PARTIAL DISCHARGE (PD)

LEVEL II TRAINING

Date:3rd & 4th July 2018

Venue: CETM(Malaysia) Sdn.Bhd

JULY 2018
ON-LINE PD TESTING &
DIAGNOSIS OF
MEDIUM VOLTAGE (MV) &
HIGH VOLTAGE (HV) CABLES

LEVEL II TRAINING

JULY 2018
 CONTENTS

 ON-LINE PD (OLPD) MEASUREMENTS

 MOTIVATIONS FOR CABLE OLPD TESTING

 SENSORS AND MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES

 MONITORING

 CASE STUDIES

 Q & A SESSION

JULY 2018
 PAPER (PILC, MIND ETC.)
 XLPE
 EPR
33 kV XLPE SINGLE-CORE ARMOURED CABLE
 PVC
 3-CORE AND SINGLE CORE
CABLES
 MIXED CABLES
WITH TRANSITION JOINTS

LEFT: 33 kV PILC 3-CORE CABLE 33 kV XLPE 3-CORE

RIGHT: 11 kV PILC ‘BELTED’ CABLE CABLE

Types of MV/HV Cables

Cross-sectional View of a Single-Core HV Power Cable and
Sectional View of a Pre-Moulded Joint
3-Core Power Cable
COMMON CAUSES

 POOR WORKMANSHIP (AT CABLE ACCESSORIES)

 MECHANICAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY POOR INSTALLATION
PRACTICES (INCLUDING DAMAGE TO CABLE SHEATH DURING
CABLE PULLING AND MINIMUM CABLE BEND RADIUS’ BEING
EXCEEDED)
 POOR QUALITY OR POORLY MANUFACTURED CABLES AND
CABLE ACCESSORIES
EFFECTS

 ELECTRICAL TREES AND INTERFACIAL SURFACE TRACKING

 LOCALISED HEATING/MOISTURE INGRESS INTO THE CABLE
(CAUSED BY DAMAGE TO THE ARMOUR/OUTER SHEATH)
 ‘INFANT MORTALITY’ AND PREMATURE FAILURE WITHIN THE
FIRST 3 YEARS OF OPERATION

MV/HV Cable Faults | Causes and Effects

TRACKING ON 110 kV TERMINATION
(PD DETECTED BEFORE FAILURE)

FAILED 110 kV TERMINATION

(SAME TYPE AS OPPOSITE)

PD Damage to HV Cable Transformer Terminations

Trees on 66 kV paper cable
  WATER TREES TURN INTO ELECTRICAL TREES JUST PRIOR TO FAILURE
 PD TESTING WILL NOT DETECT EARLY STAGES OF WATER TREE GROWTH
 TAN-DELTA (LOSS-ANGLE) TESTING MUST BE USED TO DETECT WATER-TREED
CABLES

Electrical trees

Bow-tie
water trees

Failure channel
to ground

Water Tree Conversion to Electrical Tree in XLPE Cable

PARTIAL DISCHARGE IN
POWER CABLE
PD Detection | Energies for Different Points in Cable System
 PD IS INCEPTED BY THE HIGH VOLTAGE APPLIED
TO CABLE.

 PD PULSES ARE SHORT DURATION IMPULSES

(ns - µs) THAT PROPAGATE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS
AWAY FROM PD SITE BETWEEN CABLE CORE
AND SHEATH.

 SIGNALS CAN BE DETECTED ON BOTH THE CORE

AND EARTH SCREEN AT TERMINATIONS.

End A End B

PD Detection Theory
  CABLE PD IS MEASURED IN TERMS
OF CHARGE IN PICOCOULOMBS (pC)

 ALSO NOTE: NO. OF PD

PULSES/POWER CYCLE AND
CUMULATIVE PD ACTIVITY (THIS IS
MEASURED IN nC/cycle)

THE PD MAGNITUDE (IN pC) IS THE AREA UNDER THE

PULSE, q.
THIS CAN BE CALCULATED FROM THE OUTPUT VOLTAGE
OF THE HFCT PD SENSOR USING THE HFCT’S TRANSFER
IMPEDANCE, ZTR , IN THE FOLLOWING EQUATION:

PD Measurement Theory
 CABLES ACT AS WAVEGUIDES FOR PD PULSES AND
AS LOW-PASS FILTERS.

 PD PULSES ATTENUATE AND BROADEN AS THEY

TRAVEL DOWN THE CABLE (ATTENUATION IN PILC
IS MUCH GREATER THAN IN XLPE).

