Medium Voltage Cable Systems at Aging Paper Mills: Life-Cycle Management of the Last Critical Asset

Over the past few decades, the electrical manufacturing industry has leveraged advances in both materials and manufacturing technologies to provide cables and cable accessories for medium voltage cable systems that are more cost effective and reliable. The reliability is designed in and tested as part of the manufacturing quality control process which is based on stringent IEEE and ICEA standards. However, once these components leave the factory, the reliability is left to the quality level of the handling, installation, and operation of these components. The industry has learned much in the last few decades about the physics behind cable reliability and longevity, and we no longer need to guess at the failure mechanism or the best practices for product selection, system design, installation techniques, commissioning tests, operations and maintenance or timing of asset replacement. Pulp and Paper mills have several critical areas in their operation including wood handling, chipping, pulping, pumping and conveyors, to name a few, which warrant continuous monitoring, cleaning, and are typically the focus of plant maintenance shutdowns. However, the medium voltage power distribution and electrification of these systems is undoubtedly a critical underlying asset to all areas of the plant. It is the purpose of this paper to provide best practices to assess and maintain the reliability of these medium voltage cable systems throughout their lifecycle.