Identification of Joints

affected by Water Ingress

in Complex Hybrid MV cable networks.

2 Field examples
of combined VLF Withstand Testing,
Tan Delta (TD) and Partial Discharge (PD) Diagnostics

Paper # A 209

Ing. Tobias Neier

Baur Prüf- und Messtechnik GmbH, Austria

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 1 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

Contents

1 Background of difficulties in Hybrid Cable Networks

2 Applied Diagnostic Technique TD and PD, VLF testing
3 Strategy to identify Joints with Water Ingress

4 Case Study # 1, Case Study # 2

5 Conclusion

6 Outlook on new implementation of MWT

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 2 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 1 Background of difficulties in Hybrid Cable Networks

• Old cable networks (over 50 years old)

• Complex compound of XLPE, PILC, WTPC XLPE (water
tree prone cable)
• High number of joints
• Joints with different kind of weaknesses
• Accumulation of numerous different influences and aging
parameters

1950 2012

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 1 Background of difficulties in Hybrid Cable Networks

Difficulties:
• Water Tree Prone XLPE cable from early 1980’s
• Newer XLPE (1990-2012)
• Mixture of PILC with XLPE (e.g. after fault repair)
• Transition joints XLPE/PILC – 3phased cables
• Restrictions in cable section replacement (max. 100m)

Helping Details :
• Detailed cable records
• Understanding of characteristic of certain elements
• Understanding typical behavior pattern of elements
CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 4 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 2 Applied Diagnostic Technique TD and PD, VLF testing
Diagnostic approach:
1. Tan Delta measurement
• 0.5 Uo , 1.0 Uo, 1.5 Uo
• Information of water tree ageing condition, general cable condition
2. PD measurement
• Up to max. 1.7 Uo (phase to phase voltage)

3. Evaluate the cable condition based on TD + PD diagnostic result

4. Monitored Withstand Test MWT, 15min to 60min.

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 5 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 2 Applied Diagnostic Technique TD and PD, VLF testing

Diagnostic approach TD:

MTD
1. VLF TD at 0.5Uo, 1.0Uo, 1.5Uo
DTD
MTD at 1.0Uo
DTD between 0.5Uo and 1.5Uo
Ratio - Analysis
(comparison of phases)

STD at each voltage step (Stability)

Skirt Value + Trend Interpretation

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 6 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 2 Applied Diagnostic Technique TD and PD, VLF testing
VLF TD Stability – Skirt value - Trend Interpretation.

Voltage: 3.2kV 6.5kV 9.7kV

L1 0.028 0.037 0.083

L2 0.055 1.413 0.600
L3 0.031 0.248 0.532

Details L1, 0.5xUo… Δ0.09

Std. Deviation – Stability

@0.5 Uo Std. Dev. 0.028 – 0.055 …. Indication of high water tree aging

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 7 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 2 Applied Diagnostic Technique TD and PD, VLF testing

Diagnostic approach PD:

PD-level 𝑝𝐶
Partial Discharge Diagnostics

• Fast and reliable evaluation of

the Partial Discharge intensity
and location of PD source

• Recognition of weak points and

reduction of damages

• Clear graphic illustration for

users over the entire cable
length Near
PD location 𝑚
Far
End End
CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 8 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 3 Strategy to identify Joints with Water Ingress

Recognize the Effect of Water Ingress in Joints with TD result

analysis
▼ 10.22
10.22…Skirt Value
▼ 1.74
Δ 1.45 ▼ … Trend Direction

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 9 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 3 Strategy to identify Joints with Water Ingress

TDR Analysis of to identify irregular joint characteristics

PD calibration graph with identification of joint with water ingress at

656.5m

Table 11 of Neetrac Report 2010,

DEO Award No. DE-FC02-04CH11237
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 3 Strategy to identify Joints with Water Ingress

VLF TD PD Diagnostic Equipment

Test Van Solution

PHG 80 TD PD
… 57kVrms

Portable Systems
Viola TD PD
…42.5kVrms
Frida TD PD
… 24kVrms
CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 11 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 4 Case Study # 1 …1
Cable details:
11kV, 3core XLPE cable
9 heat shrink joints,
cable length 806m

TD Result 26.10.2011

TD
STD
TD Trend

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 12 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 4 Case Study # 1 …2

