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Power Cable Testing

This document discusses various methods for testing power cables to determine their condition. It begins by explaining why cable testing is important to detect potential failures and improve system reliability. Then, it provides a brief history of cable testing methods, including the traditional high voltage DC withstand test and more modern partial discharge tests. The document categorizes cable tests and discusses various test types in detail, including withstand tests, dielectric response tests measuring factors like dissipation factor and leakage current, partial discharge tests, time domain reflectometry, and thermal infrared imaging. It explains the purpose and application of each test along with their advantages and disadvantages.

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518 views15 pages

Power Cable Testing

This document discusses various methods for testing power cables to determine their condition. It begins by explaining why cable testing is important to detect potential failures and improve system reliability. Then, it provides a brief history of cable testing methods, including the traditional high voltage DC withstand test and more modern partial discharge tests. The document categorizes cable tests and discusses various test types in detail, including withstand tests, dielectric response tests measuring factors like dissipation factor and leakage current, partial discharge tests, time domain reflectometry, and thermal infrared imaging. It explains the purpose and application of each test along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Uploaded by

bedasie2385
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

POWER CABLE TESTING

AN OVERVIEW OF

Dale Persad 810000263

9/21/15

Dale Persad 810000263

Why Test Power Cables?


Cable testing is undertaken in order to determine the condition of
a power system. Therefore it is a means by which potential cable
failures can be detected so as to improve overall system reliability.
The pictures below shows power cable insulation breakdown.

(EEP
2013)
Dale Persad 810000263

(HVS
2011)

9/21/15

History of Power Cable Testing


The most common method of Cable Testing since
the invent of the Power Cable was the High Voltage
DC (HVDC) withstand test.
HVDC withstand test can only detect defects which
are associated with conduction. Therefore defects
were detected by the leakage currents.
However 95% of faults in extruded dielectric cable
are due to Partial Discharge (Lanz 2009)
In the past equipment used to perform Partial
Discharge tests were expensive, therefore
conducting these tests were impractical.
Today Partial Discharge tests are more accessible
and easier to perform using acoustic equipment
shown on the right
Dale Persad 810000263

(Direct Industry
2014)
9/21/15

Categorization of Power Cable Tests?


The flow diagram on the
left, details the different
categories of power cable
tests which were outlined
in IEEE 400 standard.

Dale Persad 810000263

9/21/15

Installation, Acceptance and Maintenance Testing


INSTALLATION TEST -This is a field test which is undertaken after cable
installation, but before the application of joints or terminations.
ACCEPTANCE TEST Also a field test, however it is undertaken after
cable installation, that is inclusive of terminations and joints; before the
cable system is commissioned.
MAINTENANCE TEST - This test is undertaken during the operation life of
the cable system.
Raytheon Explor IR,
Thermal imaging
camera with High
Temperature Filter
commonly used for
Maintenance Testing
(Mahabir 2007)
Dale Persad 810000263

Megger/Biddle 120 KV
DC High-pot Capable
of Testing 66KV
Cables (Mahabir
2007)

9/21/15

Withstand Tests
INTRODUCTION - This type of test involves the application of a voltage at a
nominal level or higher than for a prescribed period of time. Exceeding the
voltages or times stipulated in the IEEE 400 standard may cause permanent
damage to cable which can lead to failure. This test therefore determines the
cables ability to withstand voltage without insulation breakdown.
APPLICATION The applied voltage source can be either AC, Very Low Frequency
(VLF) AC, Damped AC (DAC) or DC. The magnitude of the applied AC voltage is
normally 1.5 x Operational Voltage whilst for DC voltages the applied voltage is
3 x Operational Voltage.

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Test is simple to perform, flexible


(can be applied to different cable
types) and easy to interpret
results.

Can not detect all cable faults.


Undetected faults may worsen,
causing failures when in service.

Dale Persad 810000263

9/21/15

Dielectric Response
INTRODUCTION - This type of test investigates the cables dielectric response to
an applied electric field. By measuring properties such as, the recovery voltage,
DC leakage current, dissipation factor polarization/depolarization current and
spectroscopy a fairly complete assessment of the cable is provided.
APPLICATION AC or DAC voltage is applied to the cable for a prescribed period
at a frequency of 20 Hz to 300 Hz. VLF voltage applied requires a frequency of
0.1 Hz.