 A STUDY WAS CARRIED OUT USING ~500 pC Cotton, I., O’Donnell, V,. & Christofides, N.
CALIBRATION PULSES INJECTED INTO 20 km, Limitation in the application of on-line and
off-line PD measurement systems CIRED 2005
400 kV CABLE TO DETERMINE ATTENUATION AND
MEASUREMENT RANGE – THE PULSE WAS
SUCCESSFULLY DETECTED 20 km FROM THE
SOURCE.

 PD SENSOR MUST HAVE A GOOD LOW FREQUENCY

RESPONSE TO DETECT LONG DISTANCE PD.
Reference: S.Sutton, R. Plath and G. Shröder,
“The St.Johns Wood – Elstree Experience – Testing a 20km
 INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TEST POINTS GIVES Long 400kV XLPE-Insulated Cable System After Installation”,
Jicable 2007 - 7th International Conference on Insulated Power
MORE CONCLUSIVE RESULTS. Cables, Paris – Versailles, 24-28 June 2007.

PD Detection Theory | PD Pulse Propagation and Attenuation

 SINGLE CORE CABLE THREE CORE BELTED CABLE WITH HFCT
ON COMMON SCREEN

PD Against Phase for Power Cables | On-line Detection

 PD PULSE MEASURED ON A PD PULSE MEASURED AT AN
33 kV PILC/XLPE CABLE 11 kV CABLE TERMINATION
CIRCUIT

UNCLASSIFIED PD PULSE MEASURED NOISE SIGNAL MEASURED WHILE

ON A 33 kV XLPE CABLE CIRCUIT TESTING 33 kV SWITCHGEAR

Examples of Typical PD Pulses

DETECT CYCLIC CHANGES IN ACTIVITY

 LOAD VARYING ACTIVITY ON PILC CABLES

 HUMIDITY RELATED ACTIVITY FROM SURFACE DISCHARGES

DETECT CHANGES THAT RELATE TO INCIPIENT FAULTS

 GRADUAL RISE
 SUDDEN RISE
 SUDDEN DROP

CARRIED OUT ON: KEY CIRCUITS, CIRCUITS WITH SUSPECTED CYCLIC PD CHANGES,
CIRCUITS WITH HIGH SPOT-TEST RESULTS

Continuous PD Monitoring Aspects

ALTHOUGH PD IS INCEPTED BY VOLTAGE, LOAD CAN HAVE AN EFFECT

 MOSTLY ON PILC CABLES

 LOAD VARIATIONS

- MOVEMENT OF OIL/IMPREGNANT
- EXPANSION OF CONDUCTORS

S S M T W T F
S S M T W T F

PD and Load Relations

TO DETERMINE THE TRUE SEVERITY THE PD IS POSING TO THE CABLE,
THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

 CABLE ACCESSORIES (JOINTS AND TERMINATIONS) HAVE A HIGHER

TOLERANCE TO PD THAN THE CABLE INSULATION

 MIXED CIRCUITS: PAPER/PILC HAS A MUCH HIGHER TOLERANCE TO PD

THAN XLPE

PD Level Guidelines
 MV CABLE & ACCESSORIES HV CABLE
(3.3–36 kV) (66 kV+)

PD Peak Level (pC)

INSULATION CONDITION
Paper-
ASSESSMENT XLPE XLPE
Insulated
Discharges within acceptable
0–2500 0–500 0–250
limits
Some concern, monitoring
2500–5000 500–1000 250–500
recommended
Some concern, regular monitoring
5000–7000 1000–2500 500–750
recommended
Major concern, locate PD and then
>7000 >2500 >750
repair or replace

PD Level Guidelines
OFF-LINE
PARTIAL DISCHARGE DETECTION
  TO DETECT ANY POOR WORKMANSHIP AND/OR
INSTALLATION DAMAGE WITH A PARTICULAR
FOCUS ON THE CABLE ACCESSORIES.

 PARTIAL DISCHARGE (PD) AND TAN DELTA (TD)

DIAGNOSTIC ACCEPTANCE TESTS SHOULD BE
MADE IN COMBINATION WITH THE VLF VOLTAGE
WITHSTAND

 THIS TEST IS COMBINED WITH AN OFF-LINE,

ELECTRICAL TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY
(TDR) TESTING TO SUPPORT BOTH FUTURE ‘PD
MAPPING’ (PD SITE LOCALISATION) AND/OR
RAPID FAULT LOCATION IN THE EVENT OF A
CABLE FAULT.

