Abstract
Power cables are integral to modern urban power transmission and distribution systems. For power cable asset managers worldwide, a major challenge is how to manage effectively the expensive and vast network of cables, many of which are approaching, or have past, their design life. This study provides an in-depth review of recent research and development in cable failure analysis, condition monitoring and diagnosis, life assessment methods, fault location, and optimisation of maintenance and replacement strategies. These topics are essential to cable life cycle management (LCM), which aims to maximise the operational value of cable assets and is now being implemented in many power utility companies. The review expands on material presented at the 2015 JiCable conference and incorporates other recent publications. The review concludes that the full potential of cable condition monitoring, condition and life assessment has not fully realised. It is proposed that a combination of physics-based life modelling and statistical approaches, giving consideration to practical condition monitoring results and insulation response to in-service stress factors and short term stresses, such as water ingress, mechanical damage and imperfections left from manufacturing and installation processes, will be key to success in improved LCM of the vast amount of cable assets around the world.
Highlights
Worldwide, electric power transmission and distribution relies on vast and expensive networks of high voltage (HV) and medium-voltage (MV) cables for power delivery
Failures usually result from imperfections introduced during manufacturing processes, defects associated with poor installation practice and third party damage
After a brief review of the latest development in cable asset life cycle management and new material research, this paper focuses on a review of advances in research related to condition assessment and maintenance strategies for power cable assets during their service years
Summary
Electric power transmission and distribution relies on vast and expensive networks of high voltage (HV) and medium-voltage (MV) cables for power delivery. Power cables and cable accessories are subject to electrical, thermal, mechanical, and environmental stresses on a constant basis These stresses often lead to insulation degradation, together with poor practice in installation and maintenance which results in defects, often cause cable breakdowns [5]. In conjunction with improved condition assessment, fast fault location can contribute to improved reliability of important cable assets, as some cable failures are unavoidable and these unexpected failures account for a significant proportion of customer lost minutes [11] Examples of such events in developed and developing nations are: Long Island, USA, experienced a nine-day electric power outage which affected 17,500 people [12]; Zanzibar suffered a total power blackout from May 21st to June 18th, 2008 due to cable failure and a second outage lasted from December 10th 2009 until March 9th 2010 [13]. After a brief review of the latest development in cable asset life cycle management and new material research, this paper focuses on a review of advances in research related to condition assessment and maintenance strategies for power cable assets during their service years
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