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 23rdInternational Conference on Electricity Distribution Lyon, 15-18 June 2015

Paper 0104

ADVANCED SOLUTION FOR ON-SITE DIAGNOSIS OF MEDIUM VOLTAGE POWER

CABLES NETWORK

Osama GOUDA Adel ELFARASKOURY Adel FARAG Abd Rabu ELSINNARY

Cairo University Extra High Voltage Research South Cairo Electricity Distribution Al-Azhar University
Egypt Center – Egypt Company- Egypt Egypt

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

voltage signals can be applied to energize the cable. In

ABSTRACT contrast to DC, the reversal of voltage polarity every half
cycle during AC testing ensures that potentially harmful
The Medium Voltage (MV) cable network forms a large space charges will not accumulate. Unfortunately,
part of the distribution company’s physical capital. The producing high voltage 50 Hz AC requires extremely
MV network has a huge influence on interruption which large and expensive equipment that is not practical for
customers suffer, due to the defects in MV network. many field testing applications since the source must
Defects are not only harm to customers, but also to the supply a substantial capacitive charging current. Some of
distribution network company workers. In the last four the practical disadvantages of power frequency tests are
years in South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company reduced while retaining the basic advantages by the use
(SCEDC) increasing in the rate of the failures in MV of VLF with a frequency of 0.001 – 0.1 Hz. The VLF
power cables numbers is observed. It is noticed that 47 % testing is since several years an accepted method for
to 49 % of the recorded faults are caused by breakdown voltage withstands tests for all types of distribution
of joints and terminations of medium voltage cables. This cables. Off line test voltage are normally higher than the
paper describes the latest developments and the off-line normal operation voltage and the circuit is subject to
PD measurements by using Very Low Frequency (VLF) more stress that when tested on line. It has been
as an energizing method according to IEEE. It is suggested and frequently observed, that when the applied
interesting in this paper to investigate the conventional voltage is increased, discharges will be initiated in voids
method by 50 Hz AC voltages, VLF 0.1 Hz (Sinusoidal), that would not normally discharge. SCEDC as any utility
VLF 0.1 Hz (rectangular) and DC waveform and faces some problems of power interruptions which cause
compare the PD magnitudes of each source to others. major financial losses for utilities and the customers. One
Addition to use VLF-PD as diagnostic technique with the of the network components prone to breakdown is the
two previous detection methods simultaneously for MV cable. It is noticed that an increase was happened in the
XLPE single core cables and compare the measurement rate of the failure numbers in MV power cables during
results of each other on-site. the years 2009 to 2013. By investigating the causes of
these cumulative failures it is found that 48 % of these
INTRODUCTION faults are caused by breakdown of joints and
terminations, 19 % are happened by internal faults and 33
In recent years, because the high voltage DC is harmful % of the failures are carried out by others such as digging
for underground cables during testing, SCEDC have activities. Figure 1 shows the percentage rate of
shown a growing interest in applying VLF testing to their cumulative failures of medium voltage cables rate
existing cable network in order to detect, locate and through years from 2009 to 2013. These defects may be
access weak components of the cable system including occurred due to inaccurate assembling of joints and
accessories. One of the common mechanisms related to terminations. Installed cables are, moreover, subjected to
failure of cable insulation media is partial discharge (PD) natural aging, or due to temporary extreme circumstances
activity. Indeed, the fastest aging mechanisms in cables (overload, overvoltage...), degradation under design
are associated with PDs. Hence, diagnostic systems stresses (particularly electrical and thermal) or other
capable of monitoring this activity have attained factors of influence (digging, water…) [1,2 and 3]. Once
significant popularity as a condition assessment tool, the fault occurs in the cable, the utility isolates the faulted
especially for medium and high voltage cable systems. cable from grid and starts to pinpoint the location of fault.
The on-site testing of cables has to check the insulation Figures 2 and 3 show samples of different faults
condition after laying and assembly of cable systems, as happened on medium cables and their accessories.
well as ageing of cable systems, since the performance of
the cables and accessories were tested during the routine PD DETECTION METHODS
and type tests. Off-line measurement of PDs requires an
uncoupled and de-energized power cable, an external Off-line Partial Discharge Testing offers a significant
power supply and a measuring circuit. Several kinds of

