Recent experiences with on-line PD testing of MV XLPE and EPR cable

Within the last decade, developments in both detection technology as well as signal processing technology have added significantly to the diagnostic knowledge which can be extracted from on-line partial discharge measurements performed on medium voltage cable systems. Consequently, the diagnostic assessments of the insulation condition of cables and cable accessories improved significantly. In this paper, practical experiences gained throughout the past years of applying non-invasive on-line PD measurements on medium voltage cable systems to assess the insulation condition are outlined and discussed. A framework for application of on-line PD measurements for condition assessment of medium voltage cable systems for predictive maintenance purposes is proposed