PD Monitoring Systems for

HV Cable Routes
Cable Condition Monitoring Solutions.

PD based innovative tools for

the Condition Based Maintenance.

MD-04.05.003 - rev. 00 - 29/08/2006

 Product Card
Condition assessment of
HV Cable Systems
The measurement of Partial Discharges
(PD) is a fundamental tool to assess the
condition of HV Cable Systems.
PD measurements highlight the presence of
several types of on-going localised
degradation processes. Therefore, PD
measurement can provide a significant
insight into the presence of harmful defects
that can damage the cable insulation.
Diagnosis obtained from PD analysis
allows Condition Based Maintenance
(CBM) practices to be established. CBM is
far more effective than Time Based
Maintenance (i.e., maintenance carried out
at fixed time intervals), since it avoids
unnecessary and costly operations while
minimizing the risk of catastrophic failures
that can occur between two consecutive
scheduled maintenances. The results of a
correct implementation of CBM practices
are optimal resource allocation, time and
money savings and prevention from
damages and unexpected outages.
For Extruded Polymeric Cables, the
presence of PD within a cable system is to
be avoided, in fact most of the internal
activities within polymeric insulation
systems can quickly lead to electrical treeing
formation and, eventually, to failure.
Oil-filled Cables can better withstand PD
activities, but several failures have been
reported, particularly in accessories, which
have been associated with PD activity
TechImp Systems S.r.l. Via Toscana, 11/C - 40069 Zola Predosa BO, Italy Tel. +39.051.19986050 and fax +39 051.19986199
e.mail: sales@techimp.com URL: www.techimp.com
MD-04.05.003 – rev. 00 – 29/08/2006
After years of advanced researches,
laboratory and on-field tests, TechImp has
developed powerful and effective tools
which support the asset managers’
decisions to make important decisions
regarding transmission and distribution
cable maintenance and reliability.
Trending of PD phenomena during cable
system life can be a very effective method
to keep the degradation processes under
observation and control, particularly if
also quantities other than PD are
monitored as well (e.g. temperature,
current), so that correlation between
possible PD inceptions with load and
thermal cycling can be derived.
PD Acquisition Program Interface
Main system features
• HV cable route continuous
PD monitoring
• PD separation and pulse
analysis
• Automatic PD identification
• Smart alarms
• Defect location
• Diagnostic database
• Trend of other parameters
correlated to the PD activity
• Remote supervision &
control
 Product Card
TechImp innovative
technology
TechImp innovative technology allows
different PD phenomena to be classified
and split in different clusters on the basis of
their pulse shape, so that further analysis
can be carried out on each dataset,
separately. This enhances the likelihood of
PD source identification, even in the
absence of a skilled operator. TechImp
acquisition philosophy also provides
efficient noise rejection in most cases
without adding any suppression device. As
a matter of fact, noise signals have been
observed to be very different from PD
signals. Therefore the TechImp
classification system can be successful in
separating contributions of PD from those
generated by disturbances. Each PD pulse
waveform is acquired and the so-called
equivalent time-length and bandwidth are
evaluated and plotted on the TF map. On
the basis of the TF map, it is possible to
achieve noise rejection and separation of
PD phenomena. An example of this
separation for a transmission class cable
system is shown in the picture below, in
which PD due to different phenomena
group into different clusters. After the
separation has been carried out, patterns
associated to each phenomenon can be
extracted, processed separately thus leading
to a diagnosis.
Subpattern Pulse
A
ID:
PD from HV
source
Entire Acquisition
B
ID:
Voltage
correlated
noise
C
ID:
HF noise
D
PD in a Joint
Example of PD Separation in a HV Cable Joint:
PD are overlapped to external disturbances and
noise!
TechImp Systems S.r.l. Via Toscana, 11/C - 40069 Zola Predosa BO, Italy Tel. +39.051.19986050 and fax +39 051.19986199
e.mail: sales@techimp.com URL: www.techimp.com
MD-04.05.003 – rev. 00 – 29/08/2006
The system relies upon a data-base in
which PD fingerprints of the most typical
defects of cables and accessories are
stored. Thanks to this data-base, the
system can perform an automatic (fuzzy
logic-based) identification of the PD
phenomenon, provide the relevant
diagnosis and, if it is the case, alert the
network supervisor.
Diagnostic technique
integration
Since other diagnostic parameters can help
to carry out an effective diagnosis, the PD
detection system can also be equipped
with special sensors to monitor quantities,
such as temperature or current flowing in
the outer sheath. These quantities will be
processed together with PD data to derive
a better overall picture of the cable system
conditions. In addition, PD and other
diagnostic quantities can drive different
kind of alerts able not only to warn the
system manager, but also to influence
monitoring settings, so that proper
acquisition modality are employed.
System Lay-out and installation
The system is essentially made up of the
following components:
- Sensors (one for each
joint/terminal);
- PD detection unit: PDScope (one
for each set of joints/terminals);
- Supervision & Control System
(one for each complete circuit);
Ethernet links between the PD
-
detection units and the
Supervision & Control System;
Sensors must be installed in proximity of
each cable accessory, i.e. terminations and
joints of each phase.
In case the cable is provided with
embedded sensors (capacitive taps), this