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Provides an overall assessment of


cable condition

Interpretation of results is difficult


as cable may have a high dielectric
response but may not be faulty.

Has the ability to detect degree of Accuracy affected by factors e.g.


water treeing, and conductive type temperature/humidity and neutral
defects
corrosion
Dale Persad 810000263

9/21/15

Dielectric Response Dissipation Factor


INTRODUCTION - This investigates the loss factor of the cables insulation.
This loss factor increases with age, therefore the dissipation factor or Tan
Delta measurement can be used to determine cable condition.
APPLICATION The dissipation factor (DF) and Tan Delta is determined using
the formulae below:

Dale Persad 810000263

(IEEE 400
2012)

9/21/15

Dielectric Response Dissipation Factor


Cable
under
Test
VLF

VLF
Control

Measureme
nt Unit

Loss
Angle
Analyser

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Useful results can be obtained at


low voltage inputs

Results are difficult to interpret


due to nonlinear characteristics

Results obtained are display high


immunity to external noise/
electric fields

Results are dependant on test


voltage frequency .

Dale Persad 810000263

9/21/15

Dielectric Response DC Leakage Current


INTRODUCTION In this test a DC voltage lower than the withstand voltage is
applied between the conductor and the insulation shield whilst the leakage
current through the cable insulation is measured.
APPLICATION HVDC must not be used especially if testing aged extruded
cable systems. Measurements of Leakage Current are only undertaken when
the applied voltage has reached its steady state value. After steady state,
voltage is increased step wise, at each step, a time period allows for the steady
state to be achieved.

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Easy to conduct

Pass or Fail criteria nor duration of


voltage application is not firmly
established

Test can be automated

Time required for cable discharge


before & after test - up to 4 x Test
Time

Dale Persad 810000263

9/21/15

10

Dielectric Response Recovery Voltage


INTRODUCTION In this test a DC voltage is used to charge the cable for a specified
time, after which the cable is discharged to ground through a resistor for a very
short time. The open circuit voltage is then recorded and plotted against time.
APPLICATION This test is particularly sensitive to moisture ingress in cables,
therefore it is commonly used to determine the level of water tree degradation in
extruded insulation.

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Sensitive to moisture ingress in


cables

Interpretation of results may be


complicated due to frequency
dependence of polarization effects.

Test equipment is small and can be Time required for cable discharge
fully automated
before & after test.
Dale Persad 810000263

9/21/15

11

Dielectric Response Polarization/Depolarization I


This test involves the application of a DC voltage to the cable for a
prescribed duration. The current during this voltage application is measured
and plotted. After charging the cable, it is then short circuited. The
discharging current (depolarization current) is also measured and plotted.
Through analysis of the plotted graphs cable characteristics can be
determined.

Dielectric Response Dielectric spectroscopy


In this final test, the real and imaginary components of the cables
leakage currents are measured and analysed at frequencies between
0.001 Hz to 100 Hz.
The measured results are used to determine tan delta.

Dale Persad 810000263

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12

Partial discharge - Electric Measurements


This test one of the oldest tests used in power cable testing and is used to
determine point of failure of cable insulation i.e. discharge locations. This
test is normal conducted by the cable manufacturer, before the cable
leaves the factory .
This test is undertaken by applying a test voltage, either DAC or VLF, cable
is then examined for partial discharge.

Partial discharge - Acoustic measurements


In this test, one listens for partial discharge. When a partial discharge
occurs, energy is released which produces a mechanical wave. Therefore
the site at which the Partial discharge occurs acts like an acoustic wave
source.

Dale Persad 810000263

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13

Time Domain Reflectometry


INTRODUCTION Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) uses changes in
impedance of a cable to determine cable imperfections such as faults, open
connections , poor neutrals , lossy connections and water ingress.
APPLICATION TDR can be compared to a radar system. This is because a
voltage pulse is applied between the conductor and the insulation shield of
the cable. As pulse travels through the cable imperfections reflect the pulse.
The reflections are captured and analysed used the expression below.

Dale Persad 810000263

(IEEE 400
2012)

9/21/15

14

Thermal Infrared Imaging


Cable imperfections such as insulation breakdown result in the formation of hot spots
along the cable length. This hot spots are caused by arcing within the cable

(IEEE 400
2012)

Dale Persad 810000263

9/21/15

15

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