Off-line Commissioning Tests for Power Cables

 1. VLF (VERY LOW FREQUENCY) (0.01–0.1 Hz)
EXAMPLE SUPPLIERS: BAUR (AUSTRIA), B2HV (AUSTRIA),
SEBAKMT (GERMANY), HV INC (USA)

2. RESONANT TEST SYSTEMS (RTS)

EXAMPLE SUPPLIERS: HIGHVOLT (GERMANY), HAEFELY
HIPOTRONICS (SWITZERLAND), PHENIX (USA)

3. DAMPED AC / OSCILLATING WAVE (OWTS)

EXAMPLE SUPPLIERS: ON-SITE HV/SEITZ
(SWITZERLAND), SEBAKMT (GERMANY)

4. 24-HOUR SOAK TEST (AT U0)

NO EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY IS REQUIRED BUT
EXTENDED,
24-HOUR PD MONITORING IS NECESSARY.

MV/HV Cable AC Voltage Commissioning Testing Options

  CABLE COMPONENTS TESTED INDIVIDUALLY.

 CABLE CORES SHOULD BE TESTED BOTH

BEFORE AND THEN AFTER THEIR ASSEMBLY
INTO THE 3-CORE SUBSEA CABLE.

 HIGH SENSITIVITY MEASUREMENTS IN A

‘LOW-NOISE’ ENVIRONMENT (<5 pC) ARE
REQUIRED.

 THIS SENSITIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED USING

AB ELECTROMAGNETICALLY SCREENED
FARADAY CAGE.

 THE FARADAY CAGE HV TEST FACILITY

SHOWN OPPOSITE CAN MEASURE PD
ACTIVITY DOWN TO 1 pC.

Factory Testing of Cable Systems

OFF-LINE TDR (OUT OF SERVICE):
 DIRECT, GALVANIC CONNECTION TO CABLE
 FAR END OPEN CIRCUIT (LARGE REFLECTION)
 THE RETURN TIME OF CABLE, ALL JOINT
POSITIONS AND THE VELOCITY OF PULSE
PROPAGATION CAN BE ESTABLISHED.

ON-LINE TDR (IN-SERVICE)

 SPLIT-CORE, INDUCTIVE HFCT CONNECTION FOR
PULSE INJECTIONS ONTO SHEATH/CORE HFCT SENSORS INSTALLED ON A
132 kV OWF EXPORT CABLE
 THE FAR END WILL BE CLOSED CIRCUIT FOR ON-LINE CABLE TDR
MEASUREMENTS
(TYPICALLY WITH SMALL REFLECTIONS AND (BOTH TEMPORARY AND
ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ‘NOISY’) PERMANENT SENSORS ARE
AVAILABLE)
 IT IS TYPICAL TO ONLY TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE
THE RETURN TIME TO LAND-SUBSEA JOINT
AND/OR TO FAR END OF THE CABLE.

Off-line vs. On-line Electrical TDR Measurements

INJECT A LARGE PULSE AT ONE CABLE END AND OBSERVE THE
REFLECTIONS FROM JOINTS AND THE CABLE END DUE TO CHANGES IN THE
‘SURGE’ IMPEDANCE OF THE CABLE.

TDR Test Circuit Example (Off-line)

TDR Testing in an Outdoor Grid Connection Substation (Off-line)
 THE TDR MEASUREMENT TEST IS USED TO CHECK THE CABLE LENGTHS AND TO
LOCATE ANY JOINTS ON THE CABLE FOR COMPARISON WITH THE CABLE ROUTE
RECORDS.

 AS THE CABLE IS DISCONNECTED AT THE FAR END, THERE IS A HIGH CHANGE OF

IMPEDANCE (OPEN CIRCUIT) WHICH MEANS THAT THERE IS A CLEAR PULSE
REFLECTED BACK.

 THE PULSE REFLECTIONS SHOWN

BELOW GIVE A CABLE RETURN TIME
OF 6.11 µs. USING AN AVERAGE
RETURN SPEED FOR XLPE CABLES OF
90 m/µs, THE PREDICTED CABLE
LENGTH IS ESTIMATED TO BE
AROUND 550 m THAT CONCURRED
WITH THE CABLE ROUTE RECORDS.

Example of a TDR Measurement

ON-LINE
PARTIAL DISCHARGE DETECTION
REPEAT TESTING BEFORE THE CABLE
SUPPLIER/JOINTER WARRANTY RUNS OUT

 IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT AN ON-LINE PD TEST IS

CARRIED OUT BEFORE THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES
(TYPICALLY ONLY 12 MONTHS).

