A Novel Setup To Investigate Partial Discharges In Interfaces Subjected To HVDC Voltages

To ensure the reliability of HVDC transmission cables, the breakdown of the interfaces between accessories and cable insulation, and the possibility of preventing such breakdown through appropriate diagnostic tools must be investigated thoroughly. With this paper, we propose a novel setup to understand the role of partial discharges in bringing interfaces in HVDC cable accessories to failure. Preliminary results show that the breakdown might occur after a series of partial discharges of very low magnitude and repetition rate, which would prevent effective diagnostics from being carried out.