AC submarine power cable with reduced losses

A method of manufacturing a static AC submarine power cable configured for at least 72 kV operation, wherein the method comprises:

• manufacturing a power core, which comprises:
• providing an insulation system around a conductor, the insulation system comprising an inner semiconducting layer arranged radially outside of the conductor, an insulation layer arranged radially outside of the inner semiconducting layer, and an outer semiconducting layer arranged radially outside of the insulation layer,
• applying a swellable semiconductive bedding which is a moisture barrier,
• the semiconductive bedding being a semiconductive tape wound around the outer semiconducting layer,
• providing a smooth metallic water-blocking sheath including austenitic stainless steel around the insulation system and the semiconductive bedding, wherein the step of providing the smooth metallic water-blocking sheath involves folding an austenitic stainless-steel sheet around the insulation system and welding facing edges of the austenitic stainless-steel sheet to form the metallic water-blocking sheath, and
• surrounding the metallic water blocking sheath with a semiconductive polymeric sheath:
• forming an armour layer around the power core, the armour layer comprising a plurality of armour wires;
• and
• arranging an outer serving around the armour laver.

A static AC submarine power cable configured for at least 72 KV operation, comprising:

• a plurality of power cores, each power core comprising:
• a conductor,
• an insulation system surrounding the conductor, the insulation system including an inner semiconducting layer arranged radially outside of the conductor, an insulation layer arranged radially outside of the inner semiconducting layer, and an outer semiconducting layer arranged radially outside of the insulation layer,
• a smooth metallic water-blocking sheath surrounding the insulation system, the metallic water-blocking sheath comprising austenitic stainless steel,
• the metallic water-blocking sheath being made from an austenitic stainless-steel sheet that is folded or wrapped around the insulation system and that has facing edges which are welded together,
• a swellable semiconductive bedding arranged coaxially with the conductor between the outer semiconducting layer and the metallic water-blocking sheath,
• the swellable semiconductive bedding being a moisture barrier in the form of a semiconductive tape wound around the outer semiconducting layer, and
• a semiconductive polymeric sheath surrounding the metallic water-blocking sheath;
• an armour layer arranged radially outside of all swellable semiconductive beddings of the power cores, the armour layer comprising a plurality of armour wires arranged helically around the power cores;
• and
• an outer serving arranged around the armour laver.