Partial discharge detection test link, partial discharge detection system and methods for detecting partial discharge on a power cable

A partial discharge detection system for detecting partial discharge of a power cable at a power cable accessory including a first accessory component and a second accessory component connected to each other, the partial discharge detection system comprising:

• a conductor member including an electrically conductive element and an insulation surrounding and extending along the electrically conductive element, the electrically conductive element having a pair of opposite ends with a respective one of ends adapted for electrical connection to a respective one of the first and second accessory components;
• a partial discharge sensor disposed about the conductor member and operative to detect the partial discharge of the power cable as partial discharge electrical signals;
• a first converter device electrically connected to the partial discharge sensor and operative for receiving the partial discharge electrical signals from the partial discharge sensor and converting the partial discharge electrical signals to alternative energy signals representative of the partial discharge electrical signals;
• a second converter device in communication with the first converter device and operative for receiving the alternative energy signals and converting the alternative energy signals to electrical output signals representative of the alternative energy signals;
• and
• a partial discharge measuring instrument coupled to the second converter device and operative to read the electrical output signals and measure the partial discharge from the power cable.

A method for detecting partial discharge on an energized power cable having an accessory interposed therein, the accessory including a first accessory component and a second accessory component coupled to each other and connected by a service link, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a test link;
• removing the service link;
• replacing the service link with the test link by directly electrically connecting the first accessory component and the second accessory component together using the test link thereby providing electrical communication between the first and second accessory components through the test link;
• detecting the partial discharge of the energized power cable at the test link by generating partial discharge electrical signals representative of the detected partial discharge;
• and
• interpreting the partial discharge electrical signals in a manner to measure the partial discharge of the energized power cable.

A method for detecting partial discharge on a plurality of energized power cables with each energized power cable interconnected by an accessory having a first accessory component and a second accessory component coupled to each other and connected by a service link, the plurality of energized power cables disposed apart from one another in a juxtaposed relationship and positioned in an enclosure defined by an arrangement of walls, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one electrically insulative barrier and a plurality of test links;
• replacing the service links with test links by directly electrically connecting the respective ones of the first accessory components and the second accessory components to each other using respective ones of the plurality of test links thereby providing direct electrical communication between the respective ones of the connected first and second accessory components;
• positioning the at least one electrically insulative barrier between juxtaposed ones of the plurality of energized power cables so that flashover is inhibited;
• detecting partial discharge of the plurality of energized power cables at respective ones of the test links by generating partial discharge electrical signals representative of the detected partial discharge of the respective energized power cables;
• converting the partial discharge electrical signals adjacent the enclosure to alternative energy signals representative of the partial discharge electrical signals;
• transmitting the alternative energy signals to a location remote from the enclosure;
• and
• interpreting the alternative energy signals at the remote location in a manner to measure the partial discharge of the respective energized power cables.