Examination and location of partial discharge sites in severely aged underground distribution cables

This paper presents the results of laboratory investigations of partial discharge (PD) in field aged XLPE underground power cables. PD measurements were made on sixty-one cable samples over a three year period. When PD was detected, the magnitude was measured and a site location was determined. PD site locations were predicted using time delay estimations between PD pulses arriving at opposite ends of the test cable. Fourteen of the samples tested had detectable levels of PD. Some of these PD sites extinguished during the measurement period and were returned to rated voltage aging. When samples had continuously active PD sites, they were either dissected or returned to the aging test. Four sites of this type were found allowing two for dissection and two for aging. Seven of the samples failed after PD measurements. All seven failed near the predicted PD location. During the PD testing, no test cables contained PD which initiated at or below operating voltage. When PD detection equipment was monitoring cables which failed, the failures occurred from 2 to 80 minutes after the presence of PD pulses was detected