CONTINUOUS ON-LINE PD (OLPD) MONITORING

THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE LIFE

 TO DETECT WHETHER PD ACTIVITY HAS INITIATED DURING

THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE CABLE/PLANT

 TO SUPPORT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION DECISIONS,

BY DETECTING AND LOCALISING ANY PD ACTIVITY IN
IN-SERVICE CABLES

 TO DIRECT PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE INTERVENTIONS.

On-line PD Testing & Monitoring to Support Planned Maintenance Interventions

CABLE PD

 PD SIGNALS FROM POWER CABLES AND THEIR ACCESSORIES

 INDUCTIVE HFCT PD SENSOR DETECTION

LOCAL PD

 PD SIGNALS FROM NEARBY SOURCES: CABLE TERMINATIONS,

SWITCHGEAR, TRANSFORMER, ETC.
 USE A COMBINATION OF HFCT/TEV/AA DETECTION

PD Detection Equipment and Methodology

 SENSOR ATTACHMENT POINT PD DETECTION METHOD
HFCT POWER CABLE EARTH STRAP/DRAIN CURRENT IMPULSES FROM PD IN
WIRE OR POWER CABLE WITH CABLES, CABLE TERMINATIONS AND
EARTH STRAP/DRAIN WIRE PLANT/SWITCHGEAR CABLES ARE
BROUGHT BACK THROUGH SENSOR. TERMINATED INTO.

TEV ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

METAL-CLAD PLANT HOUSING FROM PD SITES IN PLANT THAT IS
CLOSE TO VENTS/SEAMS/GASKETS. INDUCED ONTO THE PLANT METAL
HOUSING.

AIRBORNE
ACOUSTIC AIRBORNE ACOUSTIC (ULTRASONIC)
PLACED OVER VENTS/GAPS IN
RADIATION FROM CORONA AND
PLANT HOUSING WITH A ‘LINE-OF-
SURFACE DISCHARGES IN THE
SIGHT’ TO THE PD SOURCE.
PLANT.

OLPD Sensors
 DO NOT ATTACH THE SENSOR(S) ABOVE THE
EARTH TAKE-OFF AS THERE IS AN ELECTRIC
FIELD HERE

 THE HV SAFETY RULES MUST BE OBSERVED AT

ALL TIMES – DO NOT PROCEED IF A RISK IS
PRESENT, CHECK WITH A SENIOR AUTHORISED
PERSON (SAP) IF IN DOUBT.

 THE TEST EQUIPMENT, SENSORS AND SIGNAL

CABLES MUST BE CHECKED REGULARLY TO
ENSURE THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY.

 THE OLPD SENSORS MUST BE CORRECTLY AND

SAFELY ATTACHED AT THE MOST APPROPRIATE
POINT OF ATTACHMENT (POA).

HFCT Sensor Attachment

 INDEPENDENT ACCESS TO EITHER THE EARTH-STRAP OR THE CORE OF THE CABLE
 AN INSULATED GLAND BETWEEN THE CABLE EARTH SCREEN AND THE SWITCHGEAR
EARTH

2 1

HFCT Sensor Attachment Requirements

 SOLIDLY BONDED SOLIDLY BONDED SHORTING LINKS
- NO INSULATED GLAND - LEAD PLUMBED

Cable Terminations Not Suitable for PD Testing

 TYPE 1 TYPE 2 TYPE 3
RING MAIN UNITS MAIN DISTRIBUTION MAIN DISTRIBUTION
SUBSTATIONS / PRIMARIES SUBSTATIONS / PRIMARIES

 Combined earth  3x individual phase cable tails  Combined earth

 2x HFCT  3x HFCT, 1x per phase  3x HFCT, 1x per cable
 2x TEV, 1x per panel  1x TEV  1x TEV

Typical OLPD Test Arrangements for MV Substations

ON-LINE CABLE MAPPING
(PD SITE LOCATION)
 Direct pulse
T = Time difference between
Reflected pulse direct and reflected pulses.
L = Cable Return Time for cable

T L

L T

PD PULSE RETURN SPEED

VPD = Cable Length/Return Time
CABLE RETURN TIME, L FOR ON-LINE MEASUREMENTS
PD Site Location
 USE FROM OFF-LINE TESTS
 ESTIMATE FROM CABLE LENGTH AND AVERAGE PROPAGATION   T 
SPEED FOR CABLE TYPE PD %   1    100
 MEASURE WITH ON-LINE TDR (REQUIRES IMPEDANCE CHANGE
AT FAR END OF CABLE)
  L 

PD Location Theory | Formula for PD Location

 ONLY POSSIBLE FOR LONG DISTANCES WHEN THE TESTED CABLE’S FAR END IMPEDANCE
CHANGE IS HIGH (E.G. IF THE END OF THE CABLE GOES INTO A TRANSFORMER AND/OR THE
CIRCUIT BREAKER AT THE FAR END OF THE CABLE IS OPEN).

