ^ 6% - 8% in the late 1970s, due to the United States to solve the water trees in low voltage power cables, electricity twigs and other material issues the PE and XLPE insulated cable has been greatly developed, the use of a large number of plastic power cable systems at stage 15 kV, while the oil paper insulated cable is almost eliminated, as shown in table 1-2 for the U.S. cable 1971 the percentage of species.

XLPE绝缘电缆发展历史（Ⅰ）

XLPE绝缘电缆的使用和发展虽只有30多年的历史，但由于其具有机械性能好，安装维护方便，绝缘性能优异，传输容量比同截面油纸绝缘电缆大，生产工艺简便，利于大规模生产等优点，所以随着材料工业及相关产业的不断发展，使XLPE绝缘电缆在电力系统中的应用日益广泛。

目前，交联聚乙烯绝缘电力电缆在输配电系统中的实用电压已达到275 k V，并己试验运行500 kV的交联聚乙烯绝缘电力电缆。在发达国家，早在20世纪三四十年代就己有中低压的交联聚乙烯绝缘电力电缆投入运行。从表1一1可见，随着电压增加，油纸绝缘、PVC聚氯乙烯绝缘、不滴流纸绝缘、丁基橡胶绝缘等品种的电缆己无法适应，于是聚乙烯(PE)、交联聚乙烯(XLPE)合成橡胶绝缘材料在第二次1U_界大战中迅速发展起来，且速度越来越快，电压等级越来越高。1972年后，又发展出了110 kV级以上的交联聚乙烯(XLPE)绝缘电缆和高压热缩管。

图I一1油纸及XLPE电缆发展

I- 国外油纸绝缘电缆; 2-国内油纸绝缘电缆; 3-塑料绝缘电缆

图I一I和图1-2为电缆电压等级发展曲线，由图可见，以交联聚乙烯绝缘电缆为代表的塑料绝缘电力电缆发展速度较快。如日本XLPE绝缘电缆电压等级的发展历史为:1955年首次研制成功;1961年达到33 kV; 1962年达到66 kV; 1965年达到77 kV,1969年即可生产110 kV的XL PE绝缘电缆。

图1 -2  XLPE电缆的最高工作电压的变化图

这种速度代表了发达工业国家交联聚乙烯绝缘电缆的发展速度，如表1-1所示各国XLPE和PE绝缘电缆发展动态，还有深圳热缩管的发展状况。目前日本已使用的XLPE绝缘电缆已占整个电力电缆用铜量的85%，且275 kV交联聚乙烯绝缘电缆已投入运行，并己研制标称截面为2 000 m耐的500 kV交联聚乙烯电缆。北欧、东欧、前苏联等国家也己大量生产这种类型电缆。瑞典于1965年开始生产交联聚乙烯电缆，到1975年，12 kV等级的交联聚乙烯电缆己占70%,24-84 k V的XLPE绝缘电缆已占100%,1964年美国低压级油纸、塑料电缆一起使用，15 kV以上开始试用PE和XLPE绝缘电缆。德国PVC绝缘电缆甚至使用到6-10 kV等级，英国多使用不滴流油纸绝缘电缆，塑料电缆受到限制。1970年各国在10-30 k V，低压电压电缆领域中，PE使用量为16%, XLPE使用量为6%^-8%,70年代后期，由于美国解决了中低压电力电缆水树枝、电树枝等材料问题，使PE和XLPE绝缘电缆有了很大发展，在15 kV级系统中大量使用塑力缆，而油纸绝缘电缆几乎被淘汰，如表1-2所示为1971年美国使用电缆品种的百分比。