devices can be used for PD detection
purposes.
Whenever the cable is not provided with
embedded sensors, TechImp can provide
special external sensors, called Direct
Couplers which can be easily wrapped
around the cable, in proximity of the joint
or termination, with a suitable protection
against mechanical stress and water ingress.
TechImp Direct Coupler sensor
Each PD monitoring unit is provided with
3 input channels, therefore it can detect PD
signals from the sensors installed onto a set
of joints or terminations, keeping the three
phases under control. The unit is also
provided with another input channel for
the power frequency reference
(synchronisation).
The overall power consumption of the
equipment installed in each bay is extremely
low, approximately 25 W, but each bay
must have its own power source and, in
order to secure it, a suitably dimensioned
power distribution cable must be laid at the
installation stage.
Accessibile Pit
or External
Enclosure
Ground surface
PD Monitoring Unit
Fibre optic links and Ethernet
communication
Coaxial cables
Power
with suitable protection
Distribution
Sensor
Typical configuration of the equipment in a joint bay
TechImp Systems S.r.l. Via Toscana, 11/C - 40069 Zola Predosa BO, Italy Tel. +39.051.19986050 and fax +39 051.19986199
e.mail: sales@techimp.com URL: www.techimp.com
Product Card MD-04.05.003 – rev. 00 – 29/08/2006
Whenever, for technical or economical
reasons, it is not convenient to provide
and lay down a power distribution cable,
each joint/terminal bay can be easily
equipped with a pole mounted small solar
photovoltaic panel (approx. 0.25 m2) and
the relevant battery and charger.
Other customised solutions are available
on request.
Connectivity & data
management
All the monitoring units installed along
the cable route form a Local Area
Network and are connected together by
means of a redundant Ethernet fibre optic
link (suitably protected from mechanical
and environmental stresses). The data
stream from all units is conveyed to a
SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data
Acquisition) system, aimed at extracting
relevant information to assess cable
condition.
Network redundancy is obtained by an S
ring connection of the units, so that in
case of an interruption occurring in any
part of the Ethernet link, an alternative
routing is available, thus improving the
system reliability.
PD data are stored in and managed by a
built-in data-base, which enables the
system to carry out a real-time diagnosis
and give alarms in case PD parameters go
beyond the set thresholds.
Power Supply board
User friendly interface: treeing alert warning
The SCADA system is housed into a
Joint
console which is generally installed in the
 Product Card MD-04.05.003 – rev. 00 – 29/08/2006

substation located at one of the cable easily managed via the internet (a static IP
terminals. address must be provided).

The software has a user-friendly graphic

interface, which enables the user to set
parameters, trigger levels, alarms and
visualise the situation in a mimic diagram in
which all joints and terminations along the
cable route are represented.
In case a potentially harmful defect is
detected, the system management software
in the control room takes advantage of a TechImp expert analysts team at work
special tool for the PD source location,
based on the amplitude/frequency analysis In such a way, the team of expert analysts
and time domain reflectometry. from the TechImp head office, can
retrieve data, analyse them and provide
the circuit owner with a periodic report
with the assessment of the whole circuit.

For further information, please

contact:
TechImp S.p.A. Via Toscana, 11/C
Example of defect located in a joint 40069 Zola Predosa BO – ITALY
Tel.: +39.051.19986050
Furthermore, the system also has a remote Fax: +39.051.19986199
communication facility, and even if the Email: sales@techimp.com
substation is unmanned, the system can be

Terminal bay Joint bay 1 Joint bay 2 Terminal bay

PD Acquisition PD Acquisition PD Acquisition PD Acquisition

Unit Unit Unit Unit

PD Sensors (one PD Sensors (one PD Sensors (one PD Sensors (one

for each phase) for each phase) for each phase) for each phase)

Local Supervision
& Control System
(in substation).

General lay-out of a HV power cable system PD Monitoring

TechImp Systems S.r.l. Via Toscana, 11/C - 40069 Zola Predosa BO, Italy Tel. +39.051.19986050 and fax +39 051.19986199
e.mail: sales@techimp.com URL: www.techimp.com