Near End Far End

Single-ended Cable Mapping (Range up to 2.5 km or 2 RMUs)

IN MANY ON-LINE CASES REFLECTED PD PULSES ARE OFTEN NOT VISIBLE:

 ATTENUATION IS TOO LARGE TO MEASURE REFLECTED PULSES FROM THE

FAR END (LONG CABLES)

 WAVEFORMS TOO DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET (NOISY SIGNALS)

 TEED OR JOINTED CABLES

 CABLES WITH MANY RING MAIN UNITS OR SWITCHES

 CABLES WITH NO CHANGE IN IMPEDANCE AT THE FAR END

OLPD Location on Power Cables

 NECESSARY WHEN THE TESTED CABLE’S FAR END IMPEDANCE CHANGE IS LOW (E.G.
IF THE FAR END CIRCUIT BREAKER IS CLOSED).
 THE HVPD PORTABLE TRANSPONDER SYSTEM AMPLIFIES PD SIGNALS, ALLOWING THE
HVPD LONGSHOT™ AT THE OTHER END OF THE CABLE TO RECEIVE AND INTERPRET
THE RELATIVE ARRIVAL TIMES OF PULSES AT EACH END OF THE CABLE TO GIVE AN
ACCURATE LOCATION.
 THE CABLE EARTH STRAP MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE CABLE IN
ORDER TO PERFORM DOUBLE-ENDED MAPPING.
Near End Far End

Double-ended Cable Mapping (Range up to 5 km or 3 RMUs)

 Near End Far End

WITHOUT REFLECTION MAY NOT BE CLEARLY

TRANSPONDER VISIBLE (E.G. DUE TO NOISE)
T

THE LARGE TRANSPONDER PULSE

WITH REMOVES ANY CONFUSION
TRANSPONDER
T Ttr T = Time between direct and reflected PD pulses
Ttr = Transponder time delay

On-line PD Location on Power Cables | Example of Usage

 REFLECTOGRAM SHOWING PD AND PD LOCATION MAP FOR ALL PD
TRANSPONDER PULSES PULSES IN CABLE SECTION
UNDER TEST

On-line PD Location on Power Cables | Example Results

EARTH BONDING SCHEMES
 SINGLE POINT MULTIPLE POINT CROSS-BONDING
BONDING SYSTEM BONDING SYSTEM BONDING SYSTEM

Earth Bonding for HV Cables

 CROSS-BOND POINT IS SEEN AS CHANGE IN IMPEDANCE IN CABLE SYSTEM BY PD.
 SOME OF PULSE PROPAGATES INTO CROSS-BOND POINT AND ONTO ALL CABLE
EARTHS AND SOME OF PULSE IS REFLECTED BACK DOWN SOURCE CABLE.
 LONG-CROSS BOND LEADS/COAXIAL CROSS-BOND CABLES ARE HIGH IMPEDANCE TO
HF PD SIGNALS.

Procedure for Testing Cross-Bonded Cable System - Detection

SEQUENTIALLY TEST AT TERMINATIONS AND ALL CB-POINTS
NUMBER OF TESTS, N = 2 + NUMBER OF JOINTS

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 3 Test N

Procedure for Testing Cross-Bonded Cable System - Detection

 WHEN PD DETECTED AT ADJACENT CB POINTS, PERFORM SECTIONALISED
TEST WITH TRANSPONDER

Section under test

Procedure for Testing Cross-Bonded Cable System - Location

HFCT Attachment at Cross-Bond Points on 132 kV Cables
CASE STUDY: OLPD TESTING AND FAULT
LOCATION ON 33 kV OFFSHORE WIND
TURBINE SUBSEA CABLES FROM AN OIL
PLATFORM
 OFFSHORE OIL PRODUCTION PLATFORM

