Defect-induced electrical signals in solid dielectric power cable and implications thereof for defect location

When a surge is applied to a solid dielectric cable with a stress-enhancement-containing defect, the current which flows to produce a field-limiting space charge surrounding the defect generates a signal on the conductor of the cable. Based on transient, nonlinear finite element computations of the defect-induced current, we predict the nature of this signal as a function of the applied surge waveform and defect severity, and we investigate implications for defect location during a factory cable reel test.