Approach for a Continuous Condition Assessment of Power Cables Using Broadband Power Line Communication

Inhalt:
This paper lays the foundation for continuous condition assessment of power cables using broadband power line communication to enable a condition-based rather than event-based maintenance strategy in the future. For this purpose, a con-ventionally measured condition assessment is performed based on dissipation factor measurement on 21 paper-insulated power cables. The power cables were in use in the electricity grid for between 42 and 61 years. In addition, plastic-insulated cables are artificially thermally aged, as these newer cables are rarely removed from the electricity grid. The high-frequency properties of the power cables are also measured including the attenuation constant and phase velocity measured by time-domain reflectometry. A correlation is then drawn between the condition of the power cables and the high-frequency properties. Eventually, the findings from the laboratory are also elaborated theoretically to show that there is also a theoretical correlation between the high-frequency properties and the change in dielectric. Finally, a concept based on these research results is presented to detect the deterioration of the power cables using broadband power line communication.