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advantage over other technologies because of its ability to If an on-site test is completed with PD measurement, all
measure the cable system’s response to a specific stress the experience from the various factory tests can be
level and predict its future performance without creating transferred to the on-site test. The most accepted test
a fault. Off-line PD detection can be performed either method of on-site diagnosis of MV cable networks is the
conventionally according to IEC 60270 [4] or so-called standardized off-line method. An off-line PD
unconventionally according to an IEC 60060-3 [5], that is diagnostic test can be used as a commissioning and
still in preparation. One of the common mechanisms periodic predictive diagnostic maintenance tool to
related to failure of cable accessories and internal faults is enhance the reliability of industrial cable systems by
PD activity. reducing the likelihood of service outages. Off-line PD
can be measured with using VLF as an external power
supply according to IEEE 400-2 [6]. Guides for field
testing according to IEEE are reported [7 and 8].

Conventional PD method
Conventional PD detection method is standardized
method based on international standard IEC 60270.
Partial discharges that occur in the test object will
produce current or voltage pulses. In contrast to the well-
established PD measuring method according to IEC
60270 the described system operates in the UHF
frequency domain, hence the derived and evaluated
output PD pulse magnitude is more or less a measure of
Fig. 1: Cumulative failure rate from 2009 to 2013 the PD current amplitude and not for the apparent charge
as defined in the above mentioned standard. The sensor
used for PD measuring is coupling capacitor (CC) as
shown in Figure 4.

Fig. 4: PD detection set-up by using CC sensor

Fig. 2: Samples of different failures happened on medium
cables and their accessories (1. Digging 2. Cable fault Unconventional PD method
3. Cable termination 4. Cable joint)
To overcome the previous problems associated with
conventional method and provide result with suppressed
noise or high signal to noise ratio (SNR), unconventional
measurements are needed. High Frequency Current
Transformer (HFCT) can be used as a sensor to pick up
the high frequency current pulses associated with the
partial discharge in the cable by connecting it around the
earth wire of the cable as shown in Figure 5. The
calibrated HFCT sensor uses inductive coupling to detect
PD pulses flowing between phases and earth, converter
the high frequency current pulses from the discharges
into high frequency voltage pulses on the PD test unit.
The PD sensitivity using HFCT the central measuring
frequency is recommended to lie between 2 MHz and 10
Fig. 3: Breakdown due to internal defect in the cable MHz in a flat zone of the frequency spectrum. The PD

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pulses occur in very short time, the width and rise time oof obtained partial discharge levels for each applied voltage
the pulses are in the nanosecond region. Consequently, type are given as shown in Figure 6.
PD pulses with energy frequency up to hundred MHZ are
generated [9, 10, 11 and 12]. ]. These PD pulses travel
through the cable earth conductor and finally can be 14
recorded by the sensors. These types off sensor
sensors mostly 12
are used in practice for the advantage that these sensor
sensors

PD LEVEL (pC)
10
do not disrupt the normal configuration of the accessories
and cable part. PD sensors work based on detection of 8
high frequency current pulses that occur during PD in the 6
cable system.
4
2
0
٥ ١٠ ١٢ ١٥ ٢٠ ٢٤

APPLIED VOLTAGE (kV)

