Challenges in the design of high voltage test systems for the qualification of HVDC cables

New HVDC cable designs with operating voltages of up to 800 kV require extensive tests for qualification. However, the required tests are not uniformly defined and the test parameters vary over a wide range. These voltage levels and waveshapes not only pose new challenges for the cable design, but also for the design of the HV test components. The used HV test components must withstand the stresses in the individual tests and also have to cope with stresses by various superimposed voltage shapes in interaction as a complex test system. “Temporary overvoltages” (TOV) pose new chal-lenges where it is crucial to develop and design appropriate protection and coupling elements. The paper provides an overview over the specific key components of the high voltage test circuits. Two solutions for these test systems for generating TOV are presented and their utilization in high voltage tests is demonstrated.