Scientists have found a way to significantly improve the insulation of high-voltage wires

Nowadays, the so-called green energy sources are gaining popularity. In order to ensure maximum performance, for example, of wind turbines or solar panels, it is not enough just to improve the generators themselves.

It is also necessary to use both storage devices and the most efficient high-voltage power lines in order to deliver the generated electricity from sources to the final consumer.

So scientists have developed an updated insulation material that will allow the transmission of electricity with even less losses, which means that all work will be done even more efficiently.

One of the problems in the transmission of electricity and the method of its solution

So one of the main problems in the transmission of electricity from "green" energy sources over long distances is the loss in the line. High voltage direct current (HVDC) cables can be used to reduce losses.

But these cables also have a number of limitations. So the insulating material is designed for a certain operating voltage and exceeding it will lead to insulation breakdown.

To solve this problem and increase the operating voltage, a research team from Chalmers University decided to better study a polymer known as poly 3-hexylthiophene, called RHT for short.

Previously, this material has also been used in a wide variety of fields, ranging from retina replacement to cheaper yet more efficient solar panels.

So the engineers decided to add P3HT to polyethylene, which has long been used as an insulating material in modern HVDC cables. So, with a ratio of only five parts of polymer per million parts of polyethylene, the resulting material showed a significant increase in resistance.

The resulting polymer showed electrical conductivity in 1/3 of the electrical conductivity of pure polyethylene, which means that its resistance to breakdown increased more than three times.

Scientists have experimented with polyethylene and various polymers before, but only P3HT has shown such excellent results with such a small amount of use.

And although scientists have not yet completed the full cycle of laboratory tests, it is already possible to draw intermediate conclusions that HVDC cables, in the insulation of which P3HT polymer will be used, will be able to withstand a significantly higher voltage than is currently possible, which will lead to a decrease in losses, and therefore increase the efficiency of using high-voltage DC lines current.

Scientists also express restrained optimism that their success will inspire other scientists to study and optimize. plastics to further increase the efficiency of modern transport and storage devices energy.

The scientists shared the results of the work already done on pages Advanced Materials magazine. If you liked the material, then rate it and do not forget to subscribe to the channel. Thank you for the attention!