OLPD TESTING ON THEIR OFFSHORE 33 kV NETWORK, INCLUDING THE 33 kV

SUBSEA EXPORT CABLE FROM 2 DEEP WATER EXPERIMENTAL OFFSHORE
WIND TURBINES TO A MAIN OIL PRODUCTION PLATFORM

TURBINE A WAS CONNECTED VIA A 1240 m CABLE AND TURBINE B VIA A

FURTHER 970 m, TO MAKE A TOTAL 33 kV CIRCUIT LENGTH OF 2210 m

Case Study | OLPD Testing & Fault Location on 33 kV Offshore Wind Turbine Subsea Cables
 OLPD TEST 1 WAS CARRIED OUT AT THE 33 kV GAS INSULATED
SWITCHBOARD (GIS) AT THE MAIN PRODUCTION PLATFORM USING THE
HVPD LONGSHOT™ TEST UNIT WITH A COMBINATION OF HFCT AND TEV
SENSORS ATTACHED TO EACH PHASE OF THE CABLE AT THE EARTHED
TERMINATIONS.

 THIS FIRST TEST MEASURED THE PD UP TO AND INCLUDING THE 33 kV RING

MAIN UNIT (RMU) LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TURBINE A TOWER,
1240 m AWAY.

 OLPD TEST 2 WAS THEN CARRIED OUT AT THE RMU AT TURBINE A TO

PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF THE PD SOURCE THAT WAS DETECTED IN OLPD
TEST 1, USING TDR PULSE TIMING MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES AS
DESCRIBED BELOW.

Case Study | OLPD Testing & Fault Location on 33 kV Offshore Wind Turbine Subsea Cables
OLPD Test 1 | At 33 kV Switchgear on Platform
OLPD TEST 1 WAS CARRIED OUT AT THE 33 kV GIS ON THE MAIN PLATFORM.
THE RESULTS IN THE TABLE BELOW SHOW SIGNIFICANT ‘REMOTE’ PD ACTIVITY
(OF UP TO 6.33 nC) WAS DETECTED ON THE YELLOW PHASE OF THE 33 kV
CABLE FROM THE WIND TURBINE A PLATFORM.

OLPD Test 1 | Results

ON-LINE TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY (TDR)
TESTING USING LOW-VOLTAGE, ON-LINE PULSE
INJECTION VIA INDUCTIVE HFCT SENSORS WAS
CARRIED OUT ON THE 33 kV INCOMER CABLE FROM
THE WIND TURBINES.

PULSE TIMING MEASUREMENTS OF THE REFLECTIONS

OF THE INJECTED PULSES (FROM IMPEDANCE
CHANGES ALONG THE CIRCUIT) WAS THEN USED TO
PINPOINT DISCHARGING SITE(S) ALONG THE CIRCUIT.

THESE TDR TESTS ALSO ENABLED THE RETURN PD

PULSE SPEED (RPPS) OF THE CABLE TO BE
CALCULATED. IN THIS CASE THE RPPS FOR THIS 33 kV
CABLE WAS 92.1 m/µs.

OLPD Test 2 | Test at the Wind Turbine’s 33 kV Switchgear

OLPD TEST 2 WAS CARRIED OUT AT THE 33 kV RMU AT THE BASE OF THE WIND TURBINE A
PLATFORM USING HFCT SENSORS CONNECTED AROUND THE CABLE AND THE EARTH
RETURN OF EACH PHASE, AS SHOWN OPPOSITE. THIS TEST PINPOINTED THE SOURCE OF
THE PD TO A CABLE JOINT/SPLICE 26 m UP FROM THE RMU, 14 m FROM THE 33 kV
TRANSFORMER AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER, AS SHOWN BELOW.

OLPD Test 2 | Results

 OLPD TESTS 1 AND 2 DETECTED THEN PINPOINTED A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PD ACTIVITY FROM A 33 kV CABLE
JOINT/SPLICE 14 m FROM THE 33 kV TRANSFORMER AT THE TOP
OF THE TURBINE A TOWER.

 THE 33 kV JOINT WAS REPLACED AND THE DIAGNOSTIC OLPD

TESTS CARRIED OUT AFTER REPLACEMENT SHOWED THE PD
SOURCE HAD BEEN REMOVED.

 FOR REMOTE, CRITICAL HV NETWORKS SUCH AS THIS

OFFSHORE PLATFORM IN THE UK NORTH SEA, HVPD
RECOMMEND THE INSTALLATION OF A PERMANENT HVPD
KRONOS® OLPD MONITORING TECHNOLOGY WITH EXPERT
OLPD MONITORING ENGINEERING SERVICE.

