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Partial Discharge Testing On Power Cable Systems

Partial discharge testing is an important method for assessing the quality of power cable insulation, particularly for extruded materials. This document discusses measuring partial discharges within cable systems and locating individual discharge sites. While difficult to perform in the field due to noise, partial discharge testing can provide useful diagnostic data by observing the magnitude, phase and variation of discharge signals with voltage changes. Special equipment is needed to reduce noise levels and detect discharges, but field testing can confirm cable systems are in excellent condition if discharge levels match factory test results.

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Vasudev Agrawal
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158 views2 pages

Partial Discharge Testing On Power Cable Systems

Partial discharge testing is an important method for assessing the quality of power cable insulation, particularly for extruded materials. This document discusses measuring partial discharges within cable systems and locating individual discharge sites. While difficult to perform in the field due to noise, partial discharge testing can provide useful diagnostic data by observing the magnitude, phase and variation of discharge signals with voltage changes. Special equipment is needed to reduce noise levels and detect discharges, but field testing can confirm cable systems are in excellent condition if discharge levels match factory test results.

Uploaded by

Vasudev Agrawal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Partial Discharge Testing On Power Cable Systems

http://electrical- engineering- portal.com/partial- discharge- testing- on- power- cable- systems January 22, 2013

On-Line Part ial Discharge T est ing 27.6 kV XLPE Cable (by Kinet rics)

Partial discharge measurement is an important method of assessing the quality of the


insulation of power cable systems, particularly f or extruded insulation materials.

This article considers partial discharge f rom two points of view: the measurement of all
partial discharges occurring within the cable system and the location of individual partial
discharge sites.

Measurement of Partial Discharge


Perhaps the most signif icant f actory test made on the insulation of f ull reels of extruded
cable is the partial discharge test. This is usually done at power f requency, but can also
be carried out at very low f requency and at some voltage signif icantly higher than normal
working voltage to ground. Experience has shown that this test is a very sensitive method
of detecting small imperf ections in the insulation such as voids or skips in the insulation
shield layer.

It would theref ore seem logical to repeat tlus test on installed cables to detect any
damage done during the shipping or laying or any problems created by jointing and
terminating the cable. Unf ortunately this is a dif f icult measurement
to perf orm in the f ield due to the presence of partial discharge signals.

However, in spite of the dif f iculty, this test has been perf ormed in the f ield where some
special circumstances suggest it is worth the time and expense involved. Typically this
may be when damage or f aulty installation is suspected or the cable route requires it to
be of the highest possible reliability.

Once the necessary steps are taken to reduce the noise


Once the necessary steps are taken to reduce the noise
level below the partial discharge level to be measured,
the test can provide a great deal of usef ul diagnostic
data. By observing the magnitude and phase of the
partial discharge signals and how they vary with
increasing and then decreasing test voltage, results will
disclose inf ormation on the type and position of the
def ects and their probable ef f ect on cable lif e. Noise
reduction methods necessary f or f ield tests of partial
discharge usually include the use of an independent test
voltage source such as a motor-generator, power line
and high voltage f ilters, shielding and sometimes the use Part ial Discharge Det ect ion
of bridge detection circuits. Syst em - It records part ial
discharge measurement s f or
Partial discharges can also be detected at system comput er analysis using t he
voltage with special sensors connected to the splice or opt ional XDP sof t ware f or a PC.
T he XDP II is very accurat e t o
termination, using the f kequency spectrum of the det ect part ial discharge on
discharges. cable joint s,swit chgear, elbows,
cable t erminat ions and more.
In summary, if the cable system can be tested in the
f ield to show that its partial discharge level is
comparable with that obtained in the f actory tests on the cable and accessories, it is the
most convincing evidence that the cable system is in excellent condition.

SOURCE: Electrical Power Cable Engineering

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