Micromachined Ultrasound Transducers for Imaging of Underground Power Cables

配电故障是造成电力中断的关键因素之一，有效的预防性维护可以显著提高系统的可靠性。地下电力电缆交联聚乙烯（XLPE）绝缘中的水树枝是引起配电故障的主要原因之一。 水树被认为是XLPE绝缘内水滴周围的微裂缝，其化学成分取决于地下电缆所埋土壤的类型。 重要的是要注意的是，水树的组成与绝缘不同，因此会产生对比度，从而可以检测和成像这些故障，特别是当超声用作无损检测技术时。

Power distribution failure is one of the key factors of electrical power interruption and effective preventive maintenance can significantly increase system reliability. Among the distribution failures, one of the major causes is water treeing in the Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) insulation of underground power cables. Water trees are regarded as being micro-fisures around water droplets within the XLPE insulation and their chemical composition varies depending on the type of soil the underground cable is buried in. What is important to note is that the composition of the water tree is different from the insulation and as such causes a contrast that can permit the detection and imaging of these faults, especially when ultrasound is used as the non destructive testing technique.