Conclusions and Recommendations

CASE STUDY: OLPD TESTING AND
CABLE MAPPING (LOCATION) ACROSS
A 33 kV CABLE NETWORK FOR A
METRO LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM
 METROPOLITAN LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM

OLPD TESTING AND CABLE MAPPING (LOCATION) ON THEIR 33 kV CABLE

NETWORK

TESTING WAS REQUESTED

FURTHER TO THE NETWORK
SUFFERING 3 CABLE FAULTS

THE 33 kV CABLE NETWORK HAD BE

IN SERVICE FOR JUST OVER 12
MONTHS WHEN THE FIRST FAULT
OCCURRED, LEADING TO
UNPLANNED OUTAGES AND
DISRUPTION ACROSS THE NETWORK

Case Study | OLPD Testing & Cable Mapping (Location) Across A 33 kV Cable Network
 INVESTIGATIONS COMMENCED
WITH CALIBRATION TESTING
WITH PULSE INJECTION HFCTS,
FOLLOWED BY OLPD
MEASUREMENTS AND CABLE
MAPPING TESTS.

 OLPD MAPPING USING THE

HVPD LONGSHOT™ TEST UNIT
AND PORTABLE TRANSPONDER
WAS USED TO CARRY OUT AN
ON-LINE CONDITION
ASSESSMENT OF THE
COMPLETE 33 kV CABLE
NETWORK.

OLPD Testing Equipment and Methodology

 HIGH LEVELS OF CABLE PD WERE
FOUND ON THE BLUE PHASE OF UP TO
6,000 pC WITH SOME CROSSTALK ON
THE RED AND YELLOW PHASES.

 USING THE CABLE MAPPING TEST

TECHNIQUE IT WAS POSSIBLE TO
LOCATE THE SOURCE OF PD ON JOINT
NUMBER 2.

Test Results
OUT OF OVER 50 CIRCUITS TESTED, MAJOR PD WAS DETECTED WITHIN CABLE ACCESSORIES ON SIX
OF THE CIRCUITS (11%) AS SHOWN IN RED IN THE TABLE BELOW.
THE LEVELS OF DISCHARGES DETECTED PUT THESE 33 kV CABLES IN THE RED CATEGORY OF “MAJOR
CONCERN, LOCATE PD AND THEN REPAIR OR REPLACE”.

Peak Cable Local PD Cumulative Cable

Criticality OLPD Maintenance
Circuit Comments PD Level Level PD Level
Number Criticality (%) Action
(pC) (dB) (nC/cycle)

1. DUB to MPS1 C2 B Phase 25888 <10 247 97.4

2. ABS to AH C2 B / Y Phase 9729 <10 120 90.3 Major concern,
3. BUR to HCC C2 B / Y Phase 3781 <10 12.3 78.7 locate PD and
4. BUR to HCC C1 B / Y Phase 3245 <10 7.9 78.1 then repair or
5. ABS to AH C1 B / Y Phase 2920 <10 14.4 77.4 replace.
6. NHD to QYD C2 R Phase 2849 <10 15.0 76.2
7. ALQ to AHS C2 B Phase 1733 <10 4.6 70.6 Some concern,
8. MPS3 to BNS C2 R / B Phase 1337 <10 6.4 65.5 repeat test and
9. NHD to QYD C1 R Phase 887 <10 8.8 47.8 regular
10. HCC to CRK C1 Y / B Phase 759 <10 2.5 39.2 monitoring
11. AHS to SLD Y / R Phase 705 <10 3.1 38.5 recommended.
12. STD to ABH Y Phase 238 <10 1.0 24.1
13. ALR to BNS C1 B Phase 184 <10 0.9 18.6
14. ALR to BRJ No PD detected 0 <10 0 0
15. ALG to PMD No PD detected 0 <10 0 0
Re-test in 12
16. ALG to KBW No PD detected 0 <10 0 0
months.
17. AQD to AQ2 No PD detected 0 <10 0 0
18. JDD to CRK No PD detected 0 <10 0 0
19. ODM to JDF C1 No PD detected 0 <10 0 0
20. ODM to JDF C2 No PD detected 0 <10 0 0

Top 20 ‘Worst Performing Circuits’

 THE FAULTY JOINT ON THE BLUE PHASE CABLE WAS REPLACED AND RE-
TESTED USING THE HVPD LONGSHOT™ TEST UNIT TO VERIFY THE
REPAIR WAS SUCCESSFUL.

 IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PD ACTIVITY FOUND ON THE RED

PHASE IS MONITORED CLOSELY.

