Application of advanced PD diagnostics for condition based maintenance of MV power cable systems

This paper describes a strategy for condition based maintenance of medium voltage power cable networks, on the base of PD detection. It is known that partial discharge detection and localization is a useful tool for the identification of degradation processes in the insulation material of cable systems. Based on advanced PD diagnostics, systematic information of typical discharge sources in power cable systems is collected: PD inception voltage, PD amplitude, PD pattern and PD location (cable or accessories). Subsequently, evaluation criteria and knowledge rules for degradation processes in the different insulation systems can be derived from this systematic information. These diagnostic and knowledge rules should next be implemented in practice.