Thermoluminescence - An optical technique for in-situ measurement of cross-linking by-products during degassing of power cables

This paper presents a novel optical technique that has been developed to determine the concentration of by-products in chemically cross-linked polymeric materials. Underground power cables, especially of the high-voltage and extra high-voltage class, must be subjected to thermal treatment or conditioning called degassing in order to reduce the concentration of the cross-linking by-products to a negligible level. Degassing causes a reduction and redistribution of the by-products in the insulation of freshly cross-linked cables. It is advantageous to degas cross-linked power cables and reduce the by-products to a low level and stable level so that the electrical tests, performed prior to cable installation, would reveal the true condition of the insulation