 OLPD TESTING CAN BE CARRIED OUT ACROSS CABLE NETWORKS TO

PROVIDE A CABLE HEALTH INDEX.

Conclusions
CASE STUDY: OFF-LINE TIME DOMAIN
REFLECTOMETRY (TDR) TESTING OF THE
90 kV ISLE OF MAN INTERCONNECTOR
 THE ISLE OF MAN (IOM) CABLE INTERCONNECTOR OWNER (MANX
ELECTRICITY) REQUIRED ACCURATE TDR MEASUREMENTS ALONG THE
ENTIRE CABLE LENGTH TO ALLOW QUICK AND ACCURATE FAULT
LOCATION TO BE ACHIEVED IN THE EVENT OF A FUTURE CABLE FAULT.

 90 kV XLPE INTERCONNECTOR CABLE. TOTAL LENGTH OF 108.7 km (1.94

km LAND CABLE AT BISPHAM, 105 km OF SUBSEA CABLE AND 1.75 km
LAND CABLE ON THE IOM).

 THE TDR ‘FINGERPRINTING’ WAS MADE DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

OUTAGE TO ESTABLISH: CABLE RETURN TIME, PULSE PROPAGATION
SPEED(S) AND JOINT POSITIONS.

Background
THE BUSBARS FROM THE
CABLE SEALING ENDS AND
THE SURGE DIVERTERS
WERE DISCONNECTED AND
THE TEST CONNECTIONS
MADE DIRECTLY ONTO THE
COPPER CONDUCTOR VIA
‘DROPPER’ CONNECTIONS.
Test Arrangement
 OPEN CIRCUIT CLOSED CIRCUIT

Initial TDR Testing | 100 V, 10.0 µs TDR pulse - Total Cable Length
 LAND-SEA TRANSITION JOINT CLOSED CIRCUIT
AND BICC/PIRELLI
TRANSITION JOINT

MEASURED RETURN TIME = 1.28ms, RETURN SPEED = 84.9m/µs

Initial TDR Testing | 100 V, 10.0 µs TDR pulse – Transition Joints & Land Joints
 LENGTH (M)
CALCULATED
TIME
FEATURE USING CABLE FROM CABLE
(µs) RETURN SPEED OF INSTALLATION DIFFERENCE
84.9 m/µs RECORDS

START 0 0 0 0
LAND JOINT 7.19 640 623 17
LAND JOINT 14.72 1310 1270 40

LAND/SUBSEA
21.6 1923 1940 -17
TRANSITION

‘10 km' TRANSITION

131 11661 11508 153
JOINT

‘60 km' PIRELLI/ BICC

721 64178 64300 -122
JOINT

MANX Interconnector TDR | Position of ‘Features’

 WORK CONFIRMED TDR TECHNIQUES COULD ‘SEE’ THE FAR END OF THE
CABLE, IN ADDITION TO OTHER FEATURES ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE
CABLE (I.E. TRANSITION JOINT AT AROUND 60 km FROM THE PULSE
INJECTION END).

 ’60 km JOINT’ LOCATED TO WITHIN 150 m OF THE POSITION DETERMINED

FROM INSTALLATION RECORDS (ACCURACY OF 0.14% OF TOTAL CABLE
LENGTH).

 WORK PROVIDED TDR ‘FINGERPRINT’ FOR THE CABLE AND AN ACCURATE

CABLE RETURN SPEED OF 84.9 m/µs WHICH WILL ASSIST IN ANY FUTURE
TDR FAULT LOCATION.

 TDR METHOD USING THE 100 V, 10 µs PULSE INJECTION SHOULD BE ABLE

TO DETECT ANY CHANGE OF IMPEDANCE DUE TO A FAULT.

Conclusions
CONCLUSIONS
  HFCT SENSORS ALLOW SENSITIVE MEASUREMENTS TO BE MADE AT
MULTIPLE POINTS IN THE CABLE SYSTEM.

 ON-LINE PD LOCATION CAN RELATIVELY QUICKLY IDENTIFY WEAK

POINTS FOR TIMELY, REMEDIAL ACTION.

 SOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMPLEX CIRCUITS SUCH AS HV

CABLES WITH CROSS-BONDING AND MV CABLES WITH MANY RMUS.

 TDR ‘FINGERPRINTING’ IS RECOMMENDED TO ASSIST WITH FUTURE

ON-LINE PD TESTING AND FAULT LOCATION.

Conclusions
 THANK YOU
ANY QUESTIONS?

JULY 2018