0.1 Hz (Sinusoidal) 0.1 Hz (Rectangular)

50 Hz DC

Fig. 6:: PD magnitude as function of different applied

voltage for cable specimen 3x400 mm2, 12/20 kV
The results show by comparing different voltage sources
Fig. 5: Example of PD measurements
urements by using HFCT
(0.1 Hz Sinusoidal, 0.1 Hz Rectangular, DC and 50Hz
AC) it was found, that especially the VLF Sinusoidal
PD MEASUREMENT SETUP AND RESULTS voltage is suitable for testing MV cables and especially
Partial Discharge can occur at voids, gaps and similar PE/XLPE cables. While DC test for PE/XLPE cables is
defects in medium and high voltage cable systems. If it is not suitable because the even serious defects are seldom
allowed to continue, partial discharge will erode the detected and long term space charges can be created.
insulation, usually forming a tree shaped patter pattern of These are the preconditions, to convert inhomogeneous
deterioration (electrical tree) and eventually result in defects and to bring partial-discharge
discharge defects rapidly lead
complete breakdown and failure of the cable or to breakdown of the cable system.
accessory. Such failures cause unplanned power outages,
loss of plant production, equipment damage, age, and/or ON-SITE COMBINATION OF WITHSTAND
personnel injury. Data obtained through Partial Discharge TESTING AND PD MEASUREMENTS
testing and monitoring can provide critical information
regarding the quality of insulation and its impact on cable Withstand testing after installation or after repair of
system health. This paper introduced advanced solutions failures reduces significantly the failure rate during
for distribution
on companies to overcome the problems of normal operation. Cable testing therefore is of increased
increasing the faults in MV cables by using off off-line PD importance to achieve an n optimum reliability of the cable
measurements. There are two problems face an electrical network and also to establish the priorities of replacement
engineers who are using this method. The first problem is for optimum reliability and minimal investment.
investment High
using an external source to energize the cablee under test; voltage (HV) tests should provide the information for
it can be solved by using very low frequency (VLF) as an decision whether a defect in the insulation is dangerous
dangero
energizing method according to IEEE400.2. The second or not for the later operation. The most important stress
problem is the lack of using PD conventional detection of a XLPE cable in service is the stress with the
method for long cables and in noisy field; it can be solved operational alternating voltage. The obvious advantage to
by using unconventional
tional method with HFCT sensor. So it using VLF rather than power frequency systems is the
is interesting in this paper to use combination of smaller size, lower weight, far less
ss power consumed, and
withstand voltage testing (VLF) and PD measurements price. Several different VLF waveforms have been
acceptance on-site
site testing for MV cable system. Firstly utilized with the most common being sinusoidal,
tests are carried out laboratory tests on samples of 12/20 rectangular and cosine-rectangular. Cable failures often
kV, 3x400 mm2,PE/XLPE cable .The tests are done by occur at the worst possible time and result in costly down
applying 0.1 Hz Sinusoidal voltage,, 0.1 Hz Rectangular, time, necessary emergency repairs, adjacent cables being
DC and 50Hz AC, on the same cable sample samples. The damaged, annoyed customers, and loss of consumption

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Paper 0104

revenue. This is neither a good nor a sustainable practice. To avoid or reduce the burden that faced by the utility for
The ability
lity to determine all kind of different faults with repairing the faulty cable in short time especially in rural
widely different fault characteristics is turning on the areas which feeding from radial arrangement, a suitable
suitable measuring equipment as well as on the operator’s diagnostic method must be used to assess the condition of
skills. Faults in general are categorized in low resistive these cables. Calibration is done by injecting a short
and high resistive faults [13, 14, 15, 16 and 177]. On site duration current pulse of known charge from the
testing is carried out on cable, 3X400 mm2- XLPE - calibrator to the terminal of test object while the
12/20 kV, by using VLF 0.1 Hz as a source. measuring system is de-energized.
energized. Interrelated calibration
Measurements of PD are done and the results are shown of PD measuring unit will be done by injecting a PD
in Figure 7 when failure is happened at 1.5 kV on phase calibration pulse at one of the neighbored HFCT and used
T. an integrated PD gating unit for gating purposes in order
to provide the possibility to filter certain external
250 background noise. The on-site site PD measurements with
VLF have been performed in conjunction
conjunc with different
Ph R Ph S Ph T
200 two methods CC and HFCT sensors for eight XLPE
cables 3x400 mm2 - 3.6/6.3 kV at length of 1300 m
PD LEVEL (pC)

approximately reported the discharge activity ranged

150
from 4.2 to 26.01 pC as shown in Figure 9.
100

50

Ph R Ph S Ph T
Phases

Fig. 7: PD measurements with defect on Ph T

Figure 8 shows the point of fault for Ph T with two

waves, the healthy wave (blue) and the faulty wave (red).
The two waves coincide with each other until the point of
fault (green line), at which the healthy wave is refle
reflected
in a positive reflection and the faulty wave is reflected in Fig. 9: PD measurements for XLPE cables 3x400 mm2,
a negative reflection. The point of fault is at distance of 3.6 /6.3 kV by using CC and HFCT sensors
61 m from the termination of the cable which connected
to the testing device.

Fig. 8: Localization of PD defects, for Ph T under test Fig.10: Example of PD patterns with variation noise level

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Calibration of PD measuring instrument is important discharge measurements” – 2000-12.

factor to ensure that the PD measuring system is able to [5] IEC 60060-3 "High Voltage Test Techniques"
measure the PD magnitude properly. The variation of Part 3: "Definitions and requirements for onsite
noise level which is experienced during all measurements tests", 2006-2.
resulting in higher external interference from ends of the [6] IEEE 400.2 "Guide for Field Testing of Shielded
cables caused by the cables termination under test. Figure Power Cable Systems using Very Low
10 shows an example of PD patterns with variation of Frequency", 2004.
noise level during measurements. The on-site PD [7] IEEE 400 - 2001 "Guide for field testing and
measuring level for cable system doesn’t limit in the evaluation of insulation of shielded power cable
standards but depends primarily on the experience of systems".
those involved in the measurements, and the experience [8] IEEE 400.3 "Guide for PD testing of shielded
learned how to the diagnostics of the PD limit. The power cable systems in a field environment"
manufacturers and owner customers, always ask this [9] A. ElFaraskoury, M. Mokhtar, M. Mehanna, O.
question “What is the safe level for PD activity in the Gouda "Conventional and unconventional partial
cable systems? The answer to this can only be, “there is discharge detection methods in high Voltage
no safe level for internal PD in the cable systems”, all XLPE cable accessories" AEES Vol. 1, No. 4,
internal discharges will be damaging. 2012, ISSN 2167-633X.
[10] A. El Faraskoury, F. Tahoun, M. Awad, O.
CONCLUSION Gouda "Investigation of partial discharge
measurement for HV cable system with variable
Evaluating the cable failure data from utilities, it’s frequency" MEPCON’10, 128, Cairo 2010.
important to assess to condition of MV cables component [11] A. El Faraskoury, O. Gouda "Experiences with
based on diagnostic data. The cable failure location was on-site AC test combined with partial discharge
demonstrated with two different methods by PD measurements" CIRED - June 2013.
measurements. Within on-site PD measurements at an [12] A. El Faraskoury "XLPE cables insulation ageing
installed XLPE MV cables was done with 0.1 Hz due to electrical partial discharge" PhD Thesis,
sinusoidal by using CC and HFCT sensors. Experience Cairo University 2011.
has shown that testing at VLF does not come with the [13] K. Rethmeier, P. Mohaupt, V. Bergmann, W.
risk of damaging sound cable insulation, combined with Kalkner, G. Voigt " New Studies On PD
an ability to reliably detect defects. By using off-line Measurements On MV Cable Systems At 50 Hz
diagnostic technique is introduce for contributing to And Sinusoidal 0.1 Hz (VLF) Test Voltage"
reduce the increasing of the rate of cable failures and CIRED, , 2007.
enhance the reliability of MV cables in network of [14] G. Hartshorn, B. Lanz, B. Broussard, 2007
SCEDC. “Medium Voltage Cable Predictive Diagnostics
Technique" IEEE, 10.1109/PCICON. 2007.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT [15] E. Gulski "On-line versus off-line PD detection"
Onsite HV Solutions, www.onsitehv.com
The authors would like to express their great thanks to [16] S. Cho "On-line PD monitoring of power system
the partial discharge team work of the Extra High components" MSc Thesis, AALTO University
Voltage Research Centre for providing their facilities 2011
during this work [17] "Fault classification insulation and resistance
measurement" www.sebakmt.com
REFERENCES
[1] H. Pereira, M. Marques, M. Borges, et al" Partial
Discharge On-Line Monitoring In MV
Underground Power Cables As Part Of Condition
Based Maintenance strategy" CIRED- 2013.
[2] E. Neudert, M. Sturm "Characterization of tree
processes in XLPE by PD measurement at 50 Hz
and very low frequencies" ICDI Budapest, 1997.
[3] K. Uchida, Y. Kato, M. Nakade, D. Inoue, H.
Sakakibara, H. Tanaka. "Estimating the
remaining life of water-treed XLPE cable by
VLF voltage withstand test" Furukawa Review,
No.20 2001.
[4] IEC 60270 “High voltage test techniques- partial

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