Testing of Cables

Testing of cables
lO S TESTTM; OT CABLES
Cables are very important electrical apparatus for transmission of electrical energy by underground means. They are also very important means
for transmitting voltage signals at high voltages. For power engineers, large power transmission cables are of importance, and hence testing of
power cables only is considered here. Of the different electrical and other tests prescribed, the following are important to ensure that cables
withstand the most severe conditions that are likely to arise in service.
Different tests on cables may be classified into
(i) mechanical tests like bending test, dripping and drainage test, and fire resistance and corrosion tests,
(ii) thermal duty tests,
(iii) dielectric power factor tests,
(iv) power frequency withstand voltage tests,
(v) impulse withstand voltage tests,
(vi) partial discharge tests, and
(vii) life expectancy tests.
Here only the electrical tests are described, i.e., tests (iii) to (vii).
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Cable Samples
For overvoltage and withstand tests, samples have to be carefully prepared
and terminated; otherwise, excessive leakage or end flashovers may occur
during testing. The normal length of the cable sample used varies from
about 50 cm to 10 m The terminations are usually made by shielding the
end conductor with stress shields or terminations to relieve the ends from
excessive high electrical stresses. A few terminations are shown in Fig.
10,5, During power factor tests, the cable ends are provided with shields
so that the surface leakage current is avoided from the measuring circuits.
Conductor
hv
electrode
Paper
Porcelain
bushing
Semiconduc
ting
glaze
Lower
electrode
sheath
Resistance Electrode
grading configuration
laboratory
Fig. 10.5 Cable and terminals

10,.3I.(^DBmHeEFW^inFactor Test
The dielectric power factor test is done using the high-voltage Schering-bridge (see Sec. 9.3.4). The power factor or dissipation
factor tan 3 is measured at 0.5, 1.0, 1.66, and 2.0 times the rated voltage (phase to ground) of the cable. The maximum value of
the power factor and the difference in power factor between the rated voltage and 1.66 times the rated voltage, as well as,
between the rated voltage and two times the rated voltage are specified. Sometimes, difficulty is felt in supplying the charging
voltamperes of the cable from the available source. In such cases, a choke is used or a suitably rated transformer winding is used
in series with the cable to form a resonant circuit. This improves the power factor and raises the test voltage between the cable
core and the sheath to the required value, when a source of high-voltage and high capacity is used. The Schering bridge has to be
given protection against overvoltages, in case breakdown occurs in the cables.

on Cables
Cables are tested for withstand voltages using the power frequency ac, de, and impulse voltages. At the time
of manufacture, the entire cable is passed through a high-voltage test at the rated voltage to check the
continuity of the cable. As a routine test, the cable is tested applying an ac voltage of 2.5 times the rated
value for 10 min. No damage to the cable insulation should occur. Type tests are done on cable samples using
both high-voltage de and impulse voltages. The de test consists of applying 1.8 times the rated de voltage of
negative polarity for 30 min., and the cable system is said to be fit, if it withstands the test. For impulse tests,
impulse voltage of the prescribed magnitude as per specifications is applied, and the cable has to withstand
five applications without any damage. Usually, after the impulse test, the power frequency dielectric power
factor test is done to ensure that no failure occurred during the impulse test.

(a) Discharge Measurement Partial discharge measurements and the discharge locations are
important for cables, since the life of the insulation at a given voltage stress depends on the internal
discharges. Also, the weakness of the insulation or faults can be detected with the help of these tests; the
portion of the cable if weak may be removed, if necessary. The general arrangement for partial
discharge tests is the same as described in Sec. 9,4.
The equivalent circuit of the cable for discharges is shown inFig. 10,6. and the cable connection to
the discharge detector through the coupling condenser is shown in Figs 10.7a and ft If the detector is
connected through a coupling capacitor to one end of the cable as in Fig. 10.7a. it will receive the
transient travelling wave directly from the cavity towards the nearer end, and after a short time, a
second travelling wave pulse reflected from the far end is observed. Thus, the detected response is the
combination of the above two transient pulses. But, if the connections are made as in Fig 10.7b. no
severe reflection is involved except as a second-order effect of negligible magnitude. Now, two
transients will arrive at both the ends of the cable, and the superposition of the two pulses is detected.
This can be obtained by adding the responses of the two transients. The superpositions of the two
responses may give rise to a serious error in the measurement of the discharge magnitude. The
magnitude of the possible error may be determined mainly by the shape of the response of the discharge
detector.
T
Q-
I
F-Fadi
Fig. 10.6 Equivalent circuit of the cable for discharges
(a)
hv —1 —
c
-l 1 .8
----------
--s.
r.v
DD r
Fig. 10.7 Discharge detector connection to long length of cable DD — Discharge detector; F-Fciult location
(b) Location of Discharges The voltage dip caused by a discharge at a fault or a void is propagated as
a travelling wave along the cable. This wave is detected as a voltage pulse across the terminals of the
cable ends. By measuring the time duration between the pulses, the distance at which the discharge is
taking place from the cable end can be determined. The shapes of the voltage pulses depend on the
nature of the discharges. Typical waveshapes are given in Fig. 10,8, The detection circuits for the pulses
are shown in Fig. 10,9. and the attenuation of the travelling wave in cables is
gjForMore Figwf^.iiQrnEngineering.inje pulses detected across the resistor are distorted after passing through
the amplifier of the discharge detector.
Fig. 10.8 Typical waveshapes of pulses at the cable ends
Fig. 10.9 Detection circuits for long cables
Fig. 10.10 Attenuation of travelling waves
(c) Scanning Method In order to scan the entire cable length for voids or imperfections in
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the cable is passed through a high electric field and the discharge
location is done. The core of the material is passed through a tube of insulating material filled with
distilled water. Four electrodes in the form of rings are mounted at both ends of tube as well as at the
middle, such that they have electrical contact with the water. The middle electrodes are energized with a
high-voltage, and the other two electrodes and cable conductor are grounded. If a discharge occurs in
the portion between the middle electrodes, as the cable is passed between the middle electrodes’
portion, the discharge is detected and is located at that length of cable.
This test is very convenient for isolating the defective insulation at the factory site. The
manufactured cable, before being rolled on to its former, can be conveniently passed through the test
apparatus. ‘The defective part’ can be isolated and cut off from the cable reel before it is se nt from the
factory.
(d) Life Tests Life tests are intended for reliability studies in service. In order to determine the expected
life to the cable under normal stress, accelerated life tests using increased voltages are performed on
actual cable lengths. It is established that the relation between the maximum electrical stress Em and the
life of the cable insulation in hours t approximately follows the relationship
where, K = constant which depends on the field conditions and the material, and
n = life index depending on the material.
By conducting long duration life tests at increased stress (1 hr to about 1000 hr) the expected life at
the rated stress may be determined.

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Testing of cables

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Fig. 10.5 Cable and terminals

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Fig. 10.6 Equivalent circuit of the cable for discharges

Fig. 10.8 Typical waveshapes of pulses at the cable ends

Fig. 10.9 Detection circuits for long cables

Fig. 10.10 Attenuation of travelling waves

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