Evaluation of HVDC cables for the St.-Lawrence River crossing of Hydro-Quebec´s 500 kV DC line. II. Cable testing facility for dielectric and accelerated aging

For pt.I see ibid., vol.7, no.2, p.1034-42 (1992). A description is presented of the cable testing facility at IREQ for long-term accelerated aging tests on HV cables. This test facility was required as part of an extensive program to evaluate the high-voltage cables for the river crossing of Hydro-Quebec´s transmission lines, rated at 800 kV AC and ±500 kV DC. The specific dielectric constraints resulting from the insertion of a short length of cable into a long line are described, and the circuits developed for the special tests, which reproduce the specific cable test conditions, are discussed