TD analysis of L2
▼ 10.22
▼ 1.74
Δ 1.45

Clear indication of
Water Ingress in at
least one of the joints
PD will be affected in
the suspect joint(s)

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali Δ 1.45 ▼ 1.74 ▼ 10.22

13 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 4 Case Study # 1 …3 PD-level 1000𝑝𝐶
PD Localization Result
26.10.2011
Jt.#5 at 260m
L1 PDIV 1.5Uo up to
1000pC
Jt. #9 at 781m
L1,L2,L3 PDIV
1.5Uo up to 500pC Near End Far
PD location 𝑚
End
- No serious PD
- Weak joint(s) cannot be localized with PD record
- 1000pC in Jt.#5 to handled with caution
– indication of water ingress in TD result!
CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 14 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 4 Case Study # 1 …4
PD Calibration Graph

Indication of
- Cable length 806m

- Impedance Changes at
Joints

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 15 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 4 Case Study # 1 …5
Analysis of
Calibration Graph

Jt. #4 at 150m
Jt. #5 at 260m
(neg. imp. change
pattern)
=> Indication of
Joint with Water
Ingress

 Recommendation to replace Jt.#4 and Jt.#5

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 16 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 4 Case Study # 1 …6
TD measurement after
replacement of Jt. #5

TD results improved
slightly

After Jt. Replacement,

(Jt.#4 could not be replaced easily,
VLF test was carried out
focus on replacement of Jt. #5 first)
Jt. #4 failed the test

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 17 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 4 Case Study # 1 …7
Investigation of
Jt.# 4 and Jt.#5

- Visible water ingress

- Corrosion of sheath

TD result after replacement

of the suspicious joints,
cable is safe for operation
CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 18 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 4 Case Study # 2 …1
Cable details:
11kV, 3core XLPE
32 heat shrink joints
cable length 3099m

TD Result 17.10.2011

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 19 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 4 Case Study # 2 …2

TD analysis of L2

Clear indication of Water

▼ 0.45 ▼ 0.75 ▼ 1.32
Ingress in at least one
of the Joints
PD will be affected in
the suspect joint

▼ 0.45 ▼ 0.75 ▼ 1.32

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 20 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 4 Case Study # 2 …3
PD localization result
26.10.2011
Jt.#4 at 669m
L2 PDIV 1.0Uo up
to 2000pC

- intensive PD activity in Jt.#4

- Further joints do not show PD activity
- 2000pC in Jt.#4 appear to be at the limit but not necessarily the only
weakness along the cable
- Indication of small amount of water ingress in TD result!
- PD activities may not show up in joints with water ingress
CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 21 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 4 Case Study # 2 …4 - Joint with Water Ingress at 672m
PD calibration graph
 Jt. # 4, matching result with PD
- joint with water ingress at 672m localization
 Joint is in much more severe
Indication of condition due to water ingress
- Cable length 3099m
 2000pC is the reduced PD value
- Impedance changes at joints
 Immediate action required

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 22 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 4 Case Study # 2 …5
Investigation of
Jt.# 4
- Visible water ingress
- PD tracking marks

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 23 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 4 Case Study # 2 …6

TD result after replacement

of the suspicious joints,
cable is safe for operation

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 24 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 5 Summary

• Complex Cable Networks show difficulties

• Understanding of details of test result helps
• Combined diagnostic of TD and PD is required
• TD measurement with detailed analysis allow to identify water ingress
in joints
• PD measurement used as additional tool
• TDR graph interpretation allows to localize joints with water ingress
• VLF simple withstand test may not cause joints to fail (2Uo, 15min)

• New Knowledge to add Monitored Withstand Test to be

implemented additionally

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 25 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 6 Outlook on new implementation of MWT

Monitored Withstand Test (MWT)

A unique combination of VLF Test
and TD Diagnostics

Two stages:
1. Ramp-up
2. MWT (or hold)

Understand the
cable condition
during the VLF test.

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 26 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209

 7 BAUR – Your partner for Cable Diagnostics
BAUR product portfolio.
Portable VLF Testing and Diagnostics System.

PD portable

viola TD frida TD
 VLF generator
 Integrated tan delta TD measuring function
 MWT – Monitored Withstand Test
CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 27 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209
 Networks are sensitive.
We help you to protect them.

www.baur.at

CMD 2012, 23.-27.09.2012 Bali 28 Neier – Gerstner – Jenny A209