Online Partial Discharge Monitoring of Power Cables

Partial discharge (PD) is a common sign of insulation breakdown in power cables and cable accessories, such as joints and terminations, which can eventually result in cost-intensive repairs and prolonged outages. PD can be the result of internal weak spots in cable insulation, such as voids, cracks or particles. PD is also caused by damage to cables or to joints and terminations during installation.

With suitable sensors, PD activity can be monitored and trended either on a temporary or permanent, continuous basis during the operating life of the equipment. The terminations and joints of the cable system are typical PD measurement points. Powerful noise suppression and PD source separation algorithms are used to reliably localize harmful PD